The Chicago Academy for The Arts accepts Batavia Academy of Dance student Isabella Ricke
Bella will begin high school at Batavia Academy of Dance founder's alma mater -- CAA
Founded in 1981, CAA is often called the "Fame" school and compared with New York City's High School of Performing Arts.
CAA, designated a National School of Distinction by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, is one of only four high schools in the United States that provides a dedicated arts curriculum alongside conventional academic education. The school is located in the historic school building constructed for St. John Cantius parish.
"As a private institution, it has a strict audition and portfolio admissions policy whereby only prospective students demonstrating an aptitude, potential and dedication to their art are admitted." — Wikipedia
Anne Gugliuzza, Founder and Artistic Director of Batavia Academy of Dance and a former graduate of CAA, helped Bella prepare and ready herself for the extensive audition process, which began with the arts audition-dance. Bella's talent, dedication and hard work help propel Bella forward within a large group of talented and passionate auditioning dancers and gained her the ability to continue to the next stage of the audition process.
After completing the several remaining stages of the audition process, including academic review, personal statements, interviews and placement testing, came the seemingly long wait for decision on acceptance. Finally, came the amazing news that Bella not only had been accepted, she received an extremely generous tuition assistance and academic scholarship! All enabling her to realize a dream that for years seemed only remotely possible.
Bella will commute daily via the train to CAA and remain in Batavia, active with Batavia Academy of Dance and hopes to inspire and help other B.A.D. students to pursue and achieve their dreams In dance.
Bella began dancing only three years ago, one of the first students of Batavia Academy of Dance when it opened it's doors in 2009. Bella's acceptance is a testament to B.A.D.'s dance curriculum, program and faculty, and truly the realization of a life long dream come true for founder Anne Gugliuzza.