| After School Dance Programs
Our teaching techniques and ability to motivate the youth have resulted in several of the schools hiring us as a yearly program that runs throughout the whole school year on a weekly basis. These programs are usually privately funded by corporations, individuals, or grants.
If you are interested in bringing us to your local HS contact us for more information on how we can make it happen.
Also if you are interested in contributing or donating through your corporation or as an individual to the funds that enable such programs to become a reality; feel free to contact us as well so that we can guide you to the proper companies that facilitate such programs.
In 2006 & 2007 some of the leading Corporations, Individuals and organizations that have helped bring dancing to the schools are:
Nabisco/Kraft Foods - Grants have been distributed by Nabisco/Kraft Foods to enable after-school dance programs to exist. Thanks to their genorosity and community outreach kids stay in school, and stay away from drugs and alcohol because they offer healthy activities such as dance to entertain and educate our youth in discipline, respect and teamwork. Participants in the programs also learn about goal setting and proper planning and preparation to achieve those goals. Skills much needed for their future growth and sucess in College, Work-force and Life.
Care Plus NJ - Care Plus NJ, Inc., is the leading provider of comprehensive, recovery-focused mental health and substance abuse services in Northern New Jersey. Since 1978, Care Plus NJ has been dedicated to achieving excellence in mental health care. Their goal is to provide the life-long support necessary to ensure that individuals and their families are able to achieve their full potential and improve the quality of their lives. Care Plus NJ has added the after-school dance program to the many services that they offer teenagers in high schools. The program has been very successful as it's been full to capacity with a waiting list of kids who want to sign up. The after-school dance program keeps the students motivated and active in positive activities that keep working on the skills of goal setting, planning, preparation and the rewards of achieving one's goals. One of the key elements of the program consists of a dance performance in which the participants have the opportunity to showcase what they've been learning.
Ms. Laura Marcos (HS Counselor) - As a counselor Ms. Laura Marcos was searching for an after-school activity that would be healthy, cultured and fun...she thought of dance. 8 students participated in this program for the first time and not only performed at their local high school for the talent show but they also went on to get invited to perform at several other events in the community since everyone was so impressed with all that they achieved. Not only on the dance floor but in their mature behavior as they present themselves as a team many of them juggling school, work and a busy family life. Dancing was an outlet for them to release stress and do something fun and challenging. The lessons they learned will help them in whatever their futures hold. 1 of the many lessons that this group particularly embraced was about obstacles. While learning partner dancing sometimes we may step on each other and even trip over one another's feet and end up on the floor - but how we deal with our obstacles will define us. After you fall, you get up and help your partner up, check that you're ok and that they are ok, then you smile and continue dancing. This technique will not only help you on the dance floor but in life.
Ms. Nancy Cicale (HS Teacher & Director of Ole - Spanish Club at Old Bridge HS) - members of the Spanish Club at Old Bridge HS wanted to learn Latin Dance so Ms. Nany Cicale came to our group classes to check us out. She took several months of lessons to get to know us and se if we were worthy to work with her kids. After seeing how patient, professional and friendly we all were she then decided to hire us to teach a class outside of our environment to see how we would react to a diverse group of individuals in a different setting. We were hired to teach a group class for Active Seniors at The Plaza Grande - a beautiful community of beautiful people. It was our pleasure and delight. We taught a 4 week course and everybody loved us. We had passed our test!! Soon after that we arranged the classes at the High School and now we're currently working on scheduling our next session.
Ms. Mosell Anderson (HS Teacher & Director of the after-school dance program at Irvington HS) - We have been working with Ms Mosell Anderson since 2002. In the last 5 years we've come back to Irvington HS many times to teach several choreographies. We've seen Freshman turn into graduates and continue onto college. We've even seen some come back to the school after graduation to help Ms. Mosell Anderson with her after-school dance program. It is beauty to see that teenagers can appreciate how important a program is that they will take time out to come back even after graduating to help keep the tradition alive.
Ms. Tankalas (HS Teacher & Director of Dance at Aberdeen HS)
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