Imagine standing in front of some of the best dance teachers in the world, ready to show them what you can do. You have been training for this, the final examination of the rigorous Vocational Ballet Syllabus of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) your whole life. Only three dancers from the United States attempted this internationally recognized certification of proficiency and dance competence on March 4, 2007, including St. Mary’s Academy (SMA) sophomore Nicky Nienow-Birch. Nienow-Birch was the only American to pass the certification.
In mid-April, Nienow-Birch, who has been dancing for 12 years, got word that she was the only female dancer from the United States to receive the award. According to her father Tom Birch, “Nicky has completed all of her Graded examinations with the highest marks available—‘Distinction’”. “She is very moving to watch in performance and it’s been a real joy of my life to watch her develop as an artist,” says her mom, Mary Nienow.
Nienow-Birch trains at the June Taylor School of Dance in Tualatin, Oregon and she is also a member of the Northwest Dance Theatre (NWDT), a pre-professional dance company. June Taylor-Dixon has been her teacher for the last 12 years.
The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) is one of the largest and most influential dance education and training organizations in the world. With her certification in the Final Examination, Nienow-Birch now becomes one of the Academy’s 13,000 members spread across 79 countries. As a student of dance, she is an affiliate member, which allows her access to tons of seminars, courses, and guidance from some of the best teachers in the world.
This summer, Nienow-Birch has a complete scholarship as an apprentice with the professional dance program at the Banff Performing Arts Center in Banff, Alberta, Canada. She has danced there with the Dance Training Program for the past two summers, including on scholarship last summer. Additionally, she played the Sugar Plum Fairy for Northwest Dance Theatre’s production of The Nutcracker last December.
“Nicky’s focus, hard work, and dedication to dance has completely amazed us,” said her parents, Tom Birch and Mary Nienow, “We are incredibly proud of her and all that she has accomplished.”
Founded by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, St. Mary’s Academy of Portland, is Oregon’s oldest continuously operating secondary school and one of 716 all-female schools in the country. The student body represents a diverse background of young women from over 30 urban, suburban and rural communities in Oregon and Southwest Washington. St. Mary’s Academy is distinguished by development of the whole person, and is the only school in the state to receive three U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools awards.
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