Fairhope and Atmore
Phone (251) 928-6768
2024 - 2025 Scholarship Winners - Anna Cate Smith, Ellie Smith, and Sophia Astorga
Dance School: Mobile Ballet
Anna Cate Smith is 16 years old, and has been dancing with Mobile Ballet since the age of three. She joined Mobile Ballet's Junior Company in 2021, and is now a Corp member with Mobile Ballet’s 2024-2025 Company. She has also had the opportunity to train at the School of American Ballet summer intensive in New York, and has participated in the Alabama Dance Festival, Regional Dance America, Universal Ballet Competition, and Youth America Grand Prix.
Anna Cate has danced in several Mobile Ballet productions, including the role of Clara in The Nutcracker, as well as Swan Lake, Eclectic, Sleeping Beauty, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and others.
Elli Smith is 13 years old, and has also been dancing with Mobile Ballet since the age of three, along with her sister. Elli joined Mobile Ballet's Junior Company in 2023, and is now a Trainee with Mobile Ballet’s 2024-2025 Company. Elli has previously had the opportunity to participate in the Alabama Dance Festival, and is excited to participate in the Universal Ballet Competition and Youth America Grand Prix this year.
Elli has danced in Mobile Ballet productions including The Nutcracker, Eclectic, Sleeping Beauty, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Sophia Astorga is 16 years old and has been dancing with Mobile Ballet for three years after moving to the area. She joined Mobile Ballet’s Junior Company in 2022, and is now a Corp member with Mobile Ballet’s 2024-2025 Company. Sophia has a profound passion for the art of ballet, and she describes ballet as her therapy. Sophia is excited to participate in Regional Dance America, Universal Ballet Competition, and Youth America Grand Prix for the first time this year.
Sophia has danced roles in Mobile Ballet productions including The Nutcracker, Eclectic, Sleeping Beauty, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and she is excited to have the opportunity to perform the lead role for an outreach performance in Mobile Ballet’s production of The Princess and the Frog in 2025.
All three of these talented young artists aspire to dance professionally, and are pursuing every training opportunity available to them in pursuit of this dream.
2020 Scholarship Winner - Eleanor Stewart
Dance School: Mobile Ballet
About: Eleanor has been dancing with Mobile Ballet since 2009. She has a strong work ethic (she even owns her own business creating custom-made dancewear and accessories) and a love for teaching. This scholarship allowed Eleanor to participate in a Teacher Training Intensive with American Ballet Theater - a certification that will lay the foundation for her career as a dance educator.
2019 Scholarship Winner - Tyrone Reese
Dance School: Mobile Ballet
About: Tyrone has been a standout dancer at Mobile Ballet. He competed and earned the opportunity to participate in the 2019 Youth America Grand Prix Finals in New York City. This scholarship allowed him to take his spot in New York and compete with 1,200 dancers from all over the world.
He ranked in the top 30! In 2020, Tyrone was accepted into the dance program at Juilliard with a full scholarship.
2018 Scholarship Winner - Chloe Theriot
Dance School: Dance Arts South, Fairhope AL
About: Chloe has danced for 13 years and is trained in ballet, point, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, modern, theatre dance, hip hop, and Latin ballroom. She was a competitive dancer for seven years and a regional and national title holder. She takes voice lessons and participates in musical theater. Her ultimate goal is to be a triple threat on broadway!
