The Youth America Grand Prix is a competition that most ballet dancers know off the top of their heads. This competition has the power to kick-start your career, it gives you the chance to perform and to showcase everything that you learn. Most dancers train on one variation for a full year before competing, going through rigorous training schedules to ensure that they put their best work forward.
I was almost 17 when I competed in YAGP, I began training 8 months before the competition. I performed two variations and a contemporary dance. I danced to a Fairy Variation from Sleep Beauty and Swan Lake Pas de Trois. Out of the two the Swan Lake Variation was my favorite. I knew that I was fulfilling a dream by performing and competing. I spent countless hours at the studio practicing hours. The other dancers and I were at the studio during breaks and worked for hours on end, perfecting our dances. I can remember spending the night with my best friend from the studio because her house was closer and it was easier for practice.
YAGP brought my best friend and I closer, I recently got to see her for a weekend and we talked about our experience with Ballet and YAGP. Reminiscing about all the good times we had and the hard times we had. No matter how hard we worked it felt like our variations were never good enough. It is impossible to be perfect at dance but when 20 other girls are performing the same variation you strive to be the best that you can be. My best friend reminded me about her almost falling on stage during her variation as traumatic as it was at the time we laughed about it because dancers fall it is a part of life.
During all this time preparing for YAGP we would be constantly trying on costumes and headpieces, dancers who choreographed their own contemporary pieces got to be a part of the costume designing process. I remember being excited because my brother made my song and I choreographed and designed my costume. I felt ready to perform on stage.
I learned something about myself at YAGP, I learned about how my dance anxiety works… I felt calm, cool, and collected until I was backstage. The nerves started to work their way through my body and I felt like I was going to throw up. I watched as each girl before me danced and I started to overthink about my variation. When I heard my name and number called I took a deep breath and pretended I was the professional dancer I wanted to be. I walked out and my music started. I don't know exactly what I was thinking on stage, maybe "don't fall", but I do remember feeling excited to perform for others.. When I finished, I ran offstage and was meet by my teacher, classmates, and best friend. I was so into what I was doing that I didn’t even realize I landed the hardest turn in my dance perfectly.
I may not have walked away with a winning title or an offer from a company but I walked away from YAGP as a better dancer.
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