Royal Ballet School student wins top prize in New York

Graduate year student, William Bracewell, has won the coveted Grand Prix at the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) competition in New York. The world’s largest student ballet competition, the final of YAGP took place on 25 March at New York City Center with a Gala performance the following evening. The Grand Prix is awarded to the single most outstanding dancer entering the competition.

Born in Swansea, William started dancing at the age of 8 and joined The Royal Ballet School’s Junior Associates in Cardiff and Bath. He was offered a place at The Royal Ballet Lower School in 2002 moving to the Upper School in 2007 - the same year he was named Young British Dancer of the Year. In 2009 he entered his first full choreography, Brush Strokes (music: Phillip Glass), for the Ursula Moreton Choreographic Competition where he won second prize. Brush Strokes has since been performed frequently by The Royal Ballet School internationally, most recently as part of Sound Moves at London’s Royal Festival Hall.

William joins Birmingham Royal Ballet in August 2010.

Former Royal Ballet School student Sergei Polunin was awarded the Grand Prix at the YAGP in 2006. Now First Soloist with The Royal Ballet, Sergei returned to the competition this year, performing as guest artist at the Gala on 26 March.


A complete list of YAGP winners can be found at:

http://www.yagp.org/eng/NY_winners_2010.php

Photo: left to right: Larissa Saveliev (Founder, Artistic Director YAGP), Gailene Stock (Director, The Royal Ballet School) William Bracewell, Geoffrey RW Smith (Board Director, YAGP) and Gary Norman (Senior Ballet Teacher, The Royal Ballet School). Courtesy of Geoffrey R.W. Smith.