Katie Cheng, 14 has received and American Ballet Theatre National Training Scholarship for the 2009-2010 year.  She will attend their 2010 summer intensive in New York on full scholarship.  She received a 1st place award at the Youth America Grand Prix 2010 Semi-Final in the Contemporary Division.

Courtlyn Hanson, age 13, received the Natalie Skelton Tutu Scholarship from the North Texas Dance Council for 2010.  She received a 2nd place award at the Classical Division at the Youth America Grand Prix 2010 Semi-Final

Rayleigh Vendt, age 14, received a 2nd place in the Contemporary Division at the Youth America Grand Prix Semi-Final, and a 3rd place in the Classical Division. 

Katie Boren, 17, was accepted to American Ballet Theatre's Studio Company in April, 2009.  She was an ABT National Training Scholar while a student with the Ballet Academy of Texas, and at the age of 15 accepted a full scholarship to ABT's school in New York, the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. 

February 16, 2009

Ballet Academy of Texas Dancers receive Many Honors at Youth America Grand Prix

COPPELL, TEXAS –

Youth America Grand Prix, an international ballet competition for students ages 9 – 19, held their Semi-Final competition for the Southwestern area of the United States earlier this month at the Irving Arts Center.  More than 200 dancers attended from all over the United States.  In the Senior division, Brittney Dito, age 15, won 2^nd place in the Senior Classical category, and finished in the top 12 in the Senior Contemporary category. Katie Cheng, age 13, won 2^nd place in the Junior Classical category, with Julia Nicholson, age 12, winning 3^rd.   Ms. Nicholson also finished in the top 12 in the Junior Contemporary category.  These wins qualified all of them to attend the New York Finals in April, where contestants from all over the world will compete for scholarships and jobs, being judged by international  directors of ballet companies and schools.  Additional Ballet Academy students who placed in the top 12 in their divisions were Emily Brideau, age 17, Courtlyn Hanson, age 12, Hannah Snowden, age 13, Alyssa Aman age 14 and Abbie Feller, age 14.  The Ballet Academy also performed well in the Ensembles competition, where they entered 4 Ensemble pieces that scored very high, with company choreographer Jenny Johnston’s ballet “La Nuit Rose” winning the 3^rd placed honor. 

Graduating Ballet Academy of Texas senior Caroline Arnold received the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music's "Music Deans Scholarship" and "Music Faculty Award" to attend the 2009-2010 year as a ballet major.

Emily Brideau will attend

Marymount University in New York City on scholarship for the 2009-2010 school year.  She received a $500 Scholarship from Regional Dance America/Southwest in 2008 to attend the Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive in New York. In 2006 she received the Natalie Skelton Scholarship to attend the Glenda Brown Choreography Project.

Paul Adams is a corps Dancer with Texas Ballet Theatre for his second year beginning with the  2009-2010 season.

Betsy McBride is a corps Dancer with Texas Ballet Theatre for her second year beginning with the 2009-2010 season.

Laurel Link - was a National Training Scholar with American Ballet Theatre and is a Apprentice with the Houston Ballet Company for their 2008-2009 season.

Emily Dixon will be performing with Sarasota Ballet in Florida for the 2009-2010 season as an apprentice.  She performed with Tulsa Ballet 2 for the past 2 seasons. She  received a

$ 500.00 scholarship from Regional Dance of America in 2005 to attend the Summer Workshop of her choice and was awarded the Caryn Halpern Sechrist Scholarship from the Dance Council in May 2003 for her performance of "Prayer" from Coppelia.

2007 Dance Council Scholarships awarded to the following Ballet Academy students: Ms. Emily Dixon (on left) received the Fred Kelly Scholarship. Ms. Kelsey Conrad (center, kneeling) received the Dr. Dan Pickard Scholarship and is a junior at Coppell High School.  Ms. Katie Boren (right) received the Nadyne Legere Scholarship. All of the girls are members of the Ballet Ensemble of Texas pre-professional company, and are pictured here in a recent performance by the company of the ballet, "Reflections". 

Diana Herrera was awarded the Fred Kelly Scholarship from the Dance Council in 2001. She is attending the University of Oklahoma as a Ballet Major on Scholarship.

Julia Nicholson (left) and Brittney Dito (right) appeared as "Clara" in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular performances in November, 2006 in Dallas.  Brittney also appeared in the Houston performances in December of 2006.