NGB dancers shine in Up Close and Personal

Come see tomorrow’s dance stars perform their Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) competition pieces in a preview showing this Friday that will be Up Close and Personal!

Courtney Gunsteens and Tanner Bleck.

YAGP is the world’s largest student ballet competition. It provides students with the opportunity to receive scholarships to some of the world’s most prestigious ballet schools. Former NGB students are currently training at the Royal Ballet School in London, the Stuttgart Ballet School and others, through scholarships won at YAGP.

The Tampa semi-finals will be Jan. 2 - 5, 2014 at the Straz Center.

NGB, a pre-professional company, is home to some of the best dancers in the country, many of whom have moved from around the nation to Tampa Bay to train at the Patel Conservatory as a launching pad for their ballet careers.

More than thirty of our NGB dancers will compete in the YAGP 2014 Tampa semi-finals. They’ll perform classical and contemporary solos, as well as a pas de deux and an ensemble piece.

Don't miss the chance to see this young talent at the cusp of their careers and learn a bit of their back story as NGB Artistic Director Peter Stark introduces them to the audience.

Up Close and Personal

A Showcase of Tampa’s Top Dance Talent

TECO Theater, Straz Center

Friday, Dec 27 5:30 to 7:30 (Late seating available at 6:30)

$8 at the door only – box office to open at 4:30

For more information, contact the dance department at danceprogram@strazcenter.org.