In Motion students returned home with scholarships in hand after a weekend of dance at Pennsylvania’s The Grier School.

Twelve teenagers travelled from Bermuda to Tyrone for the private school’s annual gala this month.

Six students will return to the United States next summer for intensive classes with Point Park University, Lehrer Dance, The Grier School and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.

“The Grier School has a strong dance programme,” said In Motion School of Dance director, Lizz Pimentel.

“They do an annual gala and bring in various companies and choreographers and invite them to do a performance and workshops.

“It’s important for our dancers to broaden their dance experience and the web of teachers and people they work with.

“[Especially if they’re interested in a dance career], they have to be versatile so they can jump from one style of teaching to another.”

This was the second year dancers from the Bermuda company attended the annual event. Two In Motion students are now there on scholarships.

The dancers held fundraisers for the November 12-15 trip; grants from the Bermuda Arts Council and anonymous donations assisted.

“It was great,” Ms Pimentel said. “It was nice for them to gauge where they are in their technical training.

“As big as the dance world seems, it’s very interconnected and [the dancers are] making connections that later on will be advantageous if they’re looking for work. It’s nice to build those relationships early.

“It’s also nice to be able to say that all the hard work we’ve put in for years is not going unnoticed; it’s not just us in Bermuda saying they’re great, but people from overseas talking about how technically strong our dancers are. Whether we’re at Disney or Broadway Dance Centre, people always recognise our dancers because of their politeness, their hardworking nature and overall presentation of themselves.

“Yes, they’re representing In Motion but also Bermuda. It makes me feel very, very proud.”