More than $50,000 in dance scholarships and bursaries has been handed out by the National Dance Foundation.The awards were given to eight students pursuing dance here and abroad.Foundation chairman Don Kramer presented the awards, saying “it was clear that dance is thriving in Bermuda”.He congratulated the students on their achievement, saying: “These eight talented young men and women are shining examples of how dance instils confidence, discipline and commitment.”Courtney Lopes received the $15,000 Patricia Calnan Commemorative award for the second time. She was first awarded the scholarship in 2009.She is currently in the final year of studies toward a bachelor’s degree in dance at State University of New York Purchase College.Miss Lopes is particularly interested in Asian-inspired movement styles and has studied Kung Fu, Chinese Opera, Yoga, and Chinese fan dancing in addition to ballet and modern dance.She explored her passion for teaching as well as performing on a recent trip to Mexico where she taught dance at local orphanages.After she finishes her degree she plans on staying in the US to pursue a career as a professional dancer with a modern dance company. She then intends to come back to Bermuda to teach.“I want to help the students out here,” she said.She is currently working at the In Motion School of Dance, where she received her formative training. She teaches classes in modern and contemporary dance as well as a class on composition.Miss Lopes received the foundation’s L John Profit Commemorative Award in 2008. She was awarded a bursary in 2010.She was presented with the award by Detective Chief Inspector Nicholas Pedro, son of the late Patricia Calnan. The award is sponsored by PartnerRe as well as Ms Calnan’s family and friends.Fredrika Hill was this year’s winner of the L John Profit Commemorative Award valued at $7,500.“It feels really good and I am excited to go to university [in the autumn]. It just feels good that all of my hard work paid off,” she said.Other scholarship winners were Anna Clifford and Rikkai Scott. Malachi Simmons, Karissa Roberts, Alexis Richens and Tsilala Graham-Haynes received bursaries for their work in dance.