Amber De Vos/ Patrick McMullan.com

American Ballet Theatre’s principal dancer Marcelo Gomes gave a rare look into how choreography is created with the help of ABT dancers Stella Abrera and Alexandre Hammoudi, in the studios of City Center at an evening called “Creating the Dance with Marcelo Gomes”, a benefit for Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP).

This rare and fascinating peak into the collaborative process was moderated by Barbara Brandt, followed by a spirited informal cocktail party.

Over 200 guests, including Lisa Airan, Connor Whitney, Jennifer Chaitman, Arlene Cooper, Stephanie Foster, Heather Georges, Judith Hoffman, Karen LeFrak, Peter Lyden, Kamie Lightburn, and Libba Stribling, were among the delighted audience.

This will have it’s American premier at the Youth America Grand Prix’s 2013 “Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow” Gala Thursday, April 18, 2013 at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater.

The gala co-chairs of that evening are Heather Georges, Kamie Lightburn, Jennifer Chaitman, and Stephanie Foster.

Marcelo Gomes will soon be premiering a new piece of his choreography with music by creative and philanthropic New Yorker Karen LeFrak, at The Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg in March.

Amber De Vos/ Patrick McMullan.com

Pictured left: Marcelo Gomes & Karen LeFrak

Pictured top: Barbara Brandt, Marcelo Gomes, Stella Abrera, Alexandre Hammoudi

Note: The Youth America Grand Prix is the world’s largest student ballet scholarship competition. Find out more: http://www.yagp.org/