Youth Arts in Action awards scholarships

Youth Arts in Action awarded dance scholarships to outstanding young artists on May 19 at the Lighthouse Restaurant in Bozeman. These scholarships were raised at the Second Annual Fairy Tea for the Arts benefit at the Gallatin Gateway Inn on May 6.

The scholarship awardees pictured bottom row left to right are: Natalia Nelson 12, received a Judith Younger Hertsens Memorial Scholarship, $500, to support classical ballet training. Nancy Rich 10, received an Outstanding Young Artist Award, $300, for outstanding artistry in classical ballet. Veronika Shchepetkina 10, received the Aspiring Artist Award, $200, to support classical ballet training. Julian MacKay 9, received an Outstanding Young Artist Award, $300, for outstanding artistry in classical ballet, for American Ballet Theatre's Young Dancer's Workshop NYC. MacKay also received the Romantic Era of Ballet Presentation Award, $275.

Awardees on the top row left to right are: Caitlyn Ross 15, received a Follow Your Star Award, $200, for the Salzburg International Ballet Academy summer program. Madison Marlow 13, received a Judith Younger Hertsens Memorial Scholarship, $500, for Ballet West's summer program. Emily Olson, 15, received the top award, the $1,000 Main Street Dance Theatre Scholarship given by Youth Arts in Action to the most promising student studying classical ballet in Bozeman, for Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts summer program. Morgan McKay, 13, received The Inspiring Attitude Award, for her positive attitude toward classical ballet training. Malia Ludin 13, received the Rising Star Award, $500, for her ability to pursue classical ballet in a more serious manner, for the Pacific Northwest Ballet School summer program. Molly Huempfner, 15, (not pictured), received a Follow Your Star Award, $200, for the Pacific Northwest Ballet School summer program. Meghan Krause, 8, (not pictured), received the Fairy Queen Award, $200, for her continued classical ballet training.

Some scholarship recipients were awarded private lessons with Christine Austin, Vaganova trained teacher of classical ballet. Dancers received a dancer warmup with the Youth Arts in Action logo.

Scholarships totaling $10,000 have been awarded for dancers to attend both national and international programs. Jennifer Florquin 17, attending the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School in New York City, Julian MacKay 9, attending the American Ballet Theatre Young Dancer's Workshop in New York City, and Nadia Khan 16, attending the English National Ballet School Spring Program in London, have also received talent scholarships directly from professional ballet schools.

Upcoming events for Youth Arts in Action include the awarding of a scholarship to a local classical musician aspiring to perform on the "From the Top" radio show to be recorded in Bozeman in October. For more information call 522-0404 or visit www.youthartsinaction.org.

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