(Photo provided)

LAKE PLACID — The Lake Placid Center for the Arts is celebrating student acceptances into competitive dance training programs as the school year comes to a close.

Under the direction of Tiffany Rea-Fisher, the LPCA’s Lake Placid School of Dance has ushered in a new model of dance education, in which a New York City-based modern dance company, EMERGE125 (formerly Elisa Monte Dance or EMD), directs the school in Lake Placid. With the support, expanded artistic network and encouragement from a professional dance company, this year’s students have been accepted into more competitive programs than ever before:

¯ Juliana DeChavez (Level 5): Washington Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, Atlanta Ballet

¯ Kylie Rohrbach (Level 5): Dance Theatre of Harlem, American Ballet Theatre, Washington Ballet

¯ Allyson Germain (Level 5): Bolshoi NYC, the Nutmeg Conservatory Year-Round Training

¯ Lexi Coffin (Level 4A): ABT, Carolina Ballet

¯ Alexys Vincent (Level 4A): American Ballet Theatre, Carolina Ballet

¯ Emma VanWeelden (Level 4B):Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet 2-Week August Program

¯ Annelise Dramm (Level 4B): American Ballet Theatre

¯ Aurora Brunner (Level 3): American Ballet Theatre

Rea-Fisher says summer programs are a pivotal moment in each dancer’s development because they allow for a more intensive focus on dance while providing exposure to professional dancers from around the world who can share a diversity of thought, style and training methods. With this in mind, LPSD faculty spent extra time and effort to mentor the students as they sought out the best programs for their goals. Faculty encouraged the students to research each aspect of a program and helped to create the right setting for a slew of virtual auditions. Allowing the students to showcase their skills with the School of Dance studios as their backdrop, instructors orchestrated each audition, setting up anything from cameras to hair and makeup, and standing by to provide support throughout the process.

During a challenging year, EMD was able to maintain consistency for the program by continuing instruction online when COVID-19 restrictions first began, and later resuming safe in-person classes.

“Having different teachers has made me realize how open and willing a dancer has to be towards change,” student Juliana DeChavez, of Saranac Lake, said in a press release. “Changes happen all the time in dance, and seeing my teachers adapt so easily to these changes has really inspired me to try and have more of an open mindset. … Overall, the faculty at EMD has helped me grow so much as a dancer and inspired me to try and continue to improve.”