2014 Youth America Grand Prix Set for Lincoln Center, April 9-11

World's largest dance network and international student ballet scholarship audition - YOUTH AMERICA GRAND PRIX - will celebrate its 15th Anniversary with three spectacular performances at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater on April 9-11, 2014.

THE FINAL ROUND OF THE COMPETITION (April 9, 2014 at 7pm) - Each year, over 5,000 talented young dance students audition worldwide at semi-final rounds conducted by YAGP around the globe. Only 300 of the most promising young dancers representing 30 countries on 5 continents are chosen for the New York City Finals. Open to general public for the first time, the FINAL ROUND will give New York audiences a unique opportunity to see 60 of the world's best young dancers before they disperse around the world to study on scholarship at the world's leading dance academies (over $300,000 in scholarships are presented annually at YAGP). TICKETS: $45 for all seat locations, available at the David H. Koch Theater box office, at davidhkochtheater.com, or by 212.581.1212.

"STARS OF TODAY MEET THE STARS OF TOMORROW": YAGP 15th ANNIVERSARY GALA (April 10, 2014 at 7pm) - The annually sold-out YAGP Galas have become synonymous with the discovery of new dancers, choreographers, and companies. The unique format of the Gala, featuring the performances of international ballet stars and introducing the world's brightest young dance talent quickly became an audience favorite." YAGP'S 15th Anniversary Gala will feature the superstar of Bolshoi Ballet, Olga Smirnova. Performing a pas de deux from Tchaikovsky's "Onegin," she is partnered with Evan McKie (Stuttgart Ballet), who is making his New York debut. Misty Copeland (ABT) will perform the world premiere of a ballroom ensemble piece, choreographed by Emmy Award-winner Derek Hough from "Dancing with the Stars." YAGP is also proud to present eight YAGP alumni from ABT (Isabella Boylston, Skylar Brandt, Sarah Lane, Lauren Post, Katherine Williams, Calvin Royal III, Cory Stearns, and Gabe Stone Shayer) in a world premiere by Gemma Bond, with music specially composed by Karen LeFrak, and costumes created by Ralph Rucci. Another YAGP alum, Matthias Heymann of the Paris Opera Ballet, will perform a solo from "Manfred," choreographed by Rudolph Nureyev. Ballet diva Lucia Lacarra and Marlon Dino of the Munich State Opera Ballet are also confirmed to perform. The gala will be hosted by Marcelo Gomes and Hilaria Baldwin. TICKETS: $45-$150, available at the David H. Koch Theater box office, at davidhkochtheater.com, or by 212.581.1212. PATRON TICKETS AND TABLES include prime performance seats: $500, $1,000, $1,500, $2,500 for patron tickets; and $10,000, $15,000, $25,000 and $50,000 for tables of ten. Corporate and Artistic Sponsorship packages are available. Please call 646.465.5933 or visit www.yagp.org.

CLOSING NIGHT: "YAGP'S 15TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION" (April 11, 2014 at 7:00pm) - To celebrate its 15th Anniversary, Youth America Grand Prix will present a performance with an entirely new program featuring ballet artists of leading international dance companies. The evening will include a special presentation of Alvin Ailey's Pas de Duke, with Alicia Graf Mack (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater) and Daniil Simkin (American Ballet Theatre) reprising the roles originally created for Judith Jamison and Mikhail Baryshnikov. The celebration will feature YAGP alumni Sara Mearns, Lauren Lovette and Taylor Stanley (New York City Ballet), James Whiteside (American Ballet Theatre), and Brooklyn Mack (The Washington Ballet). Other artists include Lucia Lacarra (Munich State Opera Ballet), Daniel Ulbricht (New York City Ballet), and Herman Cornejo (American Ballet Theatre). Performance includes pre-show Q&A with Bolshoi Ballet's Artistic Director, Sergei Filin, which caps off his ten-day trip as a YAGP judge. Don't miss this unforgettable evening of dance! TICKETS: $45-$150, available at the David H. Koch Theater box office, at davidhkochtheater.com, or by 212.581.1212.

YOUTH AMERICA GRAND PRIX (YAGP) is the premier global dance network, connecting classically-trained young students, teachers, schools, companies, alumni, sponsors, dancers and choreographers to audiences who share a distinct passion for and love of dance. Celebrating its 15th year of operation, YAGP annually sponsors the world's largest student ballet scholarship audition through which over $300,000 in scholarships is awarded from the leading dance schools worldwide. Since its founding in 1999, over 50,000 young dancers ages 9 to 19 of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds have participated in YAGP's international workshops, audition classes, and dance awareness events. Gifted dancers have earned over $2.5 million in scholarships to the leading dance schools. More than 300 YAGP alumni currently dance with 80 companies around the world including American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Boston Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg, and many others. For more information, call 646.465.5933 or visit WWW.YAGP.ORG.

Pictured: Miko Fogarty at YAGP 2013 NYC Finals performing variation from La Esmeralda. Photo by Liza Voll Photography.