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The Rockbridge Ballet has announced Ella Schmidt and Hannah Stephens as the 2023 T. David Grist Merit Scholarship recipients.
The scholarship is awarded annually to two high school juniors or seniors who show dedication to both their academics and their community through involvement with The Rockbridge Ballet. The gift memorializes T. David Grist, echoing his commitment as a community leader and avid patron of the arts.
Ella Schmidt, daughter of Liz and Nelson Schmidt, is a senior at Rockbridge County High School. She is a leader and mentor with The Rockbridge Ballet and began dancing at TheStudio for Dance & The Arts in 2011. Schmidt serves as the senior student adviser, acting as a student liaison and advocate for the members of the company while also serving as a class assistant and work study student.
During her tenure with The Ballet, Schmidt has performed as the Scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz,” Candycanes in “The Nutcracker,” and will be performing the role of Santa in The Rockbridge Ballet’s production of “The Night Before Christmas” in December.
In addition to dancing with the Ballet, she is active in the RCHS theater department, is the president of Project Connection, and works at Hull’s Drive-In. he writes, “Everyone benefits from dance, regardless of age, gender, or ability. To me, dance isn’t just an art, it’s a wonderful way to create a community.”
Hannah Stephens, daughter of Larisa and Ted Stephens, is a senior at Rockbridge County High School. She has been dancing and training in gymnastics since she was a child and joined TheStudio in 2016, where she fell in love with dance.
She was featured as The Wizard in “The Wizard of Oz” and has performed in multiple productions during her years with The Ballet. She is delighted to originate the role of Santa in “The Night Before Christmas” in December. She is an active member of the National Honor Society and loves to spend time with her family and pets.
“Dance creates a safe space for kids to be themselves and just have fun. I love to provide that space. Being a class assistant is something that I have loved for the past couple of years,” she said.
“We are incredibly proud to recognize Ella and Hannah with this scholarship; both young ladies are talented dancers but, most importantly, they are sincere and admirable leaders at TheStudio. All of the younger dancers know their names and faces and look up to them as mentors. Both are actively engaged in their schools and local communities; their commitment embodies the mission of our organization and their dedication honors David’s legacy,” said Artistic Director Jessica Pyatt Martin.
The Ballet’s upcoming performance of “The Night Before Christmas” will be held Dec. 15-17 at the Lenfest Center for the Arts at Washington and Lee University.
