Teresangela schiano memorial scholarship
Teresangela Schiano was a dedicated, talented dancer at Bristol Ballet. Born and raised in Bristol, VA, she spent most of her free time in the ballet studio. Teresangela was in the last class that was fortunate enough to have started and grown up to perform under the tutelage of Bristol Ballet’s founder, Miss Constance Hardinge.
Having been personally chosen to dance the role of Clara when Teresangela was young, she also was able to dance the role when it became more an adult role with more dancing and partnering involved. She also shined as the Dew Drop in Waltz of the Flowers. Though Teresangela was a mere 5’1, her presence on stage was larger than life. She took command of the stage and captivated audiences with her vibrant performances.
Teresangela’s untimely death on March 8, 2014 shocked and saddened an entire community of friends and family. These friends and family members wish to keep her memory alive and perpetuate the vibrancy that she had on stage, as well as her love for ballet, by establishing the Teresangela Schiano Memorial Scholarship Fund at Bristol Ballet. This award will be given annually to a dancer who has shown exceptional skill and composure, and who hopes to continue his/her pursuit of dance. Applicants do not necessarily have to aspire to be professional dancers, but should have a passion for dance that compels them to continue to progress.
The fund is capitalized by donations from private individuals or corporations who wish to perpetuate the art of ballet through Teresangela’s memory. The scholarship is for dancers at the intermediate/advanced level of ballet who are also part of Bristol Ballet’s performing company. The chosen dancer must be active in performing and show dedication and desire to progress and grow within the art.
Each spring Bristol Ballet will announce when applications are open, along with instructions and deadlines for submission. Bristol Ballet's Board of Directors and the Teresangela Schiano Memorial Scholarship Committee will review applications and the winner announced prior to the start of the season. The season runs July 1-June 30.
Having been personally chosen to dance the role of Clara when Teresangela was young, she also was able to dance the role when it became more an adult role with more dancing and partnering involved. She also shined as the Dew Drop in Waltz of the Flowers. Though Teresangela was a mere 5’1, her presence on stage was larger than life. She took command of the stage and captivated audiences with her vibrant performances.
Teresangela’s untimely death on March 8, 2014 shocked and saddened an entire community of friends and family. These friends and family members wish to keep her memory alive and perpetuate the vibrancy that she had on stage, as well as her love for ballet, by establishing the Teresangela Schiano Memorial Scholarship Fund at Bristol Ballet. This award will be given annually to a dancer who has shown exceptional skill and composure, and who hopes to continue his/her pursuit of dance. Applicants do not necessarily have to aspire to be professional dancers, but should have a passion for dance that compels them to continue to progress.
The fund is capitalized by donations from private individuals or corporations who wish to perpetuate the art of ballet through Teresangela’s memory. The scholarship is for dancers at the intermediate/advanced level of ballet who are also part of Bristol Ballet’s performing company. The chosen dancer must be active in performing and show dedication and desire to progress and grow within the art.
Each spring Bristol Ballet will announce when applications are open, along with instructions and deadlines for submission. Bristol Ballet's Board of Directors and the Teresangela Schiano Memorial Scholarship Committee will review applications and the winner announced prior to the start of the season. The season runs July 1-June 30.
2021-2022 Scholarship recipient
Bristol Ballet is proud to announce that Senior Company member Emerson Gillispie, 15, is the 2021-2022 recipient of the Teresangela Schiano Memorial Scholarship.
Emerson is a sophomore at John S. Battle High School, where she maintains a 4.0 GPA. She has been dancing for 6 years, and loves participating in all of the wonderful opportunities Bristol Ballet offers to the dancers. Some of her favorite roles with Bristol Ballet include Russian and Party Girl in the Nutcracker and Goldilocks in Once Upon a Time. She also enjoyed dancing in productions of Cinderella, Mulan, Alice in Wonderland, and the Wizard of Oz. This year, she will dance the role of Clara in the Nutcracker with Bristol Ballet in the company’s return to live performances.
Upon receiving the award, Emerson said: “I can’t believe that I received the scholarship! I’m so excited—I was shaking when I found out! I’m so surprised and thankful. I’m incredibly honored to follow in the footsteps of Teresangela and past scholarship winners.” Emerson says that ballet means the absolute world to her, and that dancing has helped her come out of her shell and be more confident. She credits Michele Plescia, Bristol Ballet’s Artistic Director, and the rest of her teachers at the ballet as influences. She also says that her biggest inspiration is Misty Copeland, a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, who also started ballet at a later age than some dancers.
The Teresangela Schiano Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to dancers at the intermediate/advanced level of ballet who are also part of Bristol Ballet’s performing company. The chosen dancer must be active in performing and exhibit skill and dedication to excellence. He or she must possess a desire to progress and grow within the art form; aspirations to dance professionally are not a requirement. The scholarship will provide for all fees for the 2021-2022 season. This includes tuition, registration, production fees, summer intensive, and an allowance for shoes and dancewear. The fund is capitalized by donations from private individuals or corporations who wish to perpetuate the art of ballet through Teresangela’s memory.
Emerson is a sophomore at John S. Battle High School, where she maintains a 4.0 GPA. She has been dancing for 6 years, and loves participating in all of the wonderful opportunities Bristol Ballet offers to the dancers. Some of her favorite roles with Bristol Ballet include Russian and Party Girl in the Nutcracker and Goldilocks in Once Upon a Time. She also enjoyed dancing in productions of Cinderella, Mulan, Alice in Wonderland, and the Wizard of Oz. This year, she will dance the role of Clara in the Nutcracker with Bristol Ballet in the company’s return to live performances.
Upon receiving the award, Emerson said: “I can’t believe that I received the scholarship! I’m so excited—I was shaking when I found out! I’m so surprised and thankful. I’m incredibly honored to follow in the footsteps of Teresangela and past scholarship winners.” Emerson says that ballet means the absolute world to her, and that dancing has helped her come out of her shell and be more confident. She credits Michele Plescia, Bristol Ballet’s Artistic Director, and the rest of her teachers at the ballet as influences. She also says that her biggest inspiration is Misty Copeland, a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, who also started ballet at a later age than some dancers.
The Teresangela Schiano Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to dancers at the intermediate/advanced level of ballet who are also part of Bristol Ballet’s performing company. The chosen dancer must be active in performing and exhibit skill and dedication to excellence. He or she must possess a desire to progress and grow within the art form; aspirations to dance professionally are not a requirement. The scholarship will provide for all fees for the 2021-2022 season. This includes tuition, registration, production fees, summer intensive, and an allowance for shoes and dancewear. The fund is capitalized by donations from private individuals or corporations who wish to perpetuate the art of ballet through Teresangela’s memory.
