 | Cornwall Collegiate Vocational School graduate Jocelyn Jacques was recently informed that she will be awarded the Jason Edmonds Emerging Artist Scholarship by the Lester B. Pearson School for the Arts (LBPSA) at Art Harvest 2011.
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Cornwall - Sep. 17, 2011 - Cornwall Collegiate Vocational School graduate Jocelyn Jacques was recently informed that she will be awarded the Jason Edmonds Emerging Artist Scholarship by the Lester B. Pearson School for the Arts (LBPSA) at Art Harvest 2011.
Art Harvest, held on September 24 at the University of Western Ontario, is an event that showcases dancers from across the province, and raises money for scholarships. The $1,000 bursary was named after Jason Edmonds, a 23-year-old aspiring actor who was killed in a car accident in 2000.
Jacques, a dancer who is enrolled in the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Contemporary Dance program at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, said she feels incredibly blessed to be receiving the scholarship.
“It helps ease my mind a little when it comes to the funding for my schooling,” she said. “Three years of university is definitely not cheap. But, I know it will be well worth it. I’m confident in that after only one week of my courses.”
Jacques said her dancing career truly began at St. Lawrence Secondary School (SLSS).
“I was originally a self-taught dancer,” she said. “But, once I started classes at SLSS, I was introduced to many sides of dance that I didn’t know existed. I learned partnering, group dances, choreography, basic movements and stretches that I still use today.”
When she started grade 11 at CCVS, Jacques said she was introduced to technique, such as pointing, form and balance.
“This experience inspired me to start taking classes outside school,” she said.
Jacques also credits SLSS and CCVS for introducing her to “touring.”
“We travelled to different places within our city and performed,” she said. “It was definitely a valuable learning experience. It helped present the idea of show business and what the lifestyle would be.”
Jacques will join CCVS alumnus Manuel Gagnon, as well as SLSS dance students, and participate in this year’s Art Harvest.
SLSS students will attend a workshop with renowned dancer Danny Grossman, and will be performing dances from the 2011 Step Into Motion Dance Festival in Cornwall.
“Our students are going to have the opportunity to dance with students from other schools as well as professional dancers,” said SLSS dance teacher Gisele Paquette.
Paquette, who taught Jacques at SLSS, said she is so proud of her accomplishments.
“I could always see the potential and love Jocelyn had for dance,” she said. “She was as enthusiastic and passionate about her art as she is today. Last year, she brought tears to my eyes as a dancer, and getting this news brings up even more emotions.
“I have had many moments in my teaching career that I can recall as spectacular, but I must tell you that this one is on the top of my list,” she added.
Jacques said she looks forward to lots of dancing in her future.
“I want to perform and create,” she said. “After my degree, I hope to join a company or troupe and help create and share stories through dance.
“Honestly, I just want to perform and help translate valuable messages to people,” she added. “That’s my favourite part about dance. When I perform and someone comes up to me and says they understood it and are sincerely moved, that’s what drives me to do what I do.”
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