Photos: Hundreds of ballet students from Utah and beyond audition for scholarships

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Anda Erdenebileg, 14, performs a Fairy Doll variation. Hundreds of Junior Contemporary Competition ballet dancers audition for the Youth America Grand Prix or YAGP regional semi-finals, Thursday, February 24, 2017 at the Capitol Theatre. Throughout the weekend, the students will attend workshops, competitions, and dance classes. YAGP awards more than $250,000 a year in scholarships to send dancers to leading schools and dance companies to continue their training. Selected competitors will continue on to the finals in New York City.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Brayley Willits awaits backstage to perform a Raymonda variation. Hundreds of Junior Contemporary Competition ballet dancers audition for the Youth America Grand Prix or YAGP regional semi-finals, Thursday, February 24, 2017 at the Capitol Theatre. Throughout the weekend, the students will attend workshops, competitions, and dance classes. YAGP awards more than $250,000 a year in scholarships to send dancers to leading schools and dance companies to continue their training. Selected competitors will continue on to the finals in New York City.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Gabriele Lukasik of Denver performs a Grand Pas Classique Variation. Hundreds of Junior Contemporary Competition ballet dancers audition for the Youth America Grand Prix or YAGP regional semi-finals, Thursday, February 24, 2017 at the Capitol Theatre. Throughout the weekend, the students will attend workshops, competitions, and dance classes. YAGP awards more than $250,000 a year in scholarships to send dancers to leading schools and dance companies to continue their training. Selected competitors will continue on to the finals in New York City.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Hundreds of Junior Contemporary Competition ballet dancers audition for the Youth America Grand Prix or YAGP regional semi-finals, Thursday, February 24, 2017 at the Capitol Theatre. Throughout the weekend, the students will attend workshops, competitions, and dance classes. YAGP awards more than $250,000 a year in scholarships to send dancers to leading schools and dance companies to continue their training. Selected competitors will continue on to the finals in New York City.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Hundreds of Junior Contemporary Competition ballet dancers audition for the Youth America Grand Prix or YAGP regional semi-finals, Thursday, February 24, 2017 at the Capitol Theatre. Throughout the weekend, the students will attend workshops, competitions, and dance classes. YAGP awards more than $250,000 a year in scholarships to send dancers to leading schools and dance companies to continue their training. Selected competitors will continue on to the finals in New York City.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Hundreds of Junior Contemporary Competition ballet dancers audition for the Youth America Grand Prix or YAGP regional semi-finals, Thursday, February 24, 2017 at the Capitol Theatre. Throughout the weekend, the students will attend workshops, competitions, and dance classes. YAGP awards more than $250,000 a year in scholarships to send dancers to leading schools and dance companies to continue their training. Selected competitors will continue on to the finals in New York City.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Judges review hundreds of Junior Contemporary Competition ballet dancers for the Youth America Grand Prix or YAGP regional semi-finals, Thursday, February 24, 2017 at the Capitol Theatre. Throughout the weekend, the students will attend workshops, competitions, and dance classes. YAGP awards more than $250,000 a year in scholarships to send dancers to leading schools and dance companies to continue their training. Selected competitors will continue on to the finals in New York City.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Chelsea Cho of Los Angeles tries to blow away her stress while waiting backstage to perform. Hundreds of Junior Contemporary Competition ballet dancers audition for the Youth America Grand Prix or YAGP regional semi-finals on Thursday at the Capitol Theatre. Throughout the weekend, the students will attend workshops, competitions, and dance classes. YAGP awards more than $250,000 a year in scholarships to send dancers to leading schools and dance companies to continue their training. Selected competitors will continue on to the finals in New York City.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Hundreds of Junior Contemporary Competition ballet dancers audition for the Youth America Grand Prix or YAGP regional semi-finals, Thursday, February 24, 2017 at the Capitol Theatre. Throughout the weekend, the students will attend workshops, competitions, and dance classes. YAGP awards more than $250,000 a year in scholarships to send dancers to leading schools and dance companies to continue their training. Selected competitors will continue on to the finals in New York City.

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Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Anda Erdenebileg, 14, performs a Fairy Doll variation. Hundreds of Junior Contemporary Competition ballet dancers audition for the Youth America Grand Prix or YAGP regional semi-finals, Thursday, February 24, 2017 at the Capitol Theatre. Throughout the weekend, the students will attend workshops, competitions, and dance classes. YAGP awards more than $250,000 a year in scholarships to send dancers to leading schools and dance companies to continue their training. Selected competitors will continue on to the finals in New York City. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Brayley Willits awaits backstage to perform a Raymonda variation. Hundreds of Junior Contemporary Competition ballet dancers audition for the Youth America Grand Prix or YAGP regional semi-finals, Thursday, February 24, 2017 at the Capitol Theatre. Throughout the weekend, the students will attend workshops, competitions, and dance classes. YAGP awards more than $250,000 a year in scholarships to send dancers to leading schools and dance companies to continue their training. Selected competitors will continue on to the finals in New York City. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Gabriele Lukasik of Denver performs a Grand Pas Classique Variation. Hundreds of Junior Contemporary Competition ballet dancers audition for the Youth America Grand Prix or YAGP regional semi-finals, Thursday, February 24, 2017 at the Capitol Theatre. Throughout the weekend, the students will attend workshops, competitions, and dance classes. YAGP awards more than $250,000 a year in scholarships to send dancers to leading schools and dance companies to continue their training. Selected competitors will continue on to the finals in New York City. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Hundreds of Junior Contemporary Competition ballet dancers audition for the Youth America Grand Prix or YAGP regional semi-finals, Thursday, February 24, 2017 at the Capitol Theatre. Throughout the weekend, the students will attend workshops, competitions, and dance classes. YAGP awards more than $250,000 a year in scholarships to send dancers to leading schools and dance companies to continue their training. Selected competitors will continue on to the finals in New York City. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Hundreds of Junior Contemporary Competition ballet dancers audition for the Youth America Grand Prix or YAGP regional semi-finals, Thursday, February 24, 2017 at the Capitol Theatre. Throughout the weekend, the students will attend workshops, competitions, and dance classes. YAGP awards more than $250,000 a year in scholarships to send dancers to leading schools and dance companies to continue their training. Selected competitors will continue on to the finals in New York City. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Hundreds of Junior Contemporary Competition ballet dancers audition for the Youth America Grand Prix or YAGP regional semi-finals, Thursday, February 24, 2017 at the Capitol Theatre. Throughout the weekend, the students will attend workshops, competitions, and dance classes. YAGP awards more than $250,000 a year in scholarships to send dancers to leading schools and dance companies to continue their training. Selected competitors will continue on to the finals in New York City. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Judges review hundreds of Junior Contemporary Competition ballet dancers for the Youth America Grand Prix or YAGP regional semi-finals, Thursday, February 24, 2017 at the Capitol Theatre. Throughout the weekend, the students will attend workshops, competitions, and dance classes. YAGP awards more than $250,000 a year in scholarships to send dancers to leading schools and dance companies to continue their training. Selected competitors will continue on to the finals in New York City. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Chelsea Cho of Los Angeles tries to blow away her stress while waiting backstage to perform. Hundreds of Junior Contemporary Competition ballet dancers audition for the Youth America Grand Prix or YAGP regional semi-finals on Thursday at the Capitol Theatre. Throughout the weekend, the students will attend workshops, competitions, and dance classes. YAGP awards more than $250,000 a year in scholarships to send dancers to leading schools and dance companies to continue their training. Selected competitors will continue on to the finals in New York City. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Hundreds of Junior Contemporary Competition ballet dancers audition for the Youth America Grand Prix or YAGP regional semi-finals, Thursday, February 24, 2017 at the Capitol Theatre. Throughout the weekend, the students will attend workshops, competitions, and dance classes. YAGP awards more than $250,000 a year in scholarships to send dancers to leading schools and dance companies to continue their training. Selected competitors will continue on to the finals in New York City.

The Salt Lake Tribune

· February 24, 2017 11:22 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Young ballet dancers again took to the stage of the Capitol Theatre on Friday to audition for scholarships as part of the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) regional semifinals, which were held in collaboration with Ballet West.

Starting Thursday, hundreds of ballet dancers — ages 9 to 19 — from Utah and nationwide were attending workshops, competitions and dance classes. YAGP, the world's largest ballet scholarship audition, awards more than $250,000 a year to help send young dancers to leading schools and dance companies to continue their training. The group is known for launching the careers of some of the biggest talents in dance.

Auditions on Friday included the Junior Contemporary Competition for dancers ages 12-14.

Selected competitors will continue to the finals in New York.

The auditions will culminate Saturday with the "Night of Shining Stars" gala. Those sharing the stage with student dancers at the gala include New York City Ballet principal dancer Megan Fairchild, a Salt Lake City native who began her training at Ballet West Academy, as well as dancers from Ballet West, National Ballet of Cuba, Washington Ballet, "Dancing With the Stars" and American Ballet Theatre.

When • Saturday, 8 p.m.

Where • Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City

Tickets • From $25; balletwest.org