New Trier student named Presidential Scholar in the Arts

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

A New Trier student may have just taken his most prestigious step forward in dance yet.

Maxwell Parr Perkins, a senior who lives in Wilmette, has been named one of 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts, the highest honor the country bestows on an artistically talented high school senior.

The award is presented on behalf of the president of the United States, and selection is based upon academic, civic and artistic achievement.

Perkins and the other scholars will be honored June 20 in Washington, D.C., and perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

“I feel so very blessed. I feel so very blessed that I’ve been able to work with all the people I have, and also to have this opportunity to meet Obama and dance at the Kennedy Center,” Perkins said.

Perkins, who has been dancing most of his life, admitted that it has been his passion almost as long as he can remember.

He was born in Chicago and began taking ballet classes when he was four years old.

But he said his interest in dance actually began before that because of a beloved baby sitter from Belize who taught him the punta.

“I remember that where she lived, they were having some kind of block party in the park and we all did the punta together,” Perkins said.

“It was so much fun that I wanted to take punta lessons, but instead, there were ballet classes. So I took ballet instead,” he added.

And when Perkins attended his first art camp at Interlochen Center for the Arts, he liked it so much the arts became his focus.

“Growing up I was very much into the arts, sketching and painting. When I was in middle school I did photography, but I ended up continually pursuing dance,” Perkins said.

“Dance took over and is my number one way of self expression... And contemporary dance is my favorite,” he added.

Perkins, 18, already has an extensive background in the art.

He has attended summer programs with the Milwaukee Ballet, Harid Conservatory, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and The Juilliard School.

Last summer, he won an apprenticeship with the River North Chicago Dance Company.

In August, Perkins was invited to be a guest artist performing alongside professional dancers in Harris McEldowney’s “I’ve Got a Life” at Dance for Life in Chicago’s Harris Theatre. He also has been a guest artist with Elements Contemporary Ballet Company in Chicago, performing choreography by James Gregg and Joseph Caruana.

And at this time, he is a member of Extensions Dance Company, a pre-professional dance company in Chicago.

Perkins plans to attend the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University next year to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. After graduating, he hopes to become a member of a modern dance company in Europe.

Not that Perkins is all dance and no play. He also enjoys photography, video art, sketching, painting, music and theatre.

But he admits he is happiest when he is hot and sweaty after finishing a day of rehearsals. And he said owes much thanks to his teachers for whatever success he achieves in his career, Perkins said.

He added that he was especially grateful to Lizzie MacKenzie, the Extensions Dance Company artistic director and River North Chicago Dance Company member, who will accompany him to Washington.

Also to: Harrison McEldowney, Homer Bryant, Monique Haley, Ricky Ruiz, Reginald Harris, Elijah Gibson and Kim Cunningham.

“They - as well as my friends and family - have been a huge support to my artistry. Their encouragement has been key,” he added.

The National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, through its YoungArts program, is the exclusive nominating agency for the U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts.

Each year, 7,000 seniors apply for the national program, and after a rigorous process, YoungArts nominates 60 finalists for further consideration by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars.

This year’s scholars represent 13 states and eight artistic disciplines: dance, cinematic arts, jazz, music, theater, voice, visual arts and writing.