You probably have at least one video of your toddler, just barely able to stand, but still joyfully swaying to their favorite song. That’s because dance is one of the first and purest art forms young children enjoy. When your little one is ready to do more than boogie to a beat, whether they just want to have fun with their friends or develop their craft seriously, The Performing Arts School at bergenPAC in Englewood, New Jersey, is the place to be.
The dance program at bergenPAC offers year-round instruction in dance styles including classical ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, Broadway, tap, hip hop and more. Their dance instructors and faculty are working professionals from New York City and New Jersey who make the vibrant New York City dance scene come alive for all bergenPAC students. Additionally, guest artists often visit the Performing Arts School to teach or give a master class.
Performing Arts School students are also offered frequent opportunities to perform on the renowned bergenPAC stage and in outreach and community service programs. bergenPAC offers recreational dance classes for children and adults ages 5+ but they also have a dynamic Pre-Professional Program for dancers who would like to pursue a career in the performing arts. This program is designed for serious students of dance, ages 11-18, who wish to improve their technique and challenge themselves to reach their potential. Students in the Pre-Professional Program have been accepted to such prestigious programs as the American Ballet Theatre, The Alvin Ailey Dance School, and American Academy of Ballet.
Occasionally, the bergenPAC Performing Arts School has the opportunity to see the results of their training in action when graduates of the program come back as faculty members. The newest faculty member at the Performing Arts School is Esther Lee, a dancer whose journey began at bergenPAC when she was 8 years old. Now a graduate with a BFA in dance from the Alivin Ailey/Fordham program, with a master’s degree in Education, Esther is both a professional dancer and a hip hop and contemporary dance instructor. Dance Program Director, Roberta Mathes says, “Our young dancers love Esther’s pragmatic approach to teaching. Her choreography is a beautiful blend of what we taught her here and what she learned at The Ailey School. How proud I am of her wonderful achievements in dance and her tenacity to follow her dreams and perform.”
bergenPAC dance classes are held throughout the year students can join a class at any time. To learn more about the program or to inquire about enrollment, please visit the bergenPAC website. If you have additional questions, please reach out to Roberta Mathes, Dance Program Director at [email protected].
