2010 Junior Scholarship Winners From Left to Right:  Katie Acito,
Gabrielle Ward, Aradia Sessoms, Destinee Clark, Eris Norris, Bridget Sheehan,
Kayla Ferrante, Carolyn Davin, Sydney Cook, and Pauline Paviera.

JUNIOR SCHOLARSHIP 2010 WINNING ESSAYS:
"How Does Dance Help You In Your Regular School Life?"

Katie Acito, Age 12, Moderne Academie of Fine Arts..."Dance helps me in my regular school life because it teaches me patience and concentration, Ballet especially.  You really have to focus and concentrate on what you are doing.  Even on the simplest of steps.  Same in school.  You can't have your mind wandering off.  You need to concentrate or you may miss something that will make you mess up overall.  So when you are in dance class you have to pay attention and when you learn to concentrate and focus in dance then you know how to concentrate in school.  So in the end you will do good in school and get good grades and you will be a great dancer."

Destinee Clark, Age 10, Maria Priadka School of Dance..."Dancing helps me to have confidence, so whenever I have a test I imagine I'm on stage.  Sometimes when I have my talent show in front of the whole school I get nervous.  So now when I do a talent show or do a performance I'm ready and excited.  I feel great when I'm dancing.  So when I get a good grade, I feel like tapping!  When I work hard in dance it makes me happy.  I have learned in order to get really good grades, you must work hard in school.  SO dancing helps me in school by pushing to learn more and leap for a perfect score."

Sydney Cook, Age 8 3/4, Rogers Dance Academy..."Dance is good exercise.  It helps my body be more flexible for gym class.  Listening to the music and hearing the beats improves my listening skills.  It also helps me play my recorder in music class.  When I dance in front of an audience, I improve my self-confidence.  This is needed for oral book reports and when I ran for 3rd grade mayor.  Learning new dance moves and routines requires me to focus and concentrate, which I need for tests.  Finally, dance helps my posture, so when I sit at my desk I continue to have good posture."

Carolyn Davin, Age 10, Perna Dance Center..."I have learned many lessons from dance class that help me in school and my everyday life.  The most valuable lessons I have learned from my teachers, who set great examples, are: to be on time; to practice so that I'm always prepared; to break things down into small steps; to never never give up; to not be afraid to ask questions; to be polite and respectful to my teachers and classmates; to walk tall; and to be comfortable in front of large groups of people."

Kayla Ferrante, Age 10, Perna Dance Center..."How dance helps me in regular school life is it helps me with my writing prompts because I can pretty much relate to everything I write about.  Also dance is such an important part of my life.  It makes me be more disciplined in school because I want good grades and be a great dancer so I can one day get into Juliard.  When ever I am sitting down in my chair I feel the need to practice dance in my chair.  Like cramprolls, riffs and pullbacks.  It teaches me patience and how to be a team player and I help others.  This is how dance helps me in regular school life!"

Eris Norris, Age 12, Maria Priadka School of Dance..."Dance helps me in my every day school life in many ways such as public speaking, math, and physical education.  In dance school everything revolves around numbers, I count the steps in a dance routine.  I do 1/4, 1/2, and full turns and each routine is lined in different shapes, (ex. straight lines and pyramids).  It helps me in public speaking because it builds confidence.  I am not shy when I have to stand up in front of a crowd for a school play, or just standing in front of the class to say something.  It also helps me in physical education because it provides strength and flexibility.  When I stretch in gym I'm used to doing it in dance school, so it makes me a better participant in sports activities."

Pauline Paviera, Age 10, ATD Dancenter..."Dance helps me in regular school life by giving me the confidence to express myself through dance and even in my daily life and with my friends.  It helps me not to be shy and shows discipline when I am with other people.  When it comes to my school plays I try out for a part I give it my all by expressing myself the way the character feels through my own creative movements.  When I am on stage I feel great to be up there and doing my own thing without being nervous or scared because I am trained to face a crowd."

Aradia Sessoms, Age 9, Maria Priadka School of Dance..."Dance helps me in my regular school life because it helps me concentrate on what I am doing in school.  It improves my grades, tests, homework and class work.  It helps me get an A+ in everything.  Dancing also helps me because it makes me behave better.  Dancing makes me think about my choices and decisions.  It helps me to do my best.  Dancing also helps me perform in the school Christmas Pageant.  It helps me to help people with activities and projects.  It also helps me when I am the monitor and when I watch the class it improves my life!"

Bridget Sheehan, Age 11, Perna Dance Center..."Dance helps me in my regular school life by building up my muscles for gym and it helps me perform better in basketball.  It helps keep me in shape so I can be active at school.  Dance has brought me out as a person to be more outgoing and friendly to others who need my help.  When I have to write at school I enjoy writing about dance and different things I have done through dance.  It is much easier to write about something you love to do.   I Love To Dance!"

Gabrielle Ward, Age 12, Bodies In Motion Dance Center..."Dance helps me be a better person.  This especially shows in school.  With 10 hours of dance a week, I've began to manage my time better.  I've also become more organized.  I have created my own daily routines to keep me on track throughout the day.  I've noticed that I am the most active student in physical education who is both strong and flexible.  Now that I am in middle school, I have to wake up much earlier each day.  Having dance at night makes me get a great night's sleep and wake up better."