Seven talented young Bermudian dancers will be going abroad this summer to further their studies, thanks to receiving the Patricia Calnan Memorial Award for 2003. They are Dominique Anderson, Ally Lusher, Trenton Rikkai Scott, Karissa Roberts, Sierra-Renae Robinson and Amanda Perry.

The award, administered by the scholarship committee of the Bermuda Ballet Association, is open to applicants from all of the Island's dance schools, and this year's recipients are similarly representative.

"The awardees are pupils from each and everyone of the dance schools, which indicates that the Bermuda Ballet Association is indeed an umbrella organisation for all students on the Island," Association chairperson Sallie Singleton said.

The award was established last year following the death of author and The Royal Gazette and Mid-Ocean News journalist Patricia Calnan, herself a former dancer, who wasan enthusiastic supporter of the arts and particularly encouraged young dancers.

Mrs. Singleton said the scholarship committee was very pleased with the response to the Award appeal.

"Patricia's sons, Sean and Nicholas Pedro, as well as many friends who loved and admired her, together with corporate donors, have been most generous in their support," she said.

"Patricia would have been delighted with the calibre of young dancers who have applied this year. I feel sure she would also be especially pleased with the award to a boy, Rikkai Scott.

In fact, in a 1998 dance revue which she wrote in The Royal Gazette following a performance of United Dance Productions, she said, `Rikkai Scott revealed natural talent and expertise way beyond his nine years as he spun into the solo spotlight. Predictably, the crowd went wild'."

The awardees are:

Dominique Anderson, 15, studies ballet, jazz and modern dance at the In Motion School of Dance. A budding choreographer, he will be attending the Broadway Dance Centre in New York.

Courtney Lopes, 12, is a ballet student who was formerly with the Jackson School of Performing Arts and is now with United Dance Productions. She will attend the Broadway Dance Centre in New York.

Ally Lusher, 16, a talented student at the Somerset School of Dance, will attend the prestigious Boston Ballet summer school for six weeks, where she will work on pre-professional classical ballet training, including pointe work, variations and partnering.

She recently completed her Royal Academy of Dancing Advanced examination, and plans to make ballet her career.

Amanda Perry, 12, studies at the School of Russian Ballet, and will use her award to attend its summer school here.

Karissa Roberts, 15, has studied ballet, jazz and modern dance at the In Motion School of Dance. She is returning to the Broadway Dance Centre's intensive summer programme for the second year.

Sierra-Renae Robinson, 15, a student of the Jackson School of Performing Arts and United Dance Productions, has been accepted at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia for its summer world of dance programme. She is also a candy striper who has volunteered over 100 hours at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Trenton Rikkai Scott, 12, is an energetic and naturally gifted student of United Dance Productions who studies tap, ballet, modern and hip hop. He will attend a summer school called `TapKids' in New York state, following which he will be eligible to audition for its touring company. Should he be accepted, he will tour the world tap dancing, and have tutors for academic work. His goal is to make dance and theatre a full-time career.

With regard to future recipients of the Patricia Calnan Memorial Award, Mrs. Singleton said the Bermuda Ballet Association hoped to assist many more of Bermuda's talented dancers, but its ability to do so would depend on greater community support. "We are appealing to everyone for creative ideas as to how we can raise additional funds in future, as this year we were merely able to cover a fraction of each dancer's costs," she said. "Our dream is to be able to really assist those young people working towards making dance, in its many and varied forms, a professional career."

Cheques should be made payable to the Bermuda Ballet Association and mailed to P.O. Box HM661, Hamilton HMCX. For further information ( Mrs. Singleton at 238-0870