More than 30 percent of Bermuda students attending this summer?s intensive DanceBermuda training programme will receive either full or partial scholarships towards their tuition, thanks to the Ministry of Community Affairs and Sport upping its financial support to the National Dance Foundation of Bermuda (NDFB) which sponsors the three-week summer intensive training programme in conjunction with the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) of New York.

In making the announcement, the NDFB said the Ministry had increased its support from $15,000 in 2005 to $20,000 this year so that specific funds can be allocated for full scholarships for Bermudian male dancers.

In commending the Minister of Community Affairs and Sport Dale Butler and his colleagues for their financial support, NDFB chairman Don Kramer said: ?The 23 scholarship recipients have been chosen by their dance teachers, and this year three of the four young men from Bermuda will have their full tuition met by the Ministry. The fourth male dancer from Bermuda attending the 2006 summer programme was awarded a scholarship by Catherine Zeta-Jones at the end of the 2005 session.?

One hundred and one students are signed up for DanceBermuda 2006 ? 71 Bermuda residents and 30 from the US, Canada and the UK. All participants were accepted into the programme following rigorous auditions held in March in Bermuda, New York and Toronto.

Admitting he was impressed with what the NDF had accomplished in just over a year of offering world-class training programmes to the dance community in Bermuda, Mr. Butler said it was heartening to see the plans outlined just over a year ago come to fruition for the benefit of Bermuda?s dancers, teachers and choreographers.

?The Foundation has established an annual training programme that offers master classes and teacher training workshops throughout the year, a scholarship programme for students studying dance overseas, and the prestigious DanceBermuda programme, which I understand is quickly gaining recognition around the world. In fact, I understand that two of the students participating in the Young Dancer programme are coming from Alaska, and there is also a student coming from the UK and another from Canada.?

Noting that the NDF had also produced a documentary on last year?s inaugural DanceBermuda programme which was well-received when it was shown at the Bermuda International Film Festival earlier this year, Mr. Butler said: ?All of this adds significantly to how the community understands, appreciates and values the performing arts in Bermuda.

?This dovetails with the mission of our Department of Culture, which aims to preserve, nurture and enhance the Island?s arts, mores and traditions.

?I am, therefore, delighted to announce the names of the young people who will receive either a full or partial scholarship from the Ministry of Community Affairs & Sport for DanceBermuda 2006, each of whom was chosen by his or her dance teacher. I congratulate all of these hard-working young people, whom I know give up many social events to attend their dance classes every night, and I also know most of them maintain excellent grades at school, too. They are focused, hard-working and disciplined, and regardless of the career path they follow, they will carry these traits with them for the rest of their lives.?

Jessica Koren (15)*, Amanda Perry (14)*, Jelani Veney (20)*, James Waddell (15)*. Meredith Bibbings (12), Jaesharrie Johnson (13), Rebecca McLauchlan (11), Nelshea Bean (12).: Vairi Cassidy (17), Amber Clarke (12), Shaydrina Hassell (17), Brittany Madeiros (9), Melissa Spurling (16), Chelsea Smith (11).: Courtney Lopes (15)* Jelani Douglas (21)* Jasmine Debraga (13), Sara Gibbons (13), Fredrika Hill (12), Sophia Maguire (14), Natalie Nielsen (12), Safiya Nurse (12), Ashley Yearwood (11).

*Denotes full scholarship

DanceBermuda 2006 will run from August 7-25 in the dance facilities at the Bermuda High School, Richmond Road, Pembroke. Students aged nine to 21 will study ballet, modern, jazz and Pilates, as well as dance and music history, five days a week for three weeks. Classes will be taught by faculty of American Ballet Theatre and by Bermuda teacher and former dancer Sophia Cannonier. A workshop performance featuring all participants will be presented on Friday, August 25 at 11:00am and 2:00pm at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts.

The National Dance Foundation of Bermuda is a Bermuda-registered charity and a company limited by guaranty whose mission is to help raise the standard of dance excellence in Bermuda by offering world-class training to Bermuda?s dancers, teachers and choreographers. For further information ( 236-3319 or visit www.dancebermuda.org