Dominique (Nikki) Anderson first took dance lessons in 1998 because her mother's friend was opening the In Motion School of Dance and it was thought she might enjoy the experience. She studied ballet, modern and jazz with mixed feelings until at age 15 something clicked within her and she "just knew" she wanted to dance.

Two years later she became very serious about her dancing and made the career decision from which she has never swerved: to become a professional dancer.

Today, at age 19, Miss Anderson has won the 2006 Patricia Calnan Commemorative Award. One of three Bermuda Ballet Association (BBA) commemorative scholarships administered by the National Dance Foundation of Bermuda (NDFB), the Calnan award ? worth a cool $15,000 ? is the premier of three BBA scholarships in terms of monetary value. It will allow the dedicated young woman to continue her studies at Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts, where she has just completed her freshman year as an honour student studying dance and business administration. Active in several organisations, and the president of the Black Student Union, Miss Anderson is also on the Dean's list.

With three more years to finance before graduation, news of Miss Anderson's BBA scholarship success was received with tears of joy ? a far cry from the bitter tears she shed on learning that she had to return home to audition in person as part of her scholarship application.

Enrolled in a summer programme at the prestigious Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, and aspiring to join it post-graduation, Miss Anderson was reluctant to miss a single moment of the precious opportunity she was experiencing.

Flying in for the weekend as one of six short-listed applicants, the talented teen underwent an intense two-hour dance audition which included ballet, contemporary dance, and improvisation, followed by an in-depth interview with the NDFB scholarship committee. In the interests of impartiality, the dance auditions were conducted by Mr. Brian Reeder, a faculty member of the American Ballet Theatre's Education and Outreach department.

Recalling her dance audition, Miss Anderson admits she was "kind of nervous" because she "just wanted to do good at Ailey in level three ballet" and hoped that all the improvements she had made to her dancing showed.

Prior to the audition, she had submitted an application letter for the Calnan scholarship which impressed the committee and made an important contribution to her win. She said, in part, that her aim was to "give my all, better my skills, and continue to love the art of dance just as I have all these years".

"I am working hard to be the best, one of Bermuda's best," she wrote. "Not only do I want to represent Bermuda throughout my career, but I plan to do all of this while fulfilling my own need for dance and maintaining excellent grades.

"I have over 101 goals for my life and I intend to fulfil all of them. Throughout my life I have wanted many things, but never before have I sought after and believed in something so strongly that it becomes the definition of whom I am."

Far from egocentric, Miss Anderson also wrote that she wanted to "help and influence those who dream like I dream".

"There is a lot more talent in Bermuda than anyone could imagine; all anyone needs is the direction and support from people like me; people who have a passion for art and expression, and the enthusiasm to be themselves. It is my wish that as I go through my journey I can aid someone as they start theirs.

"I want to go far, and I want to represent myself in a good light. Dance is the way I express myself, and with the skills that I gain in this and my business field I plan to give back to the community."

Meanwhile, as a self-described "hard worker who pushes to persevere", and someone who uses her "enthusiastic nature to overcome any and all obstacles", the aspiring professional dancer gave every facet of her Calnan scholarship application her absolute all.

Then she returned home to await the phone call which would so delight her. When Mrs. Sallie Singleton, chairman of the NDFB scholarship committee, imparted the good news of her success, Miss Anderson was ecstatic.

"I jumped and cheered all around the room," she recalls. Quickly joined by her overjoyed mother, the duo dissolved into tears of happiness.

As for Mr. Reeder, his says his decision was based on a number of factors, and easily reached.

"Having worked with Nikki last year I saw improvement, which is always a 'plus' when you see a dancer and their development going in the right direction. She was focussed, and in that I could see her passion for dance, which is really what it's all about. Nikki wants it and she works for it. She is extremely impressive.

"Towards the end (of her audition) we had an improvisation which is pretty much what locked it for me. She didn't take the safe route in her impressive journey. She was really going for it and distinguished herself, yet none of it was a facade; she understood the vocabulary.

"Nikki is a beautiful dancer ? very talented."

Soon Miss Anderson will return to Dean College to resume working towards her Bachelor of Arts degree, and of course build on the achievements of her first year, when she became one of only six freshman chosen to join the college's ballet company.

"I feel very privileged," she says of that honour. "I owe a lot to the company."

While the decision she made at the end of her junior year at CedarBridge Academy to become a professional dancer ended a period of uncertainty regarding a career, today the dance student has no doubt about the path she wants to take.

"After graduation I will try really, really hard to get into a professional company ? preferably a modern company, but that could change in the next few years," she smiles.

Much further down the road, when her dance career slows down, Miss Anderson aims to open a multi-faceted youth centre here where she will teach dance "because that is always fun".

"I want it to be an 'everything' place, rather like the 'Y' with activities for boys and girls," she says.

Meanwhile, her advice to other young dancers dreaming of following a similar path is to "really know for yourself what you want".

"Once you know that you have to be focussed on your goals and work really hard to get there ? but make it fun too. If it isn't fun then it is probably not what you should be doing.

"As long as you are enjoying yourself and can see that you are improving I think you will get to wherever you want to be. Work hard, and don't let anything knock you back. Oh yes, and work safely."