2022-2023 YEAR IN REVIEW
Sept - We settled into our new home and bright new studio at High Tech High School in Secaucus!
October - FIELD TRIP to see OPEN FOR EVERYTHING at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
Dance Company Auditions with Meagan Woods
Performing in the Flash Mob with the Dance/Performance Program
FIELD TRIP to see exhibit The Trace of Implied Presence by Tiona McClodden at The Shed
Ms.Warfel presents her Improvisation Curriculum at the National Dance Education Conference in Atlanta
November - We shared a week of residency with Indian Dance Company Surati for the Performing Arts, taking classes along with the Performance Program
December - We presented OPEN STAGE in the Mainstage Theater
Performed alongside the entire Performing Arts Department in the December Showcase!
January - we hosted a residency with Tim Cowart from Oregon University, who gave workshops in Kaeja Elevations
We joined with the Dance/Performance students in creating a shared list of goals and values for the coming year
February - through the CHIRP program, we attended an open rehearsal and performance of Bessie winner Kyle Marshall Choreography at County Prep
Performed for the Hudson County Office of Cultural Affairs Black History Month Celebration
Student auditions for the May Concert!
March - senior Chelsea Mugambe is recognized nationally with an Honorable Mention from the National Honors Society for Dance Arts
We attended a performance of A Chorus Line at NJCU
Afterschool workshops with Guest Choreographer Jonathan Shwing Pena
April - FIELD TRIP to the renowned Joyce Theater to see Abraham In Motion
Hosted a Spring Break Dance Party for the school - a great success and lots of fun!
Photo Shoot with Sofia!
Hudson County Teen Arts Festival, senior Naomi Bayas received Top Honors for her piece End of a Beginning, juniors and seniors receive a Judges Award for The Search
May - Attended performance by Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company, featuring our alum Gianna Diaz
Senior Destiny Figuereo is inducted into the NHSDA
We presented Through My Eyes, our annual concert, to great reviews “Congratulations to all involved in this magnificent show! It was a journey!They are true artists!”
Our Dance Company performs at the Jersey City Youth Foundation event at Grace Church Van Vorst
June - Ms.Warfel receives the 2023 New Jersey Governor’s Award in Dance Education
2021-2022 Year In Review: We enthusiastically focused on building school spirit, creativity, and awareness about the importance of dance education.
September: We welcome Rutgers Mason Gross MFA Candidate Kayla Alvarez as our student teaching assistant, as well as dance consultant Meagan Woods, who has just returned from receiving her MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Simon Fraser University in Canada.
September: Kicking off our 2021-2022 Residency with Ladies of HipHop!
October 22: CPDance produced a school-wide Open Mic Night fundraiser, the first performance event at County Prep since returning to in-person school!
October 10: Instructor and director Heather Warfel Sandler presented “Redefining Success in Dance” for the Annual National Dance Education Conference. The national presentation demonstrated how dance education can be a foundation for various careers, and how alumni from the program have used their dance training to build thriving and fulfilling lives.
November 14-20: CPDance celebrated NDEO’s Love Your Body Week with daily affirmations in the schoolwide morning announcements, sharing inspirations for body positivity and acceptance. Senior dancers created body maps of what we can all love about ourselves, and the week ended with a schoolwide dance party during the lunch periods. Ms.Warfel Sandler observed, “The eagerness and excitement among the entire student body for the afternoon of dancing perfectly demonstrated how much young people need connection, and how dance is one of the most direct ways to satisfy the need for expression and shared creative experience.”
November: Guest Choreographer Jonathan “Shwing” Pena spent 3 days setting a new hiphop work on County Prep Dancers, with sections based in uprock, reggaeton, and house.
December 2: Ladies of HipHop, our ChIRP company in residence, held an afterschool workshop for students, sharing their professional experiences in hip-hop dance performance, and leading a movement class to introduce concepts from this uniquely American art form.
December 8 & 9: Guest Teaching Artist and Bessie-award winner Kyle Marshall leads 2 days of modern dance workshops.
December 21: CPDance will perform alongside our Music and Theater programs for a Winter Showcase.
January 9: CP Dance Director Heather WarfelSandler presents her solo work Out In This World at SMUSH Gallery WorkShare.
February 10/11: CP Dancers Kassandra Esparra, Destiny Figuereo, and LeaMarye Flores perform in CP Musical production Heather’s.
February 25: CP Dancers audition for Spring Dance Company with Guest Artist Meagan Woods.
March 8: CP Dancers take class and audition with Ladies of HipHop Dance Company.
May: We present HUMAN, and induct 5 new members in the National Honors Society for Dance Arts. Students receive awards at the Hudson County Teen Arts Festival.
June: On Tour! We traveled our show HUMAN to MS4 in Jersey City, and had a deep and thoughtful Q&A with the students there.
2020-2021 Year In Review
August: Ms.WarfelSandler presents “Responding & Adapting: Developing Meaningful Content with Students Online” for Dance New Jersey’s Communicate In Action Series.
September: Starting the school year virtually gave us the opportunity to redirect our learning. This brought us to questions and explorations about how choreography for the screen is different than choreographing for the stage, and how artists can create intimacy and personal connection despite not sharing space.
September - December: Guest Teacher Katelyn Halpern led the students through the first half of the year, offering new insight based on her experiences as a choreographer, dancer, visual artist, and gallerist. Ms.Halpern, an NJPAC Jersey Moves Fellow, introduced new practices to our program such as the Stretch, Condition, Nutrition journals.
October: Ms.Warfel presents “Building Student Agency: Responsive Teaching & Collaborative Dance Making”, at the 2020 National Dance Education Conference.
December: dance students presented an online Holiday Showcase, alongside County Prep’s theater and music programs
February-May: Spring ChIRP Resident Paul Pinto begins to consult with students online on dance film projects.
April: Students and teachers meet over 5 days at 7 outdoor locations throughout Hudson County to begin filming for the end of year dance film. Student choreographers collaborated with County Prep film students and staff to design, storyboard, choreograph, and film their work.
May: County Prep Dance presents How Does the Journey End, an hour long dance film, choreographed, directed, and edited by students, commenting on the social issues facing young people today, and how we can make change…
May: County Prep Alumni Tamir Rios and Gianna Diaz collaborate with Ms.WarfelSandler to present RunThrough for Outside the Lines Dance Series at Centenary College
May: County Prep showed four works at the Hudson County Teen Arts Festival, two of which won Outstanding Achievement awards
June: County Prep Dance students and alumni showcase their work See Me As I Am at SCDT Teen Screen Dance Festival
June: our work was showcased in Dance NJ’s Show Up and Dance online statewide production
2019-2020 Year In Review
Senior Stephany Santiago is awarded the NJ Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, as well as national recognition from the National Honors Society for Dance Arts
County Prep Dancers perform alongside professional choreographers and companies in the second annual Dance for the Ages, a free public dance concert presented by Mayor Steven Fulop and the Jersey City Office of Cultural Affairs.
Following the closing of school in March, dancers created, in 2 months, a series of dance films to address their feelings and state of mind during the pandemic.
2018-2019 Year In Review
September
The school year begins and new dancers are welcomed into the dance program.
Guest Artist Madelyn Eltringham holds auditions for the 407 Dance Company.
October
The entire dance program attends a performance of Dearest Home, choreographed by Kyle Abraham/Abraham In Motion at the Joyce Theater in Manhattan.
The dance company hosts a demonstration and sample class at the 8th grade Open House for incoming students.
The dance program hosted another sold out Open Mic Night Fundraiser, a popular event amongst the student body.
November
Our Fall CHIRP residency welcomes Bessie Award Winner Kyle Marshall, who began teaching the students and rehearsing in our theater.
Our students attend the annual You Move Modern Dance Festival at the historic Loew’s Theater. Several students also had the opportunity to work backstage. Our ballet instructor, Madelyn Eltingham performed.
At the end of the month Fall CHIRP Artist Kyle Marshall’s Professional Company produced 4 Dances:Old and New in the County Prep Theater.
December
The County Prep Dance Company performed at the HCST Gala at Nanina’s in the Park.
The senior class took a field trip to the Museum of Modern Art to see an exhibit about the iconic Judson Dance Theater. Students also watched a performance by the Stephen Petronio Dance Company, and attended an artist talk with the legendary Steve Paxton.
Along with the theater and music classes, the department performed in County Prep’s Annual Holiday Showcase.
January
The dance program started building ideas for our annual show.
February
3 new dancers were welcomed in the Dance Company for the Spring.
Dance interns begin to build the set for our annual concert.
March
The dance program hosted a sold out Talent Show, praised by audiences as a one of the most entertaining yet, with performances in dance, poetry, music, and magic. The show was judged by professionals from Jersey City Ballet, Speranza Theater Company, and musician Murdock.
The Junior and Senior classes took workshops and performed at the Brooklyn Arts Exchange (BAX) Teen Arts Conference.
The dance program took a trip to see the internationally renowned Batsheva Dance Company at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
April
Spring CHIRP resident choreographer Stephen Galberth begins rehearsals for Duplex, featuring 8 County Prep Dancers..
May
The dancers in 407 Moves rehearsed intensely for the annual dance show, Enigma. The performance features an adaptable set designed and created by the dancers in collaboration with instructor Heather Warfel Sandler. The set was constructed through months of trial & error, construction, and experimentation. It consists of 2 8foot by 8foot panels that begin as moving walls, and ultimately adapt into a rolling platform, a climbing device, and a ramp.
On May 15, 16 and 17, 407 Moves performed Enigma to enthusiastic audiences:
“Conceptually cohesive evening length experiences are rarely available for performers-in-training. These productions take expanded creative range and deeper focus to inhabit. The Country Prep dancers' ability to bring Enigma to life from conception to presentation was extraordinary. I am reminded: our young people need and can handle bigger challenges. The dexterity with which the students approached the multi-dimensional Enigma set is not just skill. It is the material of a fluid perspective grounded in risk-taking.” -Myssi Robinson, Professional Dancer and Artist, KMChoreography, David Dorfman Dance
Four County Prep dancers were inducted into the National Honors Society for Dance Arts.
On May 18, the junior and senior dancers attended the Hudson County Teen Arts Festival at Harrison High School, where County Prep was recognized with the highest award of Top Honors for their Large Group Dance, as well as 2 Judges Awards for student-choreographed work.
June/July
The Senior and Junior class takes over teaching the underclassmen, an annual tradition.
June 14 Spring CHIRP Choreographer Stephen Galberth presents an evening of dance featuring 5 professional dance companies.
On July 10 at dusk on the Exchange Place Pier, County Prep’s students and alumni unite with local professional and pre-professional dancers of all ages for a night celebrating movement across generations. Dance for the Ages is produced by instructor Heather Warfel Sandler, as part of Jersey City’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ Summer in the City Dance Series. This year’s performance hosts County Prep High School, Katelyn Halpern & Dancers, Spacejunk, Madelyn Eltringham, Oluwadamilare (Dare) Ayorinde, and Jersey City Dance Academy.
2017 - 2018
Year In Review
September
The new school year begins and 9 new dancers are welcomed into the dance company.
October
The dance program hosted another sold out Open Mic Night Fundraiser, an event popular among the entire student body.
Our first CHIRP resident artist, Katelyn Halpern, began teaching the dancers. Along with teaching classes, she set her own work, Build Up, on 12 select student dancers.
The dancers went on a field trip to see the legendary Bill T Jones Dance Company at BAM.
November
The Senior dance class went to BAM to see David Dorfman's new and moving work, Aroundtown.
Our students attended the Your Move Modern Dance Festival at the historic Loew's Theater. Several senior dancers had the opportunity to work backstage during the show. Instructors Ms.Warfel and Ms. Woods both performed.
December
Along with the theater and music classes, the dance department performed 4 dances in County Prep's Annual Holiday Showcase.
Katelyn Halpern, our residency teacher/choreographer, presented an evening length show, Loose Heart, performed by her professional company on December 14 and 15 in the County Prep Theater. Dance majors worked backstage for the event.
January
The Dance Company begins rehearsals for a quintet entitled, "Rush" and they prepare to perform this piece at the BAX Teen Arts Festival.
February
Our second artist in resedence, Khadija Ahmaddiya, began teaching the students. She also collaborated with senior Delana Ramos on a solo. Khadija directed a video featuring all of the dance majors, to be presented in our annual concert.
March
The Senior dance class went on another field trip to the Joyce Theater, a popular venue for world class dance. The performance featured Brian Brooks Moving Company.
April
The dancers went to the Brooklyn Art Exchange to participate in the Teen Arts Festival, where they attended a full day of theater and dance workshops, and performed their quintet entitled, "Rush" in the evening Gala.
Rehearsal begins for our annual End-of-the-Year show.
May
County Prep's 17th Annual Dance Concert, Memory In Motion was sold out both nights. The show investigated the passing of time and memory as told through modern and contemporary dance. Dancers Esmeralda Bencosme, Julian Purino, and Sonia Singh were inducted into the National Honor Society for Dance Arts, joining fellow dancer Delana Ramos in this prestigious organization.
Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors went to NJCU to represent County Prep at the Hudson County Teen Arts Festival.
Jun/July
The Senior Dance class takes over teaching the underclassmen, an annual tradition in pedagogy.
Some of County Prep's most talented alumni reunite alongside current students and professional companies for a special performance on July 12 at the Exchange Place Pier as part of Jersey City’s Summer in the City Series.
2016-2017
Year In Review
September
9/9 - We welcomed back to school with the inception of a second level dance company and 7 new members.
9/30 - The senior dance class took a field trip to see the multi-media dance performance Pandaemonium at New York Live Arts in Manhattan. The inventive piece was created and performed by Geoff Sobelle and Nichole Canuso with film work by Lars Jan.
9/28 - 407 Moves hosted an Artist Talk with 2 filmmakers: Robert Meyer, instructor at Explore 2000, and Marco Napoli, international Italian award winning video artist.
October
10/7 - County Prep dance was thrilled to be part of Jersey City’s biggest annual arts event, the Jersey City Art & Studio Tour. At the opening reception, instructor Heather Warfel Sandler performed The Two Duets alongside Ross Sandler, and on Sunday 6 students along with 3 CP alumni performed choreography as well as improvised a performance based on the visual art in the gallery. JC Artist Tour Improv
10/21 - The dance program hosted yet another sold-out Open Mic Nite Fundraiser.
10/22 - The entire dance program took a field trip to Your Move, Jersey City’s Modern Dance Festival, which featured a variety of choreographers including Meagan Woods, 407 Dance Company’s Lead Teacher.
10/12 - Ms. Warfel Sandler was honored to be interviewed for the Dance Podcast – Movers & Shapers, hosted by Erin Carlisle Norton. The podcast unites dance communities around the globe in one conversation through personalized interviews with the many ‘shapers’ of the dance world.
10/23 - Featured students performed and led a workshop for the 8th Grade Open House.
November
11/22 - All program students shared their progress with a performance on parents night.
11/2 - The senior dance class, responsible for creating the theme and structure for our annual concert, conceived a performance that would feature live music. We brought in Jersey City’s Chelo Mercado of Sirelo Entertainment, who led a drum circle for 15 of our dancers to introduce them to the basic concepts of percussion.
11/4 - Tamir Rios, Selah Rogerson, and Alyssa Acciavatti represented County Prep with a performance at the HCST Foundation Gala at Maritime Parc.
December
12/2 - The dance program hosted a Uke Night fund-raiser, which featured senior musicians Gerard Bello and Janel Scroth/HolyVeins, as well as Ms.Warfel’s 4 piece ukulele band, The Ukuladies.
12/21 - We collaborated with the theater and music classes for our annual holiday showcase.
January
1/8 - The senior dancers had the enviable opportunity to see the U.S. premiere of Mr.Gaga, a documentary about world renowned Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin, who founded the dance technique Gaga. Along with the film screening, the students participated in a Gaga workshop class led by Saar Harari.
1/20 - International percussionist Ravish Momin led the first of two workshops in which he trained the dancers in cajon percussion, and helped us compose the music for a new piece which featured the dancers both dancing and accompanying themselves on drums.
1/22 - 3 Advanced Seniors performed Learning to Be Lost, choreographed by Meagan Woods, at the Show Up & Dance festival at Centenary College.
February
2/3 - Following a master class with Robert Mark Burke, all dance students ventured to the Brooklyn Academy of Music to see Last Work, the latest piece by the Batsheva Dance Company. It was an absolute inspiration that left many in tears.
March
3/7 - Juniors and Seniors represented County Prep at the Hudson County Teen Arts Festival. Learning to Be Lost received the Judges Award in Small Group Dance, and the senior percussion piece, And That’s Within, garnered the highest award of Top Honors and an invitation to the State Festival.
April
Rehearsals begin for our annual concert.
May
5/11,12 - See Us, Hear Us, County Prep’s 16th Annual Concert. The show was an important and moving expression of how teens feel in today’s challenging world, as well as a look at the personal challenges many of them have endured.
5/11 - We inducted 4 new members: Veronica Gagliardi, Amanda Abdelaal, Mia Stephens, & Delana Ramos into the National Honor Society for Dance Arts.
5/23 - Senior Tamir Rios received the prestigious Governor’s Award in Dance, and performed at the Trenton War Memorial Gala.
5/31 - And That’s Within was presented at the NJ State Teen Arts Festival at Ocean County College.
June
6/17 - County Prep hosted its first full performance by a professional dance company, Meagan Woods & Dancers. Hidden Hymns featured choreography by Woods set to the original live music of Jersey City star Shayfer James. Our advanced students made a cameo appearance, and this special event marked the first of what we hope to be more collaborations with the professional dance community.
County Prep's First Alumni Show
The County Prep Dance Program held their first ever Alumni Showcase on Friday, January 8th. The event marked the 15th anniversary of the County Prep Dance Program under the direction of Ms. Heather Warfel Sandler. 22 dance alumni were involved in performing and video segments highlighting their current projects in the arts. There was a packed audience including more alumni, parents, staff, and community members who were incredibly enthusiastic and impressed by the performances.
Quote From Director Heather Warfel-Sandler: "I wanted to do something special for this anniversary. I'm lucky to be in touch with many of my former students, and it became clear to me that the best way to celebrate the program was to celebrate THEM. My teaching process and philosophy has been directly informed by their willingness to experiment, discuss, argue, create, and dance with me. I have a very clear idea of what I believe is important in arts education, and I don't take for granted that my students have helped me to define that philosophy. As I started to reach out to find alumni who were still active in the arts, I realized that while they all came through this program, their work since then has been incredibly varied. That was so exciting to me and is one of the things for which I'm most proud! We are fulfilling our mission of using dance as a tool to open minds. This program is sending creative people out into the world, who are forging their own paths. There is a common misconception in the arts - especially dance - that if you pursue it you either "make it" or you go to your backup plan. This alumni concert proved that couldn't be further from the truth. Among these dance program alumni were professional dancers, choreographers, singers, producers, dance teachers, actors, future dance therapists, a yoga instructor, a praise-dance leader, a world renowned b-boy, a filmmaker, an arts administrator, a visual and performance artist, and even one who spent time on Capitol Hill working on arts legislation - ALL influenced by their dance education. I have worked with so many amazing young people through this program, many of whom have become my friends and colleagues. This was a great way to honor them and our program."
Alumni Photo Album: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOrBlj9ANtpk0TCPo_7A5sO6HiB5wsNlQFDNPxUcgG-l3OUXB2dfFeeVODnLH8LcQ?key=bjRUTDVlMHFkdzh1X0pUUkc5NWZDRUhMNURmNldB
2015-2016 Year In Review
September
On the first Friday of September, County Prep Dance kicked off their 15th year with a public performance in downtown Jersey City. 407 Movements was an improvised piece structured and performed by the junior and senior dancers, and presented as part of the citywide event JC Fridays. Dancers moved from one end of Newark Avenue’s pedestrian plaza to the other, counting down 407 movements.
October
Another sold out Open Mic Nite Fundraiser took place on October 16th, hosted by the dance classes and featuring performances by many of County Prep’s singers, dancers, and musicians.
November
The 407 Dance Company performed at the HCST Foundation Gala at Maritime Parc, to rave reviews from the board and HCST administration. All dancers showcased their work from the first months of school at County Prep’s Open House.
December
Kris Van Nest of This Learning.com released a video documentary highlighting the County Prep Dance Program. The dancers took a group trip to the Brooklyn Academy of Music to see Continu, by German choreographer Sasha Waltz.
January
A very special event to celebrate the dance program’s 15th Anniversary, the first ever Alumni Concert was held on January 8th. The performance featured 24 dance alumni who continue to be active in the arts. The diversity of the alumni’s success exemplified how the County Prep program encourages young dancers to forge their own paths. Alumni accomplishments include dance degrees from renowned universities, performing with national companies, studying experimental theater at NYU, founding local arts organizations, careers as recording artists, and working as a government arts advocate.
On June 9th the 407 Dance Company performed at Dance NJ’s Show Up & Dance at Centenary College. Their performance was praised by the NJ professional dance community, and earned them an invitation to perform in Spain over the summer. At this time County Prep also established its chapter of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA).
February
Students enjoyed a mini-residency with 10HL Dance Company, in which dancers took class with 3 professional company dancers, watched a performance, and participated in a discussion. Students were particularly inspired by the advice offered by the dancers.
Over the winter break the 407 Dance Company rehearsed an original commissioned piece with professional choreographer Robert Mark Burke. While they rehearsed, other dancers volunteered to come in to clean and paint Ms.Warfel’s office – a true testament to the generosity, dedication, and work ethic of our students!
March
In March the junior and senior dancers took class and performed at the NJ High School Dance Festival at Union City High School. They performed their own choreography, which received a perfect score, and adjudicators called ‘creative, unique, interesting’ with all the qualities of professional work.
April
Sophomores, juniors, and seniors performed at the Hudson County Teen Arts Festival, where student choreography won the Judges Award and Top Honors were given to the 407 Dance Company, earning them an invitation to perform at the State Festival.
May
Revealed, our 15th Annual Concert, sold out both nights. The show was an evening length work conceived by the Dance III class, and was interpreted by audiences as a commentary on the need to move away from technology toward human connection. At the concert, 6 dancers were inducted into the National Honors Society for Dance Arts.
June
The 407 Dance Company performed at the State Teen Arts Festival in Ocean County, where they received the highest score of ‘distinguished’ from both judges in all categories. Additionally, junior Tamir Rios won the Geraldine R Dodge Scholarship for dance. We finished an action packed year with an encore performance of Revealed, hosted by Art House Productions, Jersey City’s most prominent theater organization.
2014-2015 Year in Review
September
Classes begin! In addition, the 407 Dance Company of advanced dancers began training with Guest Teacher Meagan Woods – Alyssa Acciavatti, Gianna Diaz, Tamir Rios, Diana Uribe, and new members Selah Rogerson and Tamijah Southerland.
October
The dancers produced yet another sold-out Open Mic Nite Fundraiser! Ms.Warfel Sandler choreographed and performed a new work, The Two Duets, in Your Move, Jersey City’s Modern Dance Festival, at DeBaun Auditorium in Hoboken.
November
a full bus of dance majors were captivated on a field trip to the Brooklyn Academy of Music to see Batsheva Dance Company’s Sadeh 21, choreographed by Ohad Naharin. This was an exquisite performance, hailed by many of the students as the best dance performance they have ever seen. The work introduced many new concepts that proved to be inspiration through rest of the school year. Students also performed 3 new pieces for the Open House Parents Night on Nov 18.
January
Dance majors Emily Ruiz, Amanda Abdelaal, Tamijah Southerland, Mia Stephens, & Naheema Bass performed as the dance ensemble of this years musical The Wiz.
March & April
Major renovations to the theater were underway, including a new backdrop, new velvet wing curtains, expansion of the dance floor/stage, and installation of tiered seating which now allows for 140 audience members, all with full view of the stage! Alumni Crystal Vasquez came in as guest choreographer for the sophomore class.
May
Our annual concert, Spectrum, was a huge success, hailed by local professional dancers as “one of the most heartfelt and refreshing evenings of dance that I have seen to date!” The senior class conceived of and filmed a movement piece which involved the painting of a large canvas through dance. The video was projected onto a white dance floor as the finale of the show, while live dancers interacted with the projection. The inventiveness once again took the CP performance standard to a new level.
June
The dancers received the highest number of awards at the Hudson County Teen Arts Festival, held at NJCU. The 407 Dance Company received the Judges Award for Large Group Dance, a solo by Gianna Diaz also won a Judges Award, and the only Top Honors in dance was awarded to Tabow, choreographed by junior Tamijah Southerland and performed with Diana Uribe. Ms Warfel Sandler is very proud of all the dancers accomplishments this year!
2013-2014 Year In Review
September
We initiated the 407 Dance Company, a new credited course geared to provide our most advanced dancers an opportunity to work together on physically challenging material. Acceptance to the company is by audition or instructor recommendation, and dancers met for two hours on Fridays after school under the tutelage of Guest Artist Meagan Woods. Based on its success this year, we look forward to continuing and expanding the dance company in the future.
October
We held our annual sold-our Open Mic Nite Fundraiser. We attended two modern dance company performances at the Brooklyn Academy of Music: David Dorfman’s Come, and Back Again inspired students with its use of mixed media, audience participation, multi-generational performers and live music. The dancers in Brian Brooks’ Run Don’t Run impressed our students with their strength and endurance as they wove through an intricate set design. This was the first introduction to professional modern dance for some of our students, and gave them insight into current trends in the field.
November
November brought our first performance of the year at Parents Night/Open House, and the debut performance of the 407 Dance Company
December
We performed our annual Holiday Showcase for 3 full audiences of County Prep students and staff.
February
Montclair State University hosted David Rousseve Dance Company’s piece Stardust, an intense narrative piece, which led to a passionate discussion and an opportunity for our students to connect with one another on a very personal level.
March
It is always exciting to see County Prep dance alumni, especially when they are able to come and dance with us again. Crystal Vasquez, class of 2011, currently a member of the Rutgers Dance Company, came to share some new choreography with our seniors.
Fellow alumnus John Hines has visited us annually throughout his college career to teach and choreograph for current dance students. John recently graduated with a BA in Dance from Dean College—congratulations John!!!
In March we also attended the Brooklyn Arts Exchange Teen Arts Conference for the 8th year. The senior and junior dance students took a full day of classes in dance and theater, and collaborated with other performing arts students from the NYC community. At the end of the event all students performed in the Gala Concert.
April
In April we hosted a mini-residency with 10HairyLegs Dance Company. Having 6 male dancers in the County Prep dance program this year inspired a choreography commission from 10HL, which is a professional all male dance company under the Artistic Direction of Randy James. The boys rehearsed after school with dancer Alex Biegelson to collaborate on “The Other Side of the Road”, and Mr.Biegelson came to teach several days of classes. Additionally Mr.James, a NJ State/International Distinguished Teaching Artist and Professor at Mason Gross School of the Arts, also taught a day of classes
May
Our 13th annual Dance Concert, Seasonal Moments, drew rave reviews from students, families, alumni, and the Jersey City arts community. Many said it was our best concert yet!
At the 2014 Hudson County Teen Arts Festival, held at NJCU, our dancers earned the highest award of Top Honors in both the Large Group and Small Group categories.
Alumni TESTIMONIALS
“407 Moves is the place to be if you’re looking for the BEST dance 4-year program at a Hudson County High School! Not only did this train me based on my commitment to modern dance, but it really made me stay true to the dancer that I wanted to be. I can truly say that this program expands your mind intellectually and demands physical growth. No one like Mrs.Warfel offers a free, fair, and caring community like she does. So thankful she was a huge part of my dance career. It’s not what you do, it’s how you do it!”-Gianna D. 2016, Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company, AU MFA in Dance Candidate
“On the first day of my college dance appreciation class, much of the content I had already covered in high school! Ms. Warfel has taught me so much about dance, on and off the floor. This program not only trains you to become a critical thinker and appreciator of the arts, but also trains you to become a fluid, strong, and adaptable dancer - and that’s what college dance programs are looking for.” -Delana R. 2018, Dance Education Major at Rutgers New Brunswick.
“The guidance I was given in highschool prepared me for my entrance into college - especially in movement class. The CP Dance Program is a truly special class that not only teaches you about dance, but about being a great artist and a great person - you will truly become well rounded.” -Kyle V. 2018, Theater Major at Marymount Manhattan College
“County Prep’s dance program has prepared me for college in countless ways. I was taught to approach everything with a professional outlook. Developing this mindset at a young age is important, and having a teacher as brilliant as Ms. Warfel was truly a gift. She taught me tips and ways to manage myself as I started to become an independent artist. I will always remember where I came from and am grateful for my experiences at CP.” -Tamir R. 2017, PonyBox Dance Company, Dodge Scholarship Winner, Governor’s Awardee,
" The program taught me that there is more to dance than competition, and that collaboration and communication are the keys to success. The dance room was a second home. The friendships and lessons will last a lifetime. The anatomy study that was taught in dance has benefited me tremendously in college. I”m constantly surprised by the many things this dance program prepared me for!” -Amanda A. 2017, Exercise Science Major, Montclair State University
"Ms. Warfel is all about inspiration. I was highly encouraged to take risks and to be myself. I had experiences on and off stage that taught me so much about life, and prepared me to pursue my degree in Dance Education." - Valenisa G. 2013, Dance Ed Major at Montclair State University
"The dance program prepared me for college by strengthening my technique, and taught me the importance of a strong foundation. I was encouraged to follow what I have dreamt about all my life -- to be a professional dancer" - John H. 2010, BA in Dance at Dean College, Dancer at Walt Disney Entertainment, FL, Backup Dancer-Mariah Carey Las Vegas
"The County Prep Dance Program has been the most influential part of my life. Dance helped get me into college, it helped inspire me toward other arts from literature to film and helped influence the way I see the world. Were it not for this dance program, I would not have been able to see as much of the country and world as I have, wouldn’t have excelled at my many careers since, and would never have met my dancer wife. This program and Ms.Warfel have impacted my life in more ways than I can count. Through the program I learned how to create and problem solve in ways I never knew, and I was able to use those skills to get into a university and pursue dance as a career" - Eric O. 2005, B.F.A in Dance at Rutgers/Mason Gross, STREB Dance Co. Apprentice, Professional Dancer with the Latin Ballet of Virginia, GroundZero Dance, Moe-tion Dance Theater