As moms, we’re always on the lookout to introduce our kids to new experiences, and one of the best ways to do that is by exposing them to the arts. Recently, we got an inside look at bergenPAC in Englewood, a professional-level, historic theater with a star-studded status and a full-scale performing arts school. The dynamic school gives kids the skills to go for it, whether performing on Broadway, in a ballet, or playing with an orchestra. Read on about what makes this place special for kids and how BergenPAC offers students the foundation and inspiration to achieve their dreams. (featured photo credit: bergenPAC)

Finding Inspiration At bergenPAC

bergenPAC’s Performing Arts School’s training is top-notch

On any given day at bergenPAC’s Performing Arts School, you may find a ballet technique class next door to an 11-year-old practicing a song for a Broadway audition. It’s that variety—and the quality of the arts education—that draws in families from all over North Jersey- and even from across the river. “What is so incredible about it is from one day to the next, there could be anything from a country music show to a hip hop show to the symphony to a musical- all different types of shows and genres. Here at our school, we also have all different types of music, dance, and theater,” says Becky Serico, Director of Education at bergenPAC’s Performing Arts School.

Serico, a professional opera singer and Carnegie Hall educational department alum, embodies what so many parents love about the quality of the training their children receive here. The faculty is the real deal—with dazzling professional art backgrounds and performance credits like the New York City Ballet, Madison Square Garden, Lincoln Center, and, of course, Broadway—the instructors train about 400 students each year, with many of those students taking multiple classes in varying disciplines. Allison Conner was looking for an extracurricular activity for her son Levi when she found bergenPAC. “He loves to draw, and he’s always singing and dancing. We came in for a trial (class), and he loved it,” Conner says. Now her son trains in dance, theater, and vocal, and was just cast in a reboot of the kids’ show Wonder Pets. “This is our second home. We’re excited to see where Levi’s classes will take him.”

bergenPAC’s star-studded history serves as an inspiration

The students get a lot of inspiration from the theater’s rich history. The building dates back to 1926. It was first a vaudeville house, then a silent film house. In the years since, huge names have come through the door—legends like Diana Ross, Ringo Starr, Willie Nelson, John Legends, and Tony Bennett. “Tony Bennett used the stage to record his Grammy award-winning album. The stage is connected fiber-optically to our performing arts school down the street. Before it became the Performing Arts School, it was the Bennett Studios,” says Alex Diaz, bergenPAC’s Executive Director.

While the headliners bring in the crowds, at the heart of the theater’s mission is to be an arts hub that truly is for the community. “With kids and with families, it’s the first time they’re going to come (to a theater). And moms and dads don’t have to worry about parking and tolls or breaking the bank for giving them an incredible arts experience,” says Diaz. “We pride ourselves on that here because it’s accessible. And even for families who can’t afford a ticket, we give them tickets. For kids who can’t afford tuition, we give them scholarships. Because we believe that opportunity is not something everyone gets, but if we can provide that for everybody, then we’re doing our job.”

The theater hosts around 200 performances yearly, featuring music, comedy, children’s shows, experiential events, dance, and more. Students from the Performing Arts School also perform here, creating a special moment for parents when they watch their children shine. Seeing their kids perform on the same stage where legends like Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin have stood is an incredible and inspiring experience.”I was in tears at the end of the year at the Raise the Curtain. It’s so emotional to see all the hard work they have achieved and light up on stage—I still look at the videos all the time,” Conner says.

For kids who are interested in performing, Serico has some solid advice. “I suggest taking trial classes to try out different things. Maybe they’re interested in acting, or maybe they want to sing, or maybe they want to dance–they can find what they love.” And the beauty of bergenPAC is that it’s all available to them here.

For more information on bergenPAC’s performances or Performing Arts School, visit their website, Instagram or Facebook.

bergenPAC
30 North Van Brunt Street
Englewood, New Jersey

This post is sponsored by The Performing Arts School at bergenPAC, where all kids can be a star.