Years of hard work and dedication have paid off for ten talented young Bermudians recipients of scholarships, bursaries and professional development awards from The National Dance Foundation of Bermuda (NDFB).Worth more than $60,000 in total, this year's awards mark the Foundation's largest-ever scholarship funding for students furthering their studies in dance and theatre at accredited institutions in the United States, Canada and Great Britain.The recipients were chosen following a rigorous application process overseen by the NDFB scholarship committee headed by Sallie Singleton.Winner of the top financial scholarship is Krysal Smith Lowe, who received the $15,000 Patricia Calnan Commemorative Award.Mrs Smith Lowe trains with the Somerset School of Dancing and has been working as a teacher assistant at this year's NDFB Young DanceBermuda summer programme, run in partnership with the American Ballet Theatre.She been invited to apprentice with the Welsh Ballet with a view to becoming a full-time member.“This is exactly the sort of professional experience the foundation is so happy to be able to assist Bermudians with,” NDFB chairman Donald Kramer said.Fredrika Hill received the $7,500 Ana Roje Commemorative Award.She is entering the second year of a bachelor of fine arts degree programme at the Boston Conservatory for the Arts.A f ormer student of the Somerset School of Dancing from age four, Miss Hill is a two-time winner of the Catherine Zeta-Jones scholarship.The $7,500 L John Profit Commemorative Award was given to Genesis Edwards, who is in her final year of studies at the Arts Educational School in London, England.According to her school, “Genesis is likely to be one of the most employable students of the year…and attracts a great deal of industry attention in her performances”.Miss Edwards is also the UK pioneer teacher of “krumping”, a form of street dancing popularised by Los Angeles teenagers as a means of releasing negative energy and eradicating violence.She choreographed for the 2012 London Olympics Adidas campaign as well as a piece for MTV for the opening of women's boxing at the London Olympics.Dezjuan Thomas was awarded the $7,500 Georgine Mary Russell Hill Scholarship.Mr Thomas is to pursue a bachelor of fine arts degree at Ryerson University in Toronto, where he will major in dance and minor in technical theatre.A student and teacher assistant at United Dance Productions for more than ten years, he recently performed in the school's 20th gala anniversary production.Karissa Roberts was the recipient of a $5,000 professional development fund award. Miss Roberts is in her final year of a master's programme at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.The talented dancer studied with In Motion School of Dance for over ten years, and was a senior member of its Concepts in Motion Dance Company.A recipient of several previous awards from the National Dance Foundation, Miss Roberts will study athletic training, with a special interest in dance injuries.Anna Clifford also received a $5,000 NDFB professional development fund award. Miss Clifford received her formative training at the Bermuda School of Russian Ballet and the In Motion School of Dance, and is a past recipient of NDFB scholarships.She has just completed a bachelor of arts degree in modern ballet at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, where she is recognised as a talented and creative choreographer.Miss Clifford has been invited to intern with the renowned Joffrey Ballet trainee programme in New York City, where she will have an opportunity to dance with the Company.Four young Bermudians received bursary awards to assist them in their studies overseas.Malachi Simmons is beginning the second year of a bachelor of arts degree in visual theatre at Edge Hill University in England. Well known in Bermuda for his acting and dancing ability, as well as his community work with YouthNet and Peacebuilders, he is a member of the university's all-male contemporary dance company.Dawnita Smith is currently enrolled in a three-year course for a national diploma in professional musical theatre at Bird College in England.Miss Smith studied for seven years at United Dance Productions, and performed in numerous events both here and abroad.Alexis Richens is pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in dance, with a major in business, at Jacksonville University, Florida.She is a former student of the Jackson School of Performing Arts. In addition to her strong subjects of economics and mathematics, Miss Richens recently added macroeconomics to her course load a decision she believes will be beneficial in achieving her ultimate goal of opening a dance school in Bermuda.Dara Palmer is to pursue a bachelor of fine arts degree at the Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington.A former student of United Dance Productions, the In Motion School, and the Berkeley Institute dance group, Miss Palmer attended the Leon Dance School summer intensive in New York this year. She aims to return home and open a dance programme at the Bermuda College.Mr Kramer described the awardees as “a testament to Bermuda's dance schools”, which were well represented in the final selection.And he expressed “heartfelt appreciation” to “all those wonderful donors who continue to believe in the mission of the National Dance Foundation, which aims to develop young people through dance by supporting and providing world-class training to the Bermuda community”.