12/9/2015

Makingadifference:2015NationalArtsandHumanitiesYouthProgramAwards|CriticalDance

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Making a difference: 2015 National Arts and

Humanities Youth Program Awards

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Carmel
Morgan
In a special
ceremony

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at the White
House on
November

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Lady,

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egory

Michelle
Obama
recognized
12 of
Americas

First Lady Michelle Obama with CityDance DREAM director Kelli Quinn and student

top after-

Valeria Cruz, from Washington, DC

school arts

Photo Steven E. Purcell

and
humanities programs, and honored Honduras Organization for Youth
Empowerment, as recipients of the 2015 National Arts and Humanities Youth
Program Awards. She warmly hugged all of the award recipients, and promised
cookies at a reception after the ceremony.
In her opening remarks, Mrs. Obama, honorary chairman of the Presidents
Committee on the Arts and Humanities, extolled the power of the arts to transform
lives. As she related, the skills one acquires through a quality arts education boost
critical thinking, which lead to success in the classroom and in the boardroom.
Indeed, the arts should not be treated as a luxury. They are a necessity, and all
children should have access to an arts education.
I am so thankful that I have had the opportunity to study dance, be inspired by great
dance teachers, and nurture a lifelong love for dance. Most public schools in the
United States have dropped dance completely from the curriculum, and dance
training outside of school is typically very expensive. There is tremendous loss in not
exposing more young people in this country to the art of dance. Youth from less
affluent families miss out on a valuable form of learning, and certain bright talents
remain undiscovered. More significantly, even for those who would never aspire to a

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RECENT
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12/9/2015

Makingadifference:2015NationalArtsandHumanitiesYouthProgramAwards|CriticalDance

remain undiscovered. More significantly, even for those who would never aspire to a
professional career in dance, the discipline and teamwork dance requires, the self-

confidence dance creates, and the intellectual curiosity dance fires up, as Mrs. Obama
pointed out, can lead to better performance not only in school but in life.
I was especially excited to see a Washington, DC dance organization, CityDance
DREAM, receive an award. CityDance DREAM is a free after-school program that
brings dance training and performance experience to DCs most underserved
communities. Through DREAM, students also attend professional dance
performances in the DC area. As part of the award, the organization will receive
$10,000 and a year of communications and capacity-building support. No doubt the
recognition and money will help propel CityDance DREAM forward, allowing the
program to expand to reach more students.
On stage to receive their hugs from Mrs. Obama were CityDance DREAM Director
Kelli Quinn and beaming student Valeria Cruz. Valeria, currently a high school senior,
found a safe place in the organization, participated in weekly classes, became a
teaching assistant, and is the first in her family to apply to a 4-year college.

Peking Opera
Company CHOWK

Christopher K. Morgan &

Artists Company C
Contemporary Ballet
Daniel K

Ballet

DIablo

Dresden
Semperoper Ballett
English National Ballet
School Estonian
National Ballet

Fact/SF Fairul
Zahid/ASWARA
Flamenco Sin Fronteras

Fog Beast Frontier

Danceland Garrett +

Moulton Productions H
T Chen & Dancers Hartt
School Heidi Latsky
Dance Hong Kong
Academy for Performing
Arts Hong Kong Ballet
Juilliard School KuliKula Leila McMillan
LevyDance Limn
Dance Company

Other
awardees

M1 CONTACT Festival
MACOBA Dance
Company Mariinsky

taking the
stage

Ballet

included 12

Mats Ek

MAYA Dance
Theatre Modern

New York
City

Table Company
National Arts and
Humanities Youth
Program Awards
Neville Dance Theatre

students
ages 14-18
from Rosies

New York City

Ballet New York Jazz

Theater
Kids, ACTE II
(A
Rosies Theater Kids ACTE II Program from New York, NY performing
Photo Steven E. Purcell

Commitment to Excellence) Program. Mostly from low-income households, these

students receive free musical theater training, which is enhanced by academic
assistance and social services. They performed a spirited medley of songs written by
alumni of New York Public Schools, ranging from George and Ira Gershwin to Paul
Simon and Alicia Keys, thrilling everyone, including Mrs. Obama, with their talent and
enthusiasm.
The future looks bright for all of the students enrolled in the award-winning
programs. Hopefully, other similar programs will prosper, and an arts education will
be available to an increasing number of Americas children.
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Delightful dynamos and

Dance to move the heart: Heidi
captains of cool: Twyla Tharps
Latsky Dance & AXIS Dance
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Festival

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