"Opportunity Knocks" Program & Pre-professional/Scholarship Audition

Company:
Nimbus Dance Works
JERSEY CITY’S NIMBUS DANCE WORKS HOLDS AUDITIONS SEPTEMBER 6
FOR PRE-PROFESSIONAL AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM;
ADDS NEW COLLEGE-PREP PROGRAM “OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS”
Program aims to train students for professional careers and entry into university dance programs;
New “Opportunity Knocks” curriculum, co-designed By Dr. Edgar Rivera Colon, Ph.D. & Lillian
Rivera, MPH, integrates academic, artistic and personal goals into strategic life plan
August 16th, 2014 (Jersey City, NJ) Jersey City’s Nimbus Dance Works (www.nimbusdanceworks.org)
will be holding auditions for Nimbus’ Pre-professional training and scholarship programs on September
6, 4-6pm, at its new studio space located at 209 Third Street in Downtown Jersey City. Designed for
advance teenage students seeking to train for a career in the professional dance world and for entrance
into competitive college dance programs, the Pre-professional program offers daily technique classes in
ballet, modern, and hip hop; performance opportunities through the Nimbus Repertory Ensemble (pre-
professional youth dance company); and participation in “Opportunity Knocks” – life goal and college prep program.
Working with Jersey City-based educators Dr. Edgar Rivera, Ph.D. and his sister, Lillian Rivera, MPH,
Nimbus Dance Works founder and Artistic Director Samuel Pott believes this integrated approach to
coordinating goals will help college-bound dancers achieve success in all aspects of life. “As part of our
approach to dance there is a lot of discussion about personal integrity, respect, responsibility and
teamwork,” says Pott, a former featured dancer with Martha Graham Dance Company. “With
Opportunity Knocks we hope to support the students in adapting these types of life skills that they learn in
dance to other areas of their lives and how to develop a realistic action plan to accomplish them.”
The Opportunity Knocks program will meet bi-weekly and is part of a larger series of commitments pre-
professional students make in terms of regular attendance to technique class, rehearsals, performances,
work-study jobs such as assisting with younger kids’ classes, publicity/event production, studio upkeep.
Students ages 9 and above are invited to audition for a scholarship on September 6th; students ages 12 and
above are eligible for the Pre-professional program. Dance experience is recommended but not required
for the audition. The School of Nimbus Dance Works makes every effort to make dance training available
to youth regardless of ability to pay – students under age 9 should contact Nimbus office directly for scholarship information.
Lillian Rivera is currently the Director of Advocacy and Capacity Building at the Hetrick-Martin Institute
(HMI), the nation’s oldest and largest LGBTQ youth services agency with sites in New York City and
Newark New Jersey. Dr. Edgar Rivera Colon was 2013-2014 Visiting Professor of Latino and Latin
American Studies and Critical Gender & Sexuality Studies at Sarah Lawrence College. He teaches at
Columbia University’s Narrative Medicine Program. Nimbus Dance Works is currently entering its tenth
year of bringing contemporary dance to New Jersey and New York audiences.
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Nimbus Dance Works's 2013-14 Season is made possible by: The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, New
Music USA/Live Music for Dance, Goldman Sachs, SILVERMAN, US Trust/Bank of America, the City of
Jersey City, Grace Church Van Vorst, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, A
Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts; administered by the Hudson County Office of
Cultural & Heritage Affairs/Tourism Development, and by the County of Hudson, Thomas A. DeGise,
Hudson County Executive, and the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and by generous donors and sponsors.
Thank you!