PBT School Student Excels in Youth America Grand Prix
Congratulations to PBT School student Sophie Silnicki on a standout performance at the 2013 Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) finals in New York City this spring.
After receiving multiple awards at the YAGP semifinals, Silnicki, 16, advanced to the final round of the international student ballet competition, where she was one of 25 Senior Women (ages 15-19) – and one of six from the United States – to continue to the final round of the competition at Lincoln Center. There, she had the opportunity to perform during both the YAGP awards ceremony and the “Stars of Today Meet Stars of Tomorrow” Gala, featuring the most promising young dance students and the stars of today’s leading international dance companies. During the awards ceremony, Sophie received offers for several training opportunities at U.S. and international ballet companies.
In addition to qualifying for the finals, Silnicki’s performance at the YAGP Semi-Finals – held March 8-10, 2013 in Indianapolis – earned her first place in the Contemporary Category and third place in the Classical Category for the Senior Division, which included 177 competitors from the United States and abroad of the 15-19 year-old age range. Silnicki’s winning solos included Gone, a contemporary piece choreographed by Adrienne Canterna (1st Place) and the variation from Raymonda Act II (3rd Place) for her classical piece.
The 2013 YAGP marks Silnicki’s sixth consecutive year performing in the competition. In 2012, Silnicki received the Grand Prize in the Junior Division of the Semi-Finals in Torrington, CT, with top awards for both her Classical and Contemporary Solos.
Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) is the world’s largest student ballet scholarship competition and annually awards more than $250,000 in scholarships to leading dance schools worldwide. The competition is held annually around the world and in New York City, and is open to dance students of all nationalities from 9-19 years old. Launched in 1999 by two former dancers of the world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet, Larissa and Gennadi Saveliev, YAGP is also a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization created with a mission to provide extraordinary educational and professional opportunities to young dancers, acting as a stepping stone to a professional dance career, according to the YACP website.
Photo by: VAM Productions