SARASOTA BALLET ANNOUNCES NEW SCHOLARSHIP

In honor of National Ballet of Canada’s star dancer and Sarasota native, Bridgett Zehr, Sarasota Ballet Director Iain Webb has announced the creation of a new Bridgett Zehr Scholarship Fund for the benefit of Dance – The Next Generation (DNG) students. The fund will be used to provide additional training opportunities through the Sarasota School of Ballet for aspiring graduates of the DNG program, thus assuring a future for those with the talent and ambition.

One of the program’s success stories is that of Sarasota’s own Bridgett Zehr. Born and raised in Sarasota, Bridgett began her dance studies with DNG at the age of seven and continued them through the Sarasota School of Ballet. Upon graduation from the DNG program, Bridgett studied at the Harid Conservatory with a scholarship from the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation and has pursued a very successful career having danced with Houston Ballet and is currently the principal dancer at the prestigious National Ballet of Canada.

Dance - The Next Generation is a seven-year full-scholarship program for children ages 8 to 18 who are at-risk of dropping out of school. With an annual enrollment of 100, the program provides a safe haven for these children and a way to improve their self-esteem, to learn responsibility and discipline, to gain confidence and, above all, to learn that regardless of their socio-economic status, they can achieve anything they want in life.

Children who successfully complete the rigorous training qualify to receive a four-year college scholarship (two years at the State College of Florida and two years at University of South Florida) to study any subject of their choosing. Additionally, the Ballet underwrites all cost associated with the program, including transportation.

Dance - The Next Generation has numerous success stories, not only of dance success such as Bridgett Zehr. Most students maintain between a 3.7 and a 4.0 GPA, have received awards such as the Rotary Club's award for Outstanding Young Citizen, been accepted into the Black Achievers Program and have been named valedictorians of their graduating class. DNG students have gone on to wonderful careers in both dance and other fields. Students have also received scholarships to New York University, Goucher College, Butler University, Hared Dance Conservatory, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre School.

In 2002, Dance - The Next Generation was the recipient of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities award, one of only 13 organizations across the United States. DNG students have gone on to wonderful careers in both dance and other fields.

The Fund will be administered by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice.  If you would like to donate to the fund, contributions may be sent to:
The Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice
601 Tamiami Trail South
Venice, FL 34285

For more information about Dance - The Next Generation, or the Sarasota Ballet, contact Michael Scott at (941) 359-0099 ext. 110.

Pictured above: Bridgett Zehr, National Ballet of Canada’s star dancer and Sarasota native.