WINSTON-SALEM - Six recent graduates of the North Carolina School of the Arts (NCSA) have been selected as the 2008-09 Kenan Fellows for the Lincoln Center Institute for the Arts in Education (LCI) in New York City. 

The 2008-09 William R. Kenan, Jr. Performing Arts Fellows at LCI are:

• Travis Calvert, 2008 Bachelor of Music in Saxophone Performance, of Charlotte, N.C.;

• Allison Cave, 2008 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Contemporary Dance and 2005 High School Diploma, of Salisbury, N.C.;

• Garrett Clapp, 2008 Professional Diploma in Directing, of Dawson, N.D.;  

• Uthman Ebrahim, 2006 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Contemporary Dance, of Winston-Salem, N.C.;

• Quin Gordon, 2008 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Directing, of Mill Valley, Calif.;  

• Jessica Wontropski, 2008 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Contemporary Dance, of Baldwin, N.Y.

Margaret S. Mertz, executive director of the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts, said, "In the 7^th year of this unique performing arts fellowship program, we are once again thrilled to partner with LCI and NCSA.  We are learning more and more about the ways that this fellowship experience impacts the career paths of these emerging artists.  We plan to engage with this growing network of current and former Kenan Fellows to understand and tell their stories to our audiences and friends nationally.”

Founded in 1975, Lincoln Center Institute is the educational arm of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and is the model for more than 20 associated programs across the United States and abroad. The Institute's approach is rooted in first-hand experience and engagement with the arts. More than exposure to performance alone, LCI's curriculum provides study, inquiry, and direct contact with the creative process. 

The William R. Kenan, Jr. Performing Arts Fellowship at LCI exposes emerging young artists to aesthetic education practice to prepare them to work in schools as teaching artists. Fellows also gain practical knowledge and experience that will assist them in their careers, as well as have the opportunity to network and learn from the employees and artists of the Lincoln Center Institute and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

More on the 2007-08 Kenan Fellows:

Travis Calvert began his interest in music at a very early age and is not shy when it comes to diversifying his musical palate.  He has experience in many genres of music, performing anything from classical, chamber music, jazz, rock, funk, soul, hip-hop, and electronic musical styles. As a saxophonist, Travis has toured extensively throughout the southeast with both commercial and outreach-based musical groups. As a composer, he has pursued an interest in electronic music with a focus on composing for mediums such as dance and film. Travis hopes to continue his career in music and promote art for social change through outreach-based programs.

Allison Cave began attending NCSA her freshman year of high school in the ballet program, changing her major to contemporary dance in her junior year of college. While at NCSA, she performed in works by José Limón, Murray Louis, Alonzo King, and Merce Cunningham.  She also danced the role of Clarice, one of the Jet girls, in NCSA's 50th Anniversary production of West Side Story, directed by Gerald Freedman.  Along with three of her classmates, Allison put together an evening of choreography for an extra-curricular show called Speshel Projekt.  It explored a wide range of choreographic styles and ran for two nights in Agnes DeMille Theater in March 2008. 

Garrett Clapp was awarded the Drama Dean's scholarship for six consecutive terms while attending NCSA. Prior to attending NCSA, Garrett attended the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts to study acting, where he was awarded first place in the Santa Maria Arts Council's Individual Grant in the Arts Competition, as well as the Jan Severson Scholarship for Excellence in Drama. At NCSA Garrett assistant directed many productions, including The 50^th Anniversary Production of West Side Story, directed by Dean Freedman, and Gem of the Ocean, directed by Tony-nominated actress Michele Shay. Directing credits include: As You Like It, Getting Married, The Maids, and Adrienne Kennedy's A Lesson in Dead Language.

Uthman Ebrahim was born in the Bronx, NY and raised in Winston-Salem, NC. His passion for the arts began with Musical Theatre, which introduced him to the world of dance. He began training at the Dancers' Center of Winston-Salem and later studied acting and contemporary dance at the North Carolina School of the Arts. Uthman has a love for dance, choreography and working with children. He has most recently performed with Rebecca Kelly Ballet, Aseid Contemporary Dance Company, Chamber Dance Project and Rebecca Davis Ballet. He has taught dance for Rebecca Kelly Ballet OnStage Summer Program and at Dance Cavise of Mamaroneck, NY. Uthman is also a licensed New York City Public School substitute teacher.

Quin Gordon directed several productions while at NCSA including Lanford Wilson's Burn This, Leonard Melfi's Lunchtime, and Shakespeare's As You Like It. He also assistant directed numerous shows, including the North Carolina symphony's production of Hamlet, set to Shostakovich's score, directed by Gerald Freedman and conducted by John Mauceri. Quin also has a lengthy background in acting, having graduated from the New Actor's Workshop where he was taught by Mike Nichols, George Morrison, and the late Paul Sills. Quin has appeared in the films Happily Even After, Dead Anyway, and Usher. He also taught acting in the Marin County, CA high school district for several years.

Jessica Wontropski realized her passion for the arts growing up in Long Island, New York. Jessica received her High School diploma from the BOCES Cultural Arts Center in New York and continued her artistic education on the Dean's Scholarship at the North Carolina School of the Arts. Her passion for dance has allowed her to experience and perform the works of many influential artists, including Alanzo King, Camille Brown and Merce Cunningham, and has led her to bring an awareness of the arts to schools throughout Long Island and North Carolina.  Jessica finds it increasingly important to work with people who are in the process of developing their interests and is dedicated to continuing her artistic endeavors.

The William R. Kenan, Jr. Performing Arts Fellowship program at LCI is a project of the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts, which builds partnerships to support creative projects, many of which are associated with the North Carolina School of the Arts. For more information, call the Kenan Institute at 336-722-0030 or visit http://www.kenanarts.org.

###