Youth America Grand Prix’s 2026 Stars Of Today Meet The Stars Of Tomorrow Gala

Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) – the world’s largest ballet scholarship organization – gathered ballet stars from across the globe at this year’s Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow Gala at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater on Thursday, April 16.

“I have been a part of the YAGP family for so many years,” said host Misty Copeland, former American Ballet Theater principal. “From being on this very stage, performing at the galas, serving as a judge in the competition–but what’s been most meaningful is supporting their incredible mission of expanding access, diversity, and opportunity in dance.”

“Seeing the brilliance on this stage, I feel fulfilled, truly,” said co-host Tamar Greene, Broadway’s George Washington in “Hamilton,” who also sang an excerpt from the show. “Remember from here on in, history has its eyes on you.” The evening honored LoveShackFancy Founder and Creative Director, Rebecca Hessel Cohen, and former ABT dancer, Melanie Hamrick.

YAGP Founder and Artistic Director Larissa Saveliev presented a star-studded program to a packed theater, noting, “Tonight’s artists represent the highest level of achievement in ballet, but every one of them began as a student with the same aspirations as the young dancers YAGP supports through its worldwide auditions and educational programs. Nights like this help us extend that support for these talented artists who represent the future of dance.”

The performance featured New York debuts of Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Adrijashenko (La Scala Ballet), performing a pas de deux from Mauro Bigonzetti’s “Caravaggio,” its New York premiere, as well as the classical showstopper “Grand Pas Classique; Polina Semionova” (Berlin State Ballet), making her much anticipated return to the YAGP stage with a pas de deux from Manon by Sir Kenneth MacMillan with partner Martin ten Kortenaar (Berlin State Ballet), as well as a work set to “The Dying Swan” with Braylon Browner (“So You Think You Can Dance”); Christine Shevchenko (ABT), Reece Clarke (Royal Ballet), and Roman Mejia (New York City Ballet) shared the stage for the classic Le Corsaire.

Finally, Shevchenko, along with Calvin Royal III (ABT), performed an original choreography by Hamrick, Rainbow, set to music “Like a Rainbow” by The Rolling Stones, a special arrangement by her partner, Mick Jagger. The dancers dressed in all-black outfits designed by LoveShackFancy, featuring a diaphanous chiffon adorned with lace and a tiered skirt, intended to make the dancer stand out against the rainbow backdrop. The program included New York premieres of works by choreographers Sharon Eyal and Itzik Galili. As is tradition, 120 YAGP finalists from this year’s international competition were brought on stage for a Piece d’Occasion to cap the performance. Said Hamrick, “I was a participant of the first YAGP ballet competition–Larissa was invaluable to starting my career, and her advice guides me still to this day.”

Over 300 filled the Promenade at the David H. Koch Theater, one of the largest interior spaces in New York, for a grand dinner. Guests took their seats and looked up in awe as ballerinas surrounded the room on the balconies for a special performance. Said Hymowitz, “Larissa, what you just created for us tonight was beyond breathtaking–the scale, the emotion, filling this space with movement and energy. That is what makes YAGP so extraordinary. It’s about possibility, creating moments like this that remind us why dance matters, and why it deserves to be seen on the biggest stages in the world.”

Decorated corner-to-corner in pink by LoveShackFancy, dancers and guests were also dressed by the brand. “Ballet has always felt really close to my heart,” said Cohen, “I often say your dress is your best dance partner–and I truly believe there is no greater movement in the world than dance.”

Dinner was led by Gala Creative Chair Marcella Guarino Hymowitz, and co-chaired by Jordana Blitz, Isaac Boots, Natasha Caronna, Colleen Crivello, Courtney Davis, Dotty Giordano, Aly Gradone, Sarah Hoover, Lindsay Kraus, Jennifer Lipschultz, Josephine Lee, Kamie Lightburn, Jeffrey O’Brecht, Samantha Pariente, Amanda Perrin, Grace Brea Pomeranc, Emily Reifel, Priya Shukla, Eliza Stein, Daniela W. Tisch, Barbara Tober, Virginia W. Tomenson, Lesley Thompson Vecsler, Rachel Wexler, and Board Chair Lina Wallach.

Attending that evening were YAGP Co-Founder Gennadi Saveliev, and Board Members Richard Osterweil, Joanna Fisher, Gabriel Hoffmann, Susan Jaffe, B Michael, and Yael Weiss. This year’s guests included a wide array of stars, including F. Murray Abraham, Stella Abrera, Brooke Adams, Maria Cristina Anzola, Harrison Ball, Maxim Beloserkovsky, Ashley Bouder, Barbara and Gary Brandt, Skylar Brandt and her fiancée Vladimir Rumyantsev, Chelsea Clinton, Todd Cohen, Nieve Corrigan, Irina Dvorovenko, Luiza and Steve Gold, Mara Hoffman, Lucas Jagger, Dylan Lauren, Laura Lobdell, Holt McCallany, Chris Noth, Michelle Ochs, Brynn Putnam, Tony Shalhoub, Demi Singleton, Sutton Stracke, Katya Tolstova, Shannon Zhao, and Christian Zimmerman.

For the third year, Gala guests had the opportunity to view and bid on custom designer pointe shoes, with all proceeds supporting young dancers pursuing professional careers. This year’s Pointe Project designers include A-Morir, Alice + Olivia, All III, Ally Boggard and Mara Hoffman, Amir Taghi, Carolina Herrera, Herve Leger by Michelle Ochs, Hope Gangloff, JK5, Lapointe, Libby Klein Art, LoveShackFancy, Michael Kors, Monse, and Renna Jewels.

In the spirit of YAGP’s mission, 1,000 tickets were donated to local students from Harlem School for the Arts, Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education, The Misty Copeland Foundation, and more, to promote accessibility to ballet.