Hinsdale Ballerinas find success at Youth America Grand Prix

The Hinsdale Dance Academy recently competed at the prestigious Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), the world’s largest ballet scholarship and network program. The dancers competed against over 800 entries from schools all around the country. Alaina Gonzalez (Hinsdale, IL), Sarah Gresik (Bolingbrook, IL) and Julia May (Elmhurst,IL) placed in the Top 12 for the senior division. Alaina Gonzalez and Alexa O’Donnell (Hinsdale, IL) were also chosen by Jose Manuel Carreno (famed star of the American Ballet Theatre) to participate in the Ballet San Jose Summer Intensive. Grace Curry (Orland Park, IL) received third place in the classical division and will advance to the Final Round in New York City, April 10-16, 2015.

The Hinsdale Dance Academy was founded by former principal dancer, Jennifer Grapes, on October 22, 2012. The mission of the Hinsdale Dance Academy is to provide its students with the highest caliber of classical dance training, performances, and dance education opportunities. To that end, HDA also provides contemporary, jazz, and a large young children’s program for dancers aged one to six years old. This spring HDA will be moving into their new home, a 7,000 square feet dance space, to accommodate its ever growing student population. To be recognized by the Youth America Grand Prix is a testament to the quality of training that Ms. Grapes and her esteemed faculty provides its young dancers.