Wednesday, May 29, 2002
|
Wednesday, May 29, 2002 |
|
Georgia Academy of Dance celebrates successful year with two shows this weekend What makes a dancer so different? Is it that certain "air" about them? Is it because they sit in positions most people couldn't? Is it the calluses, bunions and bruised toenails? Yes,. . . all those and more. Georgia Academy of Dance has more than 30 scholarship members in it's professional, senior and junior non-profit company who dance five days a week and maintain a full schedule at school. They participate in clubs, drama, and other after-school activities and still maintain excellent grade point averages. Most of these dancers are in the top 10 percent of their classes and many of those are in the top five percent. They strive for excellence in everything they do and it shows. If you think that's impressive, you should see them dance. Georgia Academy of Dance has more students accepted to summer dance programs than any other dance studio in the area. Here is a list of just some of the places these students have been accepted this year: American Ballet Theatre: Gray Davis, Nichole O'Brien, Jessica Davis, Meghan Morales, Mary Grace Phillips, Jenny Reynolds, Megan Rourke, Morgan Tuggle and Amanda Smith. School of American Ballet: Josh Reynolds - full scholarship, Gray Davis. Joffrey Ballet: Nichole O'Brien - pre-professional training program, Ashley Grayson, Amanda Smith and Kaylin Turner. Houston Ballet: Gray Davis - scholarship, Meghan Morales. Miami City Ballet: Josh Reynolds - full scholarship. Pennsylvania Youth Ballet: Jennifer McDonnell. The Rock-Pennsylvania: Nichole O'Brien and Josh Reynolds - by special invitation, Jessica Davis, Natalie Davis, Meghan Morales and Amanda Smith. The Dance Place-North Carolina Dance Theatre: Megan Rourke - scholarship, Amanda Smith and Emily Rourke. Brenau University Summer Program: Kelly Beth Helton, Emily Rourke and Stephanie International Ballet Summer Program: Kristina Hawkins. Atlanta Ballet: Ashley Grayson- pre-professional training program. Nutmeg Conservatory: Gray Davis - full scholarship. So, how does Georgia Academy of Dance manage to develop such stellar kids? The credit goes to Artistic Director, Sherri Davis, who left the professional dance circuit 12 years ago to pass on her legacy to others. She created a caring atmosphere where hard work, discipline and mutual respect between dancers and teachers has made GAD one of the finest studios in the southeast. She hasn't done it alone. Davis has assembled one of the most outstanding teaching staffs in the southeast. For example, Ramazan Bapov, who received his master's diploma from the Conservatory of St. Petersburg, was a principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet as well as a silver and bronze medalist in the International Ballet Competition in Varna. New addition Denis Malinkine, most recently of Atlanta Ballet, was graduated from Bolshoi Ballet Academy and will be performing in Georgia Academy of Dance's spring production. Melony Hall, of the Mississippi Ballet Theatre and Ballet Mistress of the Georgia Academy of Dance, is an integral part of the staff. Tatiana Jouravel of the Boston Ballet will join the staff in the fall. GAD also has a powerful jazz program led by Wade Smith, Associate Director of the school and Katie Jeanes-Watson of the Atlanta professional hip-hop company Culture Shock. In addition to the incredible staff at Georgia Academy of Dance, Davis' performing company, Georgia Dance Theatre, is the only local dance company to have a production co-sponsored by the Endowment Committee of the Cultural Arts of Fayette County. Georgia Academy of Dance invites you to experience the self-esteem, confidence, and sense of accomplishment these dancers have acquired through dance. And witness the professionalism Georgia Academy of Dance is known for. They will have two shows this weekend at Starr's Mill's Wille Duke Auditorium. On Saturday, they will perform "A Salute to the Music of Aretha Franklin - A Celebration of Contemporary Dance" at 7 p.m. They will perform "Swan Lake" on Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for general admission and are available at the door. For information about the school, fall registration, the performing company or performances call 770-631-3128 or visit our website at www.gadance.com.
|
