Moscow Ballet

Trayawyn Taylor in costume

Trayawyn warming up for Moscow Ballet performance

From dancing at church and social events to the dance lessons he now takes at Power and Grace School of Performing Arts, Travawyn (Trey) Taylor of Shreveport is ready to perform with the pros… the 10-year old will join Moscow Ballet’s Russian professionals on stage this Sunday, November 18 at 3 pm and 7:30 pm in the 20th Anniversary production of the critically acclaimed Great Russian Nutcracker at The Strand Theatre. He has been chosen to dance two roles in the production—Party Guest in Act I, and Spanish variation in Act II.

Trey recently began taking lessons at Power and Grace School, the host studio for Moscow Ballet’s Student Program, after being “discovered” at an annual donor event at the Boys & Girls Club of Shreveport (which is under the Salvation Army–Shreveport umbrella) earlier this year. His dance performance at the event was the only one to receive a standing ovation. Trey’s dancing talents caught the eye of Salvation Army administrators, and upon discovering that Trey had no formal training (his family had not been able to afford it)—instead he had been using his church and dance videos online as his learning ground—Rebecca Nichols of the Salvation Army–Shreveport contacted several local dance schools, including the Power and Grace School to inquire about sponsoring lessons for the young boy. It wasn’t long before Trey joined the Power and Grace 

family, as the school awarded him a scholarship for dance lessons. Now he takes lessons in ballet, tap, and jazz.

"We're really enjoying [Trey]. He's a great talent," says Gloria Smith, of Power and Grace School of Performing Arts. "And he's really enjoying it here."

Trey is a fifth grade student at Turner Elementary School, where he is an honor roll student. In January, he is testing for entrance to advanced placement classes. He and his family are members of the Praise Temple Full Gospel Church, where he performs as a "praise dancer."

New in 2012, Moscow Ballet is proud to support and partner with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH), the leading supporter of children's hospitals nationwide, in raising funds to benefit young patients. In select cities (listed above), a portion of ticket sales from Moscow Ballet's 20th anniversary Great Russian Nutcracker production will go to CMNH facilities.

Moscow Ballet ballerinas Svetlana Todinova, Natalia Miroshnyk, and Olga Aru continue to visit CMNH facilities across the U.S. to meet with young patients and their families. Among these recent events was a meet-and-greet and photo shoot with international superstars Donny and Marie Osmond (founder of CMNH) and Moscow Ballet's Svetlana Todinova in Las Vegas!

Another fundraising event is the North American Russian Tea Party and Auction on November 10 with Moscow Ballet dancers and others at the exclusive Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas TX, which benefits the Dallas Children’s Medical Center.

For more information, visit nutcracker.com/cmnh.