BALLET - YAGP 2022 New York Semi-Final - Crystal Huang - Age 13 - Cupid versus La Esmeralda

Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) is the world's largest student ballet scholarship competition and global dance network, connecting students, teachers, schools, dance companies, and audiences worldwide. Now in its 22nd season, YAGP has reached more than 150,000 participants worldwide through its international ballet workshops, ballet auditions, ballet competitions, and ballet master classes.

To date, over $4 million has been awarded to young dancers in scholarships to leading dance schools worldwide, including The Ailey School, American Ballet Theatre JKO School, The Australian Ballet School, Ballet West Academy, Berlin State Ballet School, Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Intensive, Boston Ballet School, Canada’s National Ballet School, Dutch National Ballet Academy, English National Ballet School, European School of Ballet, Houston Ballet Academy, John Cranko School of The Stuttgart Ballet, The Juilliard School, Paris Opera Ballet School, Princess Grace Academy, The Rock School for Dance Education, The Royal Ballet School, San Francisco Ballet School, The Washington School of Ballet, and Zurich Dance Academy, among other preeminent institutions in the U.S. and abroad.

More than 450 YAGP alumni are now dancing in over 80 leading companies around the world – American Ballet Theatre, The Australian Ballet, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Boston Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Dresden Semperoper Ballett, Finnish National Ballet, Houston Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, Mariinsky Ballet, Miami City Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, New York City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, The Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Staatsballett Berlin, and The Stuttgart Ballet, among others – with more than 100 of them in soloist or principal dancer positions.

The annual YAGP Gala at Lincoln Center, Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow, features the biggest stars of the world’s leading dance companies, many of whom had their NYC debuts* at the YAGP Gala, alongside the rising ballerinas and male dancers of tomorrow.

Past guest artists have included such luminaries as Nina Ananiashvili, Roberto Bolle, Ashley Bouder, Darcey Bussell, José Manuel Carreño, Misty Copeland, Robert Fairchild, Marcelo Gomes, David Hallberg, Maria Kochetkova, Ekaterina Kondaurova, Isabelle Guerin, Lucia Lacarra, Manuel Legris, Vladimir Malakhov, Gillian Murphy, Marianela Nunez, Evgenia Obraztsova, Natalia Osipova*, Xander Parish, Tiler Peck, Tamara Rojo, Daniil Simkin, Polina Semionova*, Olga Smirnova, Yuan Yuan Tan, Nikolai Tsiskaridze, Daniel Ulbricht, Ivan Vasiliev*, Diana Vishneva, Wendy Whelan, and many other dance legends.

YAGP was the subject of the 2011 award-winning First Position documentary, which followed six participants on their journey to compete at YAGP’s annual NYC Finals.

[surquhart]

Oh this was lovely to watch. For one so young her technique was excellent, turns beautifully executed, very clean lines. Quite charming and dainty - which is a real pleasure to see I must mention. Nothing over exaggerated, timing spot on. It was also a pleasure to see the more rare Esmeralda variation. A dancer to keep an eye on I believe. 👏👏👏🤗 .... also watched the Kathryn Morgan coaching video. Clarity, patience and knowledge - intrinsic qualities of an excellent coach, clearly demonstrated. Well done Kathryn 👏👏👏💯

[Starmarie]

Crystal has such beautiful form and musculature, she is the ideal young ballet dancer. Her stage presence is joyful and strong, she comes across wonderfully. Also her personality really shows which some younger dancers have difficulty with. Excellent work, Crystal!

[thelittlemermaid]

Her fluidity is better than a CGI video game! Just so effortless.

[angiea]

She is incredibly strong for 13 years old . Wow

[emmabontrager]

Oh my goodness her turns at the end of cupid!! They were so fast it was amazing!!! Good job Crystal!!!

[kdub]

Amazing!!

I LOVE how she uses her hands and fingers.

[Jessie-jfui]

Such a talented little girl, can’t wait to see her grow up as a beautiful ballerina and dancer🩰🤍

[giuliasturlese]

She is such a stunning dancer and a pleasure to watch — so proud of her for how far she’s come with her ballet! And so very deserving too.

[jsl]

so much talent and artistry on someone so young.

[Spookyreading]

Crystal is one of my favorites to watch!

[annalisevezina]

The technique, the artistry, the extensions, the timing, everything was perfect! Absolutely beautiful!

[jojom]

Crystal is my favorite young dancer so far. Her movement and musicality is so unique. There are of course lots of other amazing young dancers. But crystal stands out. There is just Sth different that catch my eyes. I hope her an amazing future.

[macmacroosa]

you can see her pride on her face in her ending pose— she knows she nailed those turns!

[apostledavidetaylorcultwatch]

What a joy to watch. So beautiful! Great job kiddo, you danced well beyond your years. Parents must be so proud.

[HoppinglyEverAfter]

So talented wow! Those turns were incredible!

[sineadsmyth]

Her dancing is beautiful to watch, she’s clearing very hard working, dedicated and talented 😮

[MsShoshi]

So glad to see all the expressiveness! Lovely smile and open face connecting to the audience. Keep it up!

[kabardinka]

Personally, I wish YAGP would stop promoting such young dancers. Children at that age have bodies which are still forming and putting them in competitions or encouraging them to do complex variations is just asking for future joint and other health problems. What's the hurry... let these young dancers mature at safe pace.

[DanzaDance]

Congratulations to Crystal, and her teachers! Loved to watch this version of the variation.

[alescianalita]

I’ve never seen this choreography for the variation of the entrance for Esmeralda. I absolutely adore it! Which company performs it?

Also Crystal is beyond talented. I can’t wait to see more from her in the future.