To Paris With Love

BMCC business administration student—and performer—David Robertson has taught dance at Alvin Ailey, performed on the Broadway stage at 16 and even appeared as an extra in Michael Jacksons Black or White video. But one thing Robertson has yet to do is study in Paris. Until now. In 2008, Robertson, who is in his 40s, began a new challenge and enrolled at BMCC. He wanted to learn more about business and the world around him. Gaining more business skills In 2003, Robertson formed a non-for-profit in Harlem, for children ages 8 to 16. To run a successful non-profit organization, Robertson felt he needed to gain more business skills.The name of his non-profit is Triple Threat Performing Arts Academy. In the acting world, a triple-threat is someone who can act, dance and sing, he says. Robertson knows all about triple-threats—after all, he is one. Robertson decided to seize as many opportunities as he could while at BMCC, which included studying French. And that was when his life took an unexpected, but positive, turn. French class opened doors to the Gilman Scholarship Robertsons French classes “have opened up another door for me,” he says. Professor Michael Giammarella of BMCCs Faculty and Advisement Center suggested that Robertson take a semester or full year of study in Paris to “get the best out of France and really learn the language.” A staff advisor at BMCC helped Robertson research various study abroad scholarships, and one that caught his eye was The Benjamin Gilman …