A highlight of each year for Dancing Arts Center is participating in Youth America Grand Prix’s regional competition for top ballet and contemporary dance students in the U.S. and around the world. As the world’s largest global network of dance, Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) offers Dancing Arts Center students the opportunity to step onto an international stage and interact with dancers from around the state, country, and world. For the 2023 competition, held at the Hanover Theater for the Performing Arts in Worcester from February 9-12, seven DAC students competed with ballet and contemporary solo pieces.
The preparation process for YAGP began months in advance. As early as October, students started working with the Directors and faculty to select and begin learning their variations. As rehearsals progressed through the fall and winter, the dancers became more comfortable with the technical aspects of their pieces and worked to develop nuance and artistry. The ballet pieces were set and staged by Dancing Arts Center co-directors Gregg Saulnier and Patrick Notaro and faculty member Kristy DuBois, while the contemporary pieces were choreographed by faculty member Stephanie Shaw.
In the Junior Category, 12-year-olds Amelie (Lili) Perrott of Holliston, Brooke Holden of Medfield, and Camryn “Cam” Augustyn of Mansfield presented solo variations from the ballets Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, and Fairy Doll along with 14-year-old Avery Marion who danced a variation from the ballet Raymonda. Lili, Brooke, and Avery also performed contemporary pieces. We are pleased to announce that Lili was recognized as one of the top 24 dancers in the Junior Contemporary category and Cam as one of the top 24 in the Junior Classical category!
17-year-old dancers competing in the Senior category were Meghan Bourque of North Attleboro, who danced a variation from La Fille Mal Gardée and a contemporary piece entitled “I Don’t Want to Think,” Gabrielle Schmid of Holliston who danced a variation from La Esmeralda and the contemporary piece “Sonder,” and John Fumia of Hopedale who performed a ballet variation from Giselle and a contemporary piece called “Simplicity of Life.”
While recognition is wonderful, it’s never expected. Rather, what challenges our students and helps them grow as dancers, artists, and young people are the experiences of learning repertoire, working one-on-one with teachers and coaches, and performing in a unique environment. Dancing Arts Center is proud of all the students who participated in YAGP this year! They devoted hours of time, worked incredibly hard, and represented DAC with grace and spirit, each bringing their own special quality to the stage.
