From Jan. 12 to Jan. 15 in Philadelphia, PA, freshmen Eliana Askren and Faith Bender attended a prestigious worldwide ballet competition. The Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) annually showcases dancers age nine to nineteen, and provides “scholarship auditions, performance and education opportunities, and [serves] as the global network of dance, connecting students, teachers, schools, dance companies, dancers, and audiences,” according to the YAGP website. YAGP alumni have gone on to dance for elite companies all over the world.

Askren and Bender performed at the regional competition in Philadelphia, PA at the Lang Center of Performing Arts at Swarthmore College, but regional competitions occur worldwide.  Both dancers began rehearsing their variations this past summer; Askren performed Odette’s Act II variation from Swan Lake and Bender performed the classical variation “Talisman.”  The competition offers master classes to students as well, so the dancers were given the opportunity to take class at the Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia.

“It was really nice to get myself out there and see what dance would be like in the professional world,” said Bender.  Askren agreed, saying that it is a good chance to get someone to see young dancers’ talent.

Although YAGP is a great opportunity for a young dancer, it is a serious competition that is sure to be intimidating. Competing with promising dancers from various backgrounds, Askren and Bender were up against students of several different levels of talent. “When you arrive at the theater, and when you take master classes, you just have to accept that there will be people better than you, and more often than you’d think, people that are worse than you,” said Askren. “Our teachers told us to be supportive towards all dancers, which we were, but in the world of ballet you have to pretend like you are better than you are. You have to draw attention to yourself.  For your own sake of confidence you have to fake it till you make it.”  

But the “insanely good” dancers didn’t cause Askren to feel jealous; watching them was motivating. “It gave me an idea of what I need in order to have a career in dance.  And hopefully next time, I could be one of them.”

“Overall, I really enjoyed it. At first, I was very nervous to get myself out there and perform a solo en pointe. I was doubting myself a lot, but once I got on stage, I had a blast,” said Bender.  For both dancers, this was their first YAGP, and they would like to attend again in the future.