DEBBIE ALLEN SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED

 

HAMILTON, Bermuda, March 26, 2007 – The National Dance Foundation of Bermuda today announced the names of students chosen to receive scholarships to the prestigious Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Culver City, California.

Debbie Allen, who was the first recipient of the Catherine Zeta-Jones Award for Legends in Dance at the Foundation’s annual gala fundraiser in February, surprised the audience by saying she was giving five scholarships – one for each of the Island ’s main dance schools - for the month-long summer intensive offered by her school in July.

The names of the four students who have been chosen by their schools to receive a scholarship to the Debbie Allen Dance Academy are:

 

Gabriele Dunkley, aged 16, a student at In Motion School of Dance

“ Gabriele is a package full of personality, passion and commitment for dance, with an infectious positive attitude”, said In Motion Director Lizz Pimentel.  “She has grown tremendously as a dancer through her hard work and dedication and continues to embrace challenges as they come her way.  Gabriele is a true performer and radiates on stage. She has a strong sense of determination and passion for dance that is evident in her performance quality.”

 

Shaydrina Hassell, a 17 year old student at the Jackson’s School of Performing Arts

 

“Shaydrina has been dancing at the Jackson ’s School for 15 years, “ said Jackson ’s School Director Jeanne Legere. “She is a very talented young lady, who is focused, driven and a pleasure for all her teachers to work with. She deserves and was chosen for the Debbie Allen scholarship by the teachers at the Jackson School because we know how much she will appreciate this opportunity and we also know how much she will learn, gain and grow from attending the prestigious programme. We would like to thank Ms. Debbie Allen for making this possible.”

Miss Hassell will have a full summer of intensive training this year, given that she also chosen as a recipient of a Catherine Zeta-Jones scholarship for DanceBermuda 2007, which will run from August 6 -24.

 

16 year old Rikkai Scott of United Dance Productions (UDP)

“Rikkai has danced with United Dance Productions since he was four years old and is an extremely talented and dedicated student,” said UDP Director Suzette Harvey. “During the past 12 years dancing at UDP, Rikkai has been exposed to many international dancers, teachers and choreographers. He is a member of UDP’s Junior Company, and has traveled to Philadelphia and performed in the National High School Dance Festival in 2004. Rikkai is a senior at UDP and now carries the responsibility of student/teacher, teaching Beginners’ Tap at the school. He is well-known as a natural performer and we consider him the ideal candidate for the Debbie Allen scholarship. At the age of sixteen, the timing is perfect to expose him to the diverse programming offered at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy , bearing in mind that he will be seeking college opportunities in the very near future. UDP would like to thank Debbie Allen for affording Rikkai this opportunity.”

 

17 year Krystal Smith of the Somerset School of Dancing

“My staff and I are delighted to award this scholarship to Krystal,” said Somerset School Director Sal Hodgson. “She is a hard working, talented young woman with a passion for dance. While she takes class in a variety of dance disciplines, her forte is classical ballet and contemporary work, and I have no doubt the curriculum at Miss Allen’s academy will not only be challenging but also inspiring for Krystal.”

Miss Smith’s scholarship comes fast on the heels of another honour. As a student in the most advanced level of the Foundation’s DanceBermuda programme, she was chosen to perform at the National Dance Foundation’s fundraising gala. Miss Smith joined Dominique Anderson and Anna Clifford in performing In From the Sea , a work choreographed specifically for them by Brian Reeder, artistic director of the ABT faculty at DanceBermuda and an acclaimed choreographer in his own right.

Unfortunately, the Bermuda School of Russian Ballet was unable to award their scholarship this year.

Miss Allen expressed her delight in hearing that her scholarships have been awarded.

“I’m so pleased to learn about the students who will be coming to our summer intensive from Bermuda ,” said Miss Allen. “They are going to work hard and be challenged in the best way a dancer can be challenged. I know they will find their teachers inspiring. They will also make lasting friendships, and I personally am looking forward to getting to know and to working with each one of them.

“I am also looking forward to working with the National Dance Foundation to explore how we can continue to work together to provide opportunities to Bermuda ’s talented dancers.”

The summer intensive offered at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy runs from July 1 to July 28 and is a specially designed programme for committed dance students aged 8 to 21 years old.

The four students from Bermuda will be studying with other promising young dancers from the United States , South America , Canada , Europe and Asia . Dancers are required to study Ballet, Horton-based Modern, Jazz, Tap, African, Dunham, Character, Hip-Hop, Voice, and Musical Theatre.  With the teacher's recommendation, Pointe and Pas de Deux are offered to those with strong ballet technique.  

The National Dance Foundation of Bermuda is a registered charity and a company limited by guaranty whose mission is to raise the standard of dance excellence in Bermuda by providing world-class training to the island’s talented dancers, teachers and choreographers. More information about the Foundation and its programmes can be found at www.dancebermuda.org or by calling 236-3319.