Students Will Attend Prestigious Dance Festival

By Jennifer L. Warren

MIDDLETOWN – Dancing has been a priceless anchor for Jazlyn Morales, providing a safe haven, filled with creative expression, lifelong lessons and indescribable exhilaration as well as much more.

“Dance has allowed me to grow personally, spiritually and educationally,” reflected Morales.

“The expression of dance has erased my sorrows, erased my doubts and increased my confidence.”

The seeds of her 11 year dance passion journey were planted when she joined Middletown’s Dance Emporium. Here, she quickly bonded with instructors and students, while becoming a member of a very special second family.

“Being a part of the Dance Emporium has been a rich and rewarding experience,” said Morales.

That experience is about to get even more profound, as Morales left for California’s Universal Studios Saturday to participate in this week’s revered international dance festival, Dance Excellence. Morales, who will be making the California venture for the first time (it marks the 5th for the Emporium), will join 15 of her other team members, both male and female, ages 12-19, who hail from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, for a loaded itinerary, including; three days of six hour classes, performances at two sites, as well as a big gala, featuring dance numbers by two of the oldest/most experienced dancers per company.

Each participant involved had to qualify by audition, has a family member going with him-her as well as assist with multiple fundraising venues.

“These students going to California had to really step up to the plate and earn a spot,” said Dance Emporium owner, dance instructor and choreographer Nancy Green, who also pointed out that this week’s trip was delayed from last year due to COVID. “They couldn’t just say they wanted to go.”

That commitment, especially in the wake of all the challenges posed by COVID last year, resulted in students having a genuinely deep appreciation for every moment they will be experiencing out west this week.

“The Dance Emporium has been such a loving part of my life, a wonderful community to have,” said 16 year old Middletown resident Allie Magrane, who will be attending the Festival for the second time. “I’m most looking forward to spending time with my team this week; Covid made us alter a lot of things this past year, and I’m just so very excited and thankful to be going on this trip, especially after not being able to do much this past year at all and knowing so many teams can’t go cause of restrictions they have.”

It’s that word restrictions, or limits, that Green never wants her students to have when it comes to dance success. Her dancers represent a broad range of backgrounds, ages, and other features. Each one is unique and talented for who she or he is rather than zip code ; it’s a mantra Green continually instills and is a large part of the incredible success her students have celebrated since the Emporium opened its doors in 1998.

“The biggest reward of doing this job is to show kids they are not limited by where they come from, their background, age or anything,” said Green. “I want them to see they can do whatever they want with hard work.”

This week’s trip in many ways is a testament to that very philosophy.

“For many of these students, this is a once in a lifetime, a real honor; they will make friends with people from other states and countries, others will look up to-want to be like them, and they will be learning a lot of real life skills, such as poise and body language, that will help take them through life.”

Morales is well aware and beyond elated about the magnitude of this moment.

“My peers have shared with me what an emotional experience and great opportunity this is to meet other talented dancers and instructors,” said Morales. “It is truly an honor to take part and be recognized by Ms. Green and the rest of my peers in this way.”

For still another member, 17 year old Edward Molinelli Zane, one of two males headed to the Festival, and who has been with the Dance Emporium for 13 years, this week’s trip- as well as all the other priceless intangibles of dancing for the Emporium- mean the world.

“This is such an amazing dance adventure, and I am so blessed to go to California, doing what I love to do,” said Molinelli Zane. “Dance is the one thing I had during COVID that raised my spirits; I am so grateful for my family and my dance school.”