Who: Altahir and Max Kozelchik
Age: 9 (she), 11 (he)
School: Gabriella Charter School
Accomplishment: Ballroom dance champs and siblings
Max and Altahir attend Echo Park's Gabriella Charter School, which includes a rigorous dance program in its curriculum. The school was recently a recipient of the Los Angeles Music Center's Bravo Award, which honor schools and educators "for their commitment to delivering exemplary arts education in both visual and performing arts." The Kozelchiks exemplify Gabriella's combination of academics and disciplined dance.
Keys to Awesomeness: This brother/sister dance duo has been dancing together for the past two years. A few times per year, they participate in ballroom dance competitions – and they win trophies, too. (For instance, they beat out five other couples to take home first prize once.) Altahir appreciates the way Max leads her on the dance floor – and Max in turn appreciates that she lets him lead. Other dancers weren’t as easy to work with as his sister is. Altahir also says that, like any good big brother, Max offers her help and teachers her new things. In addition to ballroom, they both enjoy tap dancing and math at Gabriella Charter School.
