Shooting for the stars at the Youth American Grand Prix in Toronto
Kicking off March Break, dancers from schools across Canada and beyond auditioned in Toronto on the weekend at Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), which conducts international searches to identify promising young talent. More than 350 dancers between the ages of 9 and 19 twirled and pirouetted in front of judges in hopes of receiving scholarships to top schools and companies. The 2025 scouting season has more than 12,000 participating dancers in cities around the world, with each competitor hoping to grab the spotlight. About US$5-million has been awarded since 1999. Awards are handed out in each city. Toronto winners will be online later today.
Anna Li, 15, of Goh Ballet Academy in Vancouver, auditions at the YAGP.Galit Rodan/The Globe and Mail
Ariana Sarmiento, 15, of The School of Cadence Ballet in Toronto, auditions at the Youth America Grand Prix in Toronto on Saturday.Galit Rodan/The Globe and Mail
Dancers practice during a 15-minute open stage period at the YAGP.Galit Rodan/The Globe and Mail
Dancers get ready for the junior classical competition at the YAGP.Galit Rodan/The Globe and Mail
Owen Simmons, 12, of the School of Cadence Ballet in Toronto, auditions at the YAGP.Galit Rodan/The Globe and Mail
Backstage manager Polly Pardo speaks with participants before the junior classical competition.Galit Rodan/The Globe and Mail
Dancers practice during a 15-minute open stage period at the YAGP.Galit Rodan/The Globe and Mail
Sarah Lai, 13, of Harriet Chung Performing Arts in Stouffville, practices before the junior classical competition.Galit Rodan/The Globe and Mail
Julia Wilson (left), 13, and Isabella Wenxuan Xie, 13, get ready for the junior classical competition.Galit Rodan/The Globe and Mail
Ava Villella, 15, of the Oakville School of Classical Ballet auditions at the YAGP.Galit Rodan/The Globe and Mail
Dancers watch the competition perform from backstage at the YAGP.Galit Rodan/The Globe and Mail
Backstage manager Polly Pardo speaks with participants in the junior contemporary competition at the YAGP.Galit Rodan/The Globe and Mail
Annelie Stollenwerk, 13, of Iowa gets ready with the help of her dance teacher Anguelina Kouznetsova at the YAGP.Galit Rodan/The Globe and Mail
Poppie Jenke, 14, of the Goh Ballet Academy in Vancouver auditions at the YAGP.Galit Rodan/The Globe and Mail
Dancers from the Rochester School of Dance in Michigan run through exercises with a makeshift barre ahead of their auditions at the YAGP.Galit Rodan/The Globe and Mail
Jonathan Macleod, 12, performs a leap in the practice studio as his dance teacher, Ida Gerasolo, ballet director at Jo-Anne Chapman School of Dance in Toronto, observes.Galit Rodan/The Globe and Mail
Émilie Lavoie, 13, of Studio Innova Dance in Saint-Basile-le-Grand, Quebec, auditions at the YAGP.Galit Rodan/The Globe and Mail