Acworth Dancer Honored in National Program

Fifteen high school ballet dancers from across the country, including Acworth's Erin Robinson, were selected for the National Security Language Initiative for Youth Program (NSLI-Y) funded by the U.S. Department of State.

The language, culture and ballet program organized by the Russian American Foundation (RAF) in partnership with renowned Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia, provides young dancers the opportunity to spend six weeks this summer studying abroad at the academy.

The program seeks to increase Americans’ capacity to engage with native speakers of critical languages by providing language learning and promoting mutual understanding through educational and cultural activities.

This is the third year NSLI-Y has earmarked scholarships for a summer dance program with the Russian American Foundation and Bolshoi Ballet Academy. The scholarship covers all program costs for participants including domestic and international travel, tuition, meals, accommodations and other expenses.

Robinson, a student at James Madison High School in Norcross, will receive three weeks of intensive ballet training in New York City along with the other 14 students prior to their departure for Moscow.