Congratulations to the 2023 YAGP Winners!

After a long week of performances, master classes, and scholarship auditions, Youth America Grand Prix announced the results of its 2023 Final Round yesterday afternoon at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, Florida. Over the course of the last year, approximately 15,000 young dancers around the world have participated in YAGP’s regional and international competitions and semifinals; more than 1,700 moved on to the final round. And while a small group of dancers won awards, many others received scholarships to summer intensives and year-round pre-professional programs, as well as company contracts. But regardless of the results, the performances over the course of the week were a testament to the incredible talent, focus, and training among today’s young dancers.

For those of you who missed the livestreamed awards ceremony—or who want to catch the dancers’ names and ballet schools again—we’ve compiled a list below. Several of these dancers are now on their way to New York City to perform in YAGP’s 25th Anniversary Kick-Off Gala at Lincoln Center on April 11.

Congratulations to all the final-round dancers for your hard work and beautiful performances!

Senior Division

Grand Prix: Fabrizzio Ulloa Cornejo, 16, Ballet Theater Basel, Switzerland

Classical, Women

First: Ana Luisa Arantes Negrão, 18, Balé do Teatro Escola Basileu França, Brazil

Second (tie): Soo Min Kim, 18, Korea National University of the Arts, South Korea

Second (tie): Julie Joyner, 17, International City School of Ballet, GA, USA

Third: Olimpia Georgia Carauleanu, 15, JOY2DANCE, Romania

Classical, Men

First: Daniel Alejandro Guzman, 19, Fort Lauderdale Youth Ballet, FL, USA

Second: Julio Santos, 17, Escola do Teatro Bolshoi do Brasil, Brazil

Third: Minchul Jeon, 18, Korea National University of the Arts, South Korea

Junior Division

Classical, Women

First: Chae Eun Lee, 14, Yewon School, South Korea

Second (tie): Krysante Shiren Bianinova, 14, Marlupi Dance Academy, Indonesia

Second (tie): Yuzuki Okubo, 13, Ballerina School, Japan

Third (tie): Tamara Arandia, 13, Fomento Artistico Cordobes, Mexico

Third (tie): Crystal Huang, 14, Nevada School of Dance and The Rock Center for Dance, NV, USA

Classical, Men

First: João Pedro dos Santos Silva, 14, Balé do Teatro Escola Basileu França, Brazil

Second: Eric Poor, 13, CityDance Conservatory, MD, USA

Third: Rhett Davies, 14, Perth Classical and Contemporary Coaching, Australia

Pre-Competitive Division

Hope Award: Morgan Ligon, 11, Elite Classical Coaching, TX, USA

Classical, Women

First: Tiffany Emmanuela Tanugraha, 10, Marlupi Dance Academy, Indonesia

Second: Anne Takahashi, 10, Flora Ballet, Japan

Third: Victoria Carillo, 10, Master Ballet Academy, AZ, USA

Classical, Men

First: Shinji Mitoma, 11, Watanabe Buber Ballet Academy, Japan

Second: Leon Yusei Sai, 11, Southland Ballet Academy, CA, USA

Third: Charley Toscano, 11, Independent, TX, USA

Contemporary, Women

First: Rebeca Maria Zamfir, 11, Independent-Arts, Romania

Second: Lior Wieder, 10, Muza Dance Academy, Israel

Third: Kako Nakata, 10, K-Grace Ballet, Japan

Contemporary, Men

First: Neo Del Corral, 11, Stars Dance Studio/Stars Ballet Academy, FL, USA

Second: Leon Yusei Sai, 11, Southland Ballet Academy, CA, USA

Third: Owen Simmons, 10, The School of Cadence Ballet, Canada

Ensemble Division

Classical Pas de Deux

First: Soo Min Kim and Minchul Jeon, Korea National University of Arts, South Korea

Second: Grace Woodbury and Bryson Woody, International Ballet Academy, NC, USA

Third: Leon Yusei Sai and Afina Gosla, Southland Ballet Academy, CA, USA

Contemporary Pas de Deux

First: Taylor O’Meara and Cruz Vining, Master Ballet Academy, AZ, USA

Second: Morgan Ligon and Keenan Mentzos, Elite Classical Coaching, TX, USA

Third: Jade Conner and Nikita Malaki, The Rock School for Dance Education, PA, USA

Small Ensembles

First: Flames of Paris Pas de Quatre, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, NC, USA

Second: Unnaceptable Behavior, The School of Cadence Ballet, Canada

Third: Trinite, ProVer, Mexico

Large Ensembles

First: Ukrainian Hopak, Master Ballet Academy, AZ, USA

Second (tie): Calligraphy, Atlanta Professional Dance Academy, GA, USA

Second (tie): You’ve Got a Friend, Professione Danza Pescara, Italy

Third: Feeling Blue, Ballet de Galicia, Spain

Special Awards

Shelley King Award: Ana Lorenza Blanco Peniche, 13, Chasse Ballet, Mexico

Makarova Award: Sophia Koo, 15, Southland Ballet Academy, CA, USA

Outstanding School: Korea National University of the Arts, South Korea

Outstanding Choreographer: Tyler Angell