Marietta Dance Theatre Graduates 2016 Class

MARIETTA , GA -- The Georgia Metropolitan Dance Theatre in Marietta recently finished its 59th season of training and performances involving over 150 local dancers.

GMDT’s 2016 graduates are outlined in their Senior spotlight:

• Calla Martin: Calla is seventeen years old and is a 2016 graduate of Hillgrove High School, where she studied AP Language and Composition, AP Literature and Composition, Honors English I, Honors English II, Honors Biology and Honors Geology. She played soccer, enjoyed horseback riding, was a member of the Russian club, and the unicycle club. Calla attended summer intensive dance programs at Cleveland Ballet from 2009 through 2014, Atlanta Ballet in 2015 and Moscow Ballet in 2012 through 2013. Calla will be attending Kennesaw State University in the Fall majoring in Dance and Russian.
• Savannah Rose Stinchcomb: Savannah is seventeen years old and is Homeschooled and is graduating from a Beka Christian curriculum with a 3.8 GPA. In addition to dancing, Savannah plays the piano and sings in her church choir. Savannah has attended Dance American Festival in Montreal, QC, Canada in 2012, she also participated in the Kennesaw State University Dance Festival for the past three years, as well as attend the summer intensive program at Georgia Dance Conservatory for the past ten years. Savannah plans to attend Kennesaw State University in the Fall.
• Turner Eckford: Turner is eighteen years old, and is a 2016 graduate of Marietta High School. Turner, studied AP Literature, AP Government, AP Statistics, IB Spanish 3, Yearbook, received the first place Psychology Award, as well as the Art Show Award. She was selected for the Homecoming court during her 9th and 10th grade years, and Prom court during her 12th grade year. Turner served as the Vice President of Student Council during her junior and senior years, as well as Cobb Youth Leadership during her junior year. Turner also taught dance classes at Hickory Hills Elementary School, was Co-President of her church youth group, and took mission trips to Miami, Romania and Peru. Turner, participated in SERBA (South Eastern Regional Ballet Association) during her seventh, eighth and ninth grade years, participated in the Kennesaw State University Dance Festival during her junior and senior years, and attended Gelsey Kirkland NY during her ninth grade year, and attended Joffrey South during her seventh and eighth grade years. Turner was also accepted to attend Summer Dance Programs at Boston Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet Academy, American Ballet Theatre in California and Alabama. Turner plans to attend Kennesaw State University in the Fall majoring in Psychology and Communications.
• Bryden Simmons: Bryden is eighteen years old and is a 2016 graduate of Wheeler High School where she was awarded academic letter for two years, varsity swim letter for two years, was Miss Wheeler High School runner up, served as the yearbook editor, has been in the National Honor Society for two years, served on the class advisory board for four years, was in the National English Honor Society for two years, was a member of the Beta Club for two years, and participated in the Kennesaw State University Dance Festival for three years. Bryden plans to attend University of South Carolina majoring in visual communications.
• Taylor Martin: Taylor is seventeen years old and is a 2016 graduate of Hillgrove High School, where she studied AP Language and Composition, AP Literature and Composition, Honors English I, Honors English II, Honors Biology and Honors Geology. Taylor ran on the cross country team, played soccer, enjoyed horseback riding and was a member of the Russian club. Taylor attended summer intensive dance programs at Cleveland Ballet in 2009 through 2014, Atlanta Ballet in 2015 and Moscow Ballet from 2012 through 2013. Taylor will be attending Kennesaw State University in the Fall majoring in Dance and Russian.
• Shannon Myszkowski: Shannon is eighteen years old and is a 2016 graduate of Harrison High School, where she was honored for Most Outstanding Individual Artist for two years, was a Governor’s Honor’s Program State Finalist in dance, was a top five nominee as most talented female at her school. Shannon also serves at the secretary for the Governor’s Honor’s Program, and is a director and anchor for the school broadcasting program, and also served on the leadership council for the chorus program. Shannon attended summer intensive dance programs at Boston Ballet in 2015, she was a Milwaukee Ballet merit scholarship recipient in 2013 and 2014, attended the Orlando Ballet in 2012, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet in 2011, The Rock School for Dance in 2010, was a participant in the Southeast Regional Ballet Association in Alabama in 2011, attended Regional Dance America in Montreal, QC, Canada in 2012, attended the Southeast Regional Ballet Association in Jackson, MS in 2013,and was a participant in the Kennesaw State University Dance Festival in 2015 and 2016. In the Fall, Shannon will be attending The University of Georgia majoring in pharmaceutical sciences and minoring in dance. Shannon also plays guitar, piano and loves to bake and decorate cakes, and is teaching herself to speak the Japanese language.

Sign up for the Marietta Patch newsletter!