Fort Lauderdale Youth Ballet

I truly have no words to express how happy, grateful, and overwhelmed with joy I feel today. Our Fort Lauderdale Youth Ballet 8th Anniversary Gala exceeded every expectation I could have imagined and became one of the most rewarding and memorable evenings of my life.

To our incredible students — thank you 💖💖💖 You poured your hearts onto the stage and delivered performances filled with artistry, passion, dedication, and excellence. You made us all so proud. ✨

To our amazing faculty and staff — thank you for your tireless work, commitment, and countless hours behind the scenes. Your dedication helped bring this vision to life.

To our wonderful ballet families — thank you for your trust, support, sacrifices, and unwavering belief in our mission. None of this would be possible without you.

And to our incredible audience — thank you for filling the theater with your energy, enthusiasm, love, and support. Seeing so many people come together to celebrate these young artists was truly moving.

My heart is full. I am humbled, inspired, and deeply touched by the outpouring of love surrounding our school and our dancers. Last night was a beautiful reminder of why we do what we do.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you all for making our 8th Anniversary Gala such a memorable success. I am in awe, I am speechless, and I am forever grateful. ❤️✨

With all my love and gratitude,
German Dager
Founder & Artistic Director
Fort Lauderdale Youth Ballet ❤️❤️❤️

📸 DancerImages Sharon

It is a joy to celebrate Lukas Rueda 18th Birthday with his German Dager family.

Lukas is an exceptionally accomplished young artist whose dedication, discipline, and passion for ballet have taken him on an extraordinary journey. He joined FLYB at the age of 12, just before turning 13, after beginning his training at Academia de Ballet Chia in Bogotá, Colombia.

During his years with us, he distinguished himself through his remarkable work ethic, artistic maturity, and unwavering commitment to excellence.

Lukas continued his training at the prestigious San Francisco Ballet School before being accepted into the trainee program at Tulsa Ballet. One of the most significant milestones of his young career was being selected to participate in the renowned Prix de Lausanne, an extraordinary achievement reserved for some of the world’s most promising ballet students.

We are thrilled to share that Lukas will soon join Boston Ballet II, marking yet another exciting chapter in his artistic journey.

It is especially meaningful to welcome him back to our stage as a Guest Artist in this year’s Gala, where he will perform in La Romanesca and the Raymonda Pas de Quatre. Seeing him return to the place that helped shape part of his artistic foundation fills us with tremendous pride.

Lukas, on behalf of everyone at Fort Lauderdale Youth Ballet, we wish you a very happy 18th birthday. May this new chapter bring you continued success, inspiration, and fulfillment. We are immensely proud of all that you have accomplished and look forward to watching your career continue to flourish on stages around the world.

Happy 18th Birthday, Lukas! Your FLYB family is cheering for you every step of the way. ✨

Fort Lauderdale Youth Ballet 8th Anniversary Gala – 2026
Sunday, June 14, 2026 • 6:00 PM

✨ Raymonda as a story of love, loyalty, honor, and triumph over adversity. ✨

Raymonda is one of the great classical ballets choreographed by Marius Petipa to the magnificent music of Alexander Glazunov. It premiered in 1898 at the Mariinsky Theatre.

Set during the time of the Crusades, the story follows the young Countess Raymonda, who is eagerly awaiting the return of her beloved fiancé, Jean de Brienne, a noble knight fighting abroad.

Our radiant Hannah Gopalakrishna will perform the title role of Raymonda in this year’s Raymonda Ballet Suite.

Also a student at Dreyfoos School of the Arts, Hannah is a beautifully expressive artist whose elegant classical lines, refined technique, and captivating stage presence make her a natural choice for this celebrated role.

Her training besides , has included prestigious programs at the The Royal Ballet School in London and the John Cranko School, where she further developed her artistry and technical excellence. Hannah has also earned numerous top awards and distinctions at major national ballet competitions.

In this production, she will be partnered by guest artist José Luis Pechené in three magnificent pas de deux, bringing to life some of the most memorable moments of Petipa’s masterpiece.

In addition Hannah will perform several of Raymonda’s celebrated variations, including the dazzling Wedding Variation—a breathtaking display of virtuosity, elegance, and classical brilliance that serves as one of the ballet’s most spectacular highlights. ✨

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Sunrise Civic Center Theatre
10610 West Oakland Park Boulevard
Sunrise, FL 33351

For tickets, please text: (754) 303-9412

✨ Grand Pas Classique ✨

Fort Lauderdale Youth Ballet 8th Anniversary Gala – 2026
Sunday, June 14, 2026 • 6:00 PM

Regarded as one of the most dazzling and technically demanding Pas de Deux in the classical ballet repertoire, Grand Pas Classique is a brilliant showcase of virtuosity, elegance, and artistic excellence.

Choreographed by Victor Gsovsky in 1949 to the magnificent music of Daniel-François Auber, this celebrated masterpiece was created as a tribute to the grandeur and refinement of 19th-century classical ballet. Since its premiere, it has become a treasured jewel of the international ballet repertoire, admired for its breathtaking technique, purity of style, and timeless beauty.

Fort Lauderdale Youth Ballet is honored to welcome back two distinguished alumni as Guest Artists for our 2026 Gala. Emily Estrada (Class of 2024), previously a trainee with Orlando Ballet and now an artist with Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida, and Jose Luis Pechene (Class of 2022), who previously danced with Pennsylvania Ballet and is now also an artist with Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida.

Their return to the stage is a testament to the strength of their artistry, dedication, and continued professional success. We are incredibly proud to celebrate their achievements and delighted to share their beautiful artistry with our audiences once again. ✨💙

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Sunrise Civic Center Theatre
10610 West Oakland Park Boulevard
Sunrise, FL 33351

For tickets, please text: (754) 303-9412

Fort Lauderdale Youth Ballet 8th Anniversary Gala – 2026
Sunday, June 14, 2026 • 6:00 PM

Join Fort Lauderdale Youth Ballet for an unforgettable evening as we celebrate our 8th Anniversary Gala with an exquisite program of beloved classical ballet masterpieces.

This year, FLYB is proud to present the radiant Raymonda Ballet Suite, a jewel of the classical repertoire filled with elegance, grandeur, and timeless beauty.

Featured in this enchanting production are a distinguished group of soloists who will captivate audiences with their exquisite variations and the celebrated Raymonda Pas de Trois. These remarkable artists possess exceptional technique, breathtaking classical lines, and a level of artistry that brings every moment on stage to life.

Raymonda Ballet Suite
Music: Alexander Glazunov
Choreography: Marius Petipa / German Dager

Raymonda — Hannah Gopalakrishna
Henriette — Alexandra Mishiev
Clémence — Arielle Abiri
Countess Sybille de Doris — Emily Estrada

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Sunrise Civic Center Theatre
10610 West Oakland Park Boulevard
Sunrise, FL 33351

For tickets, please text: (754) 303-9412

✨ Fort Lauderdale Youth Ballet 8th Anniversary Gala 2026 ✨

📅 Sunday, June 14, 2026 | 6:00 PM

Join us for an unforgettable evening of classical ballet as presents the radiant Raymonda Ballet Suite.

Our Advanced and Pre-Advanced dancers will also delight audiences with the beautiful Valse Provençale (Grand Valse) from La Fête de Raymonda.

Raymonda Ballet Suite
Music: Alexander Glazunov
Original Choreography: Marius Petipa
Adaptation & Staging: German Dager

✨ Featured Cast ✨
Raymonda – Hannah Gopalakrishna
Jean de Brienne – Jose Luis Pechene
Henriette – Alexandra Mishiev
Clémence – Arielle Abiri
Countess Sybille de Doris – Emily Estrada
Béranger – Pablo Acosta
Bernard – Lukas Rueda

👑 Ladies of Honor: Keira Dahill, Ruth Exposito, Kavni Gupta, Toni Lange, Patricia Locke, Anaya Mitchell, Sierra Reis, Natalie Stocking, Hanna Swissa, and Camilla Wizel.

You won’t want to miss this beautiful celebration of artistry, elegance, and classical ballet! ✨

📸

Sunrise Civic Center Theatre
10610 West Oakland Park Boulevard
Sunrise, FL 33351

For tickets, please text (754) 303-9412

Fort Lauderdale Youth Ballet 8th Anniversary Gala – 2026

Sunday, June 14, 2026 at 6:00 PM

Join Fort Lauderdale Youth Ballet for an unforgettable evening as we celebrate our 8th Anniversary Gala with an exquisite program of classical ballet masterpieces.

This year, FLYB will present the radiant Raymonda Ballet Suite, one of the most celebrated works in the classical ballet repertoire.

Our FLYB Pre-Advanced Homeschool Program will be presenting the dazzling Raymonda Grand Coda, one of the most joyous and technically demanding excerpts from the classical ballet repertoire.

This performance is the result of a year filled with dedicated training, perseverance, and artistic growth. These remarkable young dancers have made extraordinary progress, developing not only their technique but also their confidence, musicality, and stage presence. We could not be prouder of how far they have come.

Their hard work, passion, and commitment will shine brightly on stage as they bring this vibrant and exhilarating masterpiece to life.

You won’t want to miss this exceptionally talented group of dancers as they showcase the beauty, elegance, and brilliance of classical ballet. ✨

📸

Sunrise Civic Center Theatre
10610 West Oakland Park Boulevard
Sunrise, FL 33351

For tickets, please text (754) 303-9412.