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The Hammocks Middle School dance program has shot to
the top, thanks in great part to the efforts of Wendy Schwartz, a
dance teacher who doesn't miss a step.
Wendy Schwartz
This year Schwartz, a Pinecrest resident, lead her
students to first place in the state competition for middle school
dancers. The dancers also took three first-place awards out of the
four dances they performed at the Dade-County Youth Fair.
Under Schwartz's direction the students learn modern,
jazz and lyrical dance, as well as routines to popular and techno
music. For the Youth Fair competition, the top dance group prepared
two pom-pom numbers and two jazz numbers. One of the more elaborate
acts at the Youth Fair featured a song about a rainbow, so the dancers
dressed in costumes as part of the rainbow and the pot of gold.
Preparing for the competition was no easy task. The
students practiced twice a week for several hours after school and had
long Saturday rehearsals. Schwartz designed the costumes for the
different acts, with input from the students, and then had a local
seamstress fit the students and make the costumes. The students raised
the money to pay for their costumes for every act except one.
Schwartz also stages winter and spring shows during
the school year featuring more than 100 students. The students are
actively involved in running the show during the performances.
"I teach them how to run the lights, music and
curtains," said Schwartz. "And they run the lights, music
and curtains. They produce the show with my help."
Schwartz also offers an incentive for the children to
do well in school, requiring that they maintain a minimum 2.0 grade
average in order to perform. Schwartz believes the program is very
beneficial for the students.
"Their self-esteem is very high as a result of
the program," said Schwartz, " It's a strict program, but
they enjoy it. They have a blast."
Schwartz, born in Nebraska, moved to Miami as a child.
She attended Palmetto Elementary School, Palmetto Middle School and
Palmetto Senior High. Her dance training began at the Avery School of
Dance and continued at Palmetto Senior. As a student at the University
of Florida, Schwartz was a member of the university's dance company.
It was while she was a college student that Schwartz
decided to become a dance teacher after realizing there was a need for
students to know what the art of dance is all about. She has taught
dance now for 19 years and has been an inspiration to many of her
students. Former students have gone on to become Miami Heat Dancers,
Miami Dolphins cheerleaders, owners of dance studios and even become
professional dancers.
Encouraging students to do their best has been
Schwartz's philosophy and it works.
"I tell them that they have to reach to the top
of their dreams," she said.
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