By Kathy L. Collins
Local student and dancer Shaelynn Estrada will spend six weeks this summer attending a summer intensive at Ellison Ballet New York City. Estrada is a talented dancer who dances with both The Dance Center and the Brandon Ballet.
Estrada has been accepted into the most prestigious summer dance intensive in the country. She considered, among others, the Boston Ballet; MODAS Dance Repertory in Albuquerque, N.M. with an artistic scholarship; and the Bolshoi Ballet in New York City with a merit scholarship.
Making her decision even more difficult is the fact that Estrada was awarded a full scholarship to several summer intensive programs including International Ballet Academy, Art of Movement, Rock School Summer Intensive and The Pacific Northwest Ballet Summer Intensive.
Estrada ultimately decided to attend Ellison Ballet New York City six week intensive with a full scholarship. The mission of Ellison Ballet New York City is to provide the very finest dance education to serious, talented ballet students, and offer every opportunity to explore and discover their greatest individual artistic potential in preparation for a professional career.
Estrada is excited to be attending such a highly respected dance company. “Mr. Ellison is an amazing dance instructor. I am thrilled to be training with him this summer,” said Estrada.
Estrada has been dancing since she was 4–years-old. She has participated in many dance competitions including the Youth American Grand Prix, where she placed Top Six Pas de Deux and Top 12 Junior Ladies Contemporary, the American Dance Competition 3rd Place Pas de Deux, member of 5th Place Ensemble, 5th Place Junior Classical and Top 15 Junior Contemporary. Estrada will compete in the World Competition in June in Orlando.
Estrada has been a Brandon Ballet Company dancer for six years. She has been training with The Dance Center for 10 years and is a member of the Brandon Ballet Pre-Professional Training Program.
