Tottenville High School Dance Program Returns
On Monday, May 21st, the Tottenville High School Dance Company performed their showcase. The show went off without a hitch, and the dancers were absolutely show-stopping. This showcase was the dance company’s second annual performance under the new direction of Jenna Mangogna. The Tottenville Dance Company has been an after-school club that has been enjoyed by so many students, but like many clubs and programs, it all came to a halt in 2020 when COVID-19 struck. Jenna Mangogna decided to take on and rebuild the program last year, in March 2023.
Jenna Mangogna was fresh out of college and student teaching under Ms. Scali in the school’s physical education department. When Jenna learned that the dance company program had been dormant since COVID-19, she immediately knew it was something she wanted to bring back. It was a tough task to rebuild a program that had been shut down for over two years. However, Jenna knew that the passion for dance was very present among the students at Tottenville High School. Jenna continued to ask about the revival of the dance company and met with many staff members. Jenna was successful and was able to recreate the program through the JCC Beacon program with the help of Mr. Bloom, Principal Battista, and so many members of the Tottenville High School staff.
Mr. Lamorte, who was the musical director at Tottenville High School, always hoped for a dance program where students would be able to build their craft to become professionals. He met with Jenna over this past summer when he got wind of the company having their first showcase in 2023 last year.
Over the summer, they worked together to start discussing how this program could be built, the type of curriculum offered, and what opportunities we were hoping to offer throughout the course of their four years here. He then offered her a mentorship through the Arnhold Dance Teacher Support program, where she would be mentored and assisted as she started and provided with resolute support, including a dance library, extra funding, and multiple opportunities for professional development with a long list of dance artists and teachers to help guide her and support the growth of the program.
Sadly, Mr. Lamorte suddenly passed away due to illness, but his legacy will be remembered, and the hopes he had for this dance program will continue. Jenna states, “We are so thankful for the impact he’s made, and I am so grateful for all of his help that will serve as the foundation for a successful future.”
When holding an interest meeting, she was faced with tons of students who were eager to join. About 50 people signed up for the team in 2024 and 85 people this year. With all of this expressed interest, Jenna was elated and held auditions that ultimately led her to a full dance company of 30 students.
The Tottenville High School Dance Company became such a great outlet for students to not only dance but also choreograph. The various dancers get the chance to choreograph some dances for their showcase if they choose to. This gives the students creative liberty and a chance to express themselves and their ideas.
This year, Jenna was joined by another co-worker in her physical education department, Marisa Russo. Russo was eager to help Jenna with other important parts of this operation. She had a love for fitness and health but a great background in dancing that she was looking to revisit. Some of this help includes student paperwork, booking various opportunities, costumes, and other treasurer responsibilities. As she became more comfortable within the team, she grew very close to the students and helped the show go on by running practices, providing feedback, and being a wonderful leader. Jenna and Marisa have become a wonderful team and have put all their recent efforts into working up the ladder in order to create something special for the students now and in the future.
Jenna Mangogna speaks on the importance of arts in school, stating, “More schools need to have opportunities in the performing arts, especially dance. Even though this just started off as an after-school dance club, it drew much attention and favor within the school, and we are now in the process of building a successful dance education program within actual school hours. Students must get the time they need to learn and improve their skills as dancers, rather than just learning choreography after school. Students should be provided with the proper training and techniques to build on their skills and progress in the art with purposeful feedback. We want them to perform, of course, but we want them to have a place to learn, grow, and shine.”
Fast forward to the present, and the Tottenville High School Dance Company continues to grow. In addition to their annual showcase, the Tottenville Dance Company was given the opportunity to perform at a Ferryhawks game this past month. The company is gearing up and rehearsing for its very first dance competition in Philadelphia.
We wish the Tottenville High School Dance Company good luck and hope this story serves as inspiration for other arts programs!
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