In 2008-2009 Friends of City Dance helped dancer Diontey McDonald return to the prestigious Virginia School of the Arts for his senior year of high school. Diontey attended the school last year as well and deeply impressed everyone there with his talent, enthusiasm and progress both in dance and academics. He has been cast in major roles in school performances.
Diontey grew up in Richmond's tough East End neighborhood. He first came to the attention of City Dance's director Annette Holt when he was in the 9th grade. An essay he wrote in a summer writing workshop was published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch (see below). Ms. Holt was so impressed by Diontey's stated ambition to be a dancer and choreographer that she immediately offered him a scholarship to the City Dance Program and soon accepted him into City Dance Theatre.
In addition to training with Annette Holt, Rodney Williams and Talita Jackson at City Dance, Diontey has attended the School of the Richmond Ballet where he worked with Malcolm Burn and others.
Diontey McDonalds's dance bio
Photos of Diontey dancing
2006 Times-Dispatch feature story about Diontey
2005 Times-Dispatch article with Diontey's award-winning essay
Virginia School of the Arts
