Laura Lobdell and Darrell E. Flannel, Adrianne and Gigi Vittadini, and Joe Volpe were chairman of a benefit in Sarasota Florida for Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), which included a breathtaking solo performance of The Dying Swan by Hee Seo, Principal Dancer at ABT. YAGP chairman, Jeanene Russell Perry, a former dancer and now choreographer, spoke about the organization’s mission to provide opportunities for young dancers. “Hee Seo is a shining example of the beauty of our program. A YAGP Alum, she also runs our program in Korea, which to date has worked with over 30,000 students.” Guest sipped pink champagne and ballet slipper cocktails as the sun set over the magnificent view of the Casey Key. The Lobdell/Flannel house is a masterpiece by Florida architect Guy Peterson.
YAGP founder Larissa Saveliev was unable to attend the event as she was not only supervising US regional auditions but also seeking international programs to take talented Ukrainian ballet students. It’s been a Herculean task; contacting schools across Europe, sending airfare and train fair, finding teachers to meet them at the border, clean practice clothes, food, and communicating with families. So far there are no visa’s available for these students into the US. In Monaco, where there legal statutes prohibit refugees, special dispensation from The Palace has been granted. The Russian born Saveliev is half Ukrainian herself.
Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) is the largest global network of dance, providing education through international scholarship auditions, master classes, alumni services, performances, and a wide range of education programs. In 23 years over $4.5 million has been awarded in scholarships to the world’s leading dance schools. Over 150,000 young dancers – ages 9 to 19 – of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds have participated in YAGP’s international workshops, auditions, classes, and dance awareness events. Today, more than 12,000 young dancers audition annually worldwide. More than 450 Youth America Grand Prix alumni are now dancing with 80 professional companies around the world, including American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, New York City Ballet, Mariinsky Ballet, Miami Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, and many many others. Over 100 of these alumni are soloists and principal dancers. YAGP is a registered 501c3 not for profit foundation.