And, the Dancers Kicked Up Their Heels!
Precision Dance Class August 9th 2025
This past Saturday, August 9th, the BKF Foundation hosted two former Radio City Rockettes - Karyn Tomczak and Kelly Croteau - who taught two Precision Dance Classes, Session A (ages 9-12 ) and Session B ( ages 13+ ) at Florida Southern College's Branscomb Auditorium in Lakeland.
Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Radio City Rockettes, what better way to do so than to offer their outstanding dance instruction to our region!
Please Enjoy the photos and videos of each session below.
Session A
Session B
2025 Scholarship Awardee
Xander Allen
Lakeland’s talented singer, actor, and dancer Xander Allen, 18, a Harrison School for the Arts graduate, won the 2025 Betsye Kay Finch Performing Arts Foundation’s scholarship.
Xander performed in numerous Harrison School for the Arts musicals, including Shrek the Musical, Cinderella, and West Side Story. He has also performed, directed, and choreographed several musicals at local community theatres.
Xander’s passion for musical theatre was sparked at age 5 when he sang in Little Drummer Boy at Lakeland’s Grace Church. Since then, he has chased song, music, and dance. In 2024, Tampa’s Straz Center for the Performing Arts awarded Xander as a Top-12 Best Performer of the Year.
On May 2nd, Xander received the $3,500 BKF Foundation’s scholarship at a celebration at Lakeland’s Hollis Garden. Xander will pursue a BFA in Musical Theatre at the University of Central Florida in Orlando this fall.
Photo credit: Robin Phillips
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Betsye Kay Finch Foundation Awards 5th Scholarship
Photo credit: Robin Phillips
Alexis Rocker awarded Justin Brock, of Bartow, the fifth annual Betsye Kay Finch scholarship at the June 6, 2024 awards ceremony.
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Congratulations to this year's $3,000 scholarship winner, Justin Brock, of Bartow! Justin, a 2024 Harrison School for the Arts graduate, performed in numerous dance concerts at Harrison and in various dance productions with the Florida Dance Arts in "The Nutcracker " and the Highland School of Dance with "Alice in Wonderland." An outstanding dancer, Justin will pursue an Associate of Arts degree in Dance at Hillsborough Community College in the Fall.
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Enjoy our June 6, 2024 event scholarship award ceremony celebrating Justin Brock!
Lakeland Chamber of Commerce feature, June 2024
Check out our latest feature on the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce website, announcing our latest scholarship recipient.
Mr. Charles Strouse, Broadway Composer and friend of the BKF Foundation takes a minute to comment on his review of our
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Betsye Kay Finch Foundation Awards 4th Scholarship
Photo: Robin Phillips
Alexis Rocker awarded Janiyah McAllister, of Davenport, the 4th annual Betsye Kay Finch scholarship at the May 23, 2023 awards ceremony.
Congratulations to this year's $2,500 scholarship winner, Janiyah McAllister of Davenport! Janiyah, a 2023 Harrison School for the Arts graduate, performed in Mary Poppins and The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Harrison and in community theatre and other musicals. An extraordinary singer, dancer, and actor, Janiyah will pursue a Bachelor's in Music Theatre at Baldwin Wallace University, Music Conservatory in Berea, Ohio.
Dancing in the Tune
by Rebecca Renfroe-Borneman
“Dancing gives wings
to my passion;
musical theater
gives voice to my soul.”
-Betsye Kay Finch