HARID Conservatory Announces $25,000
Marcelo Gomes Scholarship Program

The HARID Conservatory recently announced an exciting new initiative to support the training of male dancers. The Marcelo Gomes Scholarship Program will provide a number of qualified finalists the opportunity to attend HARID’s four-week Summer School on full scholarship. During the Summer School, they will compete for a grand prize: the Marcelo Gomes Scholarship. The Scholarship will support the winner’s continued studies at the school during the 2015–16 academic year.

Each of the Program finalists will receive an award valued at $3,200 to cover his tuition, room, and board at HARID’s Summer School. The Marcelo Gomes Scholarship, valued at $6,000, will offset the winner’s fees for room and board during the academic year. (All students study tuition free at HARID during the academic year.)

HARID director, Gordon Wright, stated, “We are pleased to name this new scholarship initiative in honor of Marcelo Gomes, one of HARID’s most-distinguished alumni. Marcelo has enjoyed an esteemed career as a principal artist with American Ballet Theatre in New York City. He is revered worldwide for his technical expertise, artistic sensibility, and his exceptional abilities as a partner. Being named the winner of a scholarship bearing Marcelo’s name will be a tremendous honor and a feather in the cap of any young male dancer.”

Male dance students 13–16 years of age are invited to apply to the Marcelo Gomes Scholarship Program by attending a HARID Summer School audition in January or February (www.harid.edu/auditions), or by submitting an electronic application on or before February 15, 2015. Electronic application requirements include a video presentation of class work and a personal statement. Visit www.harid.edu/marcelo-gomes-scholarship for details. The finalists will be selected by a jury comprised of HARID’s director and ballet faculty. The winner of the Marcelo Gomes Scholarship will be announced at the conclusion of Summer School.

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Marcelo Gomes left his native Brazil at age fourteen to enroll at The HARID Conservatory. While a student at the school, he competed at the Prix de Lausanne international ballet competition. There, he was awarded the Hope Prize in recognition of his significant potential. After graduating from HARID, Marcelo spent an additional year studying at the Paris Opera Ballet School and was then asked to join American Ballet Theatre. He was soon promoted to soloist and, just two years later, he was made a principal dancer of the Company.

Gomes was named one of “25 to Watch” by Dance Magazine in 2001. In 2008, he was awarded the prestigious Benois de la Danse following a performance of Lar Lubovitch’s Othello in Moscow. Marcelo has performed at numerous international dance festivals and as a guest artist with many companies, including the Kirov Ballet, the Bolshoi Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Mikhailovsky Ballet, The Royal Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Teatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro, and the New York City Ballet.

Marcelo has recently begun a successful career as a choreographer while maintaining his schedule as one of classical ballet’s most sought-after male dancers.