MYB Dancers Successfully Compete in
Youth America Grand Prix 2008

Silver Spring, MD – April 22, 2008 – Seven Maryland Youth Ballet dancers competed in this year’s Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) International Ballet Competition regional qualifiers from coast to coast, with one garnering gold and silver medals and four others earning Top 12 honors.

Kaitlyn Potts traveled to San Francisco, CA, where she won the Gold Medal in the Senior Classical division and the Silver Medal in Senior Contemporary.  Kaitlyn was also awarded medals in the 2005 and 2006 YAGP regionals and won the Junior Grand Prix in the 2005 South Carolina YAGP regional.  A high school senior from northern Virginia, Kaitlyn is an American Ballet Theatre (ABT) National Training Scholar who has trained at Maryland Youth Ballet for three years and has also trained in the summers with ABT on scholarship.  She will return to ABT in New York City this summer and will also attend Kaatsbaan International Dance Center in August. Kaitlyn competed at the YAGP New York City finals and will enter the American Ballet Competition in Florida this June. 

Melanie Riffee placed in the Top 12 for both the Senior Classical and Contemporary divisions at the YAGP regional in South Carolina.  She also placed in the Top 12 Classical in the previous years she competed at a YAGP regional, and performed in an ensemble at the YAGP Gala in 2006.  A Virginia high school senior, Melanie has trained at MYB for two years and has studied during the summers at Boston Ballet, where she will return this summer on scholarship to pursue a traineeship. Melanie will also study for her second year with Suzanne Farrell at The Kennedy Center in August.

Monica Giragosian competed in the Chicago YAGP regional, where she placed in the Top 12 Senior Women Classical Division.  Monica has trained and performed with MYB for 10 years.
A high school junior from Virginia, Monica trains in the summer in New York City with ABT and will also study at Kaatsbaan International Dance Center this August.

Four Maryland residents of MYB competed in the YAGP Philadelphia regional.  Alexandra Farber placed in the Top 12 Senior Classical Division.  Alexandra, 15, was recently accepted into the summer program at the School of American Ballet.  Beila Unger, 14, placed in the Top 12 Junior Classical division.  Beila will train this summer at Kaatsbaan International Dance Center.  Also successfully competing in Philadelphia were 16-year-olds Sarah Hicks and Charlotte Barnett, both of whom plan to study this summer at Princeton Ballet Theater under the tutelage of MYB alumna Susan Jaffe, former principal dancer with ABT. 

During the Philadelphia competition, a principal of YAGP told Michelle Lees, MYB’s artistic director, that “the judges were particularly impressed with the quality, technique and artistry” of the MYB participants.  Founded by Artistic Director Tensia Fonseca in 1971, MYB is considered one of the finest ballet schools in the nation and continues to attract talented dancers for their pre-professional program from metropolitan Washington, DC and beyond. For more information about MYB, please visit www.marylandyouthballet.org or call (301) 608-2232. 

| 926 Ellsworth Drive | Silver Spring, MD 20910 | (301) 608-2232 |

   Maryland Youth Ballet is supported in part by grants from the Maryland State Arts Council, the Montgomery County Executive’s Ball, the Princess Grace Award, and the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County.

Back to top