Metropolitan Ballet Academy Wins the Outstanding School Award in Youth America Grand Prix 2012 Regional Semi-Finals
Feb 6th, 2012 | By Steven Weisz | Category: Dance Education
Peter Weil, (15, Jenkintown) Second Place winner in the Contemporary Dance Category; Photo by VAM Productions
Metropolitan Ballet Academy students have much to celebrate as they excelled in the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) 2012 Regional Semi-Finals held in January in Philadelphia, PA. Metropolitan Ballet Academy (MBA) was presented with the Outstanding School Award for the exceptional performances of 25 of their pre-professional level students.
Youth America Grand Prix is the world’s largest international student ballet scholarship competition. YAGP has awarded more than $2 million in scholarships to leading dance schools worldwide. Over 25,000 dancers worldwide have participated in YAGP’s international workshops, competitions, and audition classes; more than 200 YAGP alumni are now dancing with 50 companies around the world, including such acclaimed companies as American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet.
Metropolitan Ballet Academy students, Peter Weil (Jenkintown), Kamryn Baldwin (Blue Bell), Darius Black (Voorhees), Rafaella Rader (Philadelphia), and the Children’s Ensemble won top honors. These Metropolitan Ballet Academy students will continue on to the New York City Finals.
Other noteworthy performances in the YAGP Semi-Finals included: Daniel Shevelev (12, Huntingdon Valley), Kamryn Baldwin (13, Blue Bell), Leela Breitman (16, Huntingdon Valley), Sophie Lane (13, Elkins Park), Nancy Wenger (14, Newtown) as well as Sierra Levin (15, Doylestown), Leah McCormick (18, Jenkintown), and Sara Vander Voort (17, Feasterville).
The YAGP New York City Finals, April 22-27, 2012, consists of finalists selected from semi-final rounds conducted worldwide. They will compete for more than $250,000 in scholarships to 30 of the world’s leading dance schools, as well as job offers from companies in the U.S. and abroad.
Lisa Collins Vidnovic, founder and director of Metropolitan Ballet Academy, goes on to say, “I am so proud of our students, who have worked extraordinarily hard to achieve this great honor, and thrilled that the esteemed panel of judges and the Youth America Grand Prix organization have recognized our school. I would in turn like to acknowledge our generous and dedicated faculty, this wonderful group of students, and the devoted and supportive parents behind each of them. The entire Academy congratulates Peter Weil, Kamryn Baldwin, Darius Black, Rafaella Rader and the children in the Ensemble on their well-earned accomplishments.”
