Central Park Dance to Mark 35th Anniversary This Fall; Lineup Announced!

Central Park Dance, Westchester's largest dance center, devoted to artistic excellence in training the aspiring dancer, will mark its 35th anniversary this September season.

Opening its original doors in 1982 with just one teacher and a few dozen students, co-founder and Artistic Director Maria Bai offered classes in ballet, tap, jazz, and creative movement in the basement of Dobbs Ferry's Zion Episcopal Church.

Over the next five years, seeing a steady incline in registration and attendance, Central Park Dance moved to its current home in Scarsdale, with one studio, a modest boutique, and big plans. In the years to follow, the studio expanded to a vast 10,000 sq. ft., sprawling across 4 state-of-the- art studios, and a student body of nearly 2,000 dancers who can train in over 15 dance disciplines.

Committed to cultivating and training dancers to excel in the 21st-century dance industry, the studio offers enchanting beginnings for young dancers, has founded performing companies, intensive and immersive workshops for the serious dancer, an extensive adult training program, and offers students training from over 20 of the industries most celebrated and trusted faculty.

"When I think about why Mario and I started 35 years ago, the mission has stayed the same," says Bai. "It was and still is about sharing a love and knowledge of dance with the community. I never take my success for granted. We have been lucky to expand and grow, and I've had many of generations come through our doors over the years, but at the root, it must always be about love. It is the only thing that can sustain something for so long."

This 35th anniversary year will offer alumni events, special scholarship opportunities, and an exciting retrospective across the last three decades, showcasing the evolution of dance in creative and integrative ways. The studio is currently accepting registrations for their fall semester, beginning on September 11, 2017. This year will also welcome dancers of all ages from the community to participate in their second annual Nutcracker performances, to take place at The Capitol Theater on December 17, 2017.

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35TH ANNIVERSARY SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS:

August 26-27: Open House 1

August 30: Master Class Workshop Series

September 9-10: Open House 2

September 10: Community Wide Nutcracker Auditions

September 11: First Day of Classes

September 17: Nutcracker Rehearsals Begin

September 24: Signature Dance Company Auditions

October 23-29: Parent Observation Week

December 17: The Nutcracker

May: Pre-School Recitals

June: Studio Wide Recitals

Additional performances, outreach events, and training programs will be announced throughout the training year.

As always, the studio invites children as young as 2 years of age to participate in introductory classes. Through age 5, tiny dancers enjoy age-appropriate activities that introduce classical ballet and a strong and accessible foundation through daily classes in Fairytale Ballet, Hip Hop Princess and Tap. Bai and faculty also offer an extensive academic and pre-professional curriculum for more advanced students to work with outstanding choreographers in an intensive and immersive program, providing unique performance opportunities throughout the year. Additionally, the studio welcomes over 400 adult students each week in ballet, hip-hop, tap, jazz, stretch and tone, belly dancing, yoga, jazzercise, and more, maintaining its mission of health, wellness, confidence and growth for all ages.

SCHOOL INFORMATON:

Partial or full registration is available for all programs. Students who register and pay in full on or before August 31 will save $45. Adults will save $35 off any class card.

Central Park Dance is located at 450 Central Park Avenue in Scarsdale, New York. To register, call 914-723-2940 or visit centralparkdance.com.

Dance and Fitness classes are offered for all levels, 7 days a week.

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One of the longest running and most respected dance studios in Westchester for 35 years, Central Park Dance offers classic and progressive styles of dance and fitness for both adults and children. With over 200 classes per week and 4 state-of-the-art studios, classes in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, Hip Hop, Break Dancing, Lyrical, Acro Jazz, Latin Jazz and Belly Dancing are offered seven days a week. In addition to dance, a comprehensive fitness schedule offers a full menu of classes; MuZe, Boot Camp, and Jazzercise in a range of levels. an extensive curriculum in a rage of levels.

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