Maine State Ballet to award USM scholarships at Don Quixote performance on August 15

The Maine State Ballet will present Don Quixote on Friday, August 15 at Merrill Auditorium. At a reception for ballet company contributors after the show, the Maine State Ballet's University of Southern Maine (USM) college scholarships, Dance for ME, will be awarded. Through the establishment of the Dance for ME scholarship fund, Maine State Ballet is working with USM to help promote the arts and education here in Maine.

The recipients of the 2003 USM scholarship funds are: Michael Hamilton, Kirby Johnson and Courtney True. Courtney True graduated from Windham High School and has been a member of the Maine State Ballet company for five years. Courtney has danced numerous roles in the Nutcracker and the spring ballet performances. Kirby Johnson lives in Portland and graduated from Deering. Kirby started dancing with Maine State at age four and most recently was the Wishing Star and the Dew Fairy in Hansel & Gretel. Michael Hamilton has only been dancing for under three years, but has already performed the Mouse King and Arabian prince in the Nutcracker. Michael graduated from Falmouth High School and plans to major in political science at USM.

All three recipients will appear in the Don Quixote production. The single performance of Don Quixote will be on Friday, August 15 at 7:00 p.m. All tickets are priced at $25 and are available by calling PortTix at 842-0800, or online at www.porttix.com or www.mainestateballet.org.

Maine State Ballet, established in 1986, has become the leading professional dance company in the State of Maine. Working together, Maine State Ballet and the Maine State School for the Performing Arts encourage students to become active, intelligent young artists who will emerge as artistic leaders in their communities.

For more information on the Maine State Ballet, call (207) 856-1662 or visit www.mainestateballet.org.

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