Students, professional dancers mix it up at ballet gala "Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow"

Ballet fans have something to look forward to in "Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow," a gala featuring established professional dancers from New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Miami City Ballet and other companies on the same stage as award-winning student dancers.

It's part of the Youth American Grand Prix, the world's largest student ballet competition, which is holding a regional competition this weekend at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, followed by the gala performance. Open to dance students 9 to 19, the competition is held around the country, leading to the New York City finals in April.

Some of the dancers scheduled to be in the gala include St. Petersburg native Daniel Ulbricht, a principal with New York City Ballet; Jeffrey and Lia Cirio and Sabi Varga of Boston Ballet; Logan Learned, a principal with Sarasota Ballet; Jeanette Delgado of Miami City Ballet; Jonathan "Legacy" Perez from So You Think You Can Dance; and Joseph Phillips of American Ballet Theatre.

The gala is at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Ferguson Hall of the Straz. $18.50-$46.50. A post-performance guest artist meet and greet that includes buffet dinner and cash bar costs $20. (813) 229-7827; strazcenter.org.

John Fleming, Times performing arts critic