Young dancers studying at the Metropolitan Ballet Academy (MBA) in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, achieved great success at the 2018 Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), taking top honors in the annual competition’s regional semi-finals held in held in Philadelphia from January 4-7, 2018. 47 MBA dancers, including 14 young men from the famed MBA Boys Scholarship Program, will continue to compete in the prestigious YAGP Finals in New York, taking place in April 2018. The Metropolitan Ballet was honored to once again receive the Outstanding School Award from the YAGP. for the fourth time.
MBA Founder and Artistic Director Lisa Collins Vidnovic said, “I am so proud of each of our young dancers who work so hard throughout the year. I am also grateful to all of our artistic staff, especially Mrs. Natalya Zeiger and Mr. Taras Lewyckyj, who took great care in preparing our dancers for the stage Finally, thanks must be given to our fantastic costume design team and wardrobe, led by the MBA’s Jan Schleiger, and the many dedicated MBA parents who support all of our dancers during the YAGP season and throughout the year.” Students who excel at YAGP are often offered scholarships to study with regional ballet companies across America, and many MBA alumni dance professionally with companies from coast to coast.
In January 2018, MBA won the following awards at the YAGP Philadelphia Regional Semi-Finals:
Micaelina Carter (15, Horsham, PA), Juan Castellanos (17, Philadelphia, PA), Aedan Daly (12, Philadelphia, PA), Eoin Daly (17, Philadelphia, PA), Sarah Fedders (14, Jenkintown, PA), Jacey Gailliard (13, Philadelphia, PA), Sophia Hallquist (13, Jenkintown, PA), Hannah Henderson (17, Huntingdon Valley, PA), Ekaterina Hulayev (12, Abington, PA), Michael Jastrzebski (17, Philadelphia, PA) , Maria Karakousis (13, Philadelphia, PA), Tino Karakousis (11, Philadelphia, PA), Bethany Latham (17, Bethlehem, PA), Tana Liu (13, Rydal, PA), Caleb Mansor (17, Hatboro, PA) , Alexis McDonald (16, North Wales, PA), Madison Menale (15, Feasterville, PA), Emma Morrison (15, Doylestown, PA), Anastasia Mykich (12, Jenkintown, PA), Giulia Pascucci (15, Doylestown, PA ) ), Emma Plinke (16, Souderton, PA), Anna Portis (15, Abington, PA), Bryson Reid (12, Perkasie, PA), Devon Reid (17, Perkasie, PA), Jadyn Reid (15, Perkasie, PA) ), Micah Sell (15, Philadelphia, PA), Gemma Smith (14, Jenkintown, PA), Marg ot Stern (15, Meadowbrook, PA), Gabrielle Straface (12, Abington, PA), Emily Warden (16, Wyncote, PA), Sophia Whittaker-Inserra (14, Moorestown, NJ), Isabella Wu (16 years, Chalfont, PA) and Lily Zeller (15, Warrington, PA)
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2nd Place, Senior Classical Soloist: Michael Jastrzebski (17, Philadelphia, PA)
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2nd Place, Senior Contemporary Soloist: Devon Reid (17, Perkasie, PA)
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3rd place, junior classical soloist: Jacey Gailliard (13, Philadelphia, PA)
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Top 12, Junior Contemporary Soloist: Jacey Gailliard (13, Philadelphia, PA)
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Top 12, Junior Contemporary Soloist: Aedan Daly (12, Philadelphia, PA)
George Arendt (11, Levittown, PA), Abigail Bergson-Conklin (11, Fort Washington, PA), Lucy Cullen (11, Glenside, PA), Ella Eaton (11, Hatboro, PA), Anabella Castellanos (12, Philadelphia, PA), Aedan Daly (12, Philadelphia, PA), Aisling Daly (10, Philadelphia, PA), Evan Gualtieri (10, Abington, PA), Madeline Jamieson (12, Jenkintown, PA), Tino Karakousis (11, Philadelphia, PA), Dennis Lyons (11, Philadelphia, PA), Mark Podolsky (12, Abington, PA), Giada Pontillo (10, Flourtown, PA), Bryson Reid (12, Perkasie, PA), Matthew Thorsen (12, Elkins Park , PA) and Miranda Vega (9, Jenkintown, PA)
The Metropolitan Ballet Academy was recognized by Pointe magazine as one of seven US ballet studios “cultivating the best talent” (October/November 2011). MBA is now accepting registrations for its summer intensive; fall classes for ages 3-18 begin September 10, 2018. To register and get information, call 215-663-1665, email collins[email protected] or visit www.metropolitanballetacademy. com
