Meet the inaugural class of UNCG Dance Pyatt Scholars

It was a transformative gift for scholarships, the largest UNC Greensboro’s School of Dance has ever received. 

When the late Mary Jean Pyatt ’49 made a testamentary commitment of $1 million to create the Mary Jean Pyatt Scholarship in Dance, she knew what it would mean to aspiring dancers. 

She had studied dance on the same campus in the 1940s, just as its dance program was blossoming, learning under legendary and beloved dance professor Virginia Moomaw. Afterward, she spent twenty years at Wellesley College, UC Berkeley, and UCLA and taught at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, Calif., where she was the choreographer for the resident theater company. She also performed professionally with dance companies in San Francisco and Los Angeles. She never forgot her alma mater, attending Moomaw’s 90^th birthday party. 

This past year, the inaugural class of Pyatt Scholars was introduced. Tiffany Hale, Zaniyya Hardnett, Somer Harris, Blythe Sheppard, and Grace Wiggins have a passion for the art form – and their own career aspirations.  

Hale plans to perform professionally and lead her own dance collective. Harris dreams of performing on Broadway and someday opening her own studio. Hardnett also dreams of Broadway and traveling the world as a teacher. Sheppard plans to perform and choreograph – and teach in the dance classroom. And Wiggins? “I aspire to be a dance educator somewhere in North Carolina – and a performer. I’m excited to see where dance takes me!” 

A sense of pride is obvious as School of Dance Director Lee Walton speaks of these scholars. 

“Each of these students brings something distinct to our program,” says Walton. “They are inspiring artists and it’s deeply rewarding to see the Pyatt Scholarship support them and open doors for many more students to come. Its impact will be felt across our dance community for years.” 

And with this historic scholarship, a school that has featured figures like Moomaw, Dr. Jan Van Dyke ’89 EdD, John Gamble, Duayne Cyrus, and Dr. Sue Stinson ’84 EdD is elevated once again, boosting its reputation for excellence. 

By Mike Harris ’93 MA
Photography by Sean Norona ’13