28 JANUARY 23, 2020 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Ridgewood’s P.S. 290Q’s Parent-Teacher Association
presents $7,000 check for Notes in Motion program
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
AACEVEDO@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Students, parents and teachers
of Ridgewood’s P.S. 290Q all
came together to celebrate the
culmination of their Notes in Motion
program with a vibrant dance
showcase on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
Students — or scholars, as P.S.
290Q likes to refer to them — in
grades 3 through 5 got to show off
their new skills throughout the day
with performances of distinct dance
types, such as Latin dances (bachata,
salsa, merengue) and modern dance.
The Parent-Teacher Association
then presented Notes in Motion’s
Artistic Director Amanda Selwyn,
with a $7,000 check.
PTA President Linda Byszynski
said that every year, they raised
funds to purchase an Imagination
Playground set for recess but
this year their goal was Notes in
Motion.
Notes in Motion Outreach Dance
Theatre offers a variety of programs
and dance residencies throughout
New York City.
They also partner with schools
to teach pre-K through 12th grade
dance styles from West African to
Latin to ballet to hip-hop, fostering
“self-discovery, risk-taking and
making connections between different
topics, themes and areas of
learning.”
“Through Notes In Motion, scholars
learn about different cultures
and means of physical expression,”
Byszynski said.
PTA’s Vice President Connie Altamirano,
a community and New York
state activist, said a dance program like
Notes in Motion helps their students
“develop holistically as a person.”
“We as parents aren’t just concerned
of their academics but also
being involved in extracurricular
activities like dance with Notes in
Motion,” Altamirano said. “Dance
helps bring joy and smiles to their
faces. When we see them happy, we
are happy as well!”
P.S. 290Q received a grant from
the Department of Education for the
second year in a row to give their
students the chance to learn how
to express themselves via dance
with Notes in Motion, according to
Principal José Luis Jiménez.
Assistant principal Jacqueline
Bruno, who initially applied for the
grant, said that in addition to the 10-
week program helping the school
meet the required hours of body
movement, it also helps students
who couldn’t afford to be in dance
classes the chance to participate
during school hours.
Brendaleese Medina, PTA’s
treasurer said it was an “honor to
present” Notes in Motion with the
check.
“Never in my wildest dreams did
I think I would be partnering with
an amazing program like Notes in
Motion,” Medina said. “They inspire
children to create and perform
which should never be taken for
Photos: Angélica Acevedo/QNS
granted. Children are the future.
Notes in Motion also believes
children are the future and they
help them express themselves
creatively.”
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