(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- The Performing Arts School at bergenPAC shared with the public its end-of-the-year showcases on the bergenPAC main stage at 30 N Van Brunt in Englewood, New Jersey and at various other locations throughout the venue and The Performing Arts School at bergenPAC. Mediums through which The Performing Arts School students demonstrated their talents and aptitude included musical theater, dance, drama, and music.
Showcases took place on the following dates:
beyondDANCE: June 19, 2016
Theater, Voice, and Musical Theater: June 13, 14, 15, 16, 2016
Designed to exhibit the performing arts capabilities of students who have participated in a variety of classes and workshops throughout the year, the showcases perfectly demonstrated the success that the school has had in mentoring and expanding the knowledge base of students both locally and from far and wide.
The school’s diverse student body performed a number of scenes, dances, monologues, and songs. Teachers who led the large variety of Performing Arts School classes for all ages and abilities selected performances to exhibit the talents of participating students and reflect their advancement in each respective field of study. “We are very proud of the improvement that our students have shown as individual performers. The showcases are the ideal settings to demonstrate the importance of youths’ pursuit of the arts,” explained Dominic Roncace, bergenPAC CEO.
Performances included those from the drama and musical theater classes, taught by teaching artist Rebecca Sonia. Renditions of scenes such as “The Queen of Hearts” from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll and “Charlie Brown” from Charlie Brown by Charles Schulz were performed by creative drama students. Choreographed by Sonia, her musical theater course for pre-teens shared with the audience “It’s a Hard Knock Life” from Annie the Musical.
Voice students performed a number of pieces, including “At Last” by Etta James performed by powerhouse Kenya Silas a longtime student at The Performing Arts School at bergenPAC. Musical Theater for Kids presented an impressive production of Peter Pan in a cast of 12. Additionally, a host of dance classes from the beyondDANCE program at bergenPAC performed at the dance showcases, including three graduating seniors, Gabriela Collazo, Esther Lee, and Gabe Green.
“I came to this school not even knowing what a plie’ was and almost a decade later, I leave as a changed person and dancer. beyond DANCE was and will always be my second home,” said Esther Lee, who will be attending Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. The impact that the dance program, in conjunction with a number of other curricula at The Performing Arts School has had on students is remarkable.
Additionally, as part of the non-profit mission of community outreach, bergenPAC’s outreach program afforded the opportunity to students through their schools to participate in the year-long programs and showcase their results. By working with the district of New Milford and the Englewood On The Palisades Charter School bergenPAC was able to offer their students the ability to participate either for free or at a steeply discounted rate.
Gerrilynn Guerrero, Education Outreach Manager at bergenPAC emphasized the critical nature of an arts education and the school’s unique ability of being able to offer these programs to outreach students. “The dance, theater, and music programs offered here are such crucial outlets for students to explore their creativity and talent. An arts education adds dimension to a student’s life and inspires him or her to aspire to achieve greater success in each facet of his or her life. Each participant here has certainly achieved great things based on their experiences at the school,” she stated, adding, “Showcases such as this one are the prime opportunity to demonstrate the significance that performance has on students’ lives.”
The performances that students worked hard and diligently to complete delighted audience members and demonstrated the dedication that students have to learning the arts in addition to the commitment that The Performing Arts School at bergenPAC has to expanding education for those passions. In a collaboration of hundreds of teachers, administrators, and students at the Performing Arts Center, the showcases were a great success.
Registration for summer and fall classes are on-going. For more information please visit bergenPAC.org/education or call 201-482-8194.
About The Performing Arts School at bergenPAC
The Education program at bergenPAC features a series of classes, school residencies, workshops, live performances, student productions and ensemble groups in the performing arts for students ages 2 1/2 months to 21 years old for all ability levels including special programming for individuals with special needs. The program provides students with unique and “hands-on” arts training by industry professionals that allow them to gain real world experience and enhance academic achievement through the arts. bergenPAC’s arts education initiatives occur on-site at our new Performing Arts School building at 1 Depot Square, Englewood, NJ or off-site at other schools. Through programs, classes, outreach, school shows, and presented shows, the school reaches more than 30,000 students and community youth annually.
The Performing Arts School offers basic and professional level performing arts classes and ensemble groups and productions in theater, dance, and music for students of all ages. The school also offers beyond bergenPAC, a school Partnership Program with school districts throughout the area. The school also offers scholarships for those in financial need - no-one is turned away for inability to pay.
Photo courtesy of bergenPAC
