Due to the snow storm and snow removal there will be no parking on Main Street Until Further Notice
From the Mayor’s Office
February 14, 2024
Love for the Arts: A Valentine
On a cold winter’s day, when Spring seems still far away, I am warmed by the recent memory of a wonderful evening, a Gala to support the Warwick Dance Collective and Warwick Broadway Collective. The event was this past Saturday at the Warwick Center for the Performing Arts on Church Street Ext. right here in our Village. The reason I write this is because it is a bright spot, a renaissance in our own backyard that folks may not know exists.
The Warwick Center for the Performing Arts was founded in 2017 by Melissa Padham-Maas. Its origins go back to The Dancers Studio located at 63 Wheeler Avenue directed by Lucinda Henry from 1984-2010 and was home to the Warwick Ballet Theatre where Melissa received her early training. It was this early training that inspired Melissa to create the center as a place of educational excellence that produced professional quality productions.
Fast forward. The Center is considered the Lower Hudson Valleys premier performing arts studio. The Center, now located on Church Street Extension, has over 10,000 sq. ft. of space dedicated to a comprehensive range of dance and theatre classes. WCPA is home of the Warwick Dance Collective and the Warwick Broadway Collective. The dance and theatre faculty are extraordinary not only for their talent and ability to teach but also as accomplished artists. I can hardly write all that the Center has to offer, and I urge you to go to their web site for full information: https://www.warwickperformingarts.com/
Back to the Gala! What a fun, wonderful, evening filled with the unexpected. The host, actor and theatre teacher, Chuck Ragsdale, led us through an evening that showcased the talent of students and faculty and gave us sneak peaks to the upcoming season’s performances which include Mary Poppins April 5-7; Swan Lake May 18-19 and The Snow Queen June 15th.
We are so lucky to have a school and center of this caliber in our midst. The greatest joy that I have witnessed is when a young person has found their voice or finds a passion in whatever they dream or align themselves with – it’s a magical moment. Thank you, Melissa and company, your love for what you do and your dedication to our young artists is a remarkable gift to our community, a thoughtful and beautiful valentine.
The next Village Board meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall, 77 Main Street.
