SIMPSON BAY–Education Minister Silveria Jacobs has encouraged the National Institute of Arts (NIA) dance team to strive for gold in France.
NIA co-director Arlene Halley and dancers Dashaun Prince, Jeremiah David, Keona Inguenaud, Kiara Vanterpool and Naomi Warsop left St. Maarten on May 2, to join NIA teacher Peggy Oulerich and teammates Lian Borsje and Zoe van Zadelhoff for the National Confederation de Danse, in Dijon France.
“I would like to congratulate the directors, teachers, parents and especially the students on this accomplishment,” Jacobs said.
The trip was made possible through generous donations from the private sector and the Government of St. Maarten, Department of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports. Getting to this point was not an easy task, it was stated in a press release.
Beginning with St. Barths, the dancers and their parents worked diligently to raise donations close to US $10,000 of the total of US $28,000 needed to compete in the regionals in St. Barths and at the national level in France.
“St. Maarten is proud of you as ambassadors of dance representing our country in Europe and the Government of St Maarten is very happy that its contribution was key in making the trip possible,” Jacobs said.
A total of seven students qualified to compete in the national competition in France. The competition will be held May 4-7, in Dijon France. NIA students will be competing in the four-day event which features over 2,500 entries from the French Federation. The event will be judged by international dance professionals Carl Portal in modern contemporary; Oliver Coste in Classical Ballet and Bruno Vandelli in Jazz.
Source: Daily Herald
Jacobs urges NIA dance team to strive for Gold in France
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