Contact: Cher Carnell, Acting Director of the Dance Program at
The scholarship is awarded by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation to students who have demonstrated exemplary command of a performing art; the award is presented at the CBC Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., in late September. The scholarship was created in 2000 in honor of the late Curtis Mayfield.
Originally a music major at Western, Miller said he took a chance by submitting a video of him tap dancing a week before the scholarship application was due.
Cher Carnell, head of the Dance program at Western, advised Miller, who has only been tap dancing for two years, to apply for the scholarship.
“Tap to me is one of the few art forms where you can dance and play music at the same time,” Miller said.
Miller has devoted most of his time to dancing. He commutes to Seattle at least once a week to attend school on a scholarship at Johnson and Peters Tap, takes private ballet lessons at Northwest Ballet in Bellingham, and also taps with his band, the Jovon Miller Rhythmic Jazz Ensemble. They play neo jazz, a mixture of hip hop, jazz and funk.
Miller may have the chance to perform in front of members of the Congressional Black Caucus at the Annual Legislative Conference in late September. Due to budgeting restrictions of the foundation, Miller is still in the process of trying to get to Washington D.C.
“If I can get to go, the fact that I’m there and get to meet people will be amazing,” Miller said. “Especially if I get to perform.”
Miller, a 5th year senior, is majoring in Dance. In addition to tap dancing, Miller plays the saxophone, flute, and clarinet. He was one of the founders of the Performing Tap Club, Sounds of Necessity (SON), at Western, where he choreographs dances and writes music. He performed with the Step Team at Western, participated in the jazz band and jazz combo at Western, and volunteered at Bothell High School and Skyview Junior High teaching woodwind instruments. Miller also taught music and saxophone to students in Northshore Junior High’s Special Education program. After graduating from Western, he hopes to move with his wife to Las Vegas, to start a career in dance.
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy, research and educational institute that aims to help improve the socioeconomic circumstances of African Americans and other underserved communities. The organization hosts the Annual Legislative Conference, known to be one of the most important gatherings of African American leaders.
For more information, contact WWU Dance Program Acting Director Cher Carnell at (360) 650-2274 or at cher.carnell@wwu.edu.
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