The National Dance Foundation of Bermuda proudly hosted its tenth annual scholarship award presentation yesterday.

Dara Palmer, Jadiyah Bailey, Sacha Dill, Shaydrina Hassel, Rikkai Scott, Taylor Railton, Eryn Beach, and Marcus Smith all received funding help as they work towards fulfilling their ambitions in the industry.

The scholarships were presented by Brian O’Hara, the deputy chairman, and the bursaries ranged from sums of $7,500 to $15,000.

Mr Smith, who is a student in New York University’s Tisch Programme, received the full amount.

“It’s crazy,” he said. “But it’s also been super fun to be a part of the foundation.”

He added: “Tisch is exciting. There are so many different types of theatre.”

Mr Smith has been dancing since he was 13 and hopes to enter Broadway when he graduates.

Mr Scott, another scholarship recipient, has been dancing for almost 20 years now, and was “excited” to receive $7,500.

He had been dancing professionally in Amsterdam with a company called “de KISS moves” for two years before he came back to Bermuda to give back.

Meanwhile, Ms Hassel, is currently studying Creative Arts Therapy at Drexel, where she is focusing on Dance Movement Therapy.

“Dance Movement Therapy is the use of movement to connect the mind and body,” she said.

“It helps to bring out subconscious thoughts and turns them conscience, which allows for coping mechanisms to be found.”

The Bermuda Ballet Association started giving promising dancers scholarships in the 1960s and the Foundation picked up where the former left off.

The fund is designed to enable more Bermudian dancers, teachers and choreographers to follow their dreams.

Since 2005 nearly $1 million has been handed out in scholarships or bursaries.