Armour Dance Theatre’s 2023 Alumni Update

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Announcing the release of the 2022 Alumni Update

Announcing the release of the 2021 Alumni Update.

Meet Thomas Armour Youth Ballet’s 2019 Graduating Class

We are so proud of our high school graduates and all their accomplishments! Keep reading this blog post to read all about what they will be up to after high school.

Romina Erminy – Graduated from Design and Architecture Senior High (DASH). While at DASH she participated in the RAW Miami Art Show, received the AP Scholar Award, participated in the American Mathematics Competition, became an Adobe Certified Associate, was on the Principal’s Honor Roll, graduated as a certified music theory teacher, and was a Semifinalist in national math Olympics. She was also a part of the Math Honor Society, the fashion club, National Honor Society of High School Scholars. She was accepted to the University of San Francisco with a $68,000 scholarship, University of Denver, University of the South, the University of Illinois at Chicago, New Hampshire Institute of Art with a $60,000 scholarship, and Miami Dade College.

Destiny Delancy – Graduated from New World School of the Arts High School Cumme Laude with the Superintendent’s Diploma of Distinction. She was accepted into Florida State University, Barry University, Clark AtlantaUniversity, University of the Arts, University of South Florida, Florida Agricultural and Memorial University. She will be attending New York University as a Dean’s Scholar with a full ride.

April Chinea – Graduated Cum Laude from New World School of the Arts earning the Superintendent’s Diploma of Distinction, The Dean of Dance’s Award, Dance Choreography Award, and selected to the New Modup World School of the Arts Principal’s Hall of Fame. She will be attending Florida State University to pursue a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography with a minor in Sports Management.

Dymon Smith – Graduated from New World School of the Arts High school. She was accepted into Goucher College, Point Park University, University of South Florida, New World School of the Arts College, and New York Univerisity. She will be attending New York University in the fall.

Herne Jean-Baptiste – Graduated from New World School of the Arts High school. He was accepted into Point Park University, University of the Arts, Adelphi University, New York University, Suny Purchase College, St. John University, University of Central Florida, University of South Florida, and Miami-Dade College. He will be attending New York University in the fall on a full scholarship.

Yumarlis De Jesus – Graduated from New World School of the Arts. She was a posse semi-finalist and the National English Honor Society secretary. She was accepted into Barry University, Florida International University, Florida State University, Emerson College, and The New School. She will be attending Florida State University in the fall.

Sofia Naranjo – Graduated from New World School of the Arts. During her time at New World School of the Arts, she was a part of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts. She was accepted into Savannah College of Art and Design and LIM College. She will be attending LIM College with an academic achievement scholarship and will major in Fashion Marketing.

Frances Hernandez – Graduated from New World School of the Arts and will be attending Florida International University this fall.

Hanna Sotolongo-Miranda – Graduated from Coral Reef Senior High School. She is a recipient of the Florida Academic Scholars Award and Blue and Gold Scholar at Florida International University. She was accepted into  Florida International University Honors Marine Biology and the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.

Harmony Vides Varini – Graduated from Coral Reef Senior High School. She will be attending Florida State University beginning in the summer.

Adda Gudjandotter – graduated high school from Unidad Educativa Bilingue Delta, with the award of the International Baccalaureate Diploma. She did her junior and senior year abroad in Guayaquil, Ecuador. In the future, she plans to study international relations with a focus on international law and politics.

Mia Tellechea-Choi – Graduated from Ransom Everglades School. During her time at Ransom, she was inducted in the National Honor Society, the French Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society, and Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society. She was accepted into Florida State University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Denver, Bentley University, Fordham University, and Boston University. She will be attending Florida State University majoring in Marketing.

Sawyer O’Keefe – Graduated from Coral Reef Senior High. During her time at Coral Reef she was in the drama magnet program, captain of the lacrosse team sophomore through senior year, and was a part of various school organizations like Best Buddies and the multiple academic honor societies. She will be attending Duke University in the fall.

Jaysan Stinnett – Graduated from Harid Conservatory. He was accepted on a full scholarship for the summer into American Ballet Theater, School of American Ballet, Ellison Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, and Houston Ballet Theatre. He was offered a contact at Sarasota Ballet, Colorado Ballet, and Orlando Ballet.

Fernanda Alvarado – She graduated from high school early from Florida Virtual School at age 16. She was accepted into New World School of the Arts College and will be attending the dance program in the fall.

Peterson Exais – Graduated from New World School of the Arts High School. He will be attending New World School of the Arts College in the fall.

To learn more about the programs our graduates participated in click the button below.

Alumnus Jasmine Ward’s Performance On The Ellen Show

Jasmine Ward was a student at Thomas Armour Youth Ballet for a decade. Receiving training at the school and participating in annual productions of the Nutcracker. We are proud to highlight all her successes. Read more to see what she’s up to now!

TRAINING BACKGROUND

I grew up training at the Thomas Armour Youth Ballet while also attending New World School of the Arts and performing in the annual Nutcrackers. I then graduated from Butler University in Indianapolis and attended various summer intensives, including ABT New York, Joffrey Chicago, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet.

RECENT PROJECTS

Since moving to New York two years ago, I’ve danced with the New York Theatre Ballet, Brooklyn Ballet, and Ballet Next. I’ve also played Pecola Breedlove in the Arden Theatre’s Company’s production of “Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye”. I audition often and take dance, voice, and acting classes.

HOW SHE WAS SELECTED FOR FUTURE’S MUSIC VIDEO

I was recommended for the Future music video as a result of the people I’ve met while auditioning. All we knew was that the music video was for a major hip-hop artist. It wasn’t until we were on the location that it was revealed it was for Future.

EXPERIENCE ON THE ELLEN SHOW

The Ellen Show was unexpected. I received a call just one day before flying to LA, and after arriving, the other dancer and I had little time to prepare as we were going to shoot the following day. However, the performance was based on the music video, so we had an idea of what to expect and fortunately, we both kept our costumes. The day of, we had a very short rehearsal, then the cameras started rolling. It all went by very fast, but I enjoy every second of it!

Jasmine is currently working on more projects that we look forward to sharing soon!

To learn more about what our TAYB alumni are up to click here to view our Alumni Update.

 

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