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Most ballet dancers en pointe simultaneously, world record in New York City, USA

September 21, 2024

Most ballet dancers en pointe simultaneously, world record in New York, USA

New York City, New York, United States--The nonprofit Youth America Grand Prix, which organizes competitions for young dancers, celebrated its 25th anniversary by hosting a record-breaking event featuring 353 ballerinas en pointe at the same time, which set the new world record for the Most ballet dancers en pointe simultaneously, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

"New York's famous Plaza Hotel hosted a Guinness World Record-breaking event featuring 353 ballerinas en pointe at the same time," the UPI reports.

"The nonprofit Youth America Grand Prix, which organizes competitions for young dancers, celebrated its 25th anniversary by gathering the white tutu-clad ballerinas at the hotel and having them all go en pointe -- the ballet term for dancing on the toes -- for a full minute.

""The big why of why we're doing it is to really let the world know that dance is a healing force," Sergey Gordeev, director of external affairs at YAGP, told Gothamist. "Dance is a power that brings us connection at a time when we're so disconnected."

"The most ballet dancers en pointe simultaneously is 353, and was achieved by Youth America Grand Prix (USA) in New York, New York, USA, on 17 April 2024," the Guinness World Records says.

"Youth America Grand Prix is the world's largest ballet scholarship organization. They broke this record at the Plaza Hotel in New York City."

"Hundreds of young dancers in white tutus and tightly coiffed hair gathered in New York’s Plaza Hotel on Wednesday to break the world record for dancing on pointe in one place," the AP reports.

"The spectacle was organized by Youth America Grand Prix, a ballet scholarship program that is celebrating its 25th anniversary with three nights of performances at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

"The dancers included students aged 9 to 19 who are competing for scholarships as well as professional dancers who are alums of the program. Tchaikovsky music played as the ballerinas stood on tiptoes and switched their weight rapidly from one foot to the other — a step called bourrée — for a full minute."

"New York's iconic Plaza Hotel became a see of tulle on Wednesday when hundreds of young ballerinas gathered at the famed venue to smash the Guinness World Record for the most dancers balancing en pointe simultaneously," the Daily Mail says.

"The record was previously set in 2019, when 306 dancers stood on the tips of their toes for more than one minute - and the feat was aired live on the morning show Live! with Kelly and Ryan.

"But today, that record was broken when a whopping 353 ballerinas gathered inside the Manhattan hotel and completed the pose all at the same time."

"Hundreds of young ballet dancers simultaneously perched on their tippy toes — holding the grueling pose for more than a minute to set a new world record at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan," the New York Post says.

"A total of 353 dancers from across the globe held the position, known as going “en pointe,” to beat the current Guinness World Record of 306, said Youth America Grand Prix, the group that organized the tutu-centric turnout.

"Teenage participants from more than 20 states — including New York, Hawaii and Idaho — busted the move, which is considered among ballet’s most strenuous."

"Hundreds of young dancers in white tutus and tightly coiffed hair gathered in New York's Plaza Hotel on Wednesday to break the world record for dancing on pointe in one place," the U.S. News & World Report says.

"The spectacle was organized by Youth America Grand Prix, a ballet scholarship program that is celebrating its 25th anniversary with three nights of performances at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. The dancers included students aged 9 to 19 who are competing for scholarships as well as professional dancers who are alums of the program.

"Tchaikovsky music played as the ballerinas stood on tiptoes and switched their weight rapidly from one foot to the other — a step called bourrée — for a full minute."

"Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) is a non-profit international youth ballet and contemporary dance competition and scholarship program established in 1999. YAGP was officially launched in 1999 with competitions and classes held in Boston, Washington, DC., Chicago, Los Angeles and Boca Raton. 8 American schools presented scholarships in the first year of YAGP's existence.

"Each year, over 10,000 dancers participate in the competitions and auditions YAGP conducts in various locations in North America and international locations including Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Paraguay.

"YAGP was the first competition to introduce the concept that a student does not have to win 1st, 2nd or 3rd place to receive a prize (scholarship). Scholarships at YAGP are awarded based on each individual school director's evaluation of a student's potential, independently of the panel of judges’ decision. This concept has now been widely adopted by many other ballet competitions around the world." (Wikipedia)

"Youth America Grand Prix is the world's largest dance family - and the world’s largest student ballet scholarship audition. YAGP fulfills its mission through scholarship auditions, master classes, alumni services, educational and outreach activities, performances, and films," the Youth America Grand Prix says.

"YAGP is a New York-based 501(C)(3) non-profit dance education organization with a MISSION to support and develop world-class dancers, ages 9-19, of all economic, ethnic, and geographic backgrounds by providing scholarship auditions, performance and education opportunities, and by serving as a global network of dance, connecting students, teachers, schools, dance companies, dancers, and audiences.

"Now in its 25th Anniversary Season, YAGP reaches over 15,000 dance students annually by holding workshops, scholarship auditions, master classes and auditions in 32 U.S cities and at 15 international locations worldwide. Each season culminates in the week-long Season Finals where more than 1,500 of the world's most promising dancers receive in-depth mentoring and greater scholarship, professional, and performance opportunities. The Season Finals closing night Gala, "Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow," features the world’s most exciting young dance talent alongside the stars of today's leading dance companies."

"In 25 years of operation, YAGP has reached more than 200,000 talented young dancers worldwide with its workshops, scholarship auditions and master classes around the globe," the Youth America Grand Prix says.

"More than $5,000,000 has been awarded at YAGP in scholarships to the world's leading dance schools. As a result, more than 500 YAGP alumni are now dancing with 100 companies around the world, including American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Paris Opera Ballet, The Royal Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Washington Ballet, and many others."

Photos: Most ballet dancers en pointe simultaneously, world record in New York, USA
(1-10) Facebook/Youth America Grand Prix