Kelly and Evan
“I’ll miss the personal connection that Evan has with the community. It was immediate. Not just with his peers, but also with teachers. Because the community is small, you get an immediate sense, within weeks of starting freshman year, that the teachers care. It’s not a ‘one semester then we are done with you' mentality. There’s a feeling from the entire staff that we are all in this together, we are all part of this community, and we want to build these kids into something bigger and better than when they first arrived.”
Kelly wishes that every aspiring artist could experience The Academy.
“I have friends who have watched Evan dance, and been blown away with the artistic achievement they’ve seen, but have said, ‘The Academy isn’t for my child because my child doesn’t like ballet as much as Evan.’ And I always say, ‘I don't think anyone likes ballet as much as Evan!’ I sent Evan to The Academy because it’s more than ballet. In fact, he didn't even like ballet until his freshman year! The Academy is a whole arts experience, and he is getting a well-rounded education. Beyond the dance studio, he's received musical theater training, voice training and much more. The opportunities are there for anyone—in all artistic genres.”
Evan and family
Evan is joining Boston Ballet next year! Kelly will miss the quality of dance she’s come to expect from The Academy but looks forward to Evan's next endeavor.
“I’ve been part of the dance world for a long time—Evan’s whole life. I’ve seen a lot of good (and bad) technique, so it’s very nice to see so much talent onstage at each performance each year. It doesn’t really blow me away anymore because I have come to expect it! But at every performance someone who has never seen the Dance Department before is astounded by the talent and execution. Someone always says, ‘It’s hard to believe they are teenagers. Then they get off the stage and you interact with them and you say, ‘oh yeah, they are totally teenagers!’” It's a beautiful synergy of training, professionalism, and typical teenagers.
Dance chair Randy Duncan will miss his mentorship.
“Evan has been a great asset to the community of the school. He has not only shown great talent as a young artist, but as an invaluable leader and mentor for his fellow classmates. He is leaving The Academy with a great deal of knowledge for the profession of dance, both classical and contemporary.”
Good luck next year, Evan!