Youth America Grand Prix

A week ago 7 GSD dancers and owner, Matt Gasper traveled to Kansas City, MO for Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) ballet competition. We are so proud of these dancers dedication and hard work prepping for this competition and going on the Folly Theatre stage and sharing their passion with the judges and the audience.

YAGP is different than other competitions. There are only 2 categories: Variations and Contemporary. There are 3 age groupings: Pre-Competitive, Junior and Senior. And only the top 12 are recognized at the awards ceremony, which takes place the last day of the competition. This is a difficult competition with amazing dancers from all over the country. The dancers just getting to that stage and performing at their best is all we can ask.

This season Sofia Astolfi made top 12 for her Variation (as well as recognized for her 2nd variation in the top 24. 24 were recognized due to the mass amount of variations in the Junior age group). We are delighted for her recognization!

Mateo Leslie made the top 6 for male dancers in variations. He really commanded the stage this season and we are excited for his accomplishments.

But just because our other competitors were not recognized, doesn't mean they didn't give it their all. We are proud of each and every one of them, whether they were recognized or not. So Congratulation dancers, you work this season doesn't go unrecognized and each and every one of you have improved and continue to improve on and off stage. Your confidence level this season is also something we have been striving for and it is a pleasure to see how you feel about your abilities, and performances.

Below is a slideshow of images from the weekend. Enjoy!

YAGP 2018

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YAPG 2018

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Competition Season

This weekend marks our competitive teams first competition of the season. The value of competition is more than just going on stage and dancing. So with this upcoming weekends competition ahead of us, we wanted to let our dancers and dance families know what Competitive Dance means to us (just in case your dancer is interested in it for the future).

Competition Team 2010-2011

• Performance: It gives dancers the opportunity to perform. This helps them become more comfortable on stage and in front of an audience. Which, can carry through later in life when doing presentations in school, work, and even events. Performance is also something we can't fully teach in the classroom, being on stage is a whole different feeling. This is why we have a winter showcase and spring gala, these moments on stage are important for the growth of a dancer and their confidence. Competition dance gives these dancers more opportunities to become comfortable on stage and in front of people.

• Team Work: Throughout the season, the dancers become close, they learn how to work as a team, work through problem solving and learning from one another. They have to trust in one another to be there for each other on and off stage.

• Space Awareness: In the competitive dance world, there is no stage "dress rehearsal". The moment you hit the stage you are performing the number. Because of this our dancers learn to be aware of spacing, the space in general, and how to correct themselves to the space. As a group you have to feel where each other are, without always looking at each other.

• Growth: The growth we see in these dancers is huge. Having the extra time to work on group numbers, to work on solos, duos, trios, and to work with other dancers really helps elevate their training. These dancers also perform in many styles of dance, giving them more versatility as a dancer.

• Sportsmanship: As with any sport, we encourage our dancers to be supportive of not only their teammates but other dancers in attendance. This is one of the most important things at a competition, supporting & encouraging others. It makes us better humans. Our team has been recognized on several occasions at competitions for their sportsmanship & support.

• Responsibility: Our teams rehearsal less than 5 hours a week. We believe in them and their training outside of competition. We recommend these dancers put in time outside competition rehearsal, take notes of corrections and write down their choreography, so that each time they come back to practice we can move forward and make them even better. It is a responsibility of being on the team to do the homework and work outside practice. This helps build a stronger dynamic and gives the coaches the ability to make each dance better.

For us, competition is not about a trophy or the next competition. We have a bigger picture in mind for our dancers overall training, their future, and the opportunity to be able to perform. This helps build their confidence for future auditions, presentations, interviews, and so much more.

Premiere Team 2016-2017

Currently at Gasper's School of Dance, we have an advance level group, intermediate level, and G Crew (open level). The future of our competition team will actually be named the Gasper's School of Dance Performance Team, with more community performance opportunities in addition to three competitions.

If you are interested in our competition / performance teams, you can watch them online this weekend at Triple S (link at the top of the page -- Schedule Below). Or join and support our dancers in town:

• April 13-15, 2018 at Ovation Dance Challenge at the Civic Center (Schedule release to of April)

• May 3-6, 2018 at Midwest Starz at The Civic Center (Schedule released in April)

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Triple S Dance Competition (Grand Forks, ND -- Watch Online)

All times are approximate, it could run ahead or behind. Try tuning in 20 minutes before time listed below. We will post results after the weekend.

Friday, February 16, 2018

#46 6:47pm Business of Love (Jazz / Solo) - Alex K

Saturday, February 17, 2018

#94 8:45am Nocturne (Lyrical / Duo) - Drew N, James K (Premiere Team)

#103 9:17am Breathe (Lyrical / Duo) - Elisabeth E, Tegan L

#119 10:13am Sophisticated Lady (Jazz / Duo) - Drew N, James K (Premiere Team)

#123 10:27am Hiccup (Jazz / Trio) - Elisabeth E, Tegan L, Camille M

#133 11:02am A Lovely Night (Musical Theatre / Duo) - Emma K, Camille M

#138 11:29am King Kong (Hip Hop / Duo) - Drew N, James K (Premiere Team)

#147 12:01pm La La Land (Open / Duo) - Emma K, Mateo L

#198 4:01pm Glory (Lyrical / Small Group) - Prima Team

#211 4:53pm Kung Fu (Ballet / Small Group) - Prima Team

#221 5:35pm No Church in the Wild (Jazz / Small Group) - Prima Team #240 7:01pm Jelly's Last Jam (Musical Theatre / Small Group) - Prima & Premiere Team

#245 7:21pm Chainz (Hip Hop / Small Group) - Prima Team

Prima Team: Elisabeth E, Emma K, Tegan L, Mateo L, Camille M (Grace T - injured)

Premiere Team: James K, Drew N

Sunday, February 18, 2018

#268 8:10am Dying to Live (Lyrical / Solo) - James K

#272 8:24am Distance (Lyrical / Solo) - Sofia A

#287 9:17am Variation from Paquita (Ballet / Solo) - Sofia A

#291 9:31am Talisman Variation (Pointe / Solo) - Dylan J

#292 9:34am Bluebird Variation (Pointe / Solo) - Sofia A

#304 10:16am Sitting on Top of the World (Tap / Solo) - James K

#308 10:30am Make It Rain (Open / Solo) - Dylan J

#315 11:30am Gracie's Theme (Lyrical / Solo) - Emma K

#319 11:44am No Sacrifice, No Victory (Lyrical / Solo) - Mateo L

#328 12:15pm Save Myself (Lyrical / Solo) - Tegan L

#332 12:29pm Sleeping Beauty Variation (Pointe / Solo) - Emma K

#334 12:36pm Coppelia Varation (Pointe / Solo) - Camille M

#335 12:40pm Black Swan (Pointe / Solo) - Sara D

#338 12:50pm Incomplete (Lyrical / Solo) - Elisabeth E

#352 1:39pm Nutcracker Prince Variation (Ballet / Solo) - Mateo L

#353 1:43pm Finger Fairy (Pointe / Solo) - Emma K

#354 1:46pm Paquita Variation (Pointe / Solo) - Camille M

#355 1:50pm Gamzatti Variation (Pointe / Solo) - Tegan L #356 1:53pm Grand Pas Classique (Pointe / Solo) - Sara D

#362 2:24pm Devil in the Deep Blue Sea (Jazz / Solo) - Camille M

#363 2:28pm Take Five (Jazz / Solo) - Emma K

#367 2:42pm Desperado (Jazz / Solo) - Elisabeth E

#375 3:10pm This is It (Tap / Solo) - Mateo L

#383 3:38pm Don Quixote Variation (Open / Solo) - Mateo L

#391 4:06pm Hearing (Open / Solo) - Tegan L

Senior Team Trio 2014-2015

Full Team 2016-2017

Master Class Series

Coming this winter to Gasper's School of Dance, the first Master Class Series. We have invited Mariaelena Ruiz & Krista King-Doherty to come teach for this winter class series. This Master Class series is open to all dancers in the Fargo-Moorhead community and beyond.

Master Classes for Beginning, Intermediate, & Advance Levels. Private lessons available on a first come, first serve basis.

You can register in person, by phone or email.

Deadline for registration & payment is due DECEMBER 15, 2017.

Note: There is a minimum that we need to meet other wise we will have to cancel the master class series.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29

4:30pm - 7:30pm // Master Class — Beginning Level (8+) -- COST: $100.00

The beginning level master class is for beginning dancers age 8+. Included in this master class is 1.5 hours of ballet and 1.5 hours of contemporary.

5pm - 9pm // Private Lessons * -- COST $125.00 / hour

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30

10am - 2:30pm // Master Class - Intermediate & Advance -- COST: $200.00

This master class section is for intermediate & advanced level dancers and the session includes 2 Hours of Ballet and 2 Hours of Contemporary

There will be a 30 Minute Lunch Break. We will offer a lunch box option which will cost $12.00 and is a Panera Lunch Box

3pm - 7pm // Private Lessons * -- COST: $125.00 / hour

* Private lessons are on a first come first serve basis, please sign-up on registration form. Up to 2 people can share a private. All Privates are 1 Hour.

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Mariaelena Ruiz

Mariaelena began her studies at Ballet Clasico Nina Novak, in Caracas Venezuela. There she was trained and coached by Prima Ballerina of Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, Nina Novak. She received Cuban, Russian, and American training by teachers from Kirov, and Bolshoi, including Olga Kostrizky, Kaleria Fedicheva, and Magaly Suarez. Mariaelena performed an extensive part of the classical repertoire and at age 14 became the youngest member of the Ballet Nacional de Caracas, under the direction of Vicente Nebrada. Soon after, she won 3rd place Junior Division at the Jackson USA International Ballet Competition and received a full scholarship to continue her studies at the School of American Ballet in New York. There she studied under Stanley Williams, Peter Martins, Andrei Kramarevski, Alexandra Danilova, Antonina Tumkovski, Suki Schorer, and Susan Pillare. She won the Best Couple award and 3rd Place Senior Division at the Varna International Ballet Competition and also won at the Prix Volinine in Paris.

Over the next seven years, Mariaelena performed principal roles at Bay Ballet Theater, Cleveland San Jose Ballet, and Ballet Hispanico. She also performed as a guest artist for many other companies in the US and Europe. From 2000 to 2006 Mariaelena danced an all Balanchine repertoire in the Suzanne Farrell Ballet at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and extensively toured the US. In collaboration with the National Ballet of Canada, Mariaelena danced in the revival of George Balanchine’s Don Quijote, which was also presented at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland. In 2000 she also began teaching part-time at The Rock School for Dance Education and became full-time Ballet Master at The Rock School in 2006. In 2015 Mariaelena started building and directing her new Professional Training Program at CBC where she continues to coach and train the next generation of outstanding dancers.

Mariaelena has been a judge and guest teacher for YAGP and has also worked with the New York International Ballet Competition. She was featured in the award winning Documentary First Position and in the WHYY Philadelphia documentary made about the first Curtis Institute of Music and Rock School Collaboration in 2009. In 2016 Mariaelena was named outstanding teacher at the ADC International Ballet Competition and was a judge at the Danzamérica Competition in Villa Carlos Paz, Argentina. The Outstanding School Award was earned in 2017 at YAGP and ADC. In April 2017, Mariaelena was featured in the cover story Mariaelena RUIZ works her magic at Cary Ballet Conservatory in Dance Teacher Magazine. She has coached medalists for major competitions including Moscow IBC, Jackson USA IBC, Boston IBC, Prix de Lausanne, Youth America Grand Prix, and American Dance Competition. Her former students have taken jobs at companies such as National Ballet of Canada, American Ballet Theater, Het National Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Charlotte Ballet, Washington Ballet, New York City Ballet, Houston Ballet, Ballet West, American National Ballet, and on Broadway. In 2016 three of Mariaelena’s students went on directly to dance company jobs before the PTP was even one year old and her students continue to excell. Mariaelena is now looking forward to even greater success as a teacher and coach.

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Krista King-Doherty

Krista King-Doherty is an internationally recognized and award winning teacher and choreographer. She received her training at Ballet la Jeunesse in Los Angeles, CA and with her mother, Kathie Fishback Anthony. Krista worked as a fashion model in Europe, USA, Asia and Australia modeling for top designers in magazines, on runways and television for a decade prior to returning to her roots of dance. For over 20 years, she has taught ballet, pointe, jazz, and contemporary dance. Krista coaches and choreographs for national and international level competitors, acquiring numerous overall high score, technical and choreography awards. For the past 12 years, Krista's students have qualified in both the solo and ensemble divisions for the Youth America Grand Prix Finals in New York City. Her students and choreography have repeatedly won the Youth Grand Prix award, the Hope Award, and overall awards at YAGP. In 2012 and 2014, her student and daughter, Juliet Doherty, won the Gold Medal in the Junior Women’s and Senior Women’s Division at the YAGP Finals. Juliet performed in the “Stars of Tomorrow Gala” at Lincoln Center with a piece Krista choreographed. Her work has won top awards, recognized at World Ballet Competition, ADC/IBC, Vail International Dance Festival, the Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition, Varna International Ballet Competition, “Gala de Danza” in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and Cancun International Ballet Festival. Her students have been awarded scholarships to programs including San Francisco Ballet School, Houston Ballet Academy, The Ailey School, Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet, the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, the School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and several universities. Krista’s students are performing on Broadway, with the Radio City Rockettes, and with professional dance companies in the USA and abroad. Krista is currently on faculty at Master Ballet Academy in Arizona, and is a nationally sought after guest teacher and choreographer.