Kielyn Minton
Bristol Ballet announces that senior company member Kielyn Minton, 17, is the recipient of the Teresangela Schiano Memorial Scholarship.
Minton is a senior at Holston High School, where she maintains a 4.0+ GPA at both Holston High School and Virginia Highlands Community College. She has been dancing since she was 4 years old and joined Bristol Ballet’s performing company last season. Some of her favorite roles include the Genie in “Aladdin;” Arabian Lead, Russian Lead, Snow Demi and Flower Demi in “The Nutcracker”; and the Woodland Glade Fairy in “The Sleeping Beauty.” She is inspired by the many amazing teachers that she has had throughout her dance journey. Minton is attending Richmond Ballet’s summer intensive, and she looks forward to the upcoming performing season at Bristol Ballet.
Minton loves the challenge and creativity that ballet offers. She says, “Ballet is my life. Ballet has taught me discipline, teamwork, creativity and confidence. It requires dedication to your training both inside and outside the studio. I enjoy bringing the audience into the story through my dancing. I am in awe of the elegance, grace and effortlessness that ballerinas bring to the stage each performance and aspire to be one of them.”
Upon receiving the award, she said: “I am very honored to be receiving this scholarship and I appreciate the opportunity. I am very excited for the 2024-2025 season at Bristol Ballet.”
In addition to ballet, Minton enjoys reading and spending time with her friends and family. She plans to attend a four-year university or conservatory as a ballet major and then join a professional dance company.
The Teresangela Schiano Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to dancers at the intermediate/advanced level of ballet who are also part of Bristol Ballet’s performing company. The chosen dancer must be active in performing and exhibit skill and dedication to excellence. He or she must possess a desire to progress and grow within the art form; aspirations to dance professionally are not a requirement. The scholarship will provide for all fees for the 2024-2025 season. This includes tuition, registration, production fees and summer intensive tuition. The fund is capitalized by donations from private individuals or corporations who wish to perpetuate the art of ballet through Schiano’s memory.
Schiano’s untimely death at age 33 on March 8, 2014 shocked and saddened an entire community of friends and family. It was their wish to keep her memory alive and perpetuate the vibrancy that she had on stage, as well as her love for ballet, by establishing the Teresangela Schiano Memorial Scholarship Fund at Bristol Ballet.
