DANCE DEFINITIONS: “We are offering high level, quality dance training which also provides creativity, choreography, and improvisation as part of the training.” Former professional dancer Dawn Cargiulo Berman (right), owner of The Pennington Studio, enjoys teaching Limon style dance techniques to student Madison Parker during Modern dance class.

Dawn Cargiulo, former professional dancer and owner of The Pennington Studio for Dance and the Creative Arts, has introduced an exciting new concept for dance and the arts. Combining both, she brings unique opportunities for exploration in creativity for all ages.

Opened in the Straube Center, 114 Straube Center Boulevard in Pennington, the studio offers a new direction, and emphasizes the interwoven aspect of all the arts.

“In addition to dance, including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and improvisation, we offer classes in studio art and vocal music, and drawing and painting,” explains Ms. Berman.

A former professional dancer with the internationally-known Momix Dance Company, Ms. Berman received a BA with honors in Dance Theatre from the Laban Centre for Dance and Movement in London. In addition to her years with Momix, she has performed with dance companies in London, Venice, New York, and Philadelphia.

Dance Program

Ms. Berman also has a wide range of teaching and organizational experience. She created and directed the dance program for the Mainland Regional High School in Linwood, and directed the dance program at the Middlesex Vocational and Technical High School in East Brunswick.

In addition, she has a background in private studio teaching, and has collaborated with many local arts and educational organizations, including the Hopewell Valley Arts Council, The Lawrenceville School, Rider University, the Arts Council of Princeton, and Princeton Ballet School.

“It was always in my head to have my own studio,” says Ms. Berman, who grew up in New Jersey. “I had danced as a child, and my mother had a dance studio in Freehold for many years. So, I knew what it took to do it and make it happen. I am very excited to have my first studio.”

Eight highly experienced and professional instructors help the students at the studio, and Ms. Berman also teaches jazz and modern dance. The students range from two-years-old to 50-plus and all ages in between. They represent all levels, from beginners to advanced, including some professionals among the adults.

Both boys and girls take classes, and Ms. Berman reports that they all love it. “One of our 12-year-old boys takes four and a half hours of ballet, as well as an hour and half of jazz. In the pre-school classes, the parent and child dance together, and the children love this.”

Classes are at all levels, and to determine a student’s ability, Ms. Berman looks to their coordination, musicality, flexibility, and discipline. Students are encouraged to try more than one dance discipline, she adds. “For example, ballet students are encouraged to take jazz, modern, etc. The kids are getting great training.”

Awesome Progress

“It can be hard at first,” she adds, “but if they commit, they’ll really see progress. It’s just awesome to see their improvement and development. And I also have an awesome staff. I have known them before, and they are the best.”

For example, the director of the ballet department is Master Teacher Mary Pat Robertson, former director of the Princeton Ballet School.

Ms. Berman’s background in the sophisticated Laban theory and her years of working in the public school system led her to emphasize the “education” in dance education, she explains. For instance, the classes for very young dancers are called the “ABC” program, and involve the dancers in a “teaching across the curriculum” approach to early dance classes, with lots of fun with letters and numbers.

Dancers in elementary school are offered a range of dance styles, and creativity is always the focus, with dancers as young as kindergartners having the opportunity to study choreography and express themselves through movement.

“The creative part is very important,” explains Ms. Berman. “There are not a lot of places that offer students the opportunity to develop their own creative side. This is an important part of a child’s development — who are you? And how do you show it?

“We help them to discover that. To stay in touch with how they move, how they hear music, how they work with partners — within a format and structure, but expressing their own individuality. Of course, technique is always paramount.”

Special Way

Ms. Berman adds that a specialty core program for kids 10 and up includes a minimum of three hours a week. “This is for the most serious students, those with potential to go on in dance — a professional track program. We also have a ballet barre class, which combines exercise and ballet.”

Whatever their age, students come to The Pennington Studio for a variety of reasons, she points out. Of course, the youngest are brought by their parents. Others come to learn ballet or the other dances, and some of the adults come for a special way to exercise or keep in shape.

The children also participate in performances, including at the upcoming Communiversity event, as well as Pennington Day, Princeton Holiday Walk, and others. “These are wonderful opportunities for them,” notes Ms. Berman.

In addition to regular classes, The Pennington Studio will offer summer workshops for dancers of various ages. SummerDancers is a full day, one week workshop to be offered in June and August. The day will start with ballet class taught by Mary Pat Robertson, followed by modern dance class with Ms. Berman.

As part of The Pennington Studio’s emphasis on creativity and the inter-connection of the arts, SummerDancers will not only put dancers through their paces technically, although that is a strong component of the experience. Each of the two workshops will also include time devoted to improvisation, theater skills, and the creation of a dance curated by Ms. Berman from the ideas generated by the dancers. It is designed for intermediate level dancers, ages nine through 15.

SummerDancer Kids will be offered for younger dancers for a half day and focus on basic ballet study, as well as jazz and modern dance, including improvisation. Available in July, it is for dancers age seven and older.

Beginning Dancers

In addition, Creative Kids has brief workshops for younger beginning dancers that will include elements of tumbling, theater arts, and visual arts. These three-day workshops are also offered in July. Additionally, on-going once-weekly classes will continue during the summer.

Regular classes are available September through June. Sessions are a half-hour, 45 minutes, to an hour and 15 minutes, depending on the specific class and level, many classes are typically one hour. Trial classes are also available for those who want to determine whether dance is a match for their skill set.

Ms. Berman is very encouraged with the community response to her studio. “It has been great to work with the wonderful parents and the students. Everyone is thrilled, and we have had such an enthusiastic response.

“I look forward to doing a lot of things, but I want to make sure I do everything well. I’m confident that people will respond to the quality and level of dance and arts that we’re bringing to the community. And I look forward to the word getting out. I love being able to offer our programs in the community and right in my own neighborhood!”

Dance supplies, such as shoes, leotards, etc. may be purchased at the studio, which is open Monday through Saturday. Several payment options are available for classes, and in addition, the studio can be rented for events, including birthday parties and other occasions.

Call for class schedules, information about summer camp, and other events, call (609) 737-1264.

Website: www.thepenningtonstudio.com.