In the heart of New York City, at the renowned Plaza Hotel, a gathering of hundreds of young dancers in white tutus and perfectly styled hair took place on April 17, 2024. The event was organized by the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), a ballet scholarship program celebrating its 25th anniversary with performances at the prestigious Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
The group of dancers included students aged 9 to 19 competing for scholarships, as well as professional dancers who had previously participated in the program. As Tchaikovsky’s music played, the ballerinas gracefully balanced on their toes, executing bourrée steps by rapidly shifting their weight from one foot to the other for a full minute.
After an impressive performance, Tina Shi, an adjudicator for Guinness World Records, announced the results: “353, that is a new Guinness world record! Congratulations!” This achievement surpassed the previous record of 306 ballerinas dancing en pointe set by YAGP in 1999.
The dedication and talent of these young dancers highlighted the success of YAGP in nurturing and supporting aspiring ballet dancers over the years. The event was a testament to the hard work, training, and passion of the dancers, breaking boundaries and achieving remarkable accomplishments in the world of ballet.
