NICOLE RUSLI 15  Darryl Sneed Scholarship 

Ever since she can remember, Nicole Rusli has wanted to dance. She started at 2 and currently trains at Academy of Dance Arts (ADA).

Although Nicole enjoys dancing in the Nutcracker every year, her true love is modern and contemporary dance. Something about the movement in modern dance attracts her. She has always been very creative and believes modern dance brings out her creativity and allows her to express herself in many unique ways.
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The summer intensive program at the Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) was one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life. For the first time, I was exposed to a variety of new dance styles such as Horton Modern and African Dance. Although initially challenging, I loved modern dance and discovered a new found passion for it. The modern class taught by Mr. Milton was hard and the fortifications were very tough on the body. Although the technique was difficult in the beginning, I gradually improved and have become a much stronger dancer. African dance was also a new experience for me at DBDT. Babba Chuck was an awesome teacher and taught me the history of African dancing. Each movement of the African dance originated from different parts of their cultures and tribes.

The daily classes were taught by outstanding teachers. I was fortunate to take classes with Dallas Black Dance Company members. During classes, these professional dancers gave me guidance and encouragement. Their amazing talents and very hard work ethics were truly inspirational. Everyday I felt very motivated to improve. I cannot thank the North Texas Dance Council enough for giving me this amazing opportunity.