Westchester Theatre of Dance	Dress Code	Jazz/Hip-Hop/Tap
Ballet	Adult Classes	Pre-School Classes
Faculty	2008-2009 Calendar	Dance School News Winter 2008-09

There’s a place for everyone at the JCC Dance School, one of Westchester’s most respected programs. Kids, teens and adults at all levels of training can take classes in ballet, pointe, jazz/hiphop, tap, and more, most to live musical accompaniment! Our professional faculty has performed with major dance companies in the U.S. and Europe. They are committed to a positive, supportive approach to ensure that our students develop into strong, injury-free dancers and confident individuals. The JCC Dance School’s legacy to its students is a life-long gift: an appreciation of the art of dance, body awareness, self-discipline and the knowledge to become part of an educated and appreciative dance audience. Many JCC Dance School students have gone on to careers with professional dance companies such as American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet, New York City Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Carolina Ballet, and the Norwegian National Ballet.

Westchester 2009 JCC Maccabi Games Auditions for Dancers: Jewish Teens age 12 to 16*    Sunday,  January 25  Sunday,  February 8 6:30 PM @ JCC Dance School If you love to dance and want to meet Jewish kids from around the world, come to JCC Maccabi dance auditions January 25 or February 8!   For the first time ever, the JCC Maccabi Games, an Olympic-style competition for Jewish teens, will take place in Westchester County August 16 to 21, 2009, co-hosted by JCC of Mid-Westchester, Rosenthal JCC of Northern Westchester, and JCC on the Hudson. The Games will be the most important community event in Westchester next year. Get involved by auditioning for Dance, by volunteering your time, providing an in-kind contribution, or making a donation. Join us in making the Games a great success! *  Dance participants must be between the ages of 12 and 16 as of July 31, 2009.

Westchester Theatre of Dance
Westchester Theatre of Dance (WTD) is the performance company of the JCC Dance School. Each year we invite guest choreographers and performers from New York to be a part of our dance concert. Our dancers learn the creative process of choreography from beginning to end, as well as the immeasurable experience of performing on stage. Our spring concert is a highly anticipated event in the Bendheim Performing Arts Center each year.

WESTCHESTER THEATRE OF DANCE
An annual concert for children of all ages.
Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 8:00pm
Sunday, March 29, 2009 at 1:00 & 4:00pm
 

Performance and Dance Concert Opportunities
Opportunity for performance is offered through our Dance Outreach program during the school year for intermediate and advanced dancers. Ballet students in Levels 2 through 5 and selected jazz and tap students are encouraged to perform in our highly-regarded Westchester Theatre of Dance Annual Spring Concert. Participation is optional - no student is required to perform. There is an additional fee for production and costume expenses.


Scholarships
Scholarships available through a grant from The Harkness Foundation for Dance, The Elaine Finsilver Endowment Fund, and the Maria Jones Scholarship Fund; call x320 for details.
 

Dance School Instructors

Pianists

General Information

• The Dance School has two air-conditioned studios with nonskid floors and a dressing room with lockers.
• Pianists are scheduled for most ballet classes.
• NO refunds after first class unless there is a medical reason.
• Parent observation: weeks of 12/8/08 and 5/11/09.
• Regular attendance is important. Please call x320 in case of anticipated absence.
• No jewelry or gum permitted in class.
• Classes cancelled due to inclement weather may be made up at the end of the session.
• Adult single class rate is $20.00 per class.
• Payment plans must be completed by 12/31/08.
• Enrollment is ongoing. Classes may be pro-rated.


Class Cards:
• 10-class card rate is $160.
• Class cards, available at the JCC front desk, are for adult classes only as indicated (see asterisked (*) class listings).
  All other adult classes require enrollment.
• No one under age 18 may use a class card.
• The Dance School is not responsible for lost or stolen cards.

Guidelines and Dress Codes 

• Ballet classes are divided into Levels. Students remain in appropriate class until the instructor determines they are ready to move to the next level.

• Students new to the school must be evaluated for placement. 

• The Dance School prides itself on the careful placement of each student into the appropriate level of dance class.

• Children in Level 2 and up usually remain in their assigned level for a minimum of two years. Students are moved into another level at the discretion of the instructor.

• All students are expected to arrive on time for class. The beginning of class is an essential part of warm-up. Lateness is also disruptive to the rest of the class. Students arriving more than 10 minutes late will only be permitted to observe.

Boys Uniform: White shirt, black tights, jazz pants or sweats; white socks, white ballet shoes.

Girls: Hair MUST be off neck and securely pinned up for ALL classes.

Babies in Motion & Dancin & Prancin: Bare feet, loose fitting clothes (no tutus permitted).

Creative Dance & Modern Fundamentals: Girls: black leotard, pink footless (stirrup) tights and bare feet. No tutus. Boys: sweatpants, T-shirt, bare feet.

Creative Ballet, Tiny Toes: Pink leotard, pink tights, and pink ballet slippers. Chiffon skirts permitted.

Ballet Fundamentals: 6 years old. No experience necessary. Black Leotard, pink footed-tights and pink ballet slippers. No tutus or skirts.

Introduction to Ballet: 7 to 10 years. No experience necessary. White leotard, pink footed-tights and pink ballet slippers. No tutus or skirts. Boys: White shirt, black tights, white socks, white ballet shoes.

Level 1: 8 years old and up: One year of experience necessary. Light pink leotard, pink-footed tights and pink ballet slippers. No skirts. Boys: White shirt, black tights, white socks, white ballet shoes.

Level 2: 9 years old and up: Two years of experience necessary. Navy leotard, pink-footed tights and pink ballet slippers. Twice a week suggested.  Boys: White shirt, black tights, white socks and shoes.

Level 3: 10 years old and up: Placement audition is required. Hunter green leotard, pink-footed tights and pink ballet slippers. Aspiring Level 4 dancers MUST come twice weekly and are strongly urged to attend at least three weeks of summer dance classes at the JCC. Boys:  Same as Level 2.

Level 4: 6th grade and up: By acceptance of instructor. Black leotard, pink-footed tights and pink ballet slippers. MUST take all three technique classes weekly. Beginner pointe is introduced at the discretion of the instructor.

Level 5: 8th grade and up: By acceptance of instructor. A minimum of three technique classes and two pointe classes weekly are strongly urged at this level.  Black leotard, pink-footed tights and pink ballet slippers. (Simple skirts are permitted.)

Ballet for Teens:  Black leotard, pink-footed tights and pink ballet slippers. 

Musical Theatre Dance/Jazz I: 7 and 9 years old: Black leotard or unitard, black tights or jazz pants, and black jazz shoes.  Socks without shoes - NOT permitted.

Jazz Styles II: 9 years old and up. Dress code: same as above.

Jazz/Hip-Hop: Ages: see course descriptions. Dress code: same as above.

Jazz/Hip-Hop Jr. and Sr. Workshop: By invitation only at the discretion of the instructor. Dress code: same as above.

Tap: Black leotard, tights and tap shoes.

Tap Workshop:  Black leotard, tights and tap shoes.  By invitation only, at the discretion of the instructor.

2008-09 Pre-School Classes

Babies in Motion
Songs and movement create a fun-filled atmosphere for babies who are walking and parents/caregivers to share a special time together. Large motor skills as well as language, color and shape recognition, and listening skills will be stimulated through this innovative program.

Dancin' & Prancin' 
A fun-filled, high-energy creative movement class for boys and girls.  Music and props are used in dance play and games.  Children learn to explore movement in a social and fun atmosphere.

Tiny Toes
An introduction to movement through music and rhythms; elements of ballet, modern and jazz dance steps will be used. Children will explore their creativity and the joy of self-expression through movement to music.

Creative Ballet
A child's introduction to basic elements of dance training, including movement, rhythm and musical forms. In addition to working with creative ballet elements, more emphasis is placed on developing each child’s motor skills.

Creative Dance
Each class introduces children to warm-up floor stretches, high energy traveling steps and group dancing inspired by stories, songs, sports and nature. The class helps both boys and girls to find the special magic inside themselves to transform ordinary movement into dance.

2008- 09 Modern Tap/Musical-Theatre Jazz/Jazz Hip-Hop For Children and Teens

Modern Fundamentals 
Children will explore basic Modern Dance techniques drawing from a variety of styles. The class will include both floor warm up
and standing exercises. Children will move across the floor with beginning turns, triplets and leaps. Fun and fundamentals, large
motor activities, and a variety of music will all be a part of this class.

Modern for Teens  New!
This contemporary style class includes techniques of Limon, Horton, and Graham. The Center warm-up will include standing and floor exercises, across-the-floor movement and combinations.

Beginner Tap I
This introductory tap class will take you through warm-up, center floor, tap terminology, basics and more.  Beginner tap students usually remain in this level for two years.

Intermediate Tap II  
This theatre-style tap class will cover the basics and more – from simple shuffle to waltz clog to more advanced steps like shim-sham and pullbacks. A guaranteed good time as you “tap your troubles away.” At least two years’ experience is necessary.

Tap Workshop
This class focuses on developing tap students into performers. On an invitation-only basis, dancers are taught repertory that encompasses the history of tap dance styles. Kirsten Burke Smith, instructor and choreographer, stages standard tap dances as well as more contemporary rhythm tap pieces, which will showcase in JCC Outreach programs and the Annual WTD Dance Concert.

Musical Theatre Dance/Jazz I
For the beginner jazz student
Explores a variety of jazz dance styles used on the Broadway Stage, from traditional jazz technique, to contemporary music video style. Children are moved to the next level at the discretion of the instructor.

Jazz Styles II
This class will explore Hip-hop, traditional Jazz, Modern, and Theatre Dance styles, with emphasis on presentation, proper dance technique, discipline and of course, fun!  Students enrolling must have some prior dance experience and are urged to supplement their jazz training with a weekly ballet class.

Musical Theatre Jazz Dance for Teens  New!
This Broadway-style jazz class will include warm-up, stretching and flexibility exercises, and a center floor combination… with emphasis on stage presentation and style; all the skills you would need for Musical Theatre performances.

Jazz/Hip-Hop Advanced/Beginner
For the jazz dancer with at least 3 years’ prior training. Dancers will expand on the basic techniques of jazz and hip-hop. Class will consist of an energetic warm-up and stretching, and then progress to center combinations and continue with traveling steps. It is highly recommended that jazz students take a weekly ballet class to supplement their jazz training.  Students are moved to the next level at the discretion of the instructor.

Jazz/Hip Hop Jr. Workshop

By invitation only at the discretion of the instructor. Dancers will expand on warm-up, stretching, center floor work. Jr. Workshop

Jazz/Hip-Hop Sr. Workshop
By invitation only for the experienced jazz dancer. This workshop class consists of advanced warm-up and a strong concentration on choreography and performance which will be showcased in our Annual WTD Dance Concert and JCC outreach programs.  Weekly ballet class is mandatory to supplement jazz training at this level.

Jazz/Hip-Hop - Intermediate
For the jazz dancer with at least 4 years’ prior training, this class teaches classic jazz with a contemporary slant; Hip-Hop, African, Latin, Musical Theatre, Modern Dance and Ballet will be some of the influences. Class will include warm-up, stretching, center work, floor work and then progress across the floor. Students in this class are strongly urged to take a weekly ballet class to supplement their jazz training.

2008-09 Ballet for Children and Teens

Beginner Ballet - Teens
It’s never too late to begin classical ballet training. For the teen/young adult interested in learning ballet basics. This class
includes barre work, stretching, and center floor. Students move to the next level at the discretion of the instructor.

Ballet Fundamentals

Children explore a more sophisticated use of movement and imagination as they begin to learn basic ballet fundamentals. They will discover the joy of communicating ideas through movement as they develop their self-esteem and social skills.

Introduction to Classical Ballet
Girls and boys begin formal ballet training, while learning basic ballet vocabulary and correct body placement. Students are taught strength and flexibility exercises needed for beginning levels of ballet. Barre work is introduced in this level.

Ballet: Level 1
Must have at least one year prior ballet experience. Placement audition required for new students.  Children are moved to next level at the discretion of the instructor.

Ballet: Level 2
Must have at least two years prior ballet experience. Placement audition required for new students. Dancers are encouraged to enroll in two weekly classes.

Ballet:  Level 3
Placement audition required. Aspiring Level 4 dancers must come twice weekly and are strongly urged to attend at least three weeks of summer dance at the JCC.

Ballet:  Intermediate Level 4
Placement audition required. Students MUST take all three technique classes for Level 4 Pointe
(see below).

Beginner Pointe:  Level 4
All three Level 4 Technique classes are required and both Tuesday/Thursday pointe.

Ballet:  Level 5
For advanced dancers, with permission of instructor. Students must take all three Level 5 Technique classes and two Pointe classes.

Pointe:  Level 5

2008 - 09 Adult Dance Classes
*These classes accept class cards and single-class payment. All other adult classes require enrollment for sessions.

Advanced Beginner Ballet

Intermediate Ballet

Faculty

About the Director, Jayne Santoro
914.472.3300 ext. 320
Jayne has been with the JCC Dance School for more than 20 years, teaching ballet to both children and adults. Her professional dance experience was with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company. Jayne had her classical ballet training at the American Ballet Theatre School in NYC. Jayne is the Director and Resident Choreographer for the JCC’s Westchester Theatre of Dance. Jayne also founded Ballet Outreach, a JCC program dedicated to bringing dance performances to children and seniors in Westchester. She teaches beginning to advanced levels at the JCC Dance School.

 

Dance School, Valerie Abrahams
Assistant to the Director  914-472-3300, x349     
Valerie is a writer/editor and journalist who loves desktop publishing, performing arts and cooking. After earning a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University's Medill School, Valerie worked ten years for various publications in Japan and in New York City. She has worked part-time at the JCC since 1996.

Dance School Instructors:

Catherine Barribal
Catherine received her early dance training at Ballet Etudes in Conn., and the Royal Ballet School in London., Staten Island Ballet as a dancer and then ballet mistress for the company.  She has performed with Connecticut Ballet Theatre, the Alexander Roy Ballet Theatre in London, and has guested with companies in the U.S. and Europe. She has been teaching ballet to adults and children for more than 17 years. She is presently Artistic Director of her own company, Classics Dance Theatre, and continues a busy teaching schedule in Connecticut and New York.

Meghan Burns
Meghan has extensive experience teaching Jazz and Theater Dance to children and teenagers. She created Taking Stages, a dance-training program for 4- to 18-year-olds at New Dance Group Arts Center. She has performed in Off-Broadway shows and choreographed numerous stage performances in New York and Philadelphia. Meghan has taught Jazz and Theatre Dance at SUNY Purchase, New Dance Group Arts Center, Dance Molinari, and Broadway’s Little Soles.

David Fernandez
David Fernandez, Ballet Teacher, Choreographer, and dancer. He is currently a Teaching Artist with the American Ballet Theatre’s award-winning Make a Ballet program, an education and outreach initiative. He also teaches at the Bridge for Dance Studios in Manhattan and at the JCC in Scarsdale. David studied ballet at the Centro de Arte y Ballet in his native Mexico City before winning a scholarship to Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, where he performed with the company and was awarded the prestigious Jeffrey Mildenstein Award. During his career, David has performed with Chicago’s Boitsov Classical Ballet company; Lyric Opera of Chicago; Ballet Theatre of Chicago and numerous small companies in the US.  He continues to dance professionally – a recent highlight was performing alongside Mikhail Baryshnikov in the play “The Doctor and The Patient” at the 2004 Lincoln Center Festival. David has choreographed for numerous companies including Ballet for Young Audiences, Staten Island Ballet, and the Westchester Ballet Company.  His work has been featured at the prestigious Jackson Competition and at The Bryant Park Culture Fest in New York City.  He is currently resident choreographer at City Center Ballet in New Hampshire. 

Rita Howerton
Rita spent four years at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, obtaining an M.A. in English Literature. While there, she continued to pursue her life-long passion for the arts, specifically dance, by teaching ballet and hip-hop to students at the University of Edinburgh’s National Centre for Dance, DanceBase. She also choreographed and performed in several large-scale charity events there, helping to raise thousands of dollars for cancer research. Most recently, Rita has participated in modern dance projects with artists such as Jonathan Burnett and Maria Colaco, while teaching at dance studios in Westchester. She lives in NYC, and in her free time, she plays drums in a band with her brother.

Stephanie Knox Madera
Stephanie trained in modern dance and ballet at Idyllwild Arts Academy, New World School of the Arts, Miami City Ballet, DancePlace at the North Carolina Dance Theater, and Dance Space Center in New York City. She has performed and toured throughout the US, and choreographed and taught ballet and modern in schools and dance companies from North Carolina to Colorado, and most recently throughout Westchester County in New York. She joined the JCC Dance School faculty in 2005.

Carly Lewis
Originally from Huntsville, Alabama, trained extensively in Ballet at Brigham Young University as a dance, music and theater major. She has been teaching for 10 years, and joined our JCC Dance School faculty in 2007, and is currently teaching Ballet Levels 2 and 3.

Kerri Lubell
Kerri specializes in Creative Movement and dance for young children. She has taught at the Pleasantville Y, Young at Art and the Northern Westchester Center for the Arts. She has danced with the Potpourri Dancers, the Wendy Biller Dance Co. and studied in New York with Andre Eglevsky, David Howard & Alexandra Alland. She is a graduate of the Academy of Dramatic Arts. 

Michelle Lucci
Michelle comes to the JCC Dance School with an extensive classical and contemporary dance background. She danced with the Royal Winnepeg Ballet, and was Principal Ballerina for the Pennsylvania Ballet and the Milwaukee Ballet. She is best known for her performances in Swan Lake and Giselle. She recently completed a seven-year tour as Dance Captain for the Phantom of the Opera touring company. This is Michelle’s fourth year at the JCC Dance School.

Benjamin Nathan
Ben comes to the JCC Dance School with an extensive background in tap dance performance and instruction. He has taught at some of the most prestigious studios in the US, including National Dance Institute, Broadway Dance Center, and New England Dance Conservatory. He has studied and shared the stage with tap masters Savion Glover, Buster Brown, Jason Samuels-Smith and Toni Nobblett. Through his choreography, Ben has developed an interest in film and video.

Flavio Salazar
Flavio is a native of Colombia, began his dance studies at the Colombian Institute of Classical Ballet (Incolballet). He joined Ballet de Cali in 1985, before joining the faculty of Incolballet upon his certification by the National Ballet of Cuba to teach methodology and pedagogy of ballet technique. In 1990, he studied at the Houston Ballet Academy as a full scholarship student, and later joined Ballet Arizona in 1992. In 1993, Salazar was invited to join the American Ballet Theatre (ABT). During his thirteen-year career with ABT, Salazar danced nearly every ballet in ABT's repertoire, before retiring from the company in July of 2006. Salazar's teaching experience extends from his early years of professional dancing in Colombia. He has taught classes at ABT II, the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, the ABT Summer Intensive, the Alvin Ailey School, and Ballet Tech, among others.

Laura Solow
Laura is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University Theatre and Dance department. Since she began teaching Zumba workshops in Westchester in 2006, she has received enthusiastic reviews in several publications and will be featured in the June 2008 issue of  "Best of Westchester" for her Zumba classes at the JCC.

Mimi Wallace
Mimi trained at Bentley-Stone School in Chicago and San Francisco Ballet School, joining SFB at age 13. She later trained at School of American Ballet in NYC with Oboukoff, Vladimiroff, Doubroska and Balanchine. She has performed in the US, Europe, Russia and the Far East. Mimi has appeared in more than a dozen Broadway musicals including Annie, in which she assisted choreographer Peter Gennaro. Her teaching credentials include San Francisco Ballet School, Wilson Morelli School in NY and the JCC of Mid-Westchester. She directed NWCA’s Dance School for 20 years, and its ballet performing company, Dance Messengers.