Morristown HS Desert Dance: Gangnam Style, Ballet, Jazz and More

The introduction of the Common Core standards in schools, including the Morris School District, pushes a focus on math and literacy. The arts, now more than ever, need to be supported and not forgotten.  

Show your support by coming out to Morristown High School’s 9th Annual Spring Dance and Music Production “Desert Dance.”

Twenty-two acts took the stage in April and will run again on Wednesday at 9 a.m. during the Academic Enrichment Period at Morristown High Theater.

Student numbers include a wide range—Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Lyrical, Indian, Hip Hop, and a Traditional Thai dance performed by MHS’s Foreign Exchange Student Dream Piomekaksorn.  Other show stoppers include:

• “Gangnam Style” danced by Adam Merrigan and The Roadrunner Aerobatics, danced by freshman Marisa Joel.
• Morristown’s Got Talent winners will also perform: Julia Cipriani accompanied by vocalist Katherine Merwin.
• Concert pianist Andrea Wright will perform Rondo Alla Turka, by Mozart.
• Freshmen debuting this year: Kristina Beyer, Melanie Della Peruti a finalist at Morristown’s got Talent, and Lauren Aloi. Many freshman performers recently performed at Alexander Hamilton.
• Veteran Dancers Katy Beyer, Emily Ferrara, Charmi Trevedi & Nevi Shah, Nora Mosch, and Autumn Fulgenzi
• Abigail Semple’s “The Desert Dance Video” displayed deserts and wildlife from around the world with a focus on the “Doll House” from the San Rafael Desert of Southern Utah.

“She is convinced the videos are becoming the production’s “Signature Piece” of the event,” said President and the Dance Club “Prema Ballerina” Diandra Marks, adding Teacher Kathleen Morriello’s passion for the outdoors is evident in her work as the MHS Dance teacher and Production Director. “An activist in the preservation of the worlds Natural Resources, Parks Wildlife, her inspiration has become the Dance Clubs hope that our artistic work will encourage others to do the same.  Some of the performers commented on the symbiotic relationship between the movement of nature, people and animals which lifts their spirits to excel beyond year after year.”

Alexandra Manos, the club Treasurer, added that all proceeds support the MHS Student “Senior Awards” in the category of ‘Visual & Performing Arts,’ which is awarded to students who qualify and have actively contributed their talents while maintaining high academic standards during their four years at MHS.  

The Class of 2013 Senior Candidates are:

• Diandra Marks, who will pursue dance while studying at Drexel University
• Allison Lott, one of Morristown High’s incredible photographers.