Chattanooga’s LaJeromeny Brown is elated to be attending summer school especially since he will be enrolled at the prestigious School of American Ballet in New York City from June through August.
The 15-year-old student at the Chattanooga High School Center for the Creative Arts and member of Ballet Tennessee received a coveted full merit scholarship for the SAB Summer Intensive Program after a January audition in Atlanta which was one of several international stops to find the most promising 13 to 16-year-old ballet prodigies. Completion of the summer program is a requirement for him to eventually audition for his dream job of becoming a member of the New York City Ballet. LaJeromeny, who received a letter from President Obama commending him for his achievements, was the only male competing in Atlanta from a group of over 100 entrants.
What makes his accomplishments even more remarkable is that he resides along with his mother and two siblings in one of the city’s most troubled neighborhoods, plus he is blind in his left eye.
His mother Tiara Ward has established a Go Fund Me (https://www.gofundme.com/nhx57gms) account for her son which has received over $3,800 in donations since his story aired on a local television station. The donations will help pay for expenses not covered on his scholarship which includes room, board and meals.
LaJeromeny will be performing at this weekend’s Ballet Tennessee events at the UTC Fine Arts Center during which he will debut his latest solo “Msaada”. The Repertory Performance is on Friday evening and The Spring Festival of Dance takes place Saturday night with both shows starting at 7:30 p.m.