Local girl earns ballet scholarship

Middletown - Full Circle Studio and Black Dirt Dance presented their annual dance recital at the Paramount Theater in Middletown on May 20. As part of the program, students were awarded a certificate in different categories, such as most expressive dancer, perfect attendance, most rhythmical dancer, most valued dancer and most improved dancer. Madison Nalback, a fourth grade student in the Minisink Valley School District, schools, was singled out to receive a full scholarship at Black Dirt Dance, Ltd. in Pine Island for lessons in the coming 2007-08 school year. Madison, now almost 10, has been taking dance classes at Black Dirt for four years. “She is always in class, determined, a very hard worker, and has the physical flexibility and a good base of technique to really go for it,” said Director Eve McClanahan. “This is a turning point in her life and I am happy to award her this scholarship - I think she will truly change as a dancer because of it.” Black Dirt Dance offers small dance classes in ballet, tap, modern, hip-hop and belly dancing. The school also offers original choreography as well as performance opportunities.