Taking the LEAP

by By Lynn Armitage | September 25, 2015

Avichai “Avi” Scher ’15 is accustomed to making graceful exits. With the help of Saint Mary’s LEAP program, the 31-year-old ballet dancer and choreographer—who trained at the School of American Ballet; danced with 11 different companies, including the Joffrey Ballet; and ran his own dance business, Avi Scher & Dancers—has left the ballet world and landed solidly on his feet in a new career with the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in New York.

LEAP is SMC’s national Bachelor of Arts program that helps professional dancers like Scher transition into meaningful work and develop other passions beyond long dance careers.

“I started dancing when I was 5 and had a professional dance and choreography career for 10 years. The last year wasn’t very fulfilling, and I was curious about what else was out there for me,” Scher said. “The program helps you build critical thinking and writing skills, and it boosted my confidence.”

After working as an intern for CGI, Scher earned a coveted staff position as a track associate in the Commitments Group, which works as a liaison with CGI’s partners on philanthropic projects. “I was the only intern given a permanent contract out of my class.” He believes his dance experience landed him the job. “They needed someone who is completely accountable, very organized, and good at interacting with others—skills I developed from countless auditions and productions, fundraising, and running my own dance company.”