JCHS Student Fiona Scruggs Chosen for Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts

Fiona Scruggs

Fiona Scruggs, of Talbott, a rising junior at Jefferson County High School, recently completed the dance program at the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. She was one of only 25 dancers selected for the program by audition from throughout the state. While there, dance students worked individually and in ensembles with nationally prominent dancers, choreographers, teachers, career advisors, and dance physiologists in an intensive pre-professional program that ran from June 2 – 28. Fiona was placed into the advanced “Diamonds” group of 10 dancers. Dance styles studied included ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, and master classes from guest folk dancers from Turkey and France, as well as Appalachian folk dance. Events attended by participants included the Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera, Nashville Symphony, and guest artists in dance, theatre, and music. The Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts accepts about 240 students each year in the areas of graphic/visual arts, dance, music, and theatre, based on talent auditions, academic achievement, and teacher recommendations. Fiona was the only JCHS student selected this past year for any of the Tennessee Governor’s School arts or academic programs. She is the daughter of Tara and Richard Scruggs of Talbott.