Latest news with #2025YouthAmericaGrandPrix
Japan Times
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Two Japanese place first in international youth ballet competition
Two Japanese girls placed first in separate categories at the 2025 Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) international youth ballet competition finals in Tampa, Florida, it was announced Sunday. Natsuki Sugimoto, 12, a first-year junior high school student from Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, tied for first place in the junior age division for girls who were between the ages of 12 and 14 as of Jan. 1. Hana Terada, 11, a final-year elementary school student from Kawasaki, finished first in the classical dance category in the precompetitive age division for girls between the ages of 9 and 11. "I want to become a dancer who stands in the center of the stage and makes the whole audience smile," said Sugimoto, who plans to attend a ballet school abroad. Also at the competition, Leon Yusei Sai, 14, who lives in the United States, ranked second in the junior age division for boys. In the precompetitive age division for boys, Daigaku Katayama, 11, from Ueda, Nagano Prefecture, placed third in the classical dance category, and Yusei Yoshitake, 11, from Tokyo, placed second in the contemporary dance category. YAGP offers scholarships to young talents from the competition to study at dance schools around the world. Hana Terada performs at the Youth America Grand Prix international youth ballet competition on April 21. | LK Studio / via Jiji
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
2 Japanese Place 1st in Int'l Youth Ballet Competition
New York, April 27 (Jiji Press)--Two Japanese girls placed first in separate categories at the 2025 Youth America Grand Prix international youth ballet competition finals in Tampa, Florida, it was announced Sunday. Natsuki Sugimoto, 12, a first-year junior high school student from Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, tied for first place in the junior age division for girls who were 12 to 14 years old as of Jan. 1. Hana Terada, 11, a final-year elementary school student from Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo, finished first in the classical dance category in the pre-competitive age division for girls aged 9 to 11. "I want to become a dancer who stands in the center of the stage and makes the whole audience smile," said Sugimoto, who plans to attend a ballet school abroad. Also at the competition, Leon Yusei Sai, 14, who lives in the United States, ranked second in the junior age division for boys. In the pre-competitive age division for boys, Daigaku Katayama, 11, from Ueda, Nagano Prefecture, central Japan, placed third in the classical dance category, and Yusei Yoshitake, 11, from Tokyo, placed second in the contemporary dance category. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
Korea Herald
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Jeon Min-chul wins top prize at ballet's Youth America Grand Prix
South Korean dancer Jeon Min-chul won the Grand Prix title at the 2025 Youth America Grand Prix, the world's largest student ballet competition in Tampa, Florida, on Friday. Jeon competed in the senior men's division held April 21-27 and was named the overall Grand Prix winner -- the highest award given across all divisions and age groups. Jeon performed Albrecht's variation from "Giselle" in the finals, a piece he had recently danced with the Universal Ballet on April 18 and 20. Jeon's win marks the fifth time a South Korean dancer has claimed the top honor at the prestigious international competition, following Seo Hee (2003), principal dancer of American Ballet Theatre; Kim Ki-min (2012), principal at the Mariinsky Ballet; Jun Joon-hyuk (2016), soloist with The Royal Ballet; and Park Geon-hee (2024) of Korea National University of Arts. Jeon previously competed in the YAGP junior division in 2019, reaching the finals, and returned in 2023 to claim first place in the senior classical pas de deux and third place in the senior solo category. The 20-year-old dancer made headlines last year when it was announced he would join the Mariinsky Ballet Company, becoming only the second Korean to do so after Kim Ki-min in 2012. Founded in 2000, the Youth America Grand Prix is the largest international ballet competition, open to dancers aged 9 to 19. This year, more than 12,000 dancers from around the world participated in the preliminary rounds, with approximately 2,000 dancers from 41 countries advancing to the finals.
