MOVE|NYC| Announces 2025 National YoungArts Award Winners

Young artists, ages 15-18, come from across the United States to be honored for excellence in visual, literary and performing arts

MOVE|NYC| announces 2025 National YoungArts Award winners including: Ava-Rachel Lieber, 17, Livingston, New Jersey; Alannah Vass, 17, Brooklyn; Ava-Nicole Fincher, 17, Brooklyn , and Keith Hinds, 16, Staten Island. MOVE|NYC| is celebrating its 10th Anniversary as a leading-edge New York City based arts and social justice organization whose mission is to cultivate greater diversity and equity in the dance field and beyond.

YoungArts Award winners are selected through a highly competitive application process, which is reviewed by panels of esteemed, discipline-specific artists. The 2025 winners join a distinguished community of artists who are offered creative and professional development support throughout their careers.

“We are thrilled to congratulate the MOVE|NYC| dancers who have won the 2025 National YoungArts Awards. YoungArts is one of the nation’s premier recognition and talent search programs for young artists. Winners are among the most accomplished artists of their time,” said Chanel DaSilva, MOVE|NYC| Co-Founder & CEO of Strategy & New Initiatives.

As teenagers, MOVE|NYC| Co-Founders, Nigel Campbell, Artistic Director & CEO of Programming & Artist Development, and Chanel DaSilva, CEO of Strategy & New Initiatives, were both recipients of National YoungArts Awards.

“As a YoungArts Award winner, I know the impact this Award can make on your future and the support throughout your career,” Chanel explained. “We are so proud that MOVE|NYC| has had 24 young winners since 2019.”

“By giving our MOVE|NYC| dancers the foundation to compete for the YoungArts Awards, we are supporting their dreams and ambitions and opening doors to new opportunities,” Nigel said. “Dance taught me to be a fighter. Every step of the way, you have to decide if you are going to let people decide for you what your capacity is, and that takes a fight. We hope to inspire our young dancers to fight to achieve their personal goals.”

MOVE|NYC| focuses on shaping the next generation of dance artists and leaders by providing 100% tuition-free artistic training, mentorship and professional development and presenting opportunities.

“Being recognized as a YoungArts winner in Dance is an incredible honor for which I will always be grateful. This recognition represents not only a personal achievement but also a validation of the countless hours I've dedicated to honing my craft,” said, MOVE|NYC| dancer Ava-Rachel Lieber of Livingston, New Jersey. “Being acknowledged at the national level, highlights the hard work, perseverance, and passion that I have poured into my technique and artistry. I recognize that winning this level of recognition is also a reflection of the amazing training, mentorship and support I have been fortunate to receive over the years. Because of YoungArts, I now feel even more inspired to strive for excellence, to keep exploring new creative avenues, and to never give up,” she said.

YoungArts Award winners have demonstrated exceptional technique, a strong sense of artistry, and an extraordinary commitment to developing their craft. This year, winners were selected from nearly 11,000 applications across 10 artistic disciplines including dance.

About YoungArts

YoungArts, the national foundation for the advancement of artists, was established in 1981 by Lin and Ted Arison to identify exceptional young artists, amplify their potential, and invest in their lifelong creative freedom. YoungArts provides space, funding, mentorship, professional development and community throughout artists’ careers. Entrance into this prestigious organization starts with a highly competitive application for talented artists, ages 15–18, or grades 10–12, in the United States that is judged by esteemed discipline-specific panels of artists through a rigorous adjudication process.

About MOVE|NYC|

Founded in 2015, MOVE|NYC| is celebrating its 10th Anniversary as a leading-edge New York City based arts and social justice organization whose mission is to cultivate greater diversity and equity in the dance field and beyond. MOVE|NYC| focuses on shaping the next generation of dance artists and leaders by providing 100% tuition-free artistic training, mentorship and professional development and presenting opportunities and other essential resources for career advancement to promising dancers ages 13-25. Through its programs, activities and youth ensemble, MOVE|NYC| is committed to artistic excellence, mentorship, community engagement, equity and social change. Please visit www.movenyc.nyc.