(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Hundreds of aspiring ballet dancers - ages 9 to 19 - from all over Utah participate in the Youth America Grand Prix student ballet scholarship auditions at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Young dancers perform a piece entitled 'On Then And Now' as they join hundreds of aspiring ballet dancers - ages 9 to 19 - from all over Utah for the Youth America Grand Prix student ballet scholarship auditions at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Scarlet Gray, left, and Jenna Bumgardner support one another backstage before their ensemble performance of 'Breakthrough' at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City for the Youth America Grand Prix student ballet scholarship auditions on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Young dancers perform 'Under His Eye' as part of the Youth America Grand Prix student ballet scholarship auditions at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Young dancers get ready to take the stage with an entry entitled 'Skyward' as part of Youth America Grand Prix student ballet scholarship auditions at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Christine Marabella,16, performs a dance entitled 'We Are One' during the Youth America Grand Prix student ballet scholarship auditions at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Young dancers perform in the ensemble competition as part of the America Grand Prix student ballet scholarship auditions at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Young Ballet West members perform 'Quintessence' as part of the Youth America Grand Prix student ballet scholarship auditions at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Olivia Newell waits her turn as Sophia Vance completes her dance in the open stage senior contemporary category as they perform for the Youth America Grand Prix student ballet scholarship auditions at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Ellie Wein, 16, performs in the open stage senior contemporary category as they perform for the Youth America Grand Prix student ballet scholarship auditions at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Hundreds of aspiring ballet dancers - ages 9 to 19 - from all over Utah participate in the Youth America Grand Prix student ballet scholarship auditions at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, as they warm up prior to individual performances in the open stage senior contemporary category.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kayla Madsen, 17, collects her thoughts as she gets ready to go on stage during the open senior contemporary category as part of the Youth America Grand Prix student ballet scholarship auditions at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Layla Basic, 16, takes her first step on to the stage to perform 'Station' during the Youth America Grand Prix student ballet scholarship auditions at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Young dancers perform in the ensemble competition with the piece entitled 'Breakthrough' as part of the America Grand Prix student ballet scholarship auditions at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Sylvia Xi, 16, concludes her performance in the open stage senior contemporary category during the Youth America Grand Prix student ballet scholarship auditions at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Young dancers perform in the ensemble competition as part of the America Grand Prix student ballet scholarship auditions at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Keely Zamiski, 16, begins her performance entitled 'Save Us' during the Youth America Grand Prix student ballet scholarship auditions at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Emma Hallin, 17, goes before the judges during the open stage contemporary competition as part of the Youth America Grand Prix student ballet scholarship auditions at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Young dancers perform in the ensemble competition as part of the America Grand Prix student ballet scholarship auditions at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Olivia Newell, 17, performs in the open stage senior contemporary category as they perform for the Youth America Grand Prix student ballet scholarship auditions at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020.
Hundreds of young aspiring dancers from Utah descend on Salt Lake City for the “American Idol” of ballet this weekend for the Youth America Grand Prix ballet scholarship auditions. Gathered at the Capitol Theatre, ballet dancers ages 9-19, attend workshops, dance classes and go before judges in hopes of making finals week in New York City in April — and eventually landing scholarships with top companies and schools from around the world.
Founded in 1999, more than 100,000 young dancers of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds have participated in the nonprofit program’s international workshops with 12,000 young dancers auditioning annually. This year’s international auditions were held in Mexico, Indonesia, Spain, France, Italy, Japan Australia, Brazil and Korea, along with multiple North American stops, including Salt Lake City.
The auditions continue through Sunday from 9:00 a.m-5:30 p.m. at the Capitol Theatre. The auditions are open to the public for viewing.
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