Viewfinder: All That Jazz

The dance department began with one experimental dance class with then teacher Anna Maria D'Antonio. The next semester it became a full-time program.

At first the program was based in physical education.  "Ms D," as she was known, looked at performing arts magnet schools to see what they were providing in dance education. She also went to colleges and universities with dance majors and asked what professors wanted to see in their incoming freshmen. The direction for the program then changed to something based more in dance and performing arts.

The curriculum she developed is based on eight units of dance history and movement science. Each unit fills a semester.  If a student comes into the program as a freshman, they will rotate through all eight units by the time they graduate. Now in its 16th year and lead by teacher Ellen Tshudy McCollister, the Brookwood dance program is a model program for the county. It requires an audition for entry, but it is not exclusively for students with dancing backgrounds. 

The introductory dance class suits students with a natural faculty to dance but who do not have formal dance training. The program also has two classes of intermediate dance, one class of advanced dance and one class of theater dance. The dance shows are an entertaining event for the entire community.