By Lauren Whelan ’14, Staff Writer

Year after year, the dance concerts serve as one of the most anticipated arts events, in both the fall and the spring. The Newark Academy dance program has developed largely under the wings of Ms. Luxenberg, the beloved dance teacher. Ms. Lux has introduced IB Dance to our school and has choreographed and organized countless dance concerts. This upcoming fall however, she will be stepping down for a semester on maternity leave. Her absence will no doubt leave a large impact on the dance program, but she assures the community that her replacement, Ms. Sarah Gordon, is ready to step up and fill her position.

Ms. Gordon is currently an instructor at Village Dance Academy, and has previously performed with Keen Dance Theater and attended Dance New Amsterdam’s Professional Training program. Her experiences speak for themselves and ensure NA dance students that she is surely qualified for the job. In order to address potential concerns that students may have, Ms. Lux states, “It is up to Ms. Gordon to run the program in a way that allows her to impart her knowledge in the way that works best for her.  We are meeting extensively during the June Term period because she is eager to get advice about what has worked in my experience.  She will be present many days during the spring tech week in order to see how we do things, and again, she will need to make changes that allow her to work to her strengths as a dancer, teacher and director, but she wants to gain from the perspective of what has been successful so far.” Ms. Lux has also assured the IB dancers that the program will run as normal, and continue once she returns next year on November 26.

Although Ms. Lux will sincerely be missed by all next fall, the Newark Academy dancers eagerly await the arrival of a new dance teacher and new baby Jasper Atticus Rose. The dancers are excited to see what Ms. Gordon will bring to the dance program.