Spring 2000

We are delighted to introduce you to an extraordinary young woman, Renee Noelle Meiffren. This young woman, who will soon graduate as the co-valedictorian of her high school class, is a dance artist of the highest caliber. In addition to Ms Meiffren’s many high school scholastic achievements (a grade point average of 4.75 and president of the high school French Club), and numerous honors in dance, she represented Arizona as a “Great Kid” on KPHO News. Recently she received three important awards.   Ms Meiffren was a winner of a First Level Award of Ballet from the National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts (in a field of 125 finalists). On May 14 she was named a Presidential Scholar, one of 141 young Americans so chosen, from a field of 2,610 high school students. As a Presidential Scholar in the Arts, she will perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC this June. Renee has been selected by the prestigious Rudra-Bejart School of Dance in Lausanne, Switzerland for a two year scholarship beginning this fall of 2000.

Our dance service organization, Cross-Cultural Dance Resources, Inc., is dedicated to research, consultation and performance. CCDR is proud of our association with Ms Meiffren, who is a student member of CCDR. She has asked CCDR to act as her fiscal agent to facilitate her overseas study at the Rudra-Bejart School of Dance. Although the tuition for the school is part of her award, her other expenses must be assured in order for her to accept the scholarship. Ms Meiffren’s travel, lodging, and other expenses will be at least $20,000 for the two years of her study. To meet the expenses for her overseas study Ms Meiffren must obtain substantial donations from culturally aware corporations. Because CCDR is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, we are pleased to be her fiscal agent.

Cross-Cultural Dance Resources, Inc., believes that Ms Meiffren, with her artistic and scholastic achievements is worthy of support. CCDR is happy to sponsor this special project as part of this young woman’s glorious future. Contributions can be arranged by contacting Ms Meiffren or Cross-Cultural Dance Resources, Inc.

*for information about the Presidential Scholars see the U.S. Department of Education's web site

Joann W. Kealiinohomoku. Ph.D.
President Board of Directors

An important challenge for this new millennium is the cultivation of the individual. When each individual is striving toward realizing his/her own potential, the society will improve. There is an instrument through which an individual can develop his/herself: education. Right now, society in general seems to be focused on what is, external or material, such as technology and affluence. In order to find balance, we need a focus on what is internal, abstract and most importantly what is human.

We, as individuals, can identify what is human through education in academics and the arts. Through scholarship, we are able to discover ancient civilizations. We can take a look at how they established themselves in their given situation and how they communicated with each other and the outside world. This can give us insight into who we are, and what our future can be. We can have a chance to learn from their mistakes and have pride in their successes. With arts education, we are being given a gift from our human ancestors. We are able to see, touch and feel their presence. We can understand aspects of human nature that are innate in all of us. In the arts, we can experience not only our cultural ancestors, but the ancestors of the world. It can open our minds and can breed tolerance. Tolerance will make our relationship with ourselves and each other stronger and more peaceful.

Education in general is a vehicle through which self-discovery and the discovery of the world is made possible. We can not only cultivate ourselves with education, but we can also learn to discipline our gifts. With education comes triumph over failure, encouragement over discouragement, and an opportunity to learn about how far humanity has come and how far it can go in the future. The fruit of an education is abstract in nature. In other words, the individual is cultivating his/herself in an organic way. The result is a strong person who can realize his/her potential and in doing so, can test his or her human boundaries. If this is true for the individual, it will be true for society. The possibilities are endless.

And please remember, the above report belongs to Cross-Cultural Dance Resources, Inc. and Renee Noelle Meiffren.. It may not be copied without written permission.

CCDR Research Center:
(928)774-8108
ccdr-researchcenter@ccdr.org

Cross-Cultural Dance Resources
518 South Agassiz St.
Flagstaff, AZ 86001-5711

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