Parsons Dance Announces Summer Intensive Scholarship Winners

Parsons Dance - praised around the world for its virtuosity, exceptional theatricality, athleticism, energy and accessibility - has awarded two partial scholarships to attend the Master Choreography Workshop with Artistic Director, Choreographer, and Parsons Dance founder David Parsons. The talented dancers receiving the scholarships this year are Leslie Duner and Jamie Baptist.

Leslie Duner was born in Huntington Beach, California and began dancing at a young age at the Colony of Performing Arts. While at the Colony, Leslie performed in various principle roles. She was captain of her high school dance team and had the opportunity to work at the Disneyland Resort as a parade dancer in the opening cast of Block Party Bash. Her BFA in Dance Performance is from Chapman University where she received various awards and recognition for performance, outstanding contribution, and choreography. While at Chapman University, Leslie had the privilege to dance for Dale Merrill, Shawn Greene, and Jenny Backhaus. Her diverse training in ballet, jazz, modern, tap, hip-hop, musical theater and contemporary has equipped her with the experience to attend various dance intensives including Parsons Dance Company, River North Chicago Dance Company, American Ballet Theater and American College Dance Festival. Upon graduation, Leslie moved to NYC to pursue her passion for dance.

Born and raised just across the river from NYC in West Long Branch, New Jersey, Jamie Baptist is a Junior at George Mason University receiving a BFA in Dance and is completing a licensure in teaching dance. She has had the privilege of working with various choreographers and companies through residencies at her University and workshops. She has performed the works of Elisa Monte, Mark Morris, Doug Varone, as well as performing the solo role in Twyla Tharp's "Eight Jelly Roles". Her most memorable performance opportunity was the 2009 George Mason Dance Company Gala in which she performed David Parson's "Nascimento Novo". She has been awarded with the GMU 2008 Outstanding Freshman Scholarship and the 2009 and 2010 Kevin Campbell Summer Scholarship which have helped her to pursue her craft.

This year's Summer Intensive Workshop, held from May 24 - June 5, 2010, will give participants the unique opportunity to study with Artistic Director David Parsons and members of Parsons Dance in the heart of the modern dance capital, New York City. Participants take classes in modern and ballet technique, the repertory of Parsons Dance, Pilates and yoga, and are offered special Professional Development seminars. The Summer Intensive is presented in association with Marymount Manhattan College, the official education partner of Parsons Dance. The Summer Intensive is held at Manhattan Movement and Arts Center, 248 W. 60th Street between Amsterdam and West End Avenues.

David Parsons' Master Choreography Workshop will take place from June 7 - 12, 2010. Dancers will have the opportunity to be part of the development process for David Parsons' next choreographic work. This is the first time that the workshop has been offered.

For more information about either program, call 212-869-9395 or visit www.parsonsdance.org.

ABOUT PARSONS DANCE
Parsons Dance is committed to building new audiences for contemporary dance by creating American works of extraordinary artistry that are engaging and uplifting to audiences throughout the world. The company tours regionally, nationally and internationally.

David Parsons (Artistic Director/Founder) has enjoyed a remarkable career as a performer, choreographer, teacher, director and producer of dance. Mr. Parsons was born in Chicago and raised in Kansas City. He was a leading dancer with The Paul Taylor Dance Company, where Mr. Taylor created many roles for him in works such as Arden Court, Last Look and Roses. He is a recipient of the 2000 Dance Magazine Award, as well as the 2001 American Choreography Award, for his work as a co-producer of AEROS, a production featuring the Romanian Gymnastic Federation that was featured on Bravo. Mr. Parsons has created more than 70 works for Parsons Dance. He has received commissions over the years from The American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the American Dance Festival, Jacob's Pillow, the Spoleto Festival and Het Muziektheater in Amsterdam, to name a few. His work has been performed by Paris Opera Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Nederlands Danse Theatre, National Ballet of Canada, Hubbard Street Dance and BatSheva Dance Company of Israel, among many others. In June 2007, Mr. Parsons was honored to be the very first contemporary choreographer ever to stage work at the centuries-old Arena di Verona, in Verona Italy, where he choreographed Verdi's Aida. The Arena is one of Italy's most respected operatic venues. In September 2007, he directed and choreographed Gotham Chamber Opera's production of María de Buenos Aires, which made its world premiere at a sold-out engagement in New York, at NYU's Skirball Center for the Arts.

Parsons Dance receives support from Bank of America, The Blavatnik Charitable Foundation, The Cowles Charitable Trust, Ellsworth Kelly Foundation, The Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, The Friars Foundation, The Harkness Foundation for Dance, Lila Acheson Wallace Theater Fund of the New York Community Trust, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council on the Arts, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation, Nina W. Werblow Charitable Trust, The Shubert Foundation, Trust for Mutual Understanding.

For more information, visit www.parsonsdance.org.

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