Above Photo: The Brandon Ballet’s Board of Director President, Lyndsey Ladewig ( L) and the Brandon Ballet’s Artistic Director, Doricha Sales (R ) congratulate the winner of the 2018 Richard Munro Scholarship, Kailey Montez.
The 2018 winner of the Richard Munro Memorial Scholarship Fund is Kailey Montez, a 15-year-old ninth grade student at Lennard High School. Montez is a participant in the school’s Collegiate Program. Montez has participated in several summer intensive programs such as Ballet West in Salt Lake City, the Joffrey Ballet in New York City and the Modas Dance in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Montez aspires to be a professional ballet dancer prior to attending college to pursue a degree in physical therapy. Montez has competed in prestigious ballet competitions including Youth America Grand Prix and American Dance Competition/International Ballet Competition. Montez is a sixth year Company Dancer of the Brandon Ballet.
The late Richard Munro spent his life nurturing the art of ballet as a Ballet Master, and Artistic Director and founder of a ballet academy. He spent the last six years of his life teaching, coaching, choreographing and performing for the Brandon Ballet.
The scholarship is available to any dancer who is classically trained in ballet and is between the ages of 13 and 18. The recipient may use the scholarship to offset the cost of any summer ballet intensive program.
Montez said, “I am very honored to receive the Richard Munro Scholarship. The late Richard Munro was an asset to Brandon Ballet and I am so pleased to be dancing the role of the Spring Fairy in this year’s Cinderella. This year is very special in that the production will follow the choreography of Richard Munro and the performance is dedicated in his honor.”
Montez plans to use the scholarship money to attend the Brandon Ballet’s Summer Intensive.
Lyndsey Ladewig, President of the Brandon Ballet Board of Directors said, “Montez exemplifies the passionate dancer the Board of Directors look for during the scholarship selection.
Many dancers can be technically correct during class, but to also be passionate and express such enthusiasm while maintaining their poise is what set her apart.”
For more information, please visit www.brandonballet.org.
