H-ton Freshman Receives Ballet Scholarship

Huntington High School freshman Alexandra Smith’s long hours of training and performing are increasingly paying dividends. The teenager was recently awarded a national training scholarship by American Ballet Theatre.

Attaining the scholarship is a noteworthy achievement. Of the 1,100 students who attended American Ballet Theatre’s nationwide summer intensive programs earlier this year only 10 young dancers were selected by the nominating committee to receive a national training scholarship.

Ms. Smith’s award includes a full scholarship to the 2014 ABT summer intensive program in New York, as well as $3,000 to put towards housing during the program and her year-round training expenses.

A student of Karen Lynch since the age of six, Ms. Smith has performed numerous soloist roles in Lynch Ballet Company performances, including Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake. Last spring she received the bronze medal at the American Ballet competition.

Ms. Smith has also been awarded a scholarship to the 2014 Washington Ballet summer program. She has placed in the Long Island Ballet competition in each of the past four years. The teenager attended the New York State School of the Arts summer program where she received a commendation for meritorious achievement.

“I feel honored, humbled and very excited to be one of the recipients of this year’s American Ballet Theatre national training scholar program,” Ms. Smith said. “American Ballet Theatre has been an inspiration to me since my first ABT summer intensive program at the age of 10 because of its professional and inspiring atmosphere. I am grateful to my teachers at Lynch Ballet for their guidance, support and encouragement to be all I can be.”

The teenager has also excelled academically and in music and art. Ms. Smith was inducted into J. Taylor Finley Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society chapter and she has been recognized for outstanding achievement in English, French, art and orchestra.

Among Ms. Smith’s many awards is ranking nationally in the Le Grand Concours French exams, recognition in the State of New York Americanism essay contest and in the Jupiter Hammon poetry and essay contest. She has participated in NYSSMA for cello for five years and has been awarded two summer study scholarships. She also placed second in the Windows of Susceptibility Project art contest to benefit cancer research.

Ms. Lynch, who is the Lynch School of Ballet’s artistic director, has pride in her voice when she speaks about Ms. Smith. “Ever since I began teaching Alexandra at the young age of six, she has shown great potential and talent in ballet,” Ms. Lynch said. “Through the years, she has developed into a beautiful young dancer with an incredible work ethic in the studio. She also possesses a unique stage presence and artistry that is far beyond her years. I am excited to see what the future holds for her in dance.”

Ms. Smith continues to work hard in school and in the ballet studio, displaying remarkable drive and determination. “Alexandra has proven herself to be an exemplary student in the classroom and a true artist on stage,” Ms. Lynch said.