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Wednesday, Mar. 9, 2005 | ||
What do you think of this story? | Dancer making a big impressionThis isnt the first place where you might have read about Nichole OBrien, and it certainly wont be the last. OBrien, age 20, is one of the most gifted emerging dancers in the state. She attends Emory University on scholarship as a junior working on a double major in political science and psychology, performs as a member of the Emory Elite Dance Team, is a member of the professional company of Georgia Dance Theatre, and is choreographer for McIntosh Dance Teams. One might observe that OBrien is quite a busy lady. Shes about to get busier. Last August, OBrien was invited to attend the Michael Beaty Expo where nearly 50 agents, agencies, and talent scouts evaluated the performances of 172 applicants from across the country in modeling, acting, singing, and dancing. OBrien received second place in Adult Dance Division and was asked to meet with various talent agencies including Elite, The Lyons Group of New York, and E! Entertainment. Getting yourself out there is the hardest step, explains OBrien, who is considering a career in entertainment law or launching her own agency following university. She also aspires to perform and choreograph for artists and shows in Los Angeles and New York. I want to help people make a start in the entertainment industry, whether I teach, train, or mentor. I know how difficult it can be. During the Expo, OBrien helped choreograph the troupe competition her agency staged. The director at John Casablanca Model and Talent Management Center in Atlanta noticed OBriens work ethic and energy and offered her a staff position to train new talent. OBrien will teach aspiring performers about auditions, interviews with agents, and photo shoots. I would never be who I am today without Georgia Academy of Dance and all of its members. Georgia Academy of Dance has provided me with a core understanding of discipline, determination, hard work, time management, and passion, reflects OBrien. The academy taught me that perseverance and optimism are key to any career, especially a career in the entertainment industry. Georgia Academy of Dance offers professional dance instruction for all skill levels from pre-school to adult. Instructors teach nearly every genre of dance from jazz to hip hop to ballet to modern to tap, emphasizing the importance versatility in trainingfrom classical to contemporaryto prepare students for any audition. OBrien received a full scholarship from the Atlanta Ballet based on ballet technique she demonstrated at an audition. She also has an open invitation, meaning no audition required due to her exemplary training, to Rock School of Ballet in Pennsylvania and American Ballet Theatre. Yet she regularly receives dance jobs based on a skill level acquired by 11 years of jazz, hip hop, and modern training at Georgia Academy of Dance. The accomplishments of our students represents the quality and depth of training received at Georgia Academy of Dance. We want students to see the full scope of dance, says Sherri Davis, founder and director. Our continued growth is a direct reflection of the quality of instruction, and Nichole is a wonderful example of the caliber of student at Georgia Academy of Dance. Nichole entered Georgia Academy of Dance at a very young age, continues Davis. We are very proud that she is equipped with the tools to continue dance on a professional level if she so chooses. OBrien will perform in Georgia Dance Theatre's production of In the Spirit of Dance March 19 at 7 p.m. and March 20 at 2 p.m. at Wadsworth Auditorium in Newnan. Tickets for the performance are $12. For ticket information, contact Georgia Academy of Dance at (770) 631-3128 or visit the academys website at www.gadance.com. | |
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