YAGP 2026 – CHICAGO, IL (FEB) – WINNERS - YAGP

      JURY PANEL
                 
      Alison Stroming       Founder, AS Dancewear; Former Principal Dancer, Dance Theatre of Harlem; American Ballet Theatre Alum  
                 
      Ivaylo Alexiev       Assistant Principal, Boston Ballet School  
                 
      Jeff Rogers       Director of Men’s Program, Ballet West Academy  
                 
      Maeghan McHale       Faculty, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School; Former Dancer, Giordano Dance Chicago  
                 
      Nick Mullikin       Artistic Director & CEO, Nashville Ballet  
                 
      Sonia Rodriguez       Former Principal Dancer, National Ballet of Canada  
                 
      Alexei Moskalenko       Associate Artistic Director, YAGP; Former Dancer, Bolshoi Ballet  
                 
      SENIOR AGE DIVISION
      CLASSICAL DANCE CATEGORY   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
  1ST PLACE   Daniela Quiroga   17   Dance Center of San Antonio/Main, TX  
  2ND PLACE   Scarlett Lavery   15   Valentina’s School of Ballet, MI  
  3RD PLACE (TIE)   Abigail Tallman   18   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
  3RD PLACE (TIE)   Elisabeth Cain   17   A&A BALLET, IL  
                 
      TOP 12   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
      Abigail Tallman   18   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
      Auburn Busselberg   15   Concept Pavielle, MN  
      Daniela Quiroga   17   Dance Center of San Antonio, TX  
      Elisabeth Cain   17   A&A BALLET, IL  
      Gwendolyn Thomas   15   Hinsdale Dance Academy, IL  
      Mackenzie Roark   16   A&A BALLET, IL  
      Mia Giselle Ferak   17   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
      Natalie Simmons   16   The School of Cadence Ballet, ON  
      Savannah Lee   16   Southold Dance Theater, IN  
      Scarlett Lavery   15   Valentina’s School of Ballet, MI  
      Sydney Jameson   17   Milwaukee Ballet School, WI  
      Wren Versluis   16   A&A BALLET, IL  
                 
      TOP 24   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
      Abbey Price   18   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
      Abigail Tallman   18   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
      Annika Engebretson   16   Ballet Royale Minnesota, MN  
      Auburn Busselberg   15   Concept Pavielle, MN  
      Daniela Branavitskaya   15   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
      Daniela Quiroga   17   Dance Center of San Antonio, TX  
      Elisabeth Cain   17   A&A BALLET, IL  
      Emma Bontrager   17   Southold Dance Theater, IN  
      Emma Kennedy   15   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
      Grace Batterman   15   A&A BALLET, IL  
      Gwendolyn Thomas   15   Hinsdale Dance Academy, IL  
      Kathryn O’Brochta   15   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
      Katie Walter   15   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
      Layla Miller   17   Independent, IL  
      Mackenzie Roark   16   A&A BALLET, IL  
      Megan Meier   18   MainStage Academy of Dance, WI  
      Mia Giselle Ferak   17   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
      Natalie Simmons   16   The School of Cadence Ballet, ON  
      Persephone Leister   15   A&A BALLET, IL  
      Rebecca Taylor   17   Plainfield Dance Academy, IL  
      Savannah Lee   16   Southold Dance Theater, IN  
      Scarlett Lavery   15   Valentina’s School of Ballet, MI  
      Sydney Jameson   17   Milwaukee Ballet School, WI  
      Wren Versluis   16   A&A Ballet/Wren Versluis, IL  
                 
      CONTEMPORARY DANCE CATEGORY   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
  1ST PLACE   Abigail Tallman   18   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
  2ND PLACE   Auburn Busselberg   15   Concept Pavielle, MN  
  3RD PLACE (TIE)   Scarlett Lavery   15   Valentina’s School of Ballet, MI  
  3RD PLACE (TIE)   Natalie Simmons   16   The School of Cadence Ballet, ON  
                 
      TOP 12   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
      Abigail Tallman   18   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
      Aoife Nugent   15   Steps Dance Center, IL  
      Auburn Busselberg   15   Concept Pavielle, MN  
      Bailey Bryan   18   A&A BALLET, IL  
      Brooklyn Tilma   16   Kathy’s Dance Company, MI  
      Emma Kennedy   15   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
      Ezekiel Ruiz   15   Chicago City Classical Ballet, IL  
      Kathryn O’Brochta   15   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
      Kavan Smith   15   The Dancer’s EDGE, IA  
      Mia Giselle Ferak   17   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
      Natalie Simmons   16   The School of Cadence Ballet, ON  
      Scarlett Lavery   15   Valentina’s School of Ballet, MI  
                 
      JUNIOR AGE DIVISION
                 
  YOUTH GRAND PRIX   George Alex Kremnev   14   A&A BALLET – Main, IL  
                 
      CLASSICAL DANCE CATEGORY   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
  1ST PLACE   Owen Simmons   13   The School of Cadence Ballet, ON  
  2ND PLACE   Annie Gustafson   14   Hinsdale Dance Academy, IL  
  3RD PLACE   Miina Fujie   14   A&A BALLET – Main, IL  
                 
      TOP 12   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
      Amanda Zhang   12   Mi Ballet Professional Coaching, BC  
      Anna Claire Peters   12   Hinsdale Dance Academy, IL  
      Annie Gustafson   14   Hinsdale Dance Academy, IL  
      Callie Mraz   13   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
      Claire Wu   12   Li’s Ballet Studio, CA  
      Eloise Maduri   13   Hinsdale Dance Academy, IL  
      Emiliia Yendovytska   12   Valentina’s School of Ballet, MI  
      Faith Richardson   13   Valentina’s School of Ballet, MI  
      George Alex Kremnev   14   A&A BALLET – Main, IL  
      Harper Anderson   13   Concept Pavielle, MN  
      Miina Fujie   14   A&A BALLET – Main, IL  
      Owen Simmons   13   The School of Cadence Ballet, ON  
                 
      TOP 24   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
      Aino Kosobayashi   12   A&A BALLET – Main, IL  
      Alina Fertal   14   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
      Amanda Zhang   12   Mi Ballet Professional Coaching, BC  
      Anna Claire Peters   12   Hinsdale Dance Academy, IL  
      Annie Gustafson   14   Hinsdale Dance Academy, IL  
      Bella Yi   14   Valentina’s School of Ballet, MI  
      Callie Mraz   13   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
      Charlotte Bartholomay   14   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
      Claire Wu   12   Li’s Ballet Studio, CA  
      Eloise Maduri   13   Hinsdale Dance Academy, IL  
      Emiliia Yendovytska   12   Valentina’s School of Ballet, MI  
      Eva Dorofejeva   14   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
      Faith Richardson   13   Valentina’s School of Ballet, MI  
      Genevieve Mesco   14   Plainfield Dance Academy, IL  
      George Alex Kremnev   14   A&A BALLET – Main, IL  
      Harper Anderson   13   Concept Pavielle, MN  
      Kennedy Ghia   13   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
      Lucia Stefanski   12   Urbana Fine Arts Center, IL  
      Madeleine Silverberg   13   Blanco Ballet Academy, IL  
      Madison Neidig   13   Hinsdale Dance Academy, IL  
      Miina Fujie   14   A&A BALLET – Main, IL  
      Olivia Crotty   14   Hinsdale Dance Academy, IL  
      Owen Simmons   13   The School of Cadence Ballet, ON  
      Peyton Harms   14   Thrive Center for Dance, IL  
                 
      CONTEMPORARY DANCE CATEGORY   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
  1ST PLACE   Annie Gustafson   14   Hinsdale Dance Academy, IL  
  2ND PLACE   Owen Simmons   13   The School of Cadence Ballet, ON  
  3RD PLACE   Harper Anderson   13   Concept Pavielle, MN  
                 
      TOP 12   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
      Alina Fertal   14   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
      Annie Gustafson   14   Hinsdale Dance Academy, IL  
      Charlotte Bartholomay   14   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
      Claire Wu   12   Li’s Ballet Studio, CA  
      Cora Peraino   13   Valentina’s School of Ballet, MI  
      Emmie Plitt   14   Steps Dance Center, IL  
      Faith Richardson   13   Valentina’s School of Ballet, MI  
      George Alex Kremnev   14   A&A BALLET – Main, IL  
      Gigi Natho   14   Dance Center of San Antonio, TX  
      Harper Anderson   13   Concept Pavielle, MN  
      Owen Simmons   13   The School of Cadence Ballet, ON  
      Selma Gonzalez   13   Chicago City Classical Ballet, IL  
                 
      PRE-COMPETITIVE AGE DIVISION
      CLASSICAL DANCE CATEGORY   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
  1ST PLACE   Avril Zhang   10   MorningStar Dance Academy, GA  
  2ND PLACE   Nola Paulina   11   Concept Pavielle, MN  
  3RD PLACE   Regina Li   9   Li’s Ballet Studio, CA  
                 
      TOP 12   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
      Aidana Argynova   11   The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
      Arissa Tian   10   Blanco Ballet Academy, IL  
      Avril Zhang   10   MorningStar Dance Academy, GA  
      Celia Simon   11   Hinsdale Dance Academy, IL  
      Daisy Sun   11   Mi Ballet Professional Coaching, BC  
      Emiliia Myronova   11   MJL Center for Dance, IL  
      Maeve Mcanelly   11   Steps Dance Center, IL  
      Nola Paulina   11   Concept Pavielle, MN  
      Regina Li   9   Li’s Ballet Studio, CA  
      Selena He   11   Steps Dance Center, IL  
      Tensley Morrill   9   Concept Pavielle, MN  
      Xinning Rebecca An   10   Mi Ballet Professional Coaching, BC  
                 
      CONTEMPORARY DANCE CATEGORY   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
  1ST PLACE   Nola Paulina   11   Concept Pavielle, MN  
  2ND PLACE   Maeve Mcanelly   11   Steps Dance Center, IL  
  3RD PLACE   Tensley Morrill   9   Concept Pavielle, MN  
                 
      TOP 12   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
      Arissa Tian   10   Blanco Ballet Academy, IL  
      Avery Huang   11   Steps Dance Center, IL  
      Celia Simon   11   Hinsdale Dance Academy, IL  
      Emiliia Myronova   11   MJL Center for Dance, IL  
      Fiona Daly   11   MJL Center for Dance, IL  
      Genevieve Balija   9   Dance Xplosion, IL  
      Juliette Balija   11   Dance Xplosion, IL  
      Maeve Mcanelly   11   Steps Dance Center, IL  
      Mila Reibel   10   Chicago City Classical Ballet, IL  
      Nola Paulina   11   Concept Pavielle, MN  
      Selena He   11   Steps Dance Center, IL  
      Tensley Morrill   9   Concept Pavielle, MN  
                 
      ENSEMBLES
      SMALL ENSEMBLES      
                 
  1ST PLACE   FOR ALL       The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
                 
  2ND PLACE   Paquita Pas-De-Trois       A&A BALLET, IL  
                 
  3RD PLACE (TIE)   Le Corsaire Pas De Deux       Gigi Natho and William Bessler, Dance Center of San Antonio, TX  
                 
  3RD PLACE (TIE)   Spell On You       Chicago City Classical Ballet, IL  
                 
      LARGE ENSEMBLES      
                 
  1ST PLACE   Gypsy       The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
                 
  2ND PLACE (TIE)   Leve Leve       Hinsdale Dance Academy, IL  
                 
  2ND PLACE (TIE)   Paquita Grand Finale       A&A BALLET – Main, IL  
                 
  3RD PLACE   Protest       Chicago City Classical Ballet, IL  
                 
      TOP 6      
                 
      Adjourned       Steps Dance Center, IL  
                 
      Fairy Dance       The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
                 
      Leve Leve       Hinsdale Dance Academy, IL  
                 
      Gypsy       The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
                 
      Paquita Grand Finale       A&A BALLET – Main, IL  
                 
      Protest       Chicago City Classical Ballet, IL  
                 
      SPECIAL AWARDS
      OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHER AWARD      
                 
      Riccardo DeNigris       Leve Leve  
                 
      OUTSTANDING TEACHER AWARD      
                 
      Faculty       Hinsdale Dance Academy, IL  
                 
      OUTSTANDING SCHOOL AWARD      
         
      The Academyof Dance Arts, IL  
      A&A BALLET, IL