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NORTH CAROLINA ARTS IN ACTION SELECTS FOUR RASHKIS 4TH GRADERS TO ATTEND THE NATIONAL DANCE INSTITUTE'S IRENE DIAMOND SUMMER INSTITUTE

A Month-long Dance Program in New York City

CHAPEL HILL, NC June 23, 2006 - North Carolina Arts in Action (NC-AIA) is proud to announce the selection of four 4th graders from the NC-AIA pilot program at Rashkis Elementary to attend the National Dance Institute's (NDI) Irene Diamond Summer Institute in New York City. The children attending this month-long dance program in July are Miles Addison, Hannah Davis, Emily Kupec and Khalid Williams. Out of 110 4th graders, they were selected based on their talent, enthusiasm, and student citizenship.

The Irene Diamond Summer Institute, a program of NDI: New York founded by Jacques d'Amboise, invites talented students, from their NDI program and selected affiliate programs, to improve their mastery of technique and choreography. Structured in the tradition of a traditional dance academy, the month-long program combines a full schedule of classes in ballet, tap, jazz, ethnic dance, music (instrumental and vocal), and choreography. 110 dancers, ages 10-14, will be participating. These children hail from New York, New Jersey and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Summer Institute is a scholarship program that maintains an intensive training schedule, dancing five days a week, six hours a day. This rigorous structure improves the dancers' ability to learn a wide variety of choreography in a short amount of time, while they develop the discipline and excellence of presentation necessary for the performing arts. It will be an opportunity of a life-time for our four children from North Carolina and we are proud to send them as representatives of our region.

The mission of North Carolina Arts in Action (NC-AIA) is to transform the lives of North Carolina children through dance. Using dance as a catalyst, NC-AIA seeks to engage children and their communities through participation in the arts. NC-AIA fosters a love of the arts, pride of achievement, and belief in themselves that will carry over into all aspects of their lives. NC-AIA strives for diversity. In January, NC-AIA launched its pilot program at the Mel and Zora Rashkis Elementary with 110 fourth graders participation. Photography available on request.