Soloists in the “Once Upon A Ballet” segment of the Burlington Academy of Dance & Arts performances June 2 pose for a photo. Photo by Bob Stuart Photography of Raleigh

   As my junior year of high school concludes, I begin to reflect on the 13 years I have spent at Burlington Academy of Dance and Arts (BADA). I first started out dancing in the Kindermotions program at the age of 3. Many of my preschool friends were in that same class and they too are still students at BADA, we have all basically grown up in the studio together. I realize now that we were learning valuable social skills through the art of dance and those lessons would help prepare us for school. I always looked forward to dance each week and didn’t realize at the time the incredible journey I was beginning to embark upon.
BADA has meant much more to me than just a studio; it truly is my second home and my second family. The treasured friendships we have created will remain with us the rest of our lives. While learning the many disciplines of dance, I have gained so much self-confidence. While juggling other extracurricular activities and a heavy course load at school, I have gained the time management skills that will prepare me for college and later for the career path I chose.
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Photo by Elizabeth Morphonios / Charis Photography

   Arts Alive Fine Arts Studio’s upcoming ballet, “The Twelve Dancing Princesses,” is not just a whimsical fairy tale.  It also holds a deeper meaning of love and truth, and inspires a healthy relationship between a parent and child (or, in this case a lot of children).
The timeless Brothers Grimm tale of the princesses’ worn-out shoes and a parent who is determined to find the reason why is adapted for the stage. As the audience is dancing through the gold, silver and ruby forests with the princesses, the aspect of always telling the truth and how deception can get you in trouble shines through in this marvelous ballet.
All of the Arts Alive intermediate and advanced ballet dancers, as well as choreographers Haley Gadbery, Julie Crothers and guest choreographer Meghan Vanasek, have put their heart and soul into this production, as well as many dance rehearsals, many bottles of water and a number of injuries.  Not only have the dancers worked countless hours on this masterpiece, volunteers have offered their time and talents on sewing, painting and building the enormous 16-foot bed that the princesses share.
As always, Arts Alive strives for excellence in their students and in bringing quality family friendly productions to the community. Please join us at 7 p.m. June 1 and 3 p.m. June 2, 2013, at the Paramount Theater, 128 E. Front St., Burlington, for this original ballet. We hope you come and get swept away into the world of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses.”

Garrett Frazier is Student of the Month for May, 2013. / Photo submitted

   Garrett Frazier stays very busy, yet he finds time to help others.
Garrett was nominated by his grandmother, Anita Frazier, who described him as “polite and mannerly, dependable, a good student and a good, Christian boy.”
For his senior project at Burlington Christian Academy, Garrett helped Meals on Wheels of Alamance County prepare for a fundraiser and delivered meals to clients throughout the community.
Garrett is employed at St. Mark’s Church in the sound and lighting department, a job which he acquired by first volunteering in the children’s ministry at his church. When he is not working, he can be found on stage playing the drums during the Sunday services. Garrett also plays the keyboard and guitar in his free time.
He is the son of John and Marie Frazier and has a younger sister, Sarah. In the fall, he plans to attend Guilford Technical Community College to study live sound production. Regardless of what Garrett does in the future, his grandmother is assured that “his heart is in the right place.”