The Paramus High School Dance Departments’ Power of The Dance 4- Concert on June 1, 2017 was filled with a collection of intriguing pieces of choreography which educated, inspired and ignited the audiences imagination. Each piece reflected on our history, past and shared our hopes for our future.  As a dance educator and choreographer, it is my mission to use the art of Dance as powerful tool that is beyond entertainment; conveying stories and meaningful messages about ourselves and the world around us.
This year Dance at PHS was filled with so many exciting and amazing opportunities in Dance and for our community. The Paramus Chamber of Commerce Dream Grant Foundation provided us with a grant supporting my Broadway Meets The Artist Dream Grant.This generous grant provided students with full day professional dance experiences in New York participating Broadway Classroom Step by Step Workshops for An American In Paris & Hamilton as well as attended An American In Paris and Paramour on Broadway. Dancers were able to meet cast members, learn original choreography and participate in Q & A sessions sharing their wisdom from the field. We were also fortunate to have guest artists Laurena Barros, Former Rockette for a Precision Kick Line Workshop and Kid Glyde from Broadway Dance Center for a Hip Hop & Break Dancing Workshop. During holiday season The Spartanettes began a new tradition “Sharing The Gift Of Dance” assembly programs performing at all schools district wide in addition to our Annual Holiday Concert. Dancers and I also visited NJPAC twice this year to see live professional performances of Ballet Hispanico and Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and participate in professional workshops with Dance New Jersey. In April, another magical moment , was a collaborative performance sharing the stage with Mr. Donellan and The Wind Ensemble bringing An American In Paris to life on stage for our K-12 Arts Festival. This year’s Power of Dance concert featured original pieces of choreography created by our Dance Honor students. Each piece was created to raise awareness about particular social issues our youth face today, part of our Dance for Democracy and Social Consciousness Unit. Throughout the evening concert, students shared mission statements as well beautiful dances about 9/11, Bullying, Body Image and Adversity. As well as performed Identity, a piece honoring the Holocaust, which was inspired by the poem I Am A Jew by Franz Bass , from the book I Never Saw Another Butterfly– Children’s Drawings and Poems from Terezin Concentration Camp, 1942-1944. We were beyond proud of Senior, Emily Pagano, 2017 Governor’s Award in Arts Education for Excellence in Artistry & Leadership in Dance; who performed her solo work to Maya Angelous’s poem “Still I Rise” in her mission statement she shared…”Confucius once said, “our greatest glory is not in never failing, but rising in every time we fall,” this couldn’t be any closer to what I focused on when choreographing my piece too Still I Rise. I created this piece to let people know it’s okay to fall. We live in a world where people have this preconceived idea that to fall, is to be weak. However, I’m here to let you know that it’s not the struggle that determines your inner strength, it is your willingness to rise from the fall.” The evening concluded with all dancers performing to an instrumental version of Imagine, utilizing sign language and dance to convey powerful message of unity.
 It has been amazing year for the Dance Department that has reaffirmed the” Power of Dance” as a universal language that all can comprehend. Thank you to Paramus Board of Education, Dance New Jersey, Dance New Jersey-Dance PLC, Arts Ed Now and all the dancers for your endless hard work , dedication and commitment to the Dance program and Arts Education. Nietzsche said, “We should consider each day lost in which we have not danced at least once.” For me, everyday has been found.
All of these amazing experiences inspired me to write a poem- Lessons In Dance To Help Choreograph Your Future- embodying the meaning of “power of Dance” and what we as Dance Educators are really teaching ! (see poem attached below)
Hope you enjoy !
 
– Claudine Ranieri

Dance Educator
Paramus High School
Early Childhood & LEAP Dance Programs
Artistic Director of The Spartanettes
 
 
Lessons in Dance to Help Choreograph Your Future