Savannah dancer receives prestigious Joffrey Ballet Academy scholarship

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – Savannah’s first black nutcracker, Andre McGregor, will soon join the ranks of a world-renowned dance center as he leaves to study in the Joffrey Ballet’s trainee program Academy.

“I’m so excited to be able to continue what I’ve been doing all this time,” McGregor said. “It’s amazing that I’ve gotten to a place where I can pursue this as a professional career, and it’s mind-blowing, honestly.”

McGregor graduated from the Savannah Arts Academy in 2020 and took a year off to focus on his craft due to the pandemic.

“During that gap year, I did a lot of competitions because there wasn’t much else to do,” McGregor said. “I did the Grand Prix Youth America, I did New York City Dance Alliance, On Stage New York and several others, and I had a lot of fun.”

McGregor eventually earned a prestigious scholarship to the Joffrey Academy of Dance.

“I competed in one of the regional meets in Boston and made it to the final meet in Tampa, Florida,” McGregor said. “A few months later, at the Tampa finals, I got a one-year scholarship to the Joffrey Academy of Dance.”

The program will allow McGregor to show his talent.

“We train with the company so there can be performance opportunities with the official Joffrey Ballet company,” McGregor said.

McGregor’s mentors say they’re excited to see him take it to the next level.

“He knows hard work is everything in this industry, so whatever he’s taken here doesn’t end there, it continues for as long as he decides to make it his life,” said David Greenberg, dance teacher at Kelly and Co. .Ateliers.

McGregor told WSAV NOW, “Not many people make it this far, and I’m so happy to be able to do that.”