Ballet dancers compete at regional semifinals in Bellevue

Originally published January 6, 2017 at 7:17 pmUpdated January 6, 2017 at 9:51 pm

Ciara Sutter, 11, center, of Kirkland, and other dancers gather to get acquainted with the stage at the Meydenbauer Center and listen to instructions before they individually perform Friday at the Youth America Grand Prix regional semifinals, which continue Saturday. Hundreds of dancers, ages 9-19, are competing. YAGP awards more than $250,000 a year in scholarships to send young dancers to leading schools and dance companies to continue their training. Selected competitors will continue to the finals in New York City. (Ellen M. Banner/The Seattle Times)

Abigail Schroeder, 11, of Portland, right, checks the schedule Friday to see when she will compete at the Youth America Grand Prix in Bellevue. The organization was founded by Larissa Saveliev, who trained at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. (Ellen M. Banner/The Seattle Times)

Colette Berset-Price, 12, competes at the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) regional semifinals at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue on Friday. (Ellen M. Banner/The Seattle Times)

Aurora Ausserer, 11, of Redmond, performs. (Ellen M. Banner/The Seattle Times)

Sreya Satish Kumar, 11, of Redmond dances to “Don Quixote,” Kitri Variation, Act 3. (Ellen M. Banner/The Seattle Times)

Ciara Sutter, 11, of Kirkland, performs. (Ellen M. Banner/The Seattle Times)

Tanna Harrison, 10, of Spokane, dances to “The Sleeping Beauty,” Aurora Variation, Act 3. (Ellen M. Banner/The Seattle Times)

Ciara Sutter, 11, of Kirkland, dances to “The Sleeping Beauty,” Fairy Variation. (Ellen M. Banner/The Seattle Times)

Malia Bell, 10, of Vancouver, B.C., waits for her turn in the wings as she watches another dancer perform. (Ellen M. Banner/The Seattle Times)

Kaili Kirschbaum, left, of Redmond, and Malia Bell and Kai-Chi She, both of Vancouver, B.C., applaud as another dancer leaves the stage. (Ellen M. Banner/The Seattle Times)

An encouraging note on the white board at the entrance to the women’s dressing room. (Ellen M. Banner/The Seattle Times)

Sofia Shurko, 11, practices before her coach, Holly Tolbert, both with SMJ Performing Arts in Sherwood, Ore., backstage before Sofia goes on stage. (Ellen M. Banner/The Seattle Times)

Ballet dancers compete at regional semifinals in BellevueBack to story Restart gallery

Hundreds of dancers age 9 to 19 competed at the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) regional semifinals at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue on Friday.

Ellen M. Banner

Seattle Times staff photographer

Ellen M. Banner

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