At the close of each school year the Dancing Arts Center celebrates its seniors with dance performances and a graduation ceremony.
This year Carly Furbush, Hannah Clerico and Lynette Winshman complete their Dancing Arts Center studies. In addition to several dance performances to honor the seniors, parents, instructors and fellow students reminisced about their time with Clerico, Furbush and Winshman and wished them well in their future endeavors.
Dances included “Second, Minutes, Timing” choreographed and danced by Carly Furbush, “Reflections” choreographed and danced by Hannah Clerico, and “Radioactive,” which included Lynette Winshman’s costume design.
Carly Furbush, 18, attended DAC for six years and plans to attend Providence College in the fall focusing on biology and dance.
“DAC taught me how to manage my time,” says Furbush. “Also, dance has given me a strong work ethic. It has forced me to try hard to improve and retain corrections. In college and beyond a strong work ethic like this is critical in order to achieve our goals.”
She says the highlight of her time at DAC was when she earned Sugar Plum Fairy role in the holiday concert.
When Hannah Clerico, 18, reflects on the 15 years she’s attended DAC, she says some of her favorite classes have included jazz with Ms. Hawkins and ballet with Mr. Notaro, Mr. Saulnier and Ms. Melinda.
“The time I’ve spent at DAC has shaped who I am as a young adult today. The bonds I have formed with the other girls will last my whole life,” she says. “Looking back, every moment has helped me grow into who I am now, which I believe is a testament to how influential DAC has been for me,” Clerico says.
She will attend Villanova University to study criminology and sociology.
Lynette Winshman began dancing at age five and has been in and out of it until her freshman year in high school.
“I came to DAC freshman year without any technical training, so they whipped me into shape a little faster than I thought I could handle,” she recalls. “Now, I finally feel like I'm part of this huge community that is DAC. It's been such an incredible experience that’s shaped me as an artist and as a person.”
“We expect our older and more experienced students to set an example for the younger ones, so we demand more from them their entire dance career here,” says Dancing Arts Center Director Karyn Edison. “In their personal and dance lives, Hannah, Carly and Lynette have accomplished what we’ve asked them do and we are happy to celebrate their achievements at the senior concert and graduation ceremony. I am so proud of them, and wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.”