The Ballet World Comes Together to Celebrate Young Talent at the 2025 YAGP Gala

The stage of Alice Tully Hall sparkled just a bit brighter last night as the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) held its annual Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow Gala in New York City. A glamorous and heartfelt evening unfolded, celebrating the rising stars of ballet—some as young as nine—alongside celebrated dancers from the world’s top companies.

Presented by the Board of Trustees and Gala Leadership of YAGP and sponsored by Oscar de la Renta and Bucherer Fine Jewellery, the 2025 Gala honored curator and arts advocate Sarah Hoover for her unwavering support of the arts and her dedication to empowering the next generation of cultural leaders.

“It’s inspiring to see how much this organization has grown,” Hoover said during her remarks, reflecting on YAGP’s global impact in shaping the future of dance.

Co-hosted by television personality Andy Cohen and former American Ballet Theatre dancer Melanie Hamrick, the night showcased dazzling performances from an international lineup of talent: Hannah O’Neill and Germain Louvet from the Paris Opera Ballet, Friedemann Vogel and Yana Peneva of the Stuttgart Ballet, and ABT Studio Company standouts Max Barker and Paloma Livellara—both YAGP alumni.

“What a full-circle moment for me,” said Hamrick, who herself performed at the inaugural YAGP Gala 26 years ago.

This year, over 15,000 dancers competed, with 2,000 finalists advancing to last week’s international round in Tampa, Florida. After a week of masterclasses and competition, a select few traveled to New York to perform for an audience of family, patrons, and passionate supporters.

Notables in the audience included Amy Astley, Candace Bushnell, Brynn Putnam, Zac Posen, and Lucas Jagger, as well as Michelle Ochs, Marcella Hymowitz (who served as Gala Creative Chair), and Larissa Saveliev, YAGP’s founder. The evening was documented by Michelle Kammerman of BFA.

The performance concluded with a world premiere choreographed by Isaiah Day for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, featuring an original composition and live musical performance by Matthew Whitaker. A moving ensemble performance from the YAGP International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) rounded out the program.

Adding a fashionable touch, the 2025 Pointe Project was on glittering display—featuring custom-designed pointe shoes by Michael Kors, Carolina Herrera, Helmut Lang, Theory, Alice + Olivia, and others.

After the final bows, guests headed to the dance floor—joined by the ballerinas themselves—for a jubilant celebration that reaffirmed the Gala’s mission: to provide scholarships and training opportunities to young dancers of all backgrounds.

Or as Andy Cohen put it, gesturing to the stage full of young talent: “Every ticket tonight helps make this possible.”