By: Tracie Carter
Images: Mecca Davison, Arts High
Arts High School Principal Ms. Devonne Gorman and her newly revitalized Media Arts/Television Broadcasting Department took the honor of hosting over a dozen schools around Newark in a live recording of the All-City Dance that took place in the school's grand auditorium earlier this week.
"Opening the doors of Arts Hich School to host the annual All-City Dance performances of the young and budding artists throughout the city of Newark was an absolute joy," Principal Gorman said.
March is "Arts in Our Schools Month" in New Jersey schools, an annual celebration initially proclaimed by the U.S. Department of Education that showcases students' accomplishments in dance, music, theater and the visual arts nationwide.
According to a statement released by the New Jersey Department of Education, all public school students should have access to high-quality arts education.
"Arts education refers to dance, moving image, music, theater, and visual arts. An arts education teaches creativity, cooperation, discipline, analysis, and other important life skills. Students also develop positive outlets for self-expression," NJ DOE said.
In her attempt to bridge world-class performance and community engagement by presenting performing artwork that challenges, speaks to, and elevates diverse audiences, Newark Public Schools' Director of Visual & Performing Arts, Ms. Margaret El, connected elementary and high school dance programs in the city for a week of choreographed dance greatness.
Principal Gorman said the stage was filled with artistic expression, passion, collaboration and excellence.
Dance programs from around the district were bussed to Arts High.
They spent three days conducting videotaping sessions in the school's state-of-the-art broadcast center, encompassing fiber optic multicamera ad audio connections to the auditorium.
There are other live cameras and audio connections around the nation's first visual and performing arts school.
The schools in attendance for All-City Dance were Hawthorne Ave, Harriet Tubman, Hawkins Street, East Side High, West Side High, Belmont Runyon, Peshine Ave, NJ Regional Day, Rafael Hernandez, Elliott Street school, First Avenue School and Franklin.
"This experience was yet another example of the charge our Arts High School community has embodied this year, as we continue to "Aspire to Inspire" in all that we do," said Principal Gorman.
Newark Visual and Performing Arts Director Margaret El would like to thank Department Chair Warner and Mr. R. Smith for a beautiful production and launch of an excellent facility at Arts High.
They also want to thank the WAHS TV Broadcast Team of students for the first-ever launch of newly built control room: Meca Davison Photojournalist, Nigel Bush Camera 2, Nathaniel Fernandez Camera 3, Tai Greene Camera 1, Samiyah Smith Technical Director, Devin Brockette Technology Director, Ziare Edwards Technical Director Richard Aires Lighting, Maggie Quintas Audio.
All of the performances will be aired at a later date on Webex.
