Larissa Saveliev

Born in Moscow, Ms. Saveliev graduated from the Moscow State Academy of Choreography, worked at the Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre, as well as the Bolshoi Theatre Ballet. After moving to the United States, she continued performing while also actively teaching. In 1999, together with her husband Gennadi Saveliev (then a Soloist at American Ballet Theatre) she founded the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) international dance competition for students aged between 9 and 19. The format of the competition is unique: it’s not necessary to win in order to receive a scholarship (prize). This format gained worldwide popularity. As part of the YAGP competition, world-renowned dance academies have awarded more than $4M in scholarships to talented participants. Ms. Saveliev is also a producer and consultant for various performing arts and television projects, including the 2011 documentary First Position and successful reality projects Breaking Pointe (2012) and Dance School Diaries (2014). Ms. Saveliev is one of Dance Magazine’s “25 Most Influential Persons in Dance”.