STORYBOARD -------+--------------------+------------------------------------------------- status | page | description -------+--------------------+------------------------------------------------- done | cover | fountain, group shot, logo, authors done | cover flap | text: proceeds to charity -------+--------------------+------------------------------------------------- - | left-inside-blank | (blank) done | right-page01 | tex: foreword, collage -------+--------------------+------------------------------------------------- done | left-page02 | world map, text: YAGP done | right-page03 | text: getting to New York Finals, KBB history -------+--------------------+------------------------------------------------- done | left-page04 | getting ready, organ room | right-page05 | pepsi theater, stills from every competition -- [ ] one typo, [ ] M2 wants new modern shot -------+--------------------+------------------------------------------------- done | left-page06 | welcome to Manhattan spread done | right-page07 | -------+--------------------+------------------------------------------------- | left-page08 | ballet spread | right-page09 | -------+--------------------+------------------------------------------------- | left-page10 | ballet spread | right-page11 | -------+--------------------+------------------------------------------------- | left-page12 | ballet spread | right-page13 | -------+--------------------+------------------------------------------------- | left-page14 | ballet spread | right-page15 | -------+--------------------+------------------------------------------------- | left-page16 | koch theater, grande defile | right-page17 | party -------+--------------------+------------------------------------------------- | left-page18 | famous people | right-page19 | fountain -------+--------------------+------------------------------------------------- done | left-page20 | fun shots - | right-inside-blank | (blank) -------+--------------------+------------------------------------------------- done | back cover flap | text: acknowledgements done | back cover | -------+--------------------+------------------------------------------------- Dancers are made, not born. -- Mikhail Baryshnikov ========================================================================================== COVER ========================================================================================== Title: YAGP NYC 2018 Subtitle: Koltun Ballet Boston ========================================================================================== INSIDE FLAP ========================================================================================== Your purchase of this book helps ensure the future of dance! All net-proceeds of this book go to a scholarship fund to aid dancers whose families who need financial assistance getting to YAGP in the coming years. From the entire Koltun Ballet Boston family, thank you! ========================================================================================== FOREWORD ========================================================================================== When you first hear the letters Y-A-G-P they might be inserted comfortably into sentences with the assumption that the listener had full comprehension of their meaning. Having become used to straining my native English ears to the contortions of Russians speaking French, German, Italian and English, to many of us it seemed like some new ballet term that we would someday understand: "Why Agee Pee." By now you have undoubtedly learned what YAGP stands for, in fact you can even ask Siri from your phone. But what probably isn't clear to you (unless you have gone through it a few times) is what it's all about and what lies ahead for your daughter (or son). If a picture speaks a thousand words, then this book will give you all the answers. Enjoy, Joe Kuefler Photographer And father of two YAGP dancers ========================================================================================== INSIDE COVER ========================================================================================== PREPARATION At Koltun Ballet Boston, teachers, choreographers and dancers are essentially always preparing for YAGP. Formally speaking the action starts every year in late September, only 5 months after the annual NYC finals in late April. The YAGP committee creates venues literally all over the world for dancers, their schools and their choreographers to present their hard work and training to the vast set of YAGP staff. The YAGP staff is comprised of active and retired dancers, ballet masters, choreographers and other notierity from the international commuinity. For the 2018 season, YAGP credited 62 dance professionals as judges and offered regional semi-finals in 35 locations throughout the world, staggered across an 8 month time period from Sao Paulo in September 2017 through Indianaplis in March 2018. MAP HERE ------------------------------------------------------------ 1. SAO PAULO, BRAZIL September 20 – 25, 2017 2. KOREA September 23 – 25, 2017 3. SHEN ZHEN, CHINA October 13 – 15, 2017 4. BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA October 18 – 19, 2017 5. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA October 21 – 22, 2017 6. OSAKA, JAPAN October 25 – 29, 2017 7. MEXICO Oct 30, 2017 – Nov 4, 2017 8. PARIS, FRANCE November 9 – 12, 2017 9. BARCELONA, SPAIN December 7 – 10, 2017 ------------------------------------------------------------ 10 SEATTLE, WA January 4 – 7, 2018 11 PHILADELPHIA, PA January 4 – 7, 2018 12 TAMPA, FL January 12 – 14, 2018 13 DENVER, CO January 12 – 14, 2018 14 PITTSBURGH, PA January 18 – 21, 2018 15 ATLANTA, GA January 19 – 21, 2018 16 CHICAGO, IL (JAN) January 19 – 21, 2018 17 LOS ANGELES, CA (JAN) January 25 – 28, 2018 18 WORCESTER, MA January 26 – 28, 2018 19 CHICAGO, IL (FEB) February 1 – 4, 2018 ------------------------------------------------------------ 20 DALLAS, TX February 2 – 4, 2018 21 WINSTON-SALEM, NC February 1 – 4, 2018 22 HOUSTON, TX February 9 – 11, 2018 23 LAS VEGAS, NV February 8 – 11, 2018 24 SALT LAKE CITY, UT February 16 – 18, 2018 25 SAN DIEGO, CA February 15 – 18, 2018 26 SAN FRANCISCO, CA (FEB) February 22 – 25, 2018 27 AUSTIN, TX February 23 – 25, 2018 28 NEW YORK CITY, NY February 25 – 27, 2018 29 KANSAS CITY, MO March 1 – 4, 2018 ------------------------------------------------------------ 30 SAN FRANCISCO, CA (MAR) March 2 – 4, 2018 31 BOSTON, MA March 3 – 4, 2018 32 PHOENIX, AZ March 8 – 11, 2018 33 LOS ANGELES, CA (MAR) March 9 – 11, 2018 34 TORONTO, CANADA March 9 – 11, 2018 35 INDIANAPOLIS, IN March 15 – 18, 2018 ------------------------------------------------------------ ** NEW YORK FINALS April 13 – 20, 2018 ------------------------------------------------------------ Proximity and timing of each regional semi-final venue plays an important role in every ballet studio's strategy. For instance, the two Boston-based venues are flooded by international visitors because by January and March dancers have had sufficient time to perfect their solo variations. Shortly after each regional, the YAGP committee publishes the news that everyone is waiting for: which dancers (or which group ensembles) have made it through to the NYC finals in late April/early May. Most dancers (and most schools) do not make it to NYC. Here's a look at KBB's appearance in the NYC finals over 6 years: - 2018: 2 soloists (Sojourn-15, Margaret-16), 2 ensembles (Strike, Insomnia) 
- 2017: 1 soloist (Ben-18), 1 pas de deux (Ben-18, Ellinor-16) 
- 2016: none 
- 2015: 1 soloist (Ava-13) 
- 2014: 1 soloist (Ava-12) 
- 2013: 3 soloists (Natasha-10, Melissa-16, Xavier-18) NYC VENUE As confusing as it might sound, making it to the NYC "finals" does not actually land you in the final-finals (aka the "Final Round"). The Final Round is done on the 2nd to last day of the NYC venue. The week-long NYC venue looks something like this: FRI - TUES :: 4 days of performances, soloist classes, ensemble classes and "Grand Defile" practices in various venues in and around NYC (but not Lincoln Center). In 2017 this was scattered all over NYC. In 2018 this was at Suny College in Purchase NY, 45 minutes outside the city. TUES NIGHT :: Posting of Final Round performers (all is tense until this moment). WEDNESDAY :: Final Round in Lincoln Center at the Koch Theater (home of New York City Ballet). THURSDAY :: Black tie "Gala" at the Koch Theater where a small sample of final round participants perform again, followed by a selection famous stars from around the world, followed by the "Grand Defile" (a 5 minute giant ensemble of all YAGP dancers at once). FRIDAY :: Award Ceremony (Top-12, 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each category, and an overall Grand Prix Champion across all categories), followed by a Big Party (for the dancers). Awards also include summer program scholarships, full year-round scholarships and job offers for company positions around the world. Pre-Competitive Group 1 Pre-Competitive Group 2 (Ages 10-11) Pre-Competitive Group 3 (Ages 11 & PC Men) Junior Group 1 (Ages 12 - 13) Junior Group 2 (Ages 13) Junior Group 3 (Ages 13 - 14) Junior Group 4 (Ages 14) Senior Group 1 (Ages 15) Senior Group 2 (Ages 15 - 16) Senior Group 3 (Ages 17 - 19) Junior Men (Ages 12 - 14) Senior Men Group 1 (Ages 15-16) Senior Men Group 2 (Ages 16-19) Pas de Deux Group 1 Pas de Deux Group 2 Pas de Deux Group 3 Pas de Deux Group 4 Ensemble Group 1 Ensemble Group 2 Ensemble Group 3 Large Ensemble Group 4 Large Ensemble Group 5 Large Ensemble Group 6