Paris became the international gathering place for ballet’s next generation this past weekend as Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), the world’s largest ballet scholarship competition, brought together talented young dancers from around the globe, October 29–November 1. Aspiring performers from all over France and beyond took the stage, competing for top honors and the opportunity to be discovered by some of the world’s leading ballet institutions.
The competition showcased an impressive range of talent, from classical ballet variations to contemporary choreography and ensemble performances. Among the weekend’s highest honors, Kirill Kopaeiv, 13, representing Portugal’s Conservatorio Internacional de Ballet e Dança Annarella Sanchez, received the coveted Youth Grand Prix Award. In the Senior Classical Division, Alana González, 15, of Spain’s Jose Antonio Checa Ballet, and Márton Balog, 17, of Hungarian Dance University, took first place in the women’s and men’s categories, respectively. Nina Ros, 15, of France, and Pavel Stoyanov, 17, of Bulgaria, claimed first-place honors in Senior Contemporary.
The younger dancers were equally impressive. Ling Ren, 14, competing independently, and Yangqiangdi Liu, 13, of China’s Shuyi Ballet, won first place in Junior Classical, while Maci Smith, 14, of Australia’s Claudia Dean Academy, and Evan Noblet, 14, of France’s ADN Danse: Académie de Danse Noblet, topped the Junior Contemporary categories. Among the youngest participants, Agnia Kovaleva, 10, representing Belgium, and William Frost, 9, of the United States, earned first-place honors in Pre-Competitive Classical.
The competition also celebrated the artistry of group performances, with Spain’s Jose Antonio Checa Ballet receiving the Outstanding School Award. The recognition capped a successful weekend for the school, whose dancers also earned several individual distinctions.
Following Paris, YAGP’s international tour continues to Buenos Aires, Argentina (November 18–21); Bangkok, Thailand (November 21–24); Jakarta, Indonesia (November 27–29); Barcelona, Spain (December 3–7); Genoa, Italy (December 14–18); and Lagoa, Portugal (February 15–21, 2027). The season will also include YAGP’s international Job Fair in Stuttgart, Germany (February 13–14), connecting aspiring professional dancers with ballet companies seeking new talent. The tour will culminate at the YAGP Finals in Tampa, Florida, April 26–May 2, 2027, where outstanding young dancers from around the world will perform before representatives of leading ballet institutions. For the young artists who took the stage in Paris, the weekend could mark the beginning of careers on the world’s most celebrated stages.
Founded in 1999 by Larissa and Gennadi Saveliev, YAGP has helped launch the careers of thousands of dancers, with alumni now performing at American Ballet Theatre, Dutch National Ballet, New York City Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, and The Royal Ballet, among others. Reaching more than 15,000 young dancers annually, YAGP provides access to scholarships, mentorship, and training opportunities, helping young artists take their first steps toward professional careers.
Main image: Thomas B / Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP)
This post was last modified on November 6, 2026 8:41 am