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Paul Dandridge

Biography

Growing up the first of four children, Paul Dandridge loved to sing and entertain. Paul says his parents always knew that his future lay in the performing arts. In fourth grade, a dance program called Minds in Motion opened his eyes to the world of ballet. “From the night that I saw the Nutcracker for the first time, I wanted to be in the theater,” he says. “I wanted to be the center of attention, looking out at a house full of people just waiting for some excuse to give me a standing ovation.”

Now, Paul dances as a trainee with the Richmond Ballet and has performed lead roles in “The Nutcracker,” “Valse Fantasy,” and other pieces choreographed specifically for him. In addition to dancing six days as week, Paul attends classes in the morning at St. Christopher’s, and makes time for extracurricular activities like soccer and being a mentor for seventh graders. He also volunteers for the Minds in Motion program, which sparked his love of dance.

“Without th[e] Foundation, I would still be coasting through King William County schools,” Paul says. “Nearing the completion of my senior high school year, I feel a sense of humble pride by being known as a Young Scholar.”

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