Youth America Grand Prix

Los Angeles, CA

General

Reviewer:

Parent

Dancer Age:

Competition experience:

More than 10

Event Details

Round:

Regional

Season:

2024-25

Location:

Los Angeles, CA

Traveled to compete:

Regionals attended:

Rationale for multiple regionals:

It gave her multiple opportunities to perform and be seen by judges.

Who encouraged multiple regionals:

Entry affiliation:

Independent

Rules Easy to Access?

Yes

Did Dancer Miss School?

Attended master classes:

Yes

Master Classes

Master Class Types:

Technique, Contemporary

Master class teachers:

I can’t recall the one for this location.

Distance from venue:

At the same venue

Received corrections:

Yes

How corrections were given:

Mostly group corrections with a couple of individual corrections.

What corrections were about:

Technical corrections.

Anatomical language:

Yes

Correction tone:

Positive, Neutral

Teacher engagement:

They have always been engaged and quality master classes

Crowding:


Really Crowded	Plenty of Room to Move

Master Class Feedback

Technique:

Contemporary:

Additional master class comments:

The teachers did an excellent job providing a valuable and quality class. The downside was when the YAGP director went into the classical master class and had an employee record them. She singled out two of the favorite dancers clearly for videoing to send for scholarships. It was distracting to have the director in there, rearranging the placement of the dancers, clearly showing bias towards a couple of favorites. One of the dancers being filmed was clearly uncomfortable also.

Performance Details

Venue name:

Irvine Barclay

Venue description:

Very nice theater.

Stage description:

No problems with the theater

Off-stage warm-up space:

There was adequate space.

Dressing rooms:

I actually didn’t notice if they had a dressing room for the males.

Parents in dressing rooms:

Male dressing room:

Yes

Parents backstage:

Onstage warm-up:

It’s too crowded to practice anything significant from the variation, but it was an opportunity to get a feel for the stage. It was fine.

Schedule adherence:

Tended to mostly run on time

Staff communication:

We didn’t have any communication with them about changes.

Parent seminar offered:

Judging

Judging rubric clarity:

Judges' attentiveness:

Some of the judges watched and some seemed distracted

Feedback turnaround:

A few days after the competition

Type of Feedback:

Brief written feedback, Numerical scores

Feedback helpfulness:


Not Helpful At All	Extremely Helpful

Main takeaway:

Some feedback from particular judges has been helpful and thoughtful. Other comments haven’t been thoughtful.

Scoring felt fair:

Why Scoring Unfair?

There are dancers that are clearly deserving of high scores because they are fantastic dancers. Then there are other dancers who receive higher scores than they should and placement because they come from preferred schools. The school bias at YAGP is very clear in Southern California.

Awards & Scholarships

Awards ceremony:

Maria Konrad was hosting this awards ceremony. It was a refreshing change from the usual host, who I don’t enjoy. I appreciated the maturity that Maria Konrad brought to hosting. I wish they could either make the ceremony shorter so it’s more tolerable, or make it longer but with actual substance like how ADCIBC does Q and A.

Won an award or training offer:

Yes

Festival offer:

Gala offer:

Invited to finals:

Award or Training Offer Description:

Scholarship for summer at Next Generation Ballet.

Final Comments

Best aspect:

The master classes are fantastic and the opportunity to be seen by industry leaders.

Worst aspect:

The clear bias towards certain schools and dancers is disappointing. Some dancers were able to repeat their variation simply because they are a favorite. Some are recorded more in class because they are a favorite. Some scoring is clearly biased towards particular schools or dancers.

Competition culture:

Serious and professional.

Attendee culture:

Serious and professional.

Suggested changes:

Founders or employees of YAGP should not be a judge, or even sitting at the judges table.

Cost vs. expectation:


Significantly More	Significantly Less

Time worth it:


Not Worth It	Worth Every Minute

Overall rating:

Anything else?

If you go to a studio who doesn’t have connections, you’re better off going to a different competition.