Let's Dance!

One of our neighbors brought this event to our attention and there's a lot more going on here than just a local performance of the up and coming local talent.  First, this is an effort organized by a choreographer with some heavy credits in the dance world,  Michelle Donelson Renda, founder of the Hoboken Dance Academy. 

(The depth of talent in this town never ceases to astound us.)  

Michelle's local effort began in 2006 and includes instructors with credits to some of the biggest Broadway productions including: Phantom of the Opera, Stomp, Drumstuck, Les Mis, Miss Saigon, The Who's Tommy, Cleo Mack, Pasqual Rekoert's Flexicurve, New Jersey Ballet, Royal Ballet London, North Carolina School of the Arts and the Tulsa Ballet.

Tickets for this December 19th performance are available for purchase online via their website.

In addition to this effort, the Hoboken Dance Academy offers a scholarship program.  Its first recipient, Saquan Williams is moving on to begin college.  A search for the a new scholarship candidate is now underway and will step into the role next summer.  

All proceeds go to support the Hoboken Shelter.

Looking back on HHA's Thanksgiving Event

Here's some photos from the recent HHA Thanksgiving event.  Food was ordered for 250 people from Hashway's Deli & Catering of North Bergen, which did a fantastic job. The first half of the event, geared toward seniors, was extremely well attended, and there was a steady flow through the second half, focused on the rest of the HHA community. Afterward, extra food was taken to support the Hoboken Shelter by Edward Miller, Luis Acevedo, and Jake Stuiver.

Photo: Luis Acevdeo, Save the Youth Director, top left with Mayor Dawn Zimmer pictured with hers son, members of the Save the Youth Academy Fire Dance Squad who volunteered at the event and also performed at the Inaugural ceremony, Derrick Ladson, Saquan Ladson and Ashley Faith. 

 Okay, we're hungry, let's eat.

The event was made possible by generous donations from Councilmen Ravi Bhalla, Peter Cunningham and Michael Lenz, Assemblyman Ruben Ramos, Hudson County Freeholder Anthony Romano, Housing Authority Commissioners Dominic Lisa and Jake Stuiver and Executive Director Garcia, the Police Benevolent Association and Police Athletic League, Perry Belfiore, Joe Branco, Keith Furman, John Pope, Frank Raia and others. Also, credit to Mayor Zimmer, Environmental Services Director John Pope and Health and Human Services Director Leo Pellegrini for helping with the logistics and the use of the Multi-Service Center (124 Grand St.), to Environmental Services staffer Victor Colon for coordinating the cleanup afterward, and to the many volunteers who helped make the event a success, including Councilman Mike Lenz, Recreation Department assistant superintendent Eddie Miller and his daughter, Jenny, and many others. 

Big hat tip: HHA Commissioner Jake Stuiver

Well Done!