353 Young Dancers Set Guinness World Record for Dancing on Pointe in New York

On April 17, 2024, 353 young ballet dancers, aged 9 to 19, set a new Guinness World Record for the most people dancing on pointe simultaneously at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. The event was organized by the Youth America Grand Prix, a non-profit international youth ballet scholarship program celebrating its 25th anniversary.

The dancers, including students and professional alumni, performed a bourrée step to Tchaikovsky music for a full minute, shifting their weight rapidly from one foot to the other while on their toes. Tina Shi, a Guinness World Records adjudicator, announced that the new record was set, surpassing the previous record of 306 ballerinas on pointe.

Larissa Saveliev, the founder of Youth America Grand Prix, initially needed at least 307 dancers to beat the previous record set in 2019. Despite some initial challenges in getting the full number of dancers, they were able to gather 353 participants, some as young as 8 years old, who lined up in a ballroom-size space at the Plaza Hotel and performed the record-breaking accomplishment.

Why this matters: This event not only showcases the dedication and talent of young ballet dancers but also highlights the importance of programs like Youth America Grand Prix in nurturing and supporting the next generation of artists. The record-breaking achievement serves as an inspiration for aspiring dancers worldwide, demonstrating the power of perseverance and collaboration in the arts.

The dancers, who spoke about their aspirations to perform in classic ballets like "The Nutcracker,""Sleeping Beauty," and "Swan Lake," saw the event as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to be recognized by Guinness World Records. One of the participants, 13-year-old Amanda Toledo, expressed her shock and pride at being part of this record-breaking event, which included dancers from the US, Japan, China, Germany, and Portugal.

Key Takeaways

• 353 young ballet dancers set a new Guinness World Record on April 17, 2024.
• The event was organized by the Youth America Grand Prix, a non-profit ballet program.
• The dancers performed a bourrée step to Tchaikovsky music for a full minute.
• The record surpassed the previous record of 306 ballerinas on pointe.
• The event showcased the dedication and talent of young ballet dancers worldwide.