bergenPAC to be Featured on Montel Williams' The Balancing Act

Published by New Jersey Stage

originally published: 09/06/2023

(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) will be highlighted in an upcoming episode of The Balancing Act with a focus on the nonprofit's impact in the community. Hosted by Montel Williams, The Balancing Act is a morning show produced by The Lifetime Network that airs locally on WWOR-MyNetwork (Channel 9) and offers sensible solutions and essential information in an informative and entertaining format with the goal of helping people do life better.

“We say bergenPAC is ‘Our Home | Your Home’ because we take our mission seriously to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion so that everyone in the community may enjoy the benefits that the arts provide,” says bergenPAC Chair Valerie Vaineri Huttle.

“We’re honored to have bergenPAC recognized for the value it provides our community specifically, as well as how the arts can improve the quality of life for residents in general,” says Alexander Diaz, bergenPAC’s Executive Director.

The episode explores how bergenPAC serves Englewood and the northern New Jersey region as its cultural and economic anchor, especially as local businesses worked to rebound after the pandemic shutdown. It also spotlights bergenPAC’s Performing Arts School’s educational outreach initiatives, which power its mission to make the arts accessible to everyone.

“Arts education helps develop so many important life skills in young people, including stronger self-confidence, creativity, perseverance, and emotional resilience,” says Becky Serico, Director of Education. “We are proud to offer our Scholarship Program, which ensures that no child who wants to come here, whether they’re just having fun dancing with their friends or aspiring to be a serious artist on the college or professional track, is ever turned away because their family cannot afford the full tuition.”

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bergenPAC’s Educational Outreach initiatives also deliver teaching artist residencies, assemblies and much more to schools and social agencies across the region.

“When you look at education in our public schools, unfortunately, the first thing that is cut is the arts,” Vaineri Huttle says. “We are here to make sure that people understand the true benefits of the arts in children.”

Serico said bergenPAC’s educational outreach initiatives often fill the gaps at schools that were forced to cut their own arts programs.

“Finding support from foundations, corporate partners, and individuals who believe in our mission is so important to making sure we can continue to impact the lives of young people in such meaningful ways,” Serico says.

Diaz moved into the organization’s top role a year ago after helping to build and lead the Performing Arts School. He is excited about bergenPAC’s future as the region’s premier cultural destination.

“In a world where everything is digital and onscreen there’s nothing quite like that feeling of experiencing a live performance with everyone in the audience, or if you’re the one on stage, sharing that feeling with your castmates,” Diaz says. “It’s truly special, and bergenPAC offers this unique experience right here at home for everyone to enjoy.”

bergenPAC’s episode of The Balancing Act is scheduled to air on WWOR-MyNetwork 9 on Saturday, September 23 at 10:00am and Sunday, September 24 at 1:30pm.

Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) is located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood, New Jersey. Founded in 2003, the 1,367-seat bergenPAC, is the area’s cultural mecca. Housed in a historic Art Deco-style theater boasting one of the finest acoustic halls in the United States, bergenPAC attracts a stellar roster of world-class entertainment. The jewel in their crown is The Performing Arts School at bergenPAC – the innovative, educational performing arts initiative that, through programs, classes, outreach, school shows, and main theater presented shows, reach more than 30,000 students and community youth annually. The Performing Arts School provides community youth, age 2 months to 21 years, with unique, “hands-on” training in music, dance and theater by industry professionals. It is through the ongoing generosity of sponsors, donors, members, and patrons that the not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) corporation bergenPAC and The Performing Arts School are able to thrive and enrich our community.