NYCDAF Awards High School Seniors $1,000 in Scholarships

The New York City Dance Alliance Foundation (NYCDAF), a forward-thinking charity committed to shaping the future lives and training of young dancers, returned to The Joyce Theater on January 30, 2017 with Destiny Rising. A yearly fundraising performance benefiting NYCDAF's college scholarship program, the evening opened with a commissioned premiere by NYCDA's Rachel Kreiling, spotlighting 2016 scholarship recipients. The program also included guest performances from prominent professional dance companies, including Desmond Richardson, Parsons Dance, and American Ballet Theatre soloists Catherine Hurlin and Aran Bell. Ten 2017 scholarships recipients were named during the program, from eight different states.

"It is with great pride and hope that I award scholarships to these 10 dancers right here in front of such a supportive audience," said Joe Lanteri, Executive Director and Founder of the New York City Dance Alliance Foundation at Destiny Rising. "By investing in their education, we are investing in their potential to accomplish wonderful things-with education, experience and self-exploration in the coming years. Remember these names and remember these faces. These are the stars of tomorrow."

Alexandra Best (Durham, NC - Company Dance Complex); Mahalia Brookes (Tampa, FL - All American Dance Factory); Hyla Perillo (Marion, MI - Company Dance in Traverse City, MI); and Emily Slater(Cross River, NY - Westchester Dance Academy in Mt. Kisco) were each awarded $16,000 towards their college education.

Danielle Bowen (Chandler, AZ - Tempe Dance Academy); Emily Duelge, (South Milwaukee, WI - Young Dance Academy, Oak Creek); and Havin Hoobler (Lambertville, MI - Company Dance Club, Toledo, OH), were awarded $12,000.

Sophie Blue (Old Greenwich, CT - Westchester Dance Academy, Mt. Kisco, NY); Kayla Russell (Raleigh, NC - Company Dance Complex, Durham), and Alyssa Ulrick (Otsego, MN - Northland School of Dance, Champlin) were awarded $8,000.

Scholarships are cash funds provided directly to the college of the awardees choice. Recipients were chosen from a ballet and contemporary audition in NYC held in the morning on January 30, prior to the evenings performance.

To date, the foundation has facilitated over $22 Million Dollars in scholarships since its inception in 2010, providing top dancers in the nation with opportunities to pursue secondary education.

All proceeds from the 7th annual Destiny Rising benefit go towards advocating education and offering scholarships for secondary and college training.

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ABOUT NEW YORK CITY DANCE ALLIANCE FOUNDATION

New York City Dance Alliance Foundation (NYCDAF) was founded in 2010 by Joe Lanteri as a 501(c)(3) sister organization to New York City Dance Alliance, a cutting-edge dance convention with more than 20 years of training dancers. NYCDAF is committed to broadening performing arts awareness while advocating education and high standards of excellence in dance. Currently, the foundation is aligned with eight university partners; Marymount Manhattan College, Point Park University, Mercyhurst University, Pace University, Southern Methodist University, Montclair State University, University of Arizona, Tucson, and The Hartt School. NYCDAF is dedicated to investing in the next generation of professional performers by offering scholarships for secondary and college education. To date, the foundation has awarded over $22 million dollars in college scholarships for aspiring dancers.

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