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Local Student Wins First Place in World’s Largest Student Ballet Competition
Thirteen-year-old wins first place at the YAGP

MILWAUKEE – January 10, 2012 – Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy student Jennifer Hackbarth, age thirteen, won first place in the Junior Division at the Youth America Grand Prix, America’s first and the world’s largest student ballet scholarship competition, held this past weekend in Chicago.

Nadia Thompson, Ballet Mistress for Milwaukee Ballet Company, privately coached Ms. Hackbarth’s first place performance of the Blue Bird variation from The Sleeping Beauty. Ms. Thompson also choreographed the contemporary solo Ethos which placed Ms. Hackbarth in the top twelve of the contemporary division. Ms. Hackbarth is one of a select few whose scores were high enough to be invited to compete in the finals at the Lincoln Center in New York City.

The Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) is the “internet of the dance world,” a global network of opportunity connecting dancers, teachers, schools and companies all over the globe. Since its inception, 25,000 young dancers have participated in YAGP worldwide competitions and workshops, over $2 million dollars have been awarded in scholarships to the world’s leading dance schools, and over 250 YAGP Alumni are now dancing with some 50 companies around the globe.

About Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy
Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy is recognized among the top in the nation and is the only professional dance school in the Midwest accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance. Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy has an enrollment of over 900 students at three locations throughout Southeastern Wisconsin.

Media Coverage
Whitefish Bay dancer wins first place in ballet competition
JSOnline.com, January 26

Local student wins top honors at the Youth America Grand Prix
OnMilwaukee.com, January 26

Wis. teen wins at important ballet competition
ChicagoTribune.com, January 29

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Note to Editors: Interviews with Ms. Hackbarth’s family and Milwaukee Ballet Company’s Ballet Mistress Nadia Thompson are available upon request.