NGB students gear up for YAGP

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Hannah Bettes, former NGB student, at a YAGP competition.

Students of Patel Conservatory’s Next Generation Ballet (NGB) will be participating in their first round of Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) auditions this weekend.
On Saturday morning, hopeful advanced ballet students will participate in a warm-up class followed by the audition that will decide who will qualify to go to the YAGP regional competition held at the Straz Center in January.
This year, qualifying students will be selected by an outside panel of judges rather than Patel Conservatory faculty.
“This is a new initiative to have outside eyes select the best fit of dancer to compete at YAGP,” said Claire Olson, dance manager at the Conservatory.
The judges for the auditions will be Bruce Marks, Andrew Carroll, Robert DeWarren and Jack Clark.
Historically, NGB students have placed well at YAGP competitions, winning scholarships from prestigious ballet schools around the world. Many have gone on to compete at the finals in New York City, where Patel Conservatory received YAGP's Outstanding School Award in 2011.
The YAGP competition in January will include a final gala, featuring the best competitors alongside international ballet stars. The Gala will be filmed and broadcasted through Emerging Pictures Dance and Cinema Series.