YAGP 2026 – KANSAS CITY, MO – WINNERS - YAGP

      JURY PANEL
                 
      Alicia Mae Holloway       Former Dancer, Dance Theatre of Harlem; Teacher, The School of American Ballet  
                 
      Beth Everitt       Associate Director of Programs & Productions, Houston Ballet Academy  
                 
      Erica Fischbach       Academy Director, Colorado Ballet Academy  
                 
      Jared Redick       Assistant Dean of Ballet, University of North Carolina School of the Arts  
                 
      John Selya       International Guest Master Teacher; Former Dancer, Twyla Tharp Dance & American Ballet Theatre  
                 
      Nick Mullikin       Artistic Director & CEO, Nashville Ballet  
                 
      Raymond Rodriguez       Dean, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School  
                 
      Natalia Bashkatova       Assistant Artistic Director, YAGP; Former Principal Dancer, Bolshoi Theater; Performer  
                 
      SENIOR AGE DIVISION
      CLASSICAL DANCE CATEGORY   WOMEN  
                 
  1ST PLACE   Giselle Miner   15   The Dallas Conservatory, TX  
  2ND PLACE   Braylynn Grizzaffi   15   Oklahoma City Ballet School, OK  
  3RD PLACE (TIE)   Lauren Jett Highfill   17   Kansas School of Classical Ballet, KS  
  3RD PLACE (TIE)   Lily Deng   16   MorningStar Dance Academy, GA  
                 
      TOP 12   WOMEN  
                 
      Ana Corey   16   iBallet Studio, MI  
      Ava Lawson   18   Ballet Arkansas School for Dance, AR  
      Braylynn Grizzaffi   15   Oklahoma City Ballet School, OK  
      Caroline Klafeta   15   iBallet Studio, MI  
      Emma Corey   16   iBallet Studio, MI  
      Giselle Miner   15   The Dallas Conservatory, TX  
      Lauren Jett Highfill   17   Kansas School of Classical Ballet, KS  
      Lily Deng   16   MorningStar Dance Academy, GA  
      Lily Douglas   17   Youth American Ballet Company, AZ  
      Lydia Uniak   18   Kansas School of Classical Ballet, KS  
      Maya Bryant   16   Oklahoma City Ballet School, OK  
      Santiago Hernandez Puentes   18   Kansas School of Classical Ballet, KS  
                 
      TOP 24   WOMEN  
                 
      Adeline Bair   16   Nolte Academy, IA  
      Ana Corey   16   iBallet Studio, MI  
      Audrey Domingo   16   Kansas City Ballet School, MO  
      Ava Lawson   18   Ballet Arkansas School for Dance, AR  
      Braylynn Grizzaffi   15   Oklahoma City Ballet School, OK  
      Caroline Klafeta   15   iBallet Studio, MI  
      Chinatsu Tajima   15   iBallet Studio, MI  
      Emma Corey   16   iBallet Studio, MI  
      Giselle Miner   15   The Dallas Conservatory, TX  
      Grace Ann Frandson   18   School of Classical Ballet & Dance, IA  
      Ines Elliott   15   Oklahoma City Ballet School, OK  
      Kaidence Goodrich   15   Midwest Dance Mechanix, KS  
      Lauren Jett Highfill   17   Kansas School of Classical Ballet, KS  
      Lily Deng   16   MorningStar Dance Academy, GA  
      Lily Douglas   17   Youth American Ballet Company, AZ  
      Lily Stuhr   15   Nolte Academy, IA  
      Lizzie Matthes   18   Nolte Academy, IA  
      Lydia Uniak   18   Kansas School of Classical Ballet, KS  
      Lynne Nishida   16   iBallet Studio, MI  
      Maya Bryant   16   Oklahoma City Ballet School, OK  
      Megan Snyder   16   Dance Center of Kirkwood, MO  
      Raven Bighorn   16   Oklahoma City Ballet School, OK  
      Rose Vinson   16   Kansas City Ballet School, MO  
      Santiago Hernandez Puentes   18   Kansas School of Classical Ballet, KS  
                 
      CLASSICAL DANCE CATEGORY   MEN  
                 
  1ST PLACE   Ben Bemis   16   School of Classical Ballet & Dance, IA  
  2ND PLACE (TIE)   Johnny Castle   18   Kansas City Ballet School, MO  
  2ND PLACE (TIE)   Tobias Weber   15   The Dallas Conservatory, TX  
  3RD PLACE   Broc Stull   18   iBallet Studio, MI  
                 
      CONTEMPORARY DANCE CATEGORY   WOMEN  
                 
  1ST PLACE   Braylynn Grizzaffi   15   Oklahoma City Ballet School, OK  
  2ND PLACE   Kaidence Goodrich   15   Midwest Dance Mechanix, KS  
  3RD PLACE   Caroline Klafeta   15   iBallet Studio, MI  
                 
      TOP 12   WOMEN  
                 
      Braylynn Grizzaffi   15   Oklahoma City Ballet School, OK  
      Caroline Klafeta   15   iBallet Studio, MI  
      Giselle Miner   15   The Dallas Conservatory, TX  
      Grace Walker   18   Nolte Academy, IA  
      Kaidence Goodrich   15   Midwest Dance Mechanix, KS  
      Lauren Jett Highfill   17   Kansas School of Classical Ballet, KS  
      Lily Douglas   17   Youth American Ballet Company, AZ  
      Lily Murphy   17   Indiana Ballet Conservatory, IN  
      Lizzie Matthes   18   Nolte Academy, IA  
      Londyn Vancuren   15   Oklahoma City Ballet School, OK  
      Luciana Lowe   15   School of Classical Ballet & Dance, IA  
      Lydia Uniak   18   Kansas School of Classical Ballet, KS  
                 
      TOP 24   WOMEN  
                 
      Adeline Bair   16   Nolte Academy, IA  
      Audrey Dix   18   School of Classical Ballet & Dance, IA  
      Audrey Domingo   16   Kansas City Ballet School, MO  
      Braylynn Grizzaffi   15   Oklahoma City Ballet School, OK  
      Brynn Baker   15   Fusion Dance, NE  
      Caroline Klafeta   15   iBallet Studio, MI  
      Giselle Miner   15   The Dallas Conservatory, TX  
      Grace Walker   18   Nolte Academy, IA  
      Kaidence Goodrich   15   Midwest Dance Mechanix, KS  
      Katelynn Larson   15   School of Classical Ballet & Dance, IA  
      Kseniia Antonova   15   iBallet Studio, MI  
      Lauren Jett Highfill   17   Kansas School of Classical Ballet, KS  
      Lilly Abbott   15   Dance Center of Kirkwood, MO  
      Lily Deng   16   MorningStar Dance Academy, GA  
      Lily Douglas   17   Youth American Ballet Company, AZ  
      Lily Murphy   17   Indiana Ballet Conservatory, IN  
      Lizzie Matthes   18   Nolte Academy, IA  
      Londyn Vancuren   15   Oklahoma City Ballet School, OK  
      Luciana Lowe   15   School of Classical Ballet & Dance, IA  
      Lucy Meredith   15   School of Classical Ballet & Dance, IA  
      Lydia Uniak   18   Kansas School of Classical Ballet, KS  
      Maguire Ferguson   15   South Tulsa Dance Co., OK  
      Prisca Wiersma   15   Kansas City Ballet School, MO  
      Vanilla Zhang   15   Independent, TX  
                 
      CONTEMPORARY DANCE CATEGORY   MEN  
                 
  1ST PLACE   Johnny Castle   18   Kansas City Ballet School, MO  
  2ND PLACE (TIE)   Ben Bemis   16   School of Classical Ballet & Dance, IA  
  2ND PLACE (TIE)   Caylon Hull   17   Nolte Academy, IA  
  3RD PLACE   Tobias Weber   15   The Dallas Conservatory, TX  
                 
      JUNIOR AGE DIVISION
      CLASSICAL DANCE CATEGORY   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
  1ST PLACE   Violet Marti   12   Master Ballet Academy, AZ  
  2ND PLACE   Kaia Erby   12   The Ballet Club, AZ  
  3RD PLACE (TIE)   Lily Sawickij   14   A&A Ballet, IL  
  3RD PLACE (TIE)   Luke Overton   14   Luzicka Ballet, MO  
                 
      TOP 12   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
      Alianna Nassos   12   Hasmik Amirian Ballet, CA  
      Amelie Nye   12   Oklahoma City Ballet School, OK  
      Brynlee Sawin   13   Nolte Academy, IA  
      Claire Thomas   13   Nolte Academy, IA  
      Isabella Kemp   13   iBallet Studio, MI  
      Kaia Erby   12   The Ballet Club, AZ  
      Kate Wille   14   School of Classical Ballet & Dance, IA  
      Lily Sawickij   14   A&A Ballet, IL  
      Luke Overton   14   Luzicka Ballet, MO  
      Madison Calandro   13   The Pre- Professional Program, LA  
      Violet Marti   12   Master Ballet Academy, AZ  
      Vivian Hirzel   12   iBallet Studio, MI  
                 
      TOP 24   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
      Alianna Nassos   12   Hasmik Amirian Ballet, CA  
      Amelie Nye   12   Oklahoma City Ballet School, OK  
      Arisa Cayetano   14   Indiana Ballet Conservatory, IN  
      Audrey Rogers   13   Luzicka Ballet, MO  
      Blake Dawson   12   School of Classical Ballet & Dance, IA  
      Brooklyn De Longe   13   Oklahoma City Ballet School, OK  
      Brynlee Sawin   13   Nolte Academy, IA  
      Carigan Clark   14   Oklahoma City Ballet School, OK  
      Chloe Marino   13   The Pre- Professional Program, LA  
      Claire Stephenson   12   Kansas School of Classical Ballet, KS  
      Claire Thomas   13   Nolte Academy, IA  
      Delila Gardner   14   Kansas City Ballet School, MO  
      Effie Xu   14   Academy of Palo Alto Performing Arts, CA  
      Isabella Kemp   13   iBallet Studio, MI  
      Kaia Erby   12   The Ballet Club, AZ  
      Kate Wille   14   School of Classical Ballet & Dance, IA  
      Lily Sawickij   14   A&A Ballet, IL  
      Luke Overton   14   Luzicka Ballet, MO  
      Madison Calandro   13   The Pre- Professional Program, LA  
      Meila Ashman   13   Kansas City Ballet School, MO  
      Nathan Delancy   14   Culture House Conservatory of the Arts, KS  
      Violet Marti   12   Master Ballet Academy, AZ  
      Vivian Hirzel   12   iBallet Studio, MI  
      Vivienne Greco   12   The Dallas Conservatory, TX  
                 
      CONTEMPORARY DANCE CATEGORY   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
  1ST PLACE   Kaia Erby   12   The Ballet Club, AZ  
  2ND PLACE (TIE)   Violet Marti   12   Master Ballet Academy, AZ  
  2ND PLACE (TIE)   Mikayla Isler   12   Independent, AZ  
  3RD PLACE (TIE)   Vivienne Greco   12   The Dallas Conservatory, TX  
  3RD PLACE (TIE)   Alianna Nassos   12   Hasmik Amirian Ballet, CA  
                 
      TOP 12   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
      Alianna Nassos   12   Hasmik Amirian Ballet, CA  
      Amelie Nye   12   Oklahoma City Ballet School, OK  
      Ashley Fiske   14   New Town Dance Academy, MO  
      Blake Dawson   12   School of Classical Ballet & Dance, IA  
      Carigan Clark   14   Oklahoma City Ballet School, OK  
      Chloe Marino   13   The Pre- Professional Program, LA  
      Harper Johnson   12   Nolte Academy, IA  
      Kaia Erby   12   The Ballet Club, AZ  
      Leighton White   12   South Tulsa Dance Co., OK  
      Mikayla Isler   12   Independent, AZ  
      Violet Marti   12   Master Ballet Academy, AZ  
      Vivienne Greco   12   The Dallas Conservatory, TX  
                 
      TOP 24   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
      Alianna Nassos   12   Hasmik Amirian Ballet, CA  
      Amelie Nye   12   Oklahoma City Ballet School, OK  
      Arisa Cayetano   14   Indiana Ballet Conservatory, IN  
      Ashley Fiske   14   New Town Dance Academy, MO  
      Blake Dawson   12   School of Classical Ballet & Dance, IA  
      Brynlee Sawin   13   Nolte Academy, IA  
      Carigan Clark   14   Oklahoma City Ballet School, OK  
      Chloe Marino   13   The Pre- Professional Program, LA  
      Claire Stephenson   12   Kansas School of Classical Ballet, KS  
      Delila Gardner   14   Kansas City Ballet School, MO  
      Eden Ostola   14   Nolte Academy, IA  
      Ella Rempfer   14   Youth American Ballet Company, AZ  
      Finley Haviland   12   Hawkins School of Performing Arts, CA  
      Harper Johnson   12   Nolte Academy, IA  
      Kaia Erby   12   The Ballet Club, AZ  
      Leighton White   12   South Tulsa Dance Co., OK  
      Luke Overton   14   Luzicka Ballet, MO  
      Madison Calandro   13   The Pre- Professional Program, LA  
      Mikayla Isler   12   Independent, AZ  
      Sloane Burgess   14   Kansas School of Classical Ballet, KS  
      Sydney Torres   14   Midwest Dance Mechanix, KS  
      Violet Marti   12   Master Ballet Academy, AZ  
      Vivian Hirzel   12   iBallet Studio, MI  
      Vivienne Greco   12   The Dallas Conservatory, TX  
                 
      PRE-COMPETITIVE AGE DIVISION
                 
  HOPE AWARD   Sophie Simmons   11   The Dallas Conservatory, TX  
                 
      CLASSICAL DANCE CATEGORY   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
  1ST PLACE   Madeleine Simmons   10   The Dallas Conservatory, TX  
  2ND PLACE   Megan Qin   9   N&D Ballet, MA  
  3RD PLACE (TIE)   Ashton Luetkemeyer   10   New Town Dance Academy, MO  
  3RD PLACE (TIE)   Lyric Tripp   10   American Midwest Ballet, IA  
                 
      TOP 12   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
      Ashton Luetkemeyer   10   New Town Dance Academy, MO  
      Gabriella Milman   10   iBallet Studio, MI  
      Jacksyn Leblanc   11   The Pre- Professional Program, LA  
      Josie Morrison   10   Omaha Academy of Ballet, NE  
      Kiera Howard   11   iBallet Studio, MI  
      Lyric Simmons   11   South Tulsa Dance Co., OK  
      Lyric Tripp   10   American Midwest Ballet, IA  
      Madeleine Simmons   10   The Dallas Conservatory, TX  
      Maya Ponso   10   Independent, AR  
      Megan Qin   9   N&D Ballet, MA  
      Sophie Simmons   11   The Dallas Conservatory, TX  
      Zoe Damko   11   Master Ballet Academy, AZ  
                 
      CONTEMPORARY DANCE CATEGORY   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
  1ST PLACE   Olivia Wang   9   MorningStar Dance Academy, GA  
  2ND PLACE   Lyric Simmons   11   South Tulsa Dance Co., OK  
  3RD PLACE   Alice Lutkewitte   11   Professional Dance Center, MO  
                 
      TOP 12   MEN & WOMEN  
                 
      Alice Lutkewitte   11   Professional Dance Center, MO  
      Ashton Luetkemeyer   10   New Town Dance Academy, MO  
      Camryn Brouse   10   Perception Dance Company, KS  
      Kensington Adams   10   Perception Dance Company, KS  
      Lyric Simmons   11   South Tulsa Dance Co., OK  
      Madeleine Simmons   10   The Dallas Conservatory, TX  
      Mika Lawson   11   New Town Dance Academy, MO  
      Molly Bender   10   New Town Dance Academy, MO  
      Olivia Wang   9   MorningStar Dance Academy, GA  
      Caroline Vilsack   11   School of Classical Ballet & Dance, IA  
      Sophie Simmons   11   The Dallas Conservatory, TX  
      Vivienne Weaver   11   Kansas School of Classical Ballet, KS  
                 
      ENSEMBLES
      PAS DE DEUX      
                 
  1ST PLACE   Giselle Miner &       The Nutcracker Suite Pas De Deux  
      Tobias Weber       The Dallas Conservatory, TX  
                 
  2ND PLACE   Caylon Hull &       When You’Re Broken Open  
      Lizzie Matthes       Nolte Academy, IA  
                 
  3RD PLACE (TIE)   Casimir Firlit &       Now We Are Free  
      Madeleine Simmons       The Dallas Conservatory, TX  
                 
  3RD PLACE (TIE)   Alexander Vens &       Satanella Pas De Deux  
      Ava Kloppe       School of Classical Ballet & Dance, IA  
                 
      SMALL ENSEMBLES      
                 
  1ST PLACE   Parallels       The Dallas Conservatory, TX  
                 
  2ND PLACE   Trois Voix       iBallet Studio, MI  
                 
  3RD PLACE   Set Free       New Town Dance Academy, MO  
                 
      TOP 6      
                 
      Conform       New Town Dance Academy, MO  
                 
      Enmeshed       School of Classical Ballet & Dance, IA  
                 
      Odalisque Pas De Trois       Ballet Royale Minnesota, MN  
                 
      Parallels       The Dallas Conservatory, TX  
                 
      Set Free       New Town Dance Academy, MO  
                 
      Trois Voix       iBallet Studio, MI  
                 
      LARGE ENSEMBLES      
                 
  1ST PLACE   After Midnight       Nolte Academy, IA  
                 
  2ND PLACE   Sicilian Tarantella and Mirage       iBallet Studio, MI.  
                 
  3RD PLACE   Blue And Yellow Kozachok       Culture House Conservatory of the Arts, KS  
                 
      TOP 12      
                 
      After Midnight       Nolte Academy, IA  
                 
      At More Or Less The Same Time       Nolte Academy, IA  
                 
      Behind The Curtain       Culture House Conservatory of the Arts, KS  
                 
      Blue And Yellow Kozachok       Culture House Conservatory of the Arts, KS  
                 
      Contrasting Slip       iBallet Studio, MI  
                 
      Copland Symphony       Nolte Academy, IA  
                 
      I Tried To Tell You       Midwest Dance Mechanix, KS  
                 
      In Common Time       Nolte Academy, IA  
                 
      Mirage       iBallet Studio, MI  
                 
      Rhythm       South Tulsa Dance Co., OK  
                 
      Sicilian Tarantella       iBallet Studio, MI  
                 
      White Noise       School of Classical Ballet & Dance, IA  
                 
      SPECIAL AWARDS
      OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHER AWARD      
                 
      Elaine Kimble       Into The Continuum  
                 
      OUTSTANDING TEACHER AWARD      
                 
      Faculty       Kansas School of Classical Ballet, KS  
      Faculty       School of Classical Ballet & Dance, IA  
                 
      OUTSTANDING SCHOOL AWARD      
         
      iBallet Studio, MI