From soft, graceful falls to arching arms and sharp strokes, dance connects like an electric charge to a person’s inner self. New dance teacher Ms. Yvette Luxenberg finds peace and beauty in graceful movements of the soul and body. After teaching dance in New Jersey for twenty years, she has joined the Bishop’s community of Performing Arts — let’s see what’s in store for her this year!

Q: What, so far, have you liked the most about Bishop’s and why?

A: I loved my first chapel on the first faculty meeting day — it helped me feel part of the community so quickly and all of my colleagues and students have been so warm and welcoming!

Q: When did you start to dance and what’s your favorite part about it?

A: I started dancing when I was 5. My favorite part is that you can express yourself through movement and everyone can do it — it is our birthright to dance — and every culture has dance so it is something that ties us together. Learning and teaching world dance forms is so much fun and fits our Bishop’s values of inclusion and community.

Q: Do you have any plans for what you’re going to bring to the dance department?

A: I hope to bring joy and diversity of movement from the 6th grade class through Performing Dance Group (PDG).  I hope the concerts will uplift people as art has a unique power to do that.

Q: How has working with the Performing Dance Group (PDG) members been?

A: PDG students are outstanding, dedicated dancers! Our fall show, “interconnection,” will show how versatile these dancers are as they showcase our theme of inclusion by presenting an hour long concert filled with a variety of styles that share that message including: street jazz, hip-hop, tap, contact improvisation, Flamenco, ballet, rhythmic gymnastics, and contemporary!

Q: What are some challenges that you’ve been facing so far?

A: It’s quite overwhelming to move your whole family across the country, sell a house, buy a house and get everyone settled in new schools. Starting a new job when I was a seasoned veteran of 20 years at my school in New Jersey is a challenge, as I’m used to understanding everything and mentoring new faculty but now I’m the one who needs help! Luckily, Ms. Korneychuk is my mentor and she is the best!

Q: What are you looking forward to this year at Bishop’s?

A: The thing I’m most looking forward to is having students feel that the dance studio and taking class with me is a space of freedom and joy. I hope students will feel valued and seen for who they are and find it a place of comfort and creativity: a place they can be themselves and find themselves.