Photo: Draper’s YAGP finalists: Abra Geiger, Olivia Bevilacqua and Clara Theile, credit David Schiffhauer

Students also win top awards at Youth America Grand Prix regionals

Artistic Director Jamey Leverett chosen to coach YAGP dancer

 

Rochester, NY (March 26, 2019) – Rochester’s Draper Center for Dance Education was the big winner at the Youth America Grand Prix regionals in Toronto two weeks ago (March 8-10).

Not only was the Draper Center named “Outstanding School,” but the 16 competing Draper teen students won 10 awards in total, including both Junior and Senior Grand Prix winners – a very rare feat for this prestigious competition. Abra Geiger, a 14-year-old Spencerport resident, was chosen Junior Grand Prix winner, and 15-year-old Olivia Bevilacqua from Hilton was awarded the Senior Grand Prix win.

Clara Theile, a 14-year-old from Pittsford, won First Place in the Junior Contemporary category as well as Top 12 in the Junior Classical category. All three Draper dancers will compete in the YAGP finals in New York City next month, April 12 -19.

“I feel so grateful and honored to be chosen for the YAGP finals and am most excited to be surrounded by talented students from all over the world,” says Geiger. “I hope to be able to learn from each dancer and work to bring their best qualities into my own technique.”

“I’m so thankful to all of my teachers at Draper for everything they have done for me,” adds Bevilacqua.

Additionally, Katarina Weissbach, a promising 19-year-old dancer from Maine, will come to Rochester this spring to be coached by Draper Center Artistic Director Jamey Leverett.

“It’s quite an honor for me to be chosen by YAGP Director Larissa Saveliev herself to work with Kat,” says Leverett. “Having Draper Center recognized for its outstanding training is also a very proud moment and a huge tribute to all the hard work that happens here.”

“We have been following the Draper Center for Dance Education for the past 20 years, and their students always stand out for the unprecedented quality of training,” says Saveliev, who founded YAGP – the world’s largest global network of dance – 20 years ago. “We look forward to seeing them in New York this year and in the future!”

In addition to the Geiger, Bevilacqua and Theile, YAGP award-winners included:

  • Hannah Boyer (Age 17, Webster): Top 24 Senior Classical
  • Anna Joy (Age 14, Fairport): Top 12 Junior Contemporary & Top 12 Junior Classical
  • Vivian Li (Age, 17, Penfield): Top 12 Senior Classical
  • Morgan Throumoulos (Age 14, Webster): Top 24 Junior Classical
  • Jocelyn Wynn (Age 14, Rochester): Top 24 Junior Classical

Four other Draper participants were offered scholarships to Boston Ballet’s Summer Intensive: Riley Bevilacqua (Age 17, Hilton); Giuilana Fauth (Age 13, Brighton); Savanna Ross (Age 15, Brockport); and Sarah Schiffhauer (Age 15, Penfield).

Draper Center for Dance Education, the official training school for Rochester City Ballet, teaches approximately 150 students year-round. The Center provides a disciplined level of technique-focused classical ballet training, along with pointe, variations, modern, jazz, and creative movement for all ages. With impeccable dance technique as its focal point, the school also teaches formation of character and stresses standards of excellence in all areas of life.

Founded by the late Timothy M. Draper in 1986 to give the Rochester community a professional dance school where students would receive a strong foundation in classical ballet while studying other forms of artistic dance, the Draper Center continues to evolve. Jamey Leverett took over as artistic director in 2004 and, with Executive Director Katherine Ertsgaard, the school’s classical ballet-centric curriculum and teaching style has won awards and recognition as one of the top dance training schools in the United States.

Draper Center alumni currently perform or have performed with: New York City Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, National Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Ballet Met, Nashville Ballet, Houston Ballet, Boston Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Alonzo King’s Lines, Cedar Lake Dance, Hubbard Street, Cirque du Soleil, Kungliga Opera, Finnish National Ballet, and Rochester City Ballet.

Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) is the world’s largest student ballet competition, held in 10 international locations and 25 U.S. cities, and open to dance students of all nationalities 9 – 19 years old. Launched in 1999 by two former dancers of the world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet, Larissa and Gennadi Saveliev, YAGP is a non-profit organization created to provide unique educational and professional opportunities for young dance students, acting as a stepping-stone to a professional dance career. Leading dance professionals from around the world are involved in YAGP, and the competition has gained major recognition in the American media and from various government agencies. Since its inception, YAGP has become an internationally known meeting place for dance students and teachers, where they can exchange their ideas, share experience, and learn the most up- to-date information on a variety of issues in ballet and contemporary dance.

Media please note: High-resolution photos of Draper Center’s YAGP award-winners and participants can be found here: https://bit.ly/2UdilO8. Interviews as well as photo/footage opportunities may be arranged.

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