Young Artists Showcase
Online figure skating choreography competition.
YAS 2026 Applications are now open!
The #YAS2026 season is coming soon! APPLY BELOW for a chance to be selected from the pool of applicants around the world to be named as one of the 3 Finalists, and invited to choreograph an ensemble of professional skaters at the American Contemporary Skating Festival in Boston, MA from June 11-14, 2026.
If you have a YAS Alumni who would like to nominate you for this application process, the Alumni must complete this form prior to your registering.
- All #YAS2026 applications are due by Friday, January 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
- The 3 Finalists will be selected from the competitive applicant pool by Monday, February 23, 2026.
- The #YAS2026 online showcase event will run every Saturday between April 4 – 25, 2026.
Looking for the #YAS2025 scores and detailed information from last season? Check out the 2025 YAS Season webpage.
What is YAS?
The Young Artists Showcase (YAS) is an online figure skating choreography competition originally founded in 2010 by Olympic Coach Audrey Weisiger with sponsorship and support from Doug Mattis and Sheila Thelen. YAS was created to give young choreographers a platform to create new work, offer them exposure to elite coaches and choreographers in the figure skating world, and connect them with other like-minded artists.
In its first 6 seasons, YAS kick-started the careers of many leading young skating choreographers all over the world, including past winners: Tommy Steenberg, Adam Blake, Mark Hanretty, Zabato Bebe, Anna Cobb, and Stephanie Chace Bass.
On hiatus since 2015, YAS has resumed under the auspices of AIT and will continue with Audrey Weisiger’s guidance and input every Spring.
From the pool of YAS applicants, choreographers will compete to be one of the 3 chosen Finalists (selections are made by the AIT/YAS Selection Committee Judges) to showcase their on-ice choreography in this online event each spring as well as have the opportunity to choreograph an ensemble at the Festival Showcase in June.
The 4 YAS challenges — with detailed requirements laid out for each challenge — will be sent to the 3 selected choreographers approximately one month prior to the first video deadline of the online showcase. The Finalists will receive feedback after each of the challenges, and these internationals experts will be use this feedback criteria for both the YAS and Q4C competitions.
Want more information? Review our YAS & Q4C Frequently-Asked Questions or read on for more details about this year’s YAS event.
#YAS2026 – Competition Details
YAS 2026 Dates & Deadlines
- YAS 2026 Application Deadline: Friday, January 30, 2026 no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time
- 3 Finalists Announced as Winners from the Pool of Applicants: Monday, February 23, 2026
- 4 Challenges Posted for Selected Finalists: Monday, March 2, 2026
- YAS 2025 Competition: EVERY WEEKEND from April 4 – 25, 2026
YAS Eligibility
All applicants must be between the ages of 16-45 (as of January 1, 2026). If you’re under the age of 21, and not selected this season to be one of the 3 YAS finalists, consider registering for Quest for Creativity instead.
YAS Cost & Requirements/Rules to Apply
- Complete the application for admission;
- Plus, share your detailed vision for your ensemble piece at the American Contemporary Skating Festival this year (on your application); 3 Finalists will be selected to choreograph for an ensemble of professional skaters at the Festival.
- Pay the application fee of $95; or $75 for applicants with a completed YAS Alumni Nomination Form submitted by a YAS alum or former YAS contestant; or $47.50 for previous YAS applicants.
- *NEW* Submit a 1-minute (1 min maximum) video of your choreography filmed on the ice, in all black attire, filmed horizontally from anywhere in the ice rink — using this prompt (no editing permitted; MUST be a solo piece):
- Express — through your choreography — the idea of contrast. Please submit a video link (YouTube or Vimeo) of your work.
- Submit a 3-4 minute video choreography reel of your work. This reel must include only your own choreography and can be of yourself and/or others performing. We encourage you to show a diverse range of choreography work; applicants who showcase a variety of styles and include soloists as well as multiple skaters will have an advantage. Video clips can consist of practice and open skating sessions; there is no requirement that the video clips must be from a show or competition. Black attire is recommended, but not required, for the choreography reel. Please film your footage horizontal/landscape for the reel.
- Your application and videos will be judged by the Selection Committee according to the YAS judging criteria.
- *PLEASE NOTE: if we receive more than 10 applications, there will be a qualifying round of selections made by AIT Co-Executive Directors, Garrett Kling and Kate McSwain. The Selection Committee will only be reviewing and judging 10 applications maximum.
Prizes for Young Artists Showcase
For All YAS Applicants
Anyone who submits an application for YAS will receive:
- A 10% discount on the American Contemporary Skating Festival registration fee.
- A 50% discount on the YAS application fee if you apply to YAS in the future. This discount will never expire — you can continue to apply to future YAS seasons whether you are selected as a Finalist this year or not.
Grand Prize for the 3 YAS Finalists
Of the pool of applicants, 3 YAS Finalists will be selected and will receive the following:
- FREE pair of blades (winner’s choice of brand) from our sponsor, Home Ice Boston (this prize is TBD until confirmed each season)
- Featured as 3 (of 5) ensemble choreographers at the American Contemporary Skating Festival (the second weekend of June each year) and you will receive:
- $200 travel stipend for Boston, MA; plus
- Complimentary Festival registration.
- You’ll have the opportunity to become AIT-Certified via a $250 credit toward the educational opportunity of your choice. You may choose either:
- The next available session of AIT’s semester-long Master Choreography Techniques online course; or
- The next available session of AIT’s 10-week 6 Ways of the Spine™ online course; or
- The custom, one-on-one based AIT Mentorship Program for figure skating choreographers interested in a career in the field.
Previous YAS Season awards
Past YAS Winners
- Tommy Steenberg from Virginia: 2010 (this is the year Audrey Weisiger founded YAS)
- Adam Blake from Tennessee: 2011
- Zabato Bebe from Germany: 2013
- Anna Cobb from Michigan: 2015
- Giulia Isceri from Switzerland: 2020 (this is the year AIT adopted YAS from Audrey Weisiger)
- Maddie Aybar from Illinois: 2021
- Cameron Claire from Minnesota: 2022
- Jimmy Morgan from Rhode Island: 2023
- Vlad Tchernov from Canada: 2024
- 2025 (this is the year the YAS competition format changed)
- Natalie Schoonover from Massachusetts
- Sekar Prasetya from California
- Sarah Brew from Utah
YAS Sponsorships
For each week of this 5-week online ice skating choreography competition, AIT offers skating companies and well-known brands the opportunity to “Sponsor a Challenge cz-lekarna.com/.” If you are interested in sponsoring one week of a YAS Challenge in the future, please email us. We guarantee your company’s marketing coverage on every YAS Finalist video for that challenge week as well as brand promotion on AIT’s social media and website. Additional information on AIT sponsorships is available on our Donate, Sponsor & Support page.
Want more information? Review our YAS & Q4C Frequently-Asked Questions.
