Monday, March 9, 2009 | John Pirro | Danbury News-Times

Danbury students earn dance scholarships honoring late WestConn professor Khalda Logan-Eaton

DANBURY -- It takes quite a bit of money to train to be a dancer, and some students who have the talent may not have the money to pursue their dreams.

But thanks to a scholarship fund established in the memory of Western Connecticut State University professor Khalda Logan-Eaton, and the fund-raising efforts of the Danbury Dance Initiative and the Connecticut Ballet, four girls from Danbury will pursue their dance studies this summer.

Danbury High School student Mariel Vicente, 16, earned a $1,000 first-place scholarship and three Broadview Middle School students, Victoria Lemme, Roslyn Perkins and Kathryn Shannon, all 12, earned $500 second-place scholarships. The awards were announced Sunday at the third annual Danbury Dance Initiative Benefit Concert.

This year's concert, which featured performances by area dance groups, including the WestConn Dance team that was mentored by Logan, drew some 300 people to Broadview Middle School, a significant increase in attendance over the first two years. The two previous benefit concerts were held at the Danbury Music Centre, which seats far fewer people.

"The word is spreading," said Dana Rodriguez, director of education for the Connecticut Ballet.

Vicente, who has been dancing since the age of 4, said she was "a little nervous" when she performed in January before the three-judge panel that awarded the scholarships.

"It's great, I'm very excited," she said. Vicente will attend classes at

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Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance this summer, as will the three second-prize winners.
"It sounded like a good opportunity," Shannon said, as both Perkins and Lemme chimed in, "It's exciting."

About two dozen students competed for the scholarships, and the three Broadview girls ended up in a statistical tie for second place, said Brett Raphael, artistic director for the Connecticut Ballet.

The students were judged not only on talent, but on potential, he said.

In addition to teaching at WestConn, Logan was a professional dancer in New York. She lost her battle with cancer in 2007 at the age of 39.

"She was a tremendous inspiration to students in the Danbury area. Her spirit is alive today," Raphael said.

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