First State Academy students excel at Delaware Dance Festival

Two First State Academy of Dance students - Katie Fields, 14, of Seaford and Taylor Hogan, 12, of Milford - along with former First State Academy student Tori Brown-O'Brien were recognized and received scholarship grants at the Delaware Dance Festival held March 16 at the Grand Opera House in Wilmington. The group shown performed in a classical ballet piece choreographed by First State Academy of Dance Director Michele Xiques. It includes (l-r) Fields; Hogan; Ian Boyan,15, former student, now with Pittsburgh Ballet School; Abbie Gaunt,16, of Seaford; and Jill Wilkins,13, of Lincoln. The event hosted dance companies and studios from Delaware and surrounding states with more than 200 dancers participating.