Twelve talented Bermudian dancers have been named as beneficiaries of the Bermuda Ballet Association?s 2005 awards.

Of the 12, six received the Patricia Calnan Memorial Award to further their studies abroad, while the other six received the Bermuda Ballet Association Award to continue their training here.

The annual awards are sponsored by both corporate and private donations, with the Calnan award being given in memory of the former and journalist, author and arts critic who died three years ago.

?It has been an honour for the Ballet Association to present these awards in Patricia?s name,? Sallie Singleton, chairperson of the Ballet Association?s scholarship committee, says.

?Her friends and family have generously contributed to these scholarships again this year.

?We think she would be absolutely delighted with the impressive talents of these young dancers who have chosen to take dance seriously by going overseas to further their studies.?

The six recipients of the Patricia Calnan Memorial Award are: Tyler Barker, Jacqueline Mayor, Karissa Roberts, Sierra-Renae Robinson, Dominique Anderson and Courtney Lopes.

The six younger dancers receiving the Bermuda Ballet Association Award are: Jasmine DeBraga, Alanna Morrison, Cordelia Philip, Alexis Richens, Melissa Spurling and James Waddell. who trained with the In Motion School of Dance in Bermuda under founder and director Lizz Pimentel, and has been impressive when performing on stage this month in the school?s latest production, will continue his studies at the New World School of the Arts in Miami, Florida.

Once he completes his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree there, he hopes to have a touring career with dance companies around the state and/or in Europe.

He is currently a student in the National Dance Foundation?s summer intensive programme with the American Ballet Theater.

?I really want to travel and experience the world. Doing something I love at the same time seems pretty good to me,? he says. ?Somewhere down the road I will return to Bermuda, hopefully to teach and inspire other young local artists. I really want to give back to the community that has helped me so much.?

Tyler will put his Ballet Association award funds towards his tuition and rent., a student from Somerset School of Dance under the direction of Sal Hodgson, received Distinction in the Royal Academy of Dancing Advanced examination. She will be returning to Toronto for her second year at the National Ballet of Canada.

She recently completed a dance programme with Bermuda Civic Ballet, and has been teaching at the Somerset School of Dance?s summer school.

Jackie is enrolled in a five-year programme culminating in a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and says: ?From there I cannot wait to put my teaching skills into action and would eventually like to return to the Island to give back to the community which has helped me to develop vastly.?

Jacqueline is currently a student in the National Dance Foundation?s summer intensive programme with the American Ballet Theater., currently a student with Lizz Pimentel at the In Motion School of Dance, will be attending the North Carolina School of the Arts to pursue a major in Contemporary Dance.

Karisssa says: ?I am going for my Bachelor of Find Arts diploma. In the future I hope to dance professionally in a company, and then come back to Bermuda to teach.

I hope to help other aspiring dancers as much as my compassionate dance teachers have helped me. I also greatly appreciate the help that the Bermuda Ballet Association has given me.?

Karissa is currently a student in the National Dance Foundation?s summer intensive programme with the American Ballet Theater.Sierra-Renae Robinson, a student with Suzette Harvey at United Dance Productions, will be studying at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

She is enrolled in a four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts degree programme, and hopes to dance professionally. A multi-talented student, Sierra-Renae has just completed her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, sailing throughout the Bahamas., a student at the In Motion School of Dance, will be attending Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts where she will pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Contemporary Modern Dance.

From there she would like to dance professionally with a modern dance company and ?possibly do some Broadway shows? before returning to Bermuda to teach young dancers.

She is currently a student in the National Dance Foundation?s summer intensive programme with the American Ballet Theater. currently a student with Lizz Pimentel?s In Motion School of Dance, will begin attending North Carolina School of the Arts as a high school diploma student for the tenth grade majoring in Contemporary Dance. Meanwhile, she is a student in the National Dance Foundation?s summer intensive programme with the American Ballet Theater.

Courtney says, ?In the future I hope to dance internationally with a professional dance company and travel the world doing so. After that I would want to come back to Bermuda and be able to share my training with all eager dancers, just as I have trained.?

Bermuda Ballet Association Awards, supported by corporate donations, will go to six younger dancers who will continue with their dance training in Bermuda at the present time. They are:, a ballet student with Somerset School of Dance, will use her Ballet Association award towards dance tuition in the next year.

She is also a student in the National Dance Foundation?s summer intensive programme with the American Ballet Theater. Jasmine hopes to study abroad one day, and says: ?I don?t just want to limit myself to ballet though. I love all kinds of dance.? is a ballet student at the Somerset School of Dance, and will use her award to help with tuition for her participation in the National Dance Foundation of Bermuda?s current summer intensive with the American Ballet Theater. attends the Jackson School of Performing Arts, and is also a student in the current National Dance Foundation summer intensive programme with the American Ballet Theater.

Cordelia says: ?I plan to keep on dancing as long as I can.? is a student of ballet, modern, tap and hip hop at the Jackson School of Performing Arts, and is also enrolled in the National Dance Foundation?s summer intensive programme with the American Ballet Theater.

Alexis says: ?I can never see myself giving up my love of dance! I am excited to use my award for classes, specially since I have just been promoted to !?, a student in ballet, jazz and modern at Jackson School of Performing Arts, who also attended the Bates Dance Festival in Maine last summer, is currently attending the National Dance Foundation?s summer intensive programme with the American Ballet Theater.a student with the School of Russian Ballet, used his award at the Bermuda Civic Ballet summer school. He says: ?I have learned a great deal from all the teachers. They are from Pascal Rioult?s Dance Theater in New York and teach modern dance.

?It is very like the Graham technique but with ?Pascal? touches. We did nine pieces and I was in five of them. My favourite was called ?Smooth Fun?. In the future I would like to go to a school that offers a full double curriculum like the National Ballet of Canada.?

Clearly delighted that the Bermuda Ballet Association has been able to assist a growing number of students this year, Mrs. Singleton pays tribute to the sponsors who made it possible.

?We are deeply indebted to our many generous sponsors, both corporate and private. This is the largest number of scholarships we have been able to award since the Association was founded in 1962, and it demonstrates very clearly that the Ballet Association encourages young dancers of all genres of dance, from every dance school on the Island, to assist with their training here and abroad.?