Stephanie Paradis

Allison Putnam

    Local dancers Stephanie Paradis and Allison Putnam, both of Kennebec Dance Centre in Augusta, have recently been accepted to one of the most prestigious summer ballet programs in the United States. Programs of this caliber are by audition only, and less than 10% of those auditioning nationwide are accepted. Admittance to these exclusive programs require intense ballet training, performance experience, natural talent and athleticism. 
    Allison Putnam, 16, who will be attending the Boston Ballet 5-week summer intensive program this year, began dancing at age 7. She auditioned this winter in Portland, Maine, when the Boston Ballet stopped there during their audition tour around the country. Only three days after shea uditioned, Allison had the honor of receiving an"Early Acceptance" letter from Boston Ballet saying that it was because she did so well at her audition that they were accepting her weeks before many of the other students. She also got accepted to The Rock ballet program in Philadelphia. "It was rewarding to be accepted into the programs. It made me feel wonderful to know that someone else besides my teachers and parents at home thought that I had talent. I was also surprised that out of all those dancers who I thought were very good, they chose me!" said Allison. 
    When asked what she finds challenging about dance, she replied, "Dance is not always easy . It takes a lot of concentration and practice. Another difficult thing is the time that it takes. As a high school student, I sometimes find it hard to choose between dance and something going on at school." This past December, Allison had the honor of being accepted into the Portland Ballet Nutcracker and has had featured roles in KDC contemporary dances and was Lead Arabian and Lead Snow in their Nutcracker. "I hope to go to a college that allows me to minor in dance. Dance has helped me develop other skills such as teamwork and acceptance that will help me in anything that I do in the future. I think that my only long-term goal in dance is to always remember how much I love it. Because I'm going to go on and experience different things in life, I'm afraid that I'm going to forget the joy that I found in dancing. My goal is to never let this happen," says Allison about her dance future. 
   Stephanie Paradis, age 13 at the time of the auditions, is now 14, and began dancing at the age of 3. She was accepted to Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Houston Ballet Academy, American Ballet Theatre, and also received the "Early Acceptance" letter from Boston Ballet. When asked how she felt heading into the auditions, she responded, "I was nervous at first, but once I got there and saw other people, it was reassuring that I wasn't the only one doing it. I felt a whole bunch of things. I was excited, happy, nervous, scared and even anxious about the result of it. Like whether I would make it or not." When Stephanie received her acceptance letters, she said she was "ecstatic and overwhelmed all at the same time. I almost didn't believe it! It also helped me to understand how I measured up to the different dancers."    
    “I love most anything to do with dance, but I especially love ballet and pointe." Stephanie explained when asked what her favorite style of dance was. She has also performed in the Portland Ballet Nutcracker in years past and has been Clara, The Ballet Doll, and Lead Marzipan in the KDC annual production of the Nutcracker in Augusta. As for what she hopes the future holds for her in dance, Stephanie replied, "I would like to maybe start out with dancing on the side, such as a hobby, and eventually expand to become a professional dancer." 
    Both girls also study modern/contemporary, jazz, tap, hip hop, and musical theatre. Allison and Stephanie are current members of the elite Kennebec Dance Centre Company "Encore," a group of advanced dancers accepted by audition only who perform and compete throughout New England. They are also first place award-winning dancers at national and regional dance competitions performing in all styles of dance. Allison and Stephanie have had the honor of performing alongside world-famousRussian dancers in the Moscow Classical Ballet's Nutcracker in previous years. 
    When asked who their idols were, Paradis replied, "In the dance world, I would have to say the first person that I think of that inspires me is Mikhail Baryshnikov." Putnam said, "The only people that I really follow in dance are the teachers at KDC. They've encouraged and inspired me to become the dancer that I am today. Without them I wouldn't have the skill or the courage to audition for the summer programs." 
    This isn't the first time that Kennebec DanceCentre has had dancers recognized for their dance ability. They've had many dancers pursue dance in college and professionally in the past. Students of KDC have been accepted to dance programs at schools such as School of American Ballet, North Carolina School of the Arts, The Hartt School , University of Arizona, SUNY Purchase, SUNY Buffalo, Hofstra University, Smith College, and former student Peter Chamberlin is currently a featured dancer with the world renowned dance company, Bill T. Jones.
     "We are very proud of Stephanie and Allison and all our accomplished dancers." says their ballet teacher, Andrea Michaud Tracy. Andrea has a solid ballet background herself and was also accepted to the schools that Paradis and Putnam were when she was younger. In 1996, she was 1 of 7 dancers chosen nationwide to represent the USA in Japan's 2nd International Ballet Competition when she was only 13 and is currently a principal dancer with the Portland Ballet Company and the Ballet Mistress at KDC. "In the dance world you can be so many different things; a teacher, dancer, choreographer, or all three at different times in your life. I've been lucky enough to be all of these. As a teacher, I feel it is my job to inspire the students and make them aware of the limitless opportunities dance has to offer if you have proper guidance and training.