Cassandra Cantu 14 ~ Gene Pflug Scholarship

Cassandra Cantu is fourteen years old and a multi-disciplinary dancer focusing on tap, ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical and musical theatre. She started tap dancing at the age of five and has loved it ever since! As a current member of the RPM Youth Tap Ensemble and past member of Co Motion Dance Company for five years, she has had many performance opportunities, including studio performances, competitions and conventions, and community service events.

Cassandra is a dedicated dancer and works diligently with her peers to bring the passion of tap to the community. Her plans are to continue ongoing tap training and pursue any tap learning opportunities available. She dreams of sharing her passion for tap with future generations.

Cassandra is a high honor student at St. Luke Catholic School and also enjoys reading, playing the bongos, spending time with family and friends, and has been a member of Girl Scouts for nine years.

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This past summer, I attended the Soul to Sole Tap Festival in Austin, Texas. I had the opportunity to take classes with a wonderful faculty including Dianne Walker, Acia Gray, Jay Fagan, Nicholas Young, Matt Shields, and Travis Knights.  They are all amazing artists each with their own unique style and voice to share. I also had the chance to participate in a wonderful course on the works of Jimmy Slyde through Roxanne Butterfly. I greatly enjoyed this and have come to truly appreciate the dynamics and technique of his style of tap.  RPM was also given the opportunity to perform in the student showcase at the festival. It was an honor to be a part of a show with Tapestry Dance Company. I am very grateful for the chance to be able to challenge myself through this festival and to continue to learn and improve.

I humbly appreciate the scholarship awarded to me by The Dance Council. Your generosity enabled me to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity so I can share my love for tap with others. 

~ Cassie