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Chelsea Patten

2x

Finalist

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Painting and Studio Art
  • Writing
  • Psychology

Reading

  • Adult Fiction
  • Biography
  • Contemporary
  • Drama
  • Young Adult

I read books daily.

Bio

My parents took me to an audition for The Ailey School when I was seven years old. At the time I did not understand who Alvin Ailey was, but I knew there was some significance about The Ailey School. When I walked into the lobby of the Joan Weill Center for Dance on that sunny Saturday morning, I was awestruck and mesmerized by the floor to ceiling mural of Alvin Ailey and the posters of Alvin Ailey Company Dancers hanging on the walls. I was nervous but my audition was excellent and they offered me a coveted spot in the Junior Division. This was the start of my love and passion for dance. I trained at the Ailey school for the last eleven years. My fellow dancers were like family and the studio was my home away from home. I spent six days a week in the studio to train in ballet, pointe, modern; Horton, Limon, Graham and jazz. Dance became a labor of love that I couldn’t live without. As a student at The Ailey School I met the Ailey Company Dancers at “Legacy Day” and attended many of their performances at the New York City Center. The first time I watched them perform Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece Revelations I was captivated from their opening performance, “I Been Buked” to the finale, “Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham.” That was the pivotal moment when I knew I wanted to become a dancer. The audience was cheering, singing along and dancing in their seats. They felt the energy from the dancers on stage as much as I did. Like the Ailey dancers, I want to make my audience sense whatever I am intended to portray and make them feel as if they are on stage with me. I’ve learned by watching the Ailey dancers that dance transcends barriers of faith and nationality because people from all walks of life come to see Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. My training at The Ailey School allowed me to grow and develop as an artist under the tutor ledge of some amazing teachers. To learn from some of the best, hoping that I can be just as great as they were was worth every minute, hour and day in the studio. Now I have the discipline and confidence to continue my dance training at Towson University which ranks amongst the top 25 Dance programs in the country. At Towson I will have performance and choreography opportunities as part of the TU Dance Company, dance repertory classes, senior projects, end of semester concerts, outreach programs and special invitations, multiple opportunities to study abroad to learn about another culture through dance and language and an amazing faculty. I plan to use my degree, training and experience to become a professional dancer and to open a performing arts center. A post-secondary education in dance will prepare me for the rigors of a career in dance that will allow me to make an impact in my dance community by opening a performing arts center to continue the legacy of Alvin Ailey. The Ailey School was founded on the premise to provide access to arts and dance to under-resource communities. I want to open a performing arts center to train, educate, mentor and encourage talented disadvantaged dancers to partake in the performing arts. President John F. Kennedy once said, "To those whom much is given, much is expected." Alvin Ailey paved the way so that my dream of becoming a professional dancer could become a reality when he founded The Ailey School, I want to do the same for the next generation of dancers. It will be my commitment to reach back to help others achieve their dream. There aren't affordable performing arts centers in my community. The cost for dance lessons, a personal trainer, summer intensives, travel, attire, is very expensive. When it's time to apply/audition for the top tier dance programs, some inner-city youth are not prepared to compete; therefore, I want to open a performing arts center which will provide quality dance instruction to disadvantaged dancers. This will be a huge investment in my community or any urban area because there are many talented youth who cannot afford dance lessons or the required personal training. My performing arts center will offer affordable classes to enrolled students at the fraction of the cost for classes at other dance studios and conservatories because of donations, scholarships and grants and the instructors will be professional dancers who volunteer to train and mentor the young dancers. I will also require each dancer to present their report card to enroll in classes and to continue their enrollment at the performing arts center because academic excellence is equally important. If a dancer is failing in any academic area, I will require tutoring in that subject to remain in the performing arts center and to improve on their grade (s) before they can resume their dance class (es). Still, my performing arts center will be a safe space for youth to train, create and foster lifelong skills and friendships. My goal is to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography at Towson University, become a professional dancer and open a performing arts center. Dance is my passion. When I am on stage, I am in my element. I am the paintbrush, the music is my palette, and the stage is my canvass. Alvin Ailey once said, “Making dances is an act of progress; it is an act of growth, an act of music, an act of teaching, an act of celebration, an act of joy." The sound of the blood pumping in my ears as the adrenaline kicks in and the audience cheering as I take my final bow. That’s the dream of being a professional dancer. That is what I dreamt about from the first time I watched the Ailey dancers perform at the New York City Center. When I become a professional dancer, I want to inspire my audience as they did. Then I will use my experiences and resources to make an impact in the lives of disadvantaged dancers by opening a performing arts center to help them pursue their dream. This scholarship will help me impact the lives of the next generation of dancers.

Education

Towson University

Associate's degree program

2019 – Present

Majors:
  • Dance
Minors:
  • Early Childhood Education

Professional Performing Arts High School

High School

2015 – 2019

Career

  • Intern

    Customer Service · K & J Enterprises

    Jan 2017 – Jan 2019

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Dance
Dream career goals:
Dancer; Company Founder; Non-proft Leader
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
  • Entrepreneurship
Ocho Cares Artistry Scholarship
My parents took me to an audition for The Ailey School when I was seven years old. At the time I did not understand who Alvin Ailey was, but I knew there was some significance about The Ailey School. When I walked into the lobby of the Joan Weill Center for Dance on that sunny Saturday morning, I was awestruck and mesmerized by the floor to ceiling mural of Alvin Ailey and the posters of Alvin Ailey Company Dancers hanging on the walls. I was nervous, but my audition was excellent, and they offered me a coveted spot in the Junior Division. This was the start of my love and passion for dance. I trained at the Ailey school for the last eleven years. My fellow dancers were like family and the studio became a second home. I spent six days a week in the studio to train in ballet, pointe, modern: Horton, Limon, Graham and jazz. Dance was a labor of love that I could not live without. As a student at The Ailey School, I met the Ailey Company Dancers at “Legacy Day” and attended many of their performances at the New York City Center. The first time I watched them perform Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece Revelations I was captivated from their opening performance, “I Been Buked” to the finale, “Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham.” That was the pivotal moment when I knew I wanted to become a dancer. My training at The Ailey School allowed me to develop as a dancer under the tutelage of some amazing teachers and guest artists. To learn from some of the best, hoping that I can be just as great as they are, has been worth every minute, hour and day in the studio. Now I have the discipline and confidence to continue my dance training at Towson University, which has one of the top Dance programs in the country. At Towson I will have performance and choreography opportunities as part of the TU Dance Company, dance repertory classes, end of semester concerts, special invitations and an amazing faculty of seasoned artists and professionals. Still, a post-secondary education in dance will prepare me for the rigors of a career in dance and the skill and knowledge to execute on my long-range goal, which is to open a performing arts center. My first five years out of college, I want to have a contract with a dance company, performing on stage and earning a salary. I also want to make connections and gain the right resources to open my performing arts center to train, coach and mentor the next generation of dancers.
Dale Dance Scholarship
I auditioned for The Ailey School when I was seven years old. At the time I did not understand who Alvin Ailey was, but I knew there was some significance about The Ailey School. When I walked into the lobby of the Joan Weill Center for Dance on that Saturday morning, I was awestruck and mesmerized by the floor to ceiling mural of Alvin Ailey and the posters of Alvin Ailey Company Dancers hanging on the walls. I was nervous, but my audition was excellent, and they offered me a coveted spot in the Junior Division. This was the start of my love and passion for dance, but it was difficult. As a student at The Ailey School, I met the Ailey Company Dancers at “Legacy Day” and attended many of their performances at the New York City Center. The first time I watched them perform Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece Revelations I was captivated from their opening performance, “I Been Buked” to the finale, “Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham.” That was the pivotal moment when I knew I wanted to become a dancer. I spent six days a week in the studio and worked with a personal trainer who coached me on my ballet technique, musicality and alignment. He taught me that there was nothing I could not achieve if I believed in myself and “put in the work.” His encouragement empowered me to Grande Jeté higher and Pirouette faster. Through blood, sweat and tears I never gave up. He often said, “Nothing beats a failure but a try. You got this.” Because of him and the support of my peers, family and teachers, dance became a labor of love that I could not live without. Last Fall I began the next stage of my dance training at Towson University, which has one of the top Dance programs in the country. At Towson I will have performance and choreography opportunities as part of the TU Dance Company, dance repertory classes, senior President John F. Kennedy once said, "To those whom much is given, much is expected." When Alvin Ailey founded The Ailey School, he paved the way so that my dream of becoming a professional dancer could become a reality. When my trainer taught me I had to believe in myself and “put in the work,” I got better, college acceptances rolled in and my confidence soared. I want to do the same thing for the next generation of dancers. My goal is to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography at Towson University, become a professional dancer and open a performing arts center to continue the legacy of Alvin Ailey. projects, end of semester concerts, multiple opportunities to study abroad and an amazing faculty. A post-secondary education in dance will prepare me for the rigors of a career in dance and the experience and resources to open a performance arts center.
Minority Student Art Scholarship
I trained at the Ailey school for the last eleven years. My fellow dancers were like family and the studio was my second home. I spent six days a week in the studio to train in ballet, pointe, modern: Horton, Limon and Graham, West African and jazz. As a student at The Ailey School I met the Ailey Company Dancers at “Legacy Day” and attended many of their performances at the New York City Center. The first time I watched them perform Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece Revelations I was captivated from their opening performance, “I Been Buked” to the finale, “Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham.” That was the pivotal moment when I knew I wanted to become a dancer. My training at The Ailey School allowed me to grow and develop as an artist under the tutelage of some amazing teachers. To learn from some of the best, hoping that I can be just as great as they were was worth every minute, hour and day in the studio. Now I have the discipline and confidence to continue my dance training at Towson University which ranks amongst the top 25 Dance programs in the country. At Towson I will have performance and choreography opportunities as part of the TU Dance Company, dance repertory classes, senior projects, end of semester concerts, outreach programs and special invitations, multiple opportunities to study abroad to learn about another culture through dance and language and an amazing faculty. I plan to use my degree, training and experience to become a professional dancer and to open a performing arts center. A post-secondary education in dance will prepare me for the rigors of a career in dance that will allow me to make an impact in my dance community by opening a performing arts center to continue the legacy of Alvin Ailey. My goal is to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography at Towson University, become a professional dancer and open a performing arts center. Dance has been a part of my life since I was seven years old. When I am on stage, I am the paintbrush, the music is my palette, and the stage is my canvass. Alvin Ailey once said, “Making dances is an act of progress; it is an act of growth, an act of music, an act of teaching, an act of celebration, an act of joy." The sound of the blood pumping in my ears as the adrenaline kicks in and the audience cheering as I take my final bow. That’s the dream of being a professional dancer. That is what I dreamt about from the first time I watched the Ailey dancers perform at the New York City Center. When I become a professional dancer, I want to inspire my audience as they did.
Elevate Minorities in the Arts Scholarship
I trained at the Ailey school for the last eleven years. My fellow dancers were like family and the studio was a second home. I spent six days a week in the studio to train in ballet, pointe, modern: Horton, Limon, Graham, and jazz. Dance became a labor of love that I could not live without. As a student at The Ailey School I met the Ailey Company Dancers at “Legacy Day” and attended many of their performances at the New York City Center. The first time I watched them perform Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece Revelations I was captivated from their opening performance, “I Been Buked” to the finale, “Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham.” That was the pivotal moment when I knew I wanted to become a dancer. My training at The Ailey School allowed me to grow as a dancer under the tutelage of amazing teachers and guest artists. To learn from some of the best, hoping that I can be just as great as they are, has been worth every minute, hour, and day in the studio. Last Fall I began the next stage of my dance training at Towson University, which has one of the top Dance programs in the country. At Towson I will have performance and choreography opportunities as part of the TU Dance Company, dance repertory classes, senior projects, end of semester concerts, multiple opportunities to study abroad and an amazing faculty. A post-secondary education in dance will prepare me for the rigors of a career in dance and the experience and resources to open a performance arts center. My goal is to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography at Towson University, become a professional dancer and open a performing arts center. Dance is my passion. When I am on stage, I am in my element. I am the paintbrush, the music is my palette, and the stage is my canvass. Alvin Ailey once said, “Making dances is an act of progress; it is an act of growth, an act of music, an act of teaching, an act of celebration, an act of joy." The sound of the blood pumping in my ears as the adrenaline kicks in and the audience cheering as I take my final bow. That is the dream of being a professional dancer. That is what I dreamed about from the first time I watched the Ailey dancers perform at the New York City Center. When I become a professional dancer, I want to inspire my audience as they did. My vision is to use my experiences and resources to make an impact in the lives of disadvantaged dancers by opening a performing arts center to help them pursue their dream. This scholarship will help me impact the lives of the next generation of dancers.
Justricia Scholarship for Education
I auditioned for The Ailey School when I was seven years old. At the time I did not understand who Alvin Ailey was, but I knew there was some significance about The Ailey School. When I walked into the lobby of the Joan Weill Center for Dance on that Saturday morning, I was awestruck and mesmerized by the floor to ceiling mural of Alvin Ailey and the posters of Alvin Ailey Company Dancers hanging on the walls. I was nervous, but my audition was excellent, and they offered me a coveted spot in the Junior Division. This was the start of my love and passion for dance, but it was difficult. As a student at The Ailey School, I met the Ailey Company Dancers at “Legacy Day” and attended many of their performances at the New York City Center. The first time I watched them perform Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece Revelations I was captivated from their opening performance, “I Been Buked” to the finale, “Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham.” That was the pivotal moment when I knew I wanted to become a dancer. I spent six days a week in the studio and worked with a personal trainer who coached me on my ballet technique, musicality and alignment. He taught me that there was nothing I could not achieve if I believed in myself and “put in the work.” His encouragement empowered me to Grande Jeté higher and Pirouette faster. Through blood, sweat and tears I never gave up. He often said, “Nothing beats a failure but a try. You got this.” Because of him and the support of my peers, family and teachers, dance became a labor of love that I could not live without. Last Fall I began the next stage of my dance training at Towson University, which has one of the top Dance programs in the country. At Towson I will have performance and choreography opportunities as part of the TU Dance Company, dance repertory classes, senior projects, end of semester concerts, multiple opportunities to study abroad and an amazing faculty. A post-secondary education in dance will prepare me for the rigors of a career in dance and the experience and resources to open a performance arts center. President John F. Kennedy once said, "To those whom much is given, much is expected." When Alvin Ailey founded The Ailey School, he paved the way so that my dream of becoming a professional dancer could become a reality. When my trainer taught me I had to believe in myself and “put in the work,” I got better, college acceptances rolled in and my confidence soared. I want to do the same thing for the next generation of dancers. My goal is to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography at Towson University, become a professional dancer and open a performing arts center to continue the legacy of Alvin Ailey.
Sander Jennings Spread the Love Scholarship
My parents took me to a dance audition for admission to The Ailey School when I was seven years old. I didn’t know who Alvin Ailey was, yet I knew there was some significance about The Ailey School. When I walked into the lobby of the Joan Weill Center for Dance on that sunny Saturday morning, I was awestruck and mesmerized by the floor to ceiling mural of Mr. Ailey and the many posters of African - American dancers hanging on the walls. I was nervous but my audition was excellent and they offered me a spot in the Junior Division. This was the birth of my love and passion for dance. Around the same time, I became a huge fan of the hit series “High School Musical” which featured actors Zac Efron, Corbin Bleu, Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens. I followed their journey throughout my tween years. When it was time for me to apply to high school, I wanted to attend a school just like East High School and go to Stanford or Juilliard. Therefore, I auditioned for the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts – the “Fame School” which featured in the 1980 film “Fame” starring Debbie Allen as the stern dance teacher Lydia Grant. Three months prior to my audition I worked with my dance trainer to perfect my ballet technique and to help choreograph my solo. On the day of my audition, I was great in the modern and ballet exercises which afforded me a call back in two weeks to perform my solo. On the day of the call back I wore a plum colored leotard to stand out amongst the other dancers. Four months later when I received the results from the call back audition, I was flawed, devastated and shocked beyond belief because I did not get a spot in LaGuardia’s freshmen class of 2015. That rejection hurt like a ton of bricks had just fallen on me, yet it did not crush my dream or diminish my desire to dance. Instead, I attended LaGuardia’s rival, the Professional Performing Arts School where I maintained a stellar grade point average and excelled in Dance with the assistance of an academic tutor and a personal trainer. My trainer mentored and coached me on my ballet technique, musicality and alignment. He taught me about the power of positive thinking and told me that there was nothing I couldn't achieve if I believed in myself and “put in the work.” I am thankful that my trainer taught me about the power of positive thinking. He often said, “Chelsea, nothing beats a failure but a try. You got this.” My journey wasn’t easy, but I never quit I persevered because I “put in the work.”
WiseGeek Life Isn’t Easy Scholarship
My parents took me to an audition for The Ailey School when I was seven years old. I was nervous but my audition was excellent and they offered me a coveted spot in the Junior Division. This was the birth of my love and passion for dance. Around the same time, I became a huge fan of the hit series “High School Musical” which featured actors Zac Efron, Corbin Bleu, Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens. I followed their journey throughout my tween years. When it was time for me to apply to high school, I wanted to attend a school just like East High School and go to Stanford or Juilliard. Therefore, I auditioned for the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts – the “Fame School” which featured in the 1980 film “Fame” starring Debbie Allen as the stern dance teacher Lydia Grant. Three months prior to my audition I worked with my dance trainer to perfect my ballet technique and to help choreograph my solo. On the day of my audition, I was great in the modern and ballet exercises which afforded me a call back in two weeks to perform my solo. On the day of the call back my solo was outstanding because the judges smiled as I exited the floor. I was screaming inside with excitement because I was ready to own that black and red “LAG” sweatshirt. Four months later when I received the results from the call back audition, I was flawed, devastated and shocked because I did not get a spot in LaGuardia’s freshmen class of 2015. That rejection hurt like a ton of bricks had just fallen on me, yet it did not crush my dream or diminish my desire to dance. Instead, I attended LaGuardia’s rival, the Professional Performing Arts School where I maintained a stellar grade point average and excelled in Dance with the assistance of an academic tutor and a personal trainer. My trainer mentored and coached me on my ballet technique, musicality and alignment. He taught me about the power of positive thinking and told me that there was nothing I couldn't achieve if I believed in myself and “put in the work.” The sound of the blood pumping in my ears as the adrenaline kicks in and the audience cheering as I take my final bow. That’s the dream of being a professional dancer. That is what I dreamed about since I was seven years old and nothing was going to stop me from achieving my goal. I am thankful that my trainer taught me about the power of positive thinking. He often said, “Chelsea, nothing beats a failure but a try. You got this.” My journey wasn’t easy, but I never quit. When I am on stage, I am the paintbrush, the music is my palette, and the stage is my canvass. This fall I will continue my dance training and education at Towson University.
African-American Entrepreneurs Grant — Female Award
My parents took me to an audition for The Ailey School when I was seven years old. When I walked into the lobby of the Joan Weill Center for Dance on that sunny Saturday morning, I was awestruck and mesmerized by the floor to ceiling mural of Alvin Ailey and the posters of Alvin Ailey Company Dancers hanging on the walls. I was nervous but my audition was excellent and they offered me a coveted spot in the Junior Division. This was the start of my love and passion for dance. I trained at the Ailey school for the last eleven years. My fellow dancers were like family and the studio was my second home. I spent six days a week in the studio to train in ballet, pointe, modern; Horton, Limon and Graham, West African and jazz. As a student at The Ailey School I met the Ailey Company Dancers at “Legacy Day” and attended many of their performances at the New York City Center. The first time I watched them perform Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece Revelations I was captivated from their opening performance, “I Been Buked” to the finale, “Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham.” That was the pivotal moment when I knew I wanted to become a dancer. The audience was cheering, singing along and dancing in their seats. They felt the energy from the dancers on stage as much as I did. Like the Ailey dancers, I want to make my audience sense whatever I am intended to portray and make them feel as if they are on stage with me. I’ve learned by watching the Ailey dancers that dance transcends barriers of faith and nationality because people from all walks of life come to see Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. My training at The Ailey School allowed me to grow and develop as an artist under the tutelage of some amazing teachers. To learn from some of the best, hoping that I can be just as great as they were was worth every minute, hour and day in the studio. Now I have the discipline and confidence to continue my dance training at Towson University which ranks amongst the top 25 Dance programs in the country. At Towson I will have performance and choreography opportunities as part of the TU Dance Company, dance repertory classes, senior projects, end of semester concerts, outreach programs and special invitations, multiple opportunities to study abroad to learn about another culture through dance and language and an amazing faculty. I plan to use my degree, training and experience to become a professional dancer and to open a performing arts center. A post-secondary education in dance will prepare me for the rigors of a career in dance that will allow me to make an impact in my dance community by opening a performing arts center to continue the legacy of Alvin Ailey. The Ailey School was founded on the premise to provide access to arts and dance to under-resource communities. He paved the way so that my dream of becoming a professional dancer could become a reality, I want to do the same for the next generation of dancers. I want to open a performing arts center which will provide quality dance instruction to disadvantaged dancers. This will be a huge investment in my community or any urban area because there are many talented youth who cannot afford dance lessons or the required personal training. My performing arts center will offer affordable classes to enrolled students at the fraction of the cost for classes at other dance studios and conservatories because of donations, scholarships and grants and the instructors will be professional dancers who volunteer to train and mentor the young dancers. I will also require each dancer to present their report card to enroll in classes and to continue their enrollment at the performing arts center because academic excellence is equally important. If a dancer is failing in any academic area, I will require tutoring in that subject to remain in the performing arts center and to improve on their grade (s) before they can resume their dance class (es). Still, my performing arts center will be a safe space for youth to train, create and foster lifelong skills and friendships. My goal is to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography at Towson University, become a professional dancer and open a performing arts center. Dance has been a part of my life since I was seven years old. When I am on stage, I am the paintbrush, the music is my palette, and the stage is my canvass. Alvin Ailey once said, “Making dances is an act of progress; it is an act of growth, an act of music, an act of teaching, an act of celebration, an act of joy." The sound of the blood pumping in my ears as the adrenaline kicks in and the audience cheering as I take my final bow. That’s the dream of being a professional dancer. That is what I dreamt about from the first time I watched the Ailey dancers perform at the New York City Center. When I become a professional dancer, I want to inspire my audience as they did. Then I will use my experiences and resources to make an impact in the lives of the next generation of dancers by opening a performing arts center to help them pursue their dream. The Ailey School was my second home and my instructors and fellow dancers were like family. Someone once said, “Having somewhere to go is home. Having someone to love is family and having both is a blessing.” This scholarship will help me pursue my dream and ultimately continue the legacy of Alvin Ailey.
Annual Black Entrepreneurship Grant
My parents took me to an audition for The Ailey School when I was seven years old. When I walked into the lobby of the Joan Weill Center for Dance on that sunny Saturday morning, I was awestruck and mesmerized by the floor to ceiling mural of Alvin Ailey and the posters of Alvin Ailey Company Dancers hanging on the walls. I was nervous but my audition was excellent and they offered me a coveted spot in the Junior Division. This was the start of my love and passion for dance. I trained at the Ailey school for the last eleven years. My fellow dancers were like family and the studio was my second home. I spent six days a week in the studio to train in ballet, pointe, modern; Horton, Limon and Graham, West African and jazz. As a student at The Ailey School I met the Ailey Company Dancers at “Legacy Day” and attended many of their performances at the New York City Center. The first time I watched them perform Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece Revelations I was captivated from their opening performance, “I Been Buked” to the finale, “Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham.” That was the pivotal moment when I knew I wanted to become a dancer. The audience was cheering, singing along and dancing in their seats. They felt the energy from the dancers on stage as much as I did. Like the Ailey dancers, I want to make my audience sense whatever I am intended to portray and make them feel as if they are on stage with me. I’ve learned by watching the Ailey dancers that dance transcends barriers of faith and nationality because people from all walks of life come to see Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. My training at The Ailey School allowed me to grow and develop as an artist under the tutelage of some amazing teachers. To learn from some of the best, hoping that I can be just as great as they were was worth every minute, hour and day in the studio. Now I have the discipline and confidence to continue my dance training at Towson University which ranks amongst the top 25 Dance programs in the country. At Towson I will have performance and choreography opportunities as part of the TU Dance Company, dance repertory classes, senior projects, end of semester concerts, outreach programs and special invitations, multiple opportunities to study abroad to learn about another culture through dance and language and an amazing faculty. I plan to use my degree, training and experience to become a professional dancer and to open a performing arts center. A post-secondary education in dance will prepare me for the rigors of a career in dance that will allow me to make an impact in my dance community by opening a performing arts center to continue the legacy of Alvin Ailey. The Ailey School was founded on the premise to provide access to arts and dance to under-resource communities. He paved the way so that my dream of becoming a professional dancer could become a reality, I want to do the same for the next generation of dancers. I want to open a performing arts center which will provide quality dance instruction to disadvantaged dancers. This will be a huge investment in my community or any urban area because there are many talented youth who cannot afford dance lessons or the required personal training. My performing arts center will offer affordable classes to enrolled students at the fraction of the cost for classes at other dance studios and conservatories because of donations, scholarships and grants and the instructors will be professional dancers who volunteer to train and mentor the young dancers. I will also require each dancer to present their report card to enroll in classes and to continue their enrollment at the performing arts center because academic excellence is equally important. If a dancer is failing in any academic area, I will require tutoring in that subject to remain in the performing arts center and to improve on their grade (s) before they can resume their dance class (es). Still, my performing arts center will be a safe space for youth to train, create and foster lifelong skills and friendships. My goal is to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography at Towson University, become a professional dancer and open a performing arts center. Dance has been a part of my life since I was seven years old. When I am on stage, I am the paintbrush, the music is my palette, and the stage is my canvass. Alvin Ailey once said, “Making dances is an act of progress; it is an act of growth, an act of music, an act of teaching, an act of celebration, an act of joy." The sound of the blood pumping in my ears as the adrenaline kicks in and the audience cheering as I take my final bow. That’s the dream of being a professional dancer. That is what I dreamt about from the first time I watched the Ailey dancers perform at the New York City Center. When I become a professional dancer, I want to inspire my audience as they did. Then I will use my experiences and resources to make an impact in the lives of the next generation of dancers by opening a performing arts center to help them pursue their dream. The Ailey School was my second home and my instructors and fellow dancers were like family. Someone once said, “Having somewhere to go is home. Having someone to love is family and having both is a blessing.” This scholarship will help me pursue my dream and ultimately continue the legacy of Alvin Ailey.
Opportunity for Black Women Scholarship
My parents took me to an audition for The Ailey School when I was seven years old. At the time I did not understand who Alvin Ailey was, but I knew there was some significance about The Ailey School. When I walked into the lobby of the Joan Weill Center for Dance on that sunny Saturday morning, I was awestruck and mesmerized by the floor to ceiling mural of Alvin Ailey and the posters of Alvin Ailey Company Dancers hanging on the walls. I was nervous but my audition was excellent, and they offered me a coveted spot in the Junior Division. This was the start of my love and passion for dance. I trained at the Ailey school for the last eleven years. My fellow dancers were like family and the studio was a second home. I spent six days a week in the studio to train in ballet, pointe, modern: Horton, Limon, Graham, and jazz. Dance became a labor of love that I could not live without. As a student at The Ailey School I met the Ailey Company Dancers at “Legacy Day” and attended many of their performances at the New York City Center. The first time I watched them perform Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece Revelations I was captivated from their opening performance, “I Been Buked” to the finale, “Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham.” That was the pivotal moment when I knew I wanted to become a dancer. My training at The Ailey School allowed me to grow as a dancer under the tutelage of amazing teachers and guest artists. To learn from some of the best, hoping that I can be just as great as they are, has been worth every minute, hour, and day in the studio. Last Fall I began the next stage of my dance training at Towson University, which has one of the top Dance programs in the country. At Towson I will have performance and choreography opportunities as part of the TU Dance Company, dance repertory classes, senior projects, end of semester concerts, multiple opportunities to study abroad and an amazing faculty. A post-secondary education in dance will prepare me for the rigors of a career in dance and the experience and resources to open a performance arts center. My goal is to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography at Towson University, become a professional dancer and open a performing arts center. Dance is my passion. When I am on stage, I am in my element. I am the paintbrush, the music is my palette, and the stage is my canvass. Alvin Ailey once said, “Making dances is an act of progress; it is an act of growth, an act of music, an act of teaching, an act of celebration, an act of joy." The sound of the blood pumping in my ears as the adrenaline kicks in and the audience cheering as I take my final bow. That is the dream of being a professional dancer. That is what I dreamed about from the first time I watched the Ailey dancers perform at the New York City Center. When I become a professional dancer, I want to inspire my audience as they did. My vision is to use my experiences and resources to make an impact in the lives of disadvantaged dancers by opening a performing arts center to help them pursue their dream. This scholarship will help me impact the lives of the next generation of dancers.
Bold Moments No-Essay Scholarship
I trained at the Ailey school for eleven years. My fellow dancers were like family and the studio was a second home. I spent six days a week in the studio to train in ballet, pointe, modern; Horton, Limon, Graham, and jazz. As a student at The Ailey School I met the Ailey Company Dancers at “Legacy Day” and attended many of their performances at the City Center. The first time I watched them perform Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece Revelations I was captivated from their opening performance, “I Been Buked” to the finale, “Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham.”
Chelsea Patten Student Profile | Bold.org