NEW YORK – A 15-year-old Japanese male dancer has won the top prize in his age group at a major international youth ballet competition held in Houston, the organizer said Monday.
Yusei Sai, based in the United States, won the grand prix in the junior division for ages 12 to 14 at the Youth America Grand Prix, known as the world’s largest student ballet scholarship competition.
Sai expressed joy, saying that he did not feel nervous and was able to enjoy dancing.
Among other Japanese winners were An Takahashi, 14, from Saitama near Tokyo, who placed first in the junior division’s female category.
In the classical dance category of the division for dancers aged 9 to 11, Daigaku Katayama from Ueda in central Japan took first place in the male category.
The division for dancers aged 9 to 11 is divided into classical and contemporary dance categories.
The Youth America Grand Prix, established in 1999 by former dancers of Russia’s Bolshoi Ballet, provides scholarships for young talent to study at top ballet schools around the world.