Jazz

roberta mathes, born and trained in NYC, received a BA in dance from Adelphi University and has a distinguished career as a performer, choreographer, and coordinator. Her litany of achievements include films: Beat Street, Fatal Attraction, television: The Guiding Light, Law and Order, music videos: Higher Love, Heard It Through the Grapevine, Lost In Emotion, tours: Sweet Charity, Kismet, industrials: IBM, Chrysler, and special events, The Liberty Bicentennial, Broadway's opening parade for the film, Hercules. Choreography credits include the movie Carlito's Way, bergenPAC's first summer musical, FAME, their annual galas, featuring Tony Bennett, Chaka Khan, Stephanie Mills.

Teaching credits include American Ballet Theatre's Summer Intensive (NYC) and Make a Ballet Program where her work was presented on the Metropolitan Opera House stage. While directing the dance program at The Performing Arts School at bergenPAC, she remains on faculty at Steps on Broadway and teaches internationally - Israel, Norway, Venezuela, and Brazil.

roberta loves watching her students grow into expressive and successful dancers. Along with prestigious ballet companies (ABT & NYCB) and Broadway stages: Carousel, Natasha, Pierre, and The Great Comet of 1812, On the Town, Wicked, Mamma Mia, Spring Awakening, Les Misérables, Sound of Music, Footloose, Funny Girl, her students have been on SYTYCD, the AMA's and performed at Radio City Music Hall. roberta's dynamic personality, along with her own "technique" forms a whole and responsive learning experience. She loves sharing her passion with the next generation of dancers!

www.robertamathes.com

Class description:
"roberta" developed a strong modern jazz technique which emphasizes correct body alignment, while focusing on injury prevention and longevity in dance. Her "feel good" class, great for professionals looking to train or dancers returning after a long pause, is designed to give all dancers the freedom to release their muscles and gain more abdominal control. roberta has a keen eye for detail. Her approach is to "instruct" while offering diversified choreography in an earthy, soulful style, ranging from lyrical to Latin inspired jazz! She creates a safe space for every dancer to free their inhibitions and expand their abilities. Level: Intermediate, (All levels welcome)