DTH residency at the Kennedy Center

[Alexandra]

Just got this press release from the Kennedy Center:

85 students from DC, Maryland and Virginia have been selected by dance legend Arthur Mitchell to participate in the Kennedy Center's Dance Theatre of Harlem Residency, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

Since the program began in the fall of 1993 under Mr. Mitchell's direction, nearly 40,000 students, parents, dance professionals, public school teachers, school administrators and community members from Virginia, Maryland and D.C. have participated in the program in various capacities. Each season, the DTH Residency, an intensive eight-week long program, invites young people of all dance levels to learn from one of the most influential dance companies in the U.S. Students are selected from an audition with kids ages 6-18. The DTH Residency has served as a successful training ground for young dancers and taught them that discipline, hard work and respect lead to success in school, performance and-most importantly-in life.

DTH Residency Phase I classes are from Jan. 18-Mar. 1 (all 7 classes are held on Saturdays at the Kennedy Center). Based on their participation in Phase I, some students will then be selected to participate in Phase II (Mar. 15-May 18). Phase II classes will be held on Saturdays and Sundays at the Kennedy Center. After a total of 18 classes, a culminating event will be held on May 24 during the DTH company's engagement at the Kennedy Center. Jenny Chiang of DTH and former DTH dancer & current artistic director of Dance Institute of Washington Fabian Barnes will be teaching the classes. Mr. Mitchell will attend classes periodically throughout the residency. The students selected to participate in this year's residency program are:

District of Columbia

* Devin Allen, age 9, Savoy Elementary School, Washington, DC.

* Jorden Blair, age 6, Beauvoir- National Cathedral Elementary School, Wash, DC.

* Rachel Bonham, age 7, Watkins Elementary School, Washington, DC.

* Tiffanie Ellis, age 11, Houston Elementary School, Washington, DC.

* Benjamin Gu, age 8, Watkins Elementary School, Washington, DC.

* Marcus Jackson, age 16, Duke Ellington School for the Arts, Washington, DC.

* Arthur Jones, age 7, John Eaton Elementary School, Washington, DC.

* Paulina Lopez-Santos, age 9, Ross Elementary School, Washington, DC.

* John Manzar, age 9, F.S. Key Elementary School, Washington, DC.

* Leo Manzari, age 7, F.S. Key Elementary School, Washington, DC.

* Mary Manzari, age 12, The Field School, Washington, DC.

* Rohjanae Mathis, age 8, Community Academy PCS, Washington, DC.

* Kiva McGee, age 7, Murch Elementary School, Washington, DC.

* Jillian Napper, age 13, no school listed, Washington, DC.

* Lynn Poe, age 11, St. Ann's Academy, Washington, DC.

* Blair Reavis-Tyler, age 8, St. Anthony's School, Washington, DC.

* Dakota Ross-Cabrera, age 8, Eaton Elementary School, Washington, DC.

* Aisha Settle, age 11, Kramer Middle School, Washington, DC.

* Anthony Silver, age 11, Murch Elementary School, Washington, DC.

* Bridgette Slater, age 9, Sidwell Friends, Washington, DC.

* Kristin Smith, age 13, Alice Deal Junior High School, Washington, DC.

* Sasha Smith, age 15, Woodrow Wilson High School, Washington, DC.

* Demetrius Tabron, age 17, Duke Ellington School, Washington, DC.

* Kirsten Van Hoose, age 13, Kirov Academy of Ballet, Washington, DC.

MARYLAND

Baltimore City, MD

* Cristal Cooper, age 18, University of Maryland, Baltimore City, MD.

* Stephanie Crockett, age 8, Dogwood Elementary School, Baltimore, MD.

* Mya Hardy, age 16, Baltimore School of Arts, Baltimore, MD.

Charles County, MD

* Alexia McGowan, age 8, William B. Wade Elementary School, Waldorf, MD.

Howard County, MD

* Kaltin Davin, age 12, Mayfield Woods High School, Columbia, MD.

Montgomery County, MD

* Kendall Brown, age 14, Holton Arms High School, Bethesda, MD.

* Taylor Collier, age 10, Norwood School, Bethesda, MD.

* Rochelle Fletcher, age 16, Barrie School, Silver Spring, MD.

* Marie McNair, age 14, The Bullis School, Potomac, MD.

* Malaika Newman, age 9, Piney Branch Elementary School, Silver Spring, MD.

* Kristine Reynolds, age 11, Forestville Elementary School, Great Falls, VA.

* Stephanie Somerville, age 11, Washington Episcopal School, Bethesda, MD.

Prince George's County, MD

* Jameelah Baker, age 10, Marlton Elementary School, Upper Marlboro, MD.

* Briana Bell, age 7, Progressive Christian Academy, Temple Hills, MD.

* Alexandra Butler, age 7, Henson Valley Montessori School, Temple Hills, MD.

* Erin Carpenter, age 17, Suitland High School, Suitland, MD.

* Brittany Clark, age 7, Lake Arbor Elementary School, Bowie MD.

* Cannel Cole, age 7, Shadyside-French Immersion ES, District Heights, MD.

* Amber Davis, age 7, home schooled, Temple Hills, MD.

* Joshua Edwards, age 10, St. Ignatius School, Ft. Washington, MD.

* Taylor Faulkner, age 9, Robert Goddard Montessori School, Greenbelt, MD.

* Mariah Goldring, age 10, Woodmore Elementary School, Mitchellville, MD.

* Ashante Green, age 10, Grace Brethren School, Clinton, MD.

* Daniel Harder, age 15, Suitland High School, Suitland, MD.

* Courtney Harris, age 9, Robert Goddard Montessori School, Greenbelt, MD.

* Herman Hawkins, Jr., age 7, Kenilworth Elementary School, Bowie, MD.

* Grace Johnson, age 14, Suitland High School, Suitland, MD.

* Monica Johnson, age 8, St. Columbia Catholic School, Oxon Hill, MD.

* Victoria Jones, age 10, Bladensburg Elementary School, Bladensburg, MD.

* Kierra McKenzie, age 11, Stephen Decatur, Clinton, MD.

* Brianna Pippens, age 11, Glenn Park Middle School, Brandywine, MD.

* Erica Powe, age 10, Perrywood Elementary School, Upper Marlboro, MD.

* Janae Roberts, age 10, Jericho Christian Academy, Landover, MD.

* Angela Ruiz, age 10, Thomas Pullen School, Landover, MD.

* Angelique Smith, age 14, Oxon Hill High School, Oxon Hill, MD.

* Kamille Upshaw, age 13, Thomas Pullen School, Landover, MD.

* Rachel Whitmon, age 12, Hyattsville Middle School, Hyattsville, MD.

Saint Mary's County, MD

* Lauren Morgan, age 9, Lexington Park Christian School, Lexington Park, MD.

* Meghan Neace, age 9, Lexington Park Christian School, Lexington Park, MD.

* Jessica Sowles-Reinholt, age 12, Esperanza Middle School, Lexington Park, MD.

VIRGINIA

Arlington County, VA

* Katherine Penner, age 17, Washington-Lee High School, Arlington, VA.

Prince William County, VA

* Anaiya Baukman, age 14, Mt. Vernon High School, Alexandria, VA.

* Devin Dowd, age 13, home schooled, Manassas, VA.

* Ananda Gonzalez, age 8, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VA.

* India Gonzalez, age 8, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VA.

* Morganne Harrison, age 11, Ft. Hunt Elementary School, Alexandria, VA.

* LaMartha Martin, age 13, Heritage Christian High School, Woodbridge, VA.

* Cecelia Powers, age 12, Hayfield Middle School, Alexandria, VA.

Fairfax County, VA

* Kendall Cherry, age 9, Springfield Estates, Springfield, VA.

* Megan Hislop, age 12, Irving Middle School, Springfield, VA.

* Katherine Kitzmiller, age 10, Baileys ES for Arts & Sciences, Falls Church, VA.

* Melissa Kuba, age 17, James Madison High School, Vienna, VA.

* Idil Mohamed-Bray, age 15, Fairfax High School, Fairfax, VA.

* Sam Surette, age 10, Mantua Elementary, Fairfax, VA.

* Karli Walker, Chantilly High School, Chantilly, VA.

Loudoun County, VA

* Kimberly Chinn, age 17, Potomac Falls High School, Sterling, VA.

* Noelle Chinn, age 14, Potomac Falls High School, Sterling, VA.

Orange County, VA

* Demetia Hopkins, age 15, Orange County High School, Orange, VA.

* Nefertiti Thomas, age 16, Orange County High School, Orange, VA.

Stafford County, VA

* Meredith Moffitt, age 12, home schooled, Stafford, VA.

Spotsylvania County, VA

* Travis Layman, age 16, Massapanox High School, Spotsylvania, VA.

The DTH Residency has produced a remarkable number of success stories including:

* Six former students are currently professional dancers (two with the DTH company)

* Eight former students are currently pursuing a major or minor in dance at colleges and universities across the country

* One former student received a degree in dance

* Two current students whose participation has led them to Broadway and other major venues

Please see attached document for more information on each student. What is most extraordinary about the success of these DTH Residency students is that they are all using dance as a tool to be involved in their communities and thus carrying out the mission on which Mr. Mitchell built his company. On the occasion of this anniversary, I hope you will consider doing a story on the students from your area who have or are currently participating in the DTH Residency. I am happy to arrange interviews with the students if you're interested in speaking with them. Please feel free to contact me if you would like more information.