Youth America Grand Prix

Seattle, WA

General

Reviewer:

Parent with Dancer Input

Dancer Age:

Competition experience:

6-10

Event Details

Round:

Regional

Season:

2024-25

Location:

Seattle, WA

Traveled to compete:

Yes

Regional was the closest:

Yes

Regionals attended:

Who encouraged multiple regionals:

Entry affiliation:

School

Rules Easy to Access?

Yes

Did Dancer Miss School?

Yes

Days of school missed:

Attended master classes:

Yes

Master Classes

Master Class Types:

Contemporary, Technique, Variations

Master class teachers:

James Payne

Distance from venue:

Less than five miles away

Received corrections:

Yes

How corrections were given:

corrections were given to individuals

What corrections were about:

about placement, technique, dancing

Anatomical language:

Yes

Correction tone:

Positive, Neutral

Teacher engagement:

James Payne was wonderful. Engaged and helpful

Crowding:


Really Crowded	Plenty of Room to Move

Master Class Feedback

Technique:

Contemporary:

Variations:

Additional master class comments:

Performance Details

Venue name:

Edmonds Theatre for the Arts

Venue description:

lots of seating however this time, family and friends were only allowed in the balcony, not the main level

Stage description:

marley - good floor, lots of room

Off-stage warm-up space:

fair

Dressing rooms:

dressing rooms were small

Parents in dressing rooms:

Male dressing room:

Yes

Parents backstage:

Onstage warm-up:

too crowded

Schedule adherence:

Tended to run ahead

Staff communication:

i think it was fine

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:

Numerical scores, Brief written feedback

Feedback helpfulness:


Not Helpful At All	Extremely Helpful

Main takeaway:

it seemed that some of the judges or staff were biased against our particular school as the words "ballet academy" were not part of the dance school name

Scoring felt fair:

Unsure

Why Scoring Unfair?

our school had a small ensemble and 2 duets that finished first overall, and first and second overall. None of these were invited to finals, despite finishing at the top and having high scores. The ensemble that finished in second place (a "ballet academy" whose director was obviously familiar with YAGP leadership) were invited to finals

Awards & Scholarships

Awards ceremony:

the ceremony was lovely, but there was not space in the theatre for family and friends - they had to watch on zoom

Won an award or training offer:

Yes

Festival offer:

Gala offer:

Invited to finals:

Award or Training Offer Description:

She received a short stay offer and a full SI scholarship to Ballet West, as well as a 50% scholarship for International Contemporary something in NY. She also received entry and scholarship for Alberta Ballet. She placed top 12 classical and 3rd overall contemporary

Final Comments

Best aspect:

lovely venue, great masterclasses, good onstage experience

Worst aspect:

the feeling of unfairness to know that our school was excluded from finals invitations because it's called a dance academy (and does other styles as well as ballet). This was communicated to one of our school staff by one of the judges

Competition culture:

meh

Attendee culture:

attendees were lovely - this was one of the best things - interacting with other dancers etc

Suggested changes:

Stop the favouritism and bias for big schools and where they have relationships

Cost vs. expectation:


Significantly More	Significantly Less

Time worth it:


Not Worth It	Worth Every Minute

Overall rating:

Anything else?

it is not an even playing field. There are biases and favourites