"Don't Stop Believing" Advocating Our Performing Arts

Amanda Fiorentine at the Caitlin Boyle Memorial

Scholarship performance this past April, 2016.

"Don't Stop Believing: The Case for Advocating Our Performing Arts"

by John S LES

This past January, 2016 the multiple Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Billy Joel directed his Joel Foundation to donate $1 million dollars over the next two years to help keep afloat Long Island's High School for the Arts.  The LIHSA has seen it's enrollment drop to less than half of it's total student capacity.  That drop in enrollment and the subsequent loss of tuition revenue has brought the school to the precipice of shutting it's doors. Click this link for more on that story.  But, the LIHSA's problems are indicative of a nationwide drop off of support and attendance for all of the performing and visual arts, and is bringing us all to a crossroad.  Click this New York Times article for more on this trend.

With our current state of television and music entertainment, it is easy to see how our younger generation has lost their understanding of the spiritual value of the performing and visual arts. Everything today is fast paced, electronically dependent, with various celebrities flaunting their riches. Every newcomer in the arts is looking at the fame and fortune for joining in.  Have we forgotten that every nation's arts are a reflection of that nation's soul?  This is an incontrovertible, historical truth throughout the world.  From instrument play, to singing, and dance, to painting, film-making and photography - the best performance and visual artists have reflected and inspired some of the greatest advancements in all of our cultures for thousands of years. Click here for a wikipedia synopsis on performing arts history in both Western and Eastern civilizations.  The love of fame and fortune cannot be the sole reason for becoming an artist.

Yet today there is so much commercialism and monetary value attached to the arts, that we are missing the point of the arts itself.  At the end of the day, artists perform, paint, sing, dance, act, and do magic tricks - for the love of the art itself.  But, let me be quite clear, there is room for both a commercial aspect of the arts and a spiritual appreciation of the arts.  Not everyone wants to be a "starving artist".  Perhaps, at the very least, an adequately fed one?  It's just that the lure of money and fame shouldn't be the prevailing factor as to why someone should invest their child, their spirit, or their time into becoming an artist.

I am calling for parents, entertainers, performers alike to continue to encourage our younger generation to pursue the arts for the sake of the survival of the arts themselves.  I am also encouraging anyone and everyone reading this post to do whatever they can in their daily lives to support the arts and artists in all aspect of the arts.  Either by donations, attendance or voting for community and school leaders who also support the arts.  Communities need to maintain and continue to build facilities and venues to allow artists their creative outlets.  Not every kid needs to be a star athlete, or movie star, or a Wall Street hot shot.  Let us not waste the positive efforts of Mr. Joel and his foundation.  We too must join in the fight, and help the arts flourish in this 21st century.

I welcome any and all, who would like to join me to help rekindle a spark in the arts here on Long Island.  Social and business entrepreneurs, or simply strangers can feel free to contact me, or view my work here of all my friends and associates in various art forms.  I am reachable through here, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Without further adieu, with the help of friends involved in the dancing arts on Long Island, I wanted to use their pictures to help make the visual/performing arts case to remind all of us as to why we need to be proactive supporters of ALL of our performing arts.

Starting with Mrs. Stacie Nelson-Hoyt, of "The NY Dancers Studio" located in both East Meadow and Kings Park, Long Island.  In addition to her schools, Mrs. Nelson-Hoyt is also the director and choreographer of the esteemed Dance Theatre Company. She is also a graduate of the Long Island High school for the Arts.  The focus of her schools is to teach strong and masterful techniques to their students rather than focus on competition dance.  Her students span from 3 years old into adulthood, and are frequently given the opportunity to participate in "Master" classes instructed by professional dancers.  Her students perform in annual shows including "The Nutcracker" and in benefit shows like the fundraiser for the Caitlin Boyle Memorial Scholarship at Marist College.   Caitlin Boyle was a young dancer who died of meningitis while attending Marist College.  The NY Dancers Studio benefit show was performed in Greenlawn, Long Island, NY.  They allowed me to bring my camera and capture the following moments!

Front row left to right: Trish Sloan, Erin Woods, Amanda
Fiorentine. Back row: Stacie Nelson-Hoyt, Shelby Rickard,
and Amanda Romano.

Shelby Rickard and Amanda Fiorentine commanding
movements in this routine.

Amanda Fiorentine high stepping.  Photo by John S LES

Sarah McLean looking in awe during her marvelous routine!  Photo by John S LES

Shelby Rickard and Kim Applebaum sailing across the floor!  Photo by John S LES

Erin Woods angelic twirl.  Photo by John S LES

Stacie Nelson-Hoyt, Kim Applebaum and Amanda Fiorentine tapping away in this exciting number! Photo by John S LES

The Dance Company gracefully moving in this routine. Photo by John S LES

                            Stacie Nelson-Hoyt and Amanda Fiorentine: always

                      beautifiul, graceful and uplifting to all around them!

Lastly, here is the daughter of another friend of mine.  This is 15 year old

Kira Chu!  Kira is a hip hop style dancer from another school, who has been

dancing since she was just two years old.  Although she does compete, she really

loves dancing in various styles and hopes to do so professionally.  She has a

Justin Bieber audition video here.  Here's another video of her in a competition.
She's a great kid and is well grounded.  I wish her absolutely all the very best in
her journey!

Kira Chu.  Photo courtesy of the Chu family

I would like to thank all of my friends who helped me put this post together.  I also have a special thanks to my friends and family in the performing arts who allowed my and my camera to capture them while rehearsing or performing.  I will continue to lend my skills to help promote and show the world the powerful performances and moments that you are all quite capable of! 

My next post will be of some of the real life, "Dance Moms" this coming Mother's Day!  So stay tuned!  Subscribe to my blog by simply dropping your email in the page in box and get my latest posts emailed right to you.

Amanda Fiorentine.