As students graduate from Atlanta Dance Central it is bittersweet to watch them leave. Most of our seniors this past year didn't just come for classes, they made ADC a second home. They assist classes and build relationships with our younger students, lead birthday parties and summer camps, help backstage with the kinder recitals, and we have even caught them stepping in to answer questions in the lobby when it gets busy. We are happy and proud to say that all of our graduating seniors this year have grown into responsible young women that are ready to go out and make a difference.
Anslee Berry has assisted in our basics program for years, and absolutely loves jazz basics. She falls in love with the students and is known to get sad when they move on to Jazz 1 and aren't “her students” anymore. Anslee is attending the University of Alabama this fall, joining 2015 senior Maddie Rubio, and she plans to major in nursing.
You saw Kate Buchanan on the aerial silks during the recital, she has assisted in the acro program, and she interned this past spring for the Foster-Schmidt Dance Academy. Kate is busy this summer working here at ADC. She's assisting and leading in camps and the aerial six week June session. We literally can't keep her away from the studio this summer! Kate is traveling the furthest away of all of our seniors and is headed to Ohio State University. She plans to be an occupational therapist and hopes to find a way to use dance as a method of therapy.
Kelly Gilson was an Atlanta Rising Talent Senior Company Captain for four years in a row. She has assisted in the kinder and Foster-Schmidt programs for several years. You saw her grow up through the roles in Once Upon A Holiday as an evil sister and then a reindeer. Kelly is attending the University of South Carolina in the fall, and we can't wait to follow her successes there!
Claire Mathews danced at ADC all throughout high school and joined the ART Company for her senior year. She also interned with Ms. Charlotte and assisted Ms. Andrea with Tap 1 this spring. Claire is attending Auburn University this fall where she will double major in Marketing and Apparel Merchandising.
Sarah Kathryn Lasseigne, Emily Matthews, and Claire Peoples are attending the University of Georgia. Sarah Kathryn Lasseigne danced with the ART company for five years. Outside of dance she attended classes at Georgetown University for three summers, and is majoring in International Relations in the fall. Emily Matthews has also danced with ART for five years, and has assisted in our basics program. This past year, Emily participated in a dual enrollment program through Kennesaw State University. Emily will study Computer Science in the fall and plans to keep dance in her life. Claire Peoples has been a member of ART Company since its beginning, and has assisted in classes in the kinder, youth, and ART company programs. She is majoring in Dance in the fall.
All of the seniors that are graduating this year have been an important part in the growth of the studio over the years. We know we will miss having them around the studio, but we also know they are off to great things and they will come back and visit when they can. Congratulations to all of our seniors and thank you for being such inspiring students and people!