June 9, 2006 – The Lana Vento Charitable Trust, through the St. Croix Foundation, has given Music in Motion a grant to send 11 of its dancers to an elite dance program this summer at the Rock School of Dance in Philadelphia, Pa.
The students were chosen last November after Charlita Schuster, artistic director of Music in Motion, invited the directors of the Rock School to conduct auditions for her students at the studio. The Rock School is a professional dance school with a focus on training aspiring young ballet dancers, and they audition over 2000 students in 25 cities every year. From this, only 350-400 students are accepted into the program. Choosing 11 students from one school is unprecedented in The Rock School's history. One student was granted a full scholarship to the program.
Parents of Music in Motion students have been fundraising since November in order to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity for their children. This $6,500 grant from the Trust will cover tuition costs and make it possible for all these students to attend. Local fundraising events and other donations are being used to pay for the accommodations at Haverford College in Philadelphia, airfare and other costs. Fundraising is ongoing.
The three students from the Contemporary Youth Dance Ensemble who were selected are: Frances Ruiz, Kevin Swanston and Marcellina Ventura. Eight students in the Young and Gifted class were also selected: Kathleen Chelcher, Aliya Jackson, Allayeah John Baptiste, Janave McDonald, Lily Taylor, Makeda Turbe, Shevonne Rios and Dominique Walcott.
