March
2002
Local
dance students to commemorate six-month anniversary of Sept. 11
By
Joe Emanski
Most
Americans remember the crushing doubts they felt in the first 24
hours after the terrorist attacks of September 11. On the six-month
anniversary of the events of that date, nineteen local dancers aged
10 to 15 will commemorate the fallen heroes in a dance memorial
presentation, "American Resolution: Hope on Higher Ground,"
that will take place at the New Jersey State Museum Auditorium Sunday,
March 11 at 4 p.m.
The
program is a project undertaken jointly by Terun Sabre, executive
director of Trenton Silver Linings, Inc., a nonprofit theater, dance
and cultural education organization, and Cynthia Sabovick, owner
and dance director of Dance Exposure, a private dance studio in
Skillman, N.J. Nineteen Dance Exposure students have trained for
the past six months to give the one-time-only performance, which
will be free to the public.
According
to Mr. Sabre, the students, who auditioned for parts in the production,
were actively involved in the development of the program. "We
wanted kids to have a chance to participate at a level where it
would come from them," says Mr. Sabre. "Show them that
we'll solve these problems together."
The
dance program features sophisticated choreography and consists of
three movements: "CitiEscape," portraying the World Trade
Center prior to the attack; "Zero's Heroes," depicting
the heroism that so moved the country in a terrible time; and "American
Resolution: Hope on Higher Ground," displaying the emerging
patriotism expressed in response to a national crisis. It was originally
scheduled to take place in January at the State Theater in New Brunswick,
but those plans fell through.
"It's
about kids fears, kid's hope," continues Mr. Sabre. "This
project represents an opportunity for kids to see for themselves
that, even the most horrific thing you've ever seen, something can
be done about it."
Rosemary
Orocchi, a licensed Mercer County clinical psychotherapist who spent
time at New York's Ground Zero as a counselor, was enlisted to make
certain that none of the dancers lost their perspective during rehearsals
of the emotionally charged performance. "We knew we were hitting
this head on with kids," says Mr. Sabre. "We didn't feel
we could go on with this project without someone to counsel the
kids."
Through
Trenton Silver Linings, Mr. Sabre hopes to offer Trenton's underprivileged
children an avenue by which to explore their artistic sides and
hone their skills in the arts. It has plans to launch an after-school
program in fall 2002 at the YMCA, primarily serving urban youth.
The goal is to take the concept of a dance school and open the door
for many children who could not ordinarily afford it. "This
city and all of its problems-is what I care about," says Mr.
Sabre. "They [the audience] will see 'American Resolution'
as a solution."
For
additional information contact Terun Sabre at 609-943-5788.
