Millburn High School Dance Teacher Gets Award

Jersey City resident Arvin Arjona, a teacher at Millburn High School, has been honored as the Eastern District Dance Education Teacher of the Year by SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical Educators.

According to a release, SHAPE America’s Eastern District represents 11 states from Maryland to Maine, including the District of Columbia, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The award is given in recognition of outstanding teaching performance and the ability to motivate youth to participate in a lifetime of physical activity through dance.

Arjona, a dance education teacher at Millburn for the past seven years, will vie with one other district winner for the distinguished honor of National Dance Education Teacher of the Year.

According to a release, Arjona is known for encouraging his students to explore their dance craft as well as self-discovery.

“I want my students to honor their own cultures and gain a sense of appreciation for other cultures and traditions,” he stated.

Arjona teaches West African, Chinese Fan Latin dance, Modern Dance, Jazz Dance, Ballet, and Hip Hop Dance in his classes, the release stated. His students also participate in a two-day choreography workshop taught during PE. The award-winning educator uses mass media to share examples from the various dance icons and trailblazers in the profession.

“The pillars of Millburn’s dance program are discipline, dedication and passion,” stated Arjona’s colleague Ellen Hayes, an English teacher at Millburn High. “Because of these expectations he has of his students, Arvin’s dance teams have gained much respect over the years.”

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