Ballet Hawaii student Sabrina Ocasio advanced in the Youth American Grand Prix Ballet Competition, taking first place in the San Francisco semi-finals for nine to 11-year olds and advancing to the international finals in New York.

Ocasio,11, appeared as Marie in Ballet Hawaii's annual "Nutcracker" production held in December at the Blaisdell Concert Hall.  She has been taking dance at Ballet Hawaii for the past eight years.

She is in the fifth grade at Punahou School.