While dancers are going through the audition process for The School at Jacob’s Pillow in the spring, they could be auditioning for more than just admittance. Since 2004, one lucky program participant has been awarded the Lorna Strassler Award for Dance Excellence. Founded by former Pillow Board member, Lorna Strassler, and her husband, this prize includes a full program scholarship to The School as well as a $2,500 cash prize.
Chosen during The School’s audition process, the recipient is selected based on their excellent performance skills and unwavering dedication to the arts. Chosen as the best among the best, past award recipients have enjoyed dance opportunities all over the world.
Past Recipients include:
- 2010: Calvin Royal III (Ballet), soloist, American Ballet Theatre
- 2011: Craig Black (Contemporary), Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
- 2012: Theresa J. Murray (Jazz/Musical Theatre), Actor’s Equity Association Member, American Guild of Variety Artists Member, Disneyland Resort Performer, performer in Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ production of Oklahoma!, and West Coast-based freelance dancer, actress, and singer
- 2013: Samantha Barriento (Contemporary), Ailey II
- 2014: Amber Pickens (Contemporary), founder of a live cast talk show, Kickback & Chat with Amber Pickens, and a non-profit, Art Belongs to the People, and ensemble performer for Muny’s The Wiz and Savion Glover’s Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope
- 2015: Therese Davis (Ballet), Pennsylvania Ballet
Joining this accomplished group of dancers is Eoin Robinson, the 2016 Lorna Strassler Award-Winner. Eoin Robinson is an alumnus of the 2014 Ballet Program and the 2016 Contemporary Program. His dance career in contemporary ballet and modern dance began in Massachusetts at The Gold School Robinson. He went on to Interlochen Arts Academy where he served as a student ambassador attending dance events at The White House, Singapore’s School of the Arts, and Académie Américaine de Danse de Paris. In 2013, Eoin competed in the Youth America Grand Prix Chicago Semi-Finals and received a gold medal in the classical category and a silver medal in the contemporary category. He was a Finalist in New York City and spent the 2013-2014 school year training at the American Ballet Theatre’s JKO School on scholarship. Eoin has also trained on scholarship with the renowned faculties of Interlochen Arts Academy and the summer programs of ABT, Boston Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and Ellison Ballet. In the spring of 2018, Eoin graduated from Juilliard where he studied under the direction of Lawrence Rhodes. Now, you can catch him on international stages touring with Staatsballett Berlin.
“My whole entire scope of what art and dance means has been completely changed. It’s been constantly tested and re-informed by all the companies we able to see and usher for.”
Eoin Robinson
Congratulations Eoin and may you enjoy success in the future.