Four Bermudian dancers have had their talent and hard work recognised with major awards and scholarships which will help them financially in their studies.

Receiving the $15,000 Bermuda Ballet Association Patricia Calnan Commemorative Award is 20-year-old Jacqueline Mayor, who is furthering her studies at the Merseyside School of Dance and Drama, in Liverpool, England. Miss Mayor taught Latin American dancing during the National Dance Foundation of Bermuda (NDFB) summer intensive this year as a faculty member of the Bermuda's Emerging Dance Artists (BEDA) programme, and the Latin piece she choreographed for the intensive's workshop performance at City Hall was a highlight.

This Bermuda Ballet Association Commemorative Award supports a student's advanced studies at an accredited university or other professional programme.

Seventeen-year-old James Waddell, who is studying at the Central School of Ballet in London, England, is the recipient of the $7,500 Bermuda Ballet Association Madame Ana Roje Commemorative Award.

The award, funded by the Montpelier Re Foundation, supports study at a recognised professional dance institution and is given to a dancer or teacher demonstrating excellence in ballet, and the commitment to further his/her training professionally.

The $7,500 Bermuda Ballet Association L. John Profit Commemorative Award has been given to 17-year-old Courtney Lopes, who is studying at SUNY Purchase, in New York.

Funded by BF&M insurance, the Award supports study at a recognised professional institution by a dancer, teacher or choreographer willing to contribute to the Bermuda dance community upon completion of their training and sufficient international experience.

Nineteen-year-old Sierra Renae Robinson is the recipient of the inaugural $7,500 Georgine Mary Russell Hill Scholarship. She is studying at the University of the Arts, in Philadelphia.

Also funded by the Montpelier Re Foundation, this award is given to a dancer, teacher or choreographer who supports the NDFB's mission to raise the standard of dance excellence in Bermuda, and who demonstrates the talent, skill and commitment to pursue advanced dance training at a recognised university or other professional programme overseas.

The Bermuda Ballet Association Commemorative Awards are named after Patricia Calnan, Madame Ana Roje and L. John Profit, founding members of the Association, who were pivotal in its development. The awards pay tribute to both their individual contributions to Bermuda's dance community and the esteemed 40-year history of the Bermuda Ballet Association.

Applicants receive the awards and scholarship following a stringent selection process, which includes a written submission, an interview before the National Dance Foundation's scholarship committee, and an audition conducted by representatives of the American Ballet Theatre. In addition to the awards and scholarship, bursaries for dance study in Bermuda or abroad have been awarded to Wanda Maxwell, Shaydrina Hassell, and Jelani Veney to assist with their financial need, and in light of their commitment to dance. Mr. Veney is continuing his studies at Ryerson University's dance programme in Canada, while Miss Hassell remains committed to keeping up her dancing while attending West Virginia University. Ms Maxwell used her bursary to attend a Horton pedagogy workshop this summer at the prestigious Alvin Ailey School of Dance in New York. She teaches dance at CedarBridge Academy and Jackson's School of Performing Arts. In announcing the names of the successful applicants, NDFB chairman Donald Kramer said the dancers "had every reason to be proud of their accomplishments to date" and the registered charity looked forward to hearing of their progress. "We believe this is just the beginning of a brilliant future for dance education in Bermuda," he said. Mr. Kramer also thanked the many sponsors for their continued and generous support of the NDFB, whom he listed as the Ace Foundation, Axis, Bacardi International, the Bermuda Arts Council, BF&M, Butterfield Bank, Mrs. Georgine Hill MBE, Montpelier Re Foundation, the Pedro Family, the Peter Leitner Scholarship Fund, Catherine Zeta-Jones, as well as the Texas Pacific Group, Boston Provident, and Bain Capital Partners, whose US funding allowed the NDFB to dedicate monies raised in Bermuda exclusively to Bermuda dancers.

"Their support will help us work together to raise the standard of dance excellence in Bermuda," Mr. Kramer said. "Our partnership clearly demonstrates that the combination of donor contribution and dancer dedication is indeed a mighty force, and speaks volumes for Bermuda's continued ability to thrive on the world dance stage."

The National Dance Foundation of Bermuda is a registered charity and a company limited by guaranty whose mission is to help raise the standard of dance excellence in Bermuda through the provision of world-class training to Bermuda's talented dancers, teachers and choreographers.