February 25, 2021
"Decade 2 Dance" Centre scholars: Camille Jackson and Covin Washington
Camille Jackson and Covin Washington. Photo by Bernardo Nogueira for Só Dança.
The Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education aims to provide its students with the education, opportunity and confidence to pursue their dreams to dance. We celebrate each and every one of the talented young dancers that make up our Centre family, and today, we are thrilled to spotlight two Decade 2 Dance Centre scholars who are in the midst of their journeys: Camille Jackson and Covin Washington.
Camille started at the Centre as a six-year-old in 2013|2014, and quickly worked her way through the B levels. She moved up to Academy III in 2018|2019, and was recently promoted to Academy V – the most advanced level in the Centre’s intense Academy program. Camille has been on merit scholarships for the past three years, and in addition to participating in the Centre’s Summer Intensive programs, has performed in Atlanta Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker and multiple family ballets. While she was accepted to train at the Royal Ballet School in London during summer of 2020, she was unable to attend due to the pandemic.
Covin started as a scholarship student at Atlanta Ballet’s AileyCamp at age 11. From there, he continued studying multiple disciplines at the Centre, including ballet, modern and jazz. Covin has worked his way through the Academy levels, and – like Camille – performed in Atlanta Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker, participated in the Centre’s Summer Intensive programs, and is currently dancing at the Academy V level. Covin was recently offered full scholarships to summer intensive programs at multiple nationally acclaimed ballet schools, and has chosen to spend this coming summer training at San Francisco Ballet.
“It has been such a joy to watch Camille and Covin grow and thrive at the Centre throughout the years,” said Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education Dean Sharon Story. “These two inspire all of us every day with their great attitudes, outstanding work ethic and brilliant talent. They both have very bright futures ahead of them, and I can’t wait to watch them unfold.”
Both Camille and Covin are currently scholars of the Centre’s Decade 2 Dance initiative, a selective program aimed to provide opportunity and access to young students who may or may not otherwise have the resources to pursue a career in dance. Through this initiative, select budding dancers are granted full scholarships, academic tutorial support, and Academy-level elite training at the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education. After 10 years of Decade 2 Dance scholarship training with the Academy, these dancers will be well equipped to join the ranks of Atlanta Ballet 2, Atlanta Ballet’s professional company, and other prestigious companies around the world.
“Camille and Covin are both perfect ambassadors for the Centre’s Decade 2 Dance initiative,” said Dean Story. “They set wonderful examples for the young, aspiring dancers that will follow in their footsteps. We are all extremely proud of both of them, and feel honored to play a part in their journeys to achieve their dance dreams.”
To learn more about Camille and Covin, including their experiences training at the Centre, their fears and inspirations, and their hopes for the future, read the Q&A below!
Q&A WITH CAMILLE JACKSON & COVIN WASHINGTON:
Article contributed by Julia Berg.
Recent Stories