Success at YAGP Sydney 2024
April Langstraat dancing Coppelia at the YAGP semi-final, October 2024.
MBC dancers shine in YAGP Sydney semi-finals
In October 2024, Medhi accompanied three of this students to the YAGP Sydney semi-finals. Once again, his consistent, focused approach to training, teamed with the students’ dedication and drive, delivered great results.
The Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP) is a New York-based non-profit dance education organisation committed to supporting and developing world-class dancers, ages 9-19, of all economic, ethnic, and geographic backgrounds. To do this they provide scholarship auditions, performance and education opportunities, as well as fostering a global network of dance, connecting students, teachers, schools, dance companies, dancers, and audiences.
Outstanding precision and lines
Medhi had prepared his students over the 3-4 months leading up to the competition, applying his consistent, disciplined approach to training and his meticulous, detailed view to their presentation at the competition. “My goal as a ballet coach is to develop dancers who can step up to any stage with confidence, and who will be able to achieve a career as a ballet dancer. This competition can open doors for young dancers, it’s an opportunity not to be missed, and it’s where all their hard work pays off.”
April Langstraat is a 14 year old dancer from Wellington. Competing for the first time at the YAGP, her ‘outstanding precision and lines’ were noticed by the judges and she was awarded 1st place in the Junior Women’s Classical division, and 3rd place in the Junior Women’s Contemporary division.
April will be travelling to Tampa, Florida in April 2025 to compete in the YAGP Finals. This is an incredible event that can launch careers. Dancers can win awards and prizes, receive mentoring and/or be offered scholarships. And this is all on top of the experience they’ll gain performing with other aspiring dancers in a professional setting. April has huge potential and we’re excited to see her soar in 2025!
Medhi also prepared two other dancers for the Sydney semi-finals, Harriet Mak and Bella Shackel. At just 13 years old, Harriet’s dedication to her training with Medhi paid off when she was named as one of the top 12 dancers in the junior division out of a pool of over 200. Bella also showed real strength and determination in the competition, having suffered an injury only 6 months earlier. This is the kind of drive it takes to succeed as a dancer and the MBC crew were so proud of her work ethic and beautiful performance.
Medhi is committed to seeing his MBC dancers gain access to worldwide opportunities and knows that the YAGP is a gateway to career defining scholarships and prizes. He has seen it happen. In 2023, Medhi also coached the winner of the YAGP Sydney junior division, Mio Denize. Mio was 13 at the time, and after winning the semi-final and competing in the final, she accepted a place one of the most renowned ballet schools worldwide, the John Cranko School, in Stuttgart, Germany.
2024 has been a busy and successful year for Medhi, he is constantly impressed by the commitment shown by his ballet students and their success this year has given him confidence to maintain and evolve his model of coaching for 2025. Watch this space for new classes in Wellington as well as pop ups around the country!
