LCIS Student Accepted to Prestigious Juilliard Summer Programme
Katelyn Beukes
Lyford Cay International School (LCIS) student Katelyn Beukes has been accepted into the prestigious Summer Dance Intensive hosted by the Juilliard School.
As one of the most accomplished dancers at LCIS, Katelyn has been training for the past 3 years. During that time, she has performed in numerous dance productions, including in the Iconique Ballet at Island House last month, where she danced alongside students from across The Bahamas and the United States. She also performed in The Nutcracker with the London Ballet Theatre at Baha Mar last December. She has also participated in the Bahamas Junior Junkanoo competition as a dancer three times.
Of her acceptance, Katelyn said, “I am so incredibly grateful that I have been accepted to attend the renowned Juilliard Summer Dance Intensive and to everyone who has helped me get here. The audition process was rigorous, as I had to record 2 pieces—one of which was choreographed by a Juilliard professional. This summer is going to be so inspiring—to see all these amazing dancers and performers show their talent and teach other aspiring students who want to learn from them. The exposure at this intensive will be a great opportunity for me to learn and grow. And I am very grateful for this chance!”
Bahamian Cultural Ambassador and LCIS Dance Department Chair Courtney Fox shared, “Katelyn is one of those students who reminds you of why you love teaching. She is self-motivated to the point that she inspires me as an educator. When sharing that I think she should audition for the summer programme, she jumped into action, asking for help, and we spent hours in the studio preparing her videos. She did the work. She’s been doing the work from the moment she stepped into the studio, and I am so unbelievably proud of her. I can’t wait to see her grow in incredible ways!”
Launched in 2016, Summer Performing Arts With Juilliard is a fully immersive summer programme for ages 12–18, spanning dance, drama, musical theatre, piano and voice. Hosted off-site at cutting-edge facilities in Orlando, Florida, this programme offers two-week intensives and is run in collaboration with Nord Anglia Education. Students develop technical skills and artistic capacities in daily studio classes, workshops, seminars, rehearsals, and lessons, with a typical day running from 9am-5pm. Students are exposed to college-level coursework in their major as well as interdisciplinary skills from faculty of other majors, preparing them for college and career auditions and the many pathways that the performing arts can take them. Summer Performing Arts with Juilliard is rooted in rigorous training within an atmosphere that is infused with positivity and celebrates the success of each student.
Katelyn and other Dragon dancers with First Lady Mrs Ann Marie Davis.