Three students from the award-winning Sarasota Cuban Ballet School, Inc. have advanced to the finals of the prestigious Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) ballet competition, April 22-April 29 in New York City. Competing in the regional contest this past weekend in Indianapolis, Sophie Miklosovic, 15, placed first in the women’s classical division and third in the contemporary category. Michael Mengden, 19, placed first in the senior men’s classical division, and together, Sophie and Michael placed first in pas de deux. Also going to the finals is the school’s 14 year-old Harold Mendez, who won the Gran Prix award at YGAP’s regional competition in Denver last month.
Ariel Serrano, co-founder and artistic director of The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School with his wife, Wilmian Hernandez, said, “These young dancers have worked tremendously hard to earn these honors, and the opportunity it gives them to be seen in New York by representatives of the world’s greatest ballet companies. Participating in the YGAP finals can be a big step in helping them to achieve their dreams of becoming professional dancers.”
YAGP, an international organization, holds annual competitions for its New York finals in 17 U.S, cities and Belgium, France, Italy, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Japan, among other countries. Since its founding 15 years ago, YGAP has awarded over $3,000,000 in scholarship to leading dance schools. YGAP alumni now dance with major companies throughout the world.
