Dance classes open to New Hope Academy students and to the community at large

Dance   Drama   Kindermusik
Artistic Director   Statement of Purpose  
Current dance and drama highlights  

Ballet and Cultural Dance Center offers classes in pre-ballet, ballet, tap, flamenco, jazz, hip hop, kindermusik and musical theater/drama. The program was started in 1991 by the present artistic director Concha Marchitelli. Part of the teaching staff is Karen Mendez, with more than fifteen years of experience teaching children dancing; Sylvia Druker, currently teaching ballet at the University of Maryland and a former regional director for the Royal Academy of Dance; Lourdes Elias, artistic director for the Spanish Dance Society; Camille Weeks, highly experienced on musical theater, trained by the Royal Academy of Dance and a teacher at New Hope Academy dance program for the last eight years; Adrian V. James, ballet teacher and choreographer currently teaching also for the Prince George public schools. All our Kindermusik teachers are licensed by Kindermusik International, to offer the highest quality of music lessons.

Dance

Dance is offered for children aged three through teens. There is a main performance at the end of the school year. In addition, some dancers are invited to participate in a musical production. Community performances are held throughout the year. The classes for little ballerinas are designed to be fun and technically correct. They provide good training, an appreciation for the art of dance, and an enjoyable time.

FLAMENCO/SPANISH DANCE

Spanish dances taught from the south and north of Spain. Learn how to play castanets, use the skirt, fans, scarfs. Flamenco is fun to learn and a great complement to ballet. Advanced spanish dancers can join the Spanish Dance Theater and perform with the dance company.

Current dance and drama highlights

Drama/Musicals

Drama students participating in this program present a full play/musical or highlights of various musicals once a year. The New Hope Players have delighted audiences with the full productions of musicals such as "Crazy Camp," "The Nutcracker," "Godspell," "Cinderella," "The Magical Land of Oz,", Peter and the Wolf", "The Magic in Me" and highlights from "Annie," "Charlie Brown," and "The Wizard of Oz." During these performances, other schools are invited to bring their classes as field trips to enjoy watching other children perform. The performances are also done for the community at large.

Current dance and drama highlights

Before your child learns the ABC's and 1-2-3's, there is a critical area of development that can have a lifelong impact. If lost, it may never be recaptured. It is music education. Research shows us that music helps build children's self-confidence, enhances complex reasoning skills, and focuses listening skills.

Kindermusik is an early childhood music and movement program. From birth through seven years of age, your child can grow without pressure to perform - only encouragement to explore, express, and discover. You'll see a developmental evolution in language skills, literacy, listening, problem solving, social skills, self-esteem, and musicality.

Kindermusik At Home materials include the highest quality music recordings on CD, creative activities, children's literature from the Kindermusik Library, along with specially designed instruments to extend your child learning into your home.

Curricula offered by Kindermusik

Music Box (Ages 3 to 5 years): This program is designed for children in a pre-school or daycare environment. It provides unique, structured music activities and nurture the development of the whole child. Music Box helps your preschooler explore the world with exciting games and interactive songs that foster self-expression and creativity. Taping out rhythms on sticks, shaking gingle bells, exploring various instruments, moving, dancing and singing are all part of your child's weekly class.

Kindermusik for the Young Child (Ages 5 to 7 years): This is a two-year program in which the children explore voice development and rhythm, learn to read music and play simple melodies on authentic pre-keyboard, string and woodwind instruments. The home materials include a folder full of activities, an illustrated family songbook, a games bag, professionally recorded music on CD, a musical instrument (glockenspiel, dulcimer, recorder) and a carry bag.

Artistic Director: Concha Egea Marchitelli

Concha Egea Marchitelli holds a bachelor of science from the University of the State of New York and two diplomas as a ballet teacher and a Spanish dance Teacher from the Superior Conservatory of Dance and Music of Murciu (Spain). She has a Teaching Certificate from the Royal Academy of Dancing and is also authorized by the Spanish Dance Society to enter students for their annual exams. She is also certified by Kindermusik International to teach their curriculum to young children.

Mrs. Marchitelli has produced and directed a number of musicals, among them "The Wizard of Oz," "Godspell," "Charlie Brown," "Cinderella," "The Magic in Me," "Peter & the Wolf," "The Magical Land of Oz," and "Pinoccio." She has also worked with Prince George's Parks & Recreation summer camps "Making a Musical" and "Making a Band."

Mrs. Marchitelli has performed professionally for over 20 years and has been teaching children for over 15 years, including 12 years at The Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, DC, under the direction of Oleg Vinegradov. She adores working with children and passing on her rich experiences to them: "I enjoy watching them flourish as dancers and actors. I rejoice when I successfully pass on to the children the love and appreciation for the performing arts." Many of her students go on to pursue careers in dance or musical theater. She is proud to say that one of her students performed on Broadway in the musical "The Lion King."

Statement of Purpose

1. To artistically train as well as educate children to appreciate dance, drama and music.

2. To strive for excellence within a positive, productive learning environment maintained by faculty and students.

3. To create performances that enrich the students and inspire the audiences.

4. To serve the community through the performances of young dancers.

For schedule and registration please call: 301-459-7311 ext 3042, or send an e-mail to dance "AT" newhopeacademy "DOT" org.

HOME Preschool Elementary & Middle High School Dance/Drama