Youth America Grand Prix Presents CREATING THE DANCE WITH MARCELO GOMES Tonight

Youth America Grand Prix presents "Creating the Dance with Marcelo Gomes" tonight, February 4 at 6:30pm. The evening will begin with a panel discussion, followed by a rare and fascinating peak into the collaborative process essential to create a dance that is set to music, and conclude with an informal reception, all at New York City Center Studios, Studio 4 (130 West 56th Street, NYC).

Marcelo Gomes will demonstrate the dynamic process of creating choreography alongside Barbara Brandt who will be the moderator for the evening. Guests will watch the action unfold amongst the composer Ian Ng, musicians Dimitri Dover and Charles Yang, and American Ballet Theatre soloists Stella Abrera and Alexandre Hammoudi.

Marcelo Gomes is a critically acclaimed Principal Dancer and Choreographer of American Ballet Theatre. He began his dance studies at the Helena Lobato and Dalal Achcar Ballet Schools. He joined American Ballet Theatre in 1997 and is currently a Principal Dancer.

Barbara Brandt is a graduate of the University of Southern California. She enjoyed a 20 year career as a fitness trainer, during which she was a regular contributing fitness expert to ABC's Good Morning America. She sits on the Juilliard Council, City Center Dance Council and is Chairman Emeritus of Youth America Grand Prix, where she was a founding board member.

Tickets are $150.00. To purchase tickets contact Ms. Kaylen Ratto Giannini at 646.465.5933 or yagp.externalaffairs@gmail.com. All proceeds from the event will go to YAGP's scholarship fund, which provides funding for young talented dancers. YAGP is a 501 (C) (3) non-profit organization.

YOUTH AMERICA GRAND PRIX (YAGP) is the world's largest student ballet scholarship competition, awarding over $250,000 annually to leading dance schools worldwide. Since being founded in 1999 by two former Bolshoi Ballet dancers, Larissa and Gennadi Saveliev, YAGP has awarded over $2 million in scholarships to the leading dance schools worldwide. The competition is conducted annually throughout the U.S. and abroad (Brazil, Mexico, Japan, and Italy). YAGP is the "internet of the dance world," a global network of opportunity connecting dancers, teachers, schools and companies all over the globe. Over 25,000 dancers worldwide have participated in YAGP's international workshops, competitions, and audition classes. Over 300 YAGP alumni are now dancing with 50 companies around the world, including American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet and San Francisco Ballet, among others. For more information, visit www.yagp.org.