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University City High School Student Receives 2014 Dance Career Award from Dance St. Louis

Dance St. Louis has announced the winners of its 2014 Dance Career Awards. The winners, who are selected from hundreds of area students participating in Dance St. Louis’ Monsanto Dance Education Residency Program, were presented their awards on Saturday, January 25 at 8 p.m. on stage at the Touhill Performing Arts Center prior to "Wizard of Oz" starring Ballet Memphis. Michael Uthoff, artistic and executive director of Dance St. Louis, and Deborah Patterson, president of the Monsanto Fund, handed out the awards. The Monsanto Fund recently granted Dance St. Louis $40,000 to support the residency program. 


The Dance Career AwardsThe Dance Career Awards are designed to identify and honor local high school students who are exceptionally motivated and talented in dance and show potential for a professional dance career. This year’s award winners are:  

• Jazzmon Craig, senior at Normandy High School
• Asha Garrison, senior at University City High School
• Kimaiya Hall, junior at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School
• Daryon Kent, junior at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School
• Maia Sims, freshman at Grand Center Arts Academy

Recipients of the Dance Career Award are offered guidance and support towards more intensive dance training and ultimately towards careers in the dance world. Awardees are also given assistance with preparation for auditions, counseling on whether or which college to pursue, request for letters of recommendations, connections in the professional dance world and more. Dance St. Louis may also contribute financially and help seek support for award winners from dance schools, colleges and professional dance companies. 

The Dance Career Award recipients are selected from hundreds of students participating in the Monsanto Dance Education Residency Program — the largest of Dance St. Louis’ education outreach programs. Supported by past and current funding from the Monsanto Fund, the program consists of two intensive, three-week dance education programs offered each school year in six urban middle and high schools in the St. Louis Public School District, Normandy School District and University City School District.

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