Makayla O'Sullivan and Kassie Coon of Murrieta's Academy of Ballet Arts prepare backstage for their classical variation. Academy of Ballet Arts was awarded the Outstanding School Award.
Youth America Grand Prix offers a chance to win scholarships and professional jobs
Ballet dancers aren't seen as fierce competitors, but over the weekend hundreds participated in something similar to the Olympics, or "American Idol."
Specifically, they competed in the Youth America Grand Prix, one of the largest international ballet competitions in the world. Top dancers from San Diego and other regional semi-finals move on to compete in New York, where they can win scholarships and even jobs in professional ballet companies.
The dancers who participated at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido ranged between ages 9 to 19. Many performed two classical ballet variations and one contemporary piece. Some also competed in group dances.
Here's a backstage look at dancers ages 15 and older getting ready to go on stage for their classical routines.
Nina Garin
Rachel Donaldson of Orange County's Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Academy poses for photos after performing two variations.
Nina Garin
Melanie Ziment of California Ballet gets some last-minute tips from coach Clarissa Palhegyi before performing a variation from "Le Corsaire."
Nina Garin
Before competing, dancers do everything from take phone calls to receive last-minute tips from their coaches.
Nina Garin
California Professional Ballet Program's Gena Nelson before performing her variation from "Swan Lake" at the Youth America Grand Prix competition. Nelson placed in the top 12.
Nina Garin
In this 2017 photo, Ali Fisher of San Diego's California Professional Ballet Program prepares to dance the Fairy Variation from "The Sleeping Beauty."
Nina Garin
Dancers from California Professional Ballet Program. Their group danced placed in the top 12 and the dancers have been invited to perform at the YAGP finals in New York.
Nina Garin previously produced and edited the KPBS/Arts calendar. She also wrotes the weekly KPBS/Arts Newsletter and produced arts segments for Midday Edition. Before joining KPBS, Nina worked for nearly 20 years as an arts and entertainment reporter at The San Diego Union-Tribune. Along with covering the local arts community, she created the "Top Weekend Events" online calendar, profiled influential San Diegans for the "One-on-One" series, and reported live from Comic-Con, New York Fashion Week, and the Academy Awards. Nina is a native San Diegan, raised in Chula Vista and Tijuana, who was exposed to local arts at an early age. As a child, she tagged along to her mother's photography classes, taught by the late Michael Schnorr. She went to elementary school blocks away from Balboa Park and visited all the museums at least twice. While earning her English degree at San Diego State University, she participated in poetry readings and covered local music for The Daily Aztec. Nina has two daughters who study ballet, piano, and musical theater. She spends her free time pinning hair buns and perfecting stage makeup. Her husband, Matthew, is also a writer.
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