Island’s first integrated school celebrates 60 years

The Jackson School of Performing Arts this year celebrates its diamond anniversary.

The school was the first in Bermuda to integrate both black and white students, and over the past 60 years has advanced the love of dance.

The school was founded in 1953 by former UBP MP Louise Jackson, who moved to Bermuda from her native Philadelphia in the US to take up the post of a school gym teacher.

“I started the school because there were no other dance schools on the island at the time,” said Ms Jackson.

“It was also the first integrated school (black and white students). In order to get the general public to understand the importance of dance, we only charged the children 25 cents a lesson. That was in the late 1950’s.

Legacy

“We also performed the first programme at the (newly-built) City Hall Theatre (in the 1960’s).

“The love of dance and the arts in general certainly blossomed at the Jackson School. I was able to transform it from a school of dance to the performing arts, including drama and a large music school.

“We have also given out tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of scholarships over the years. We’ve produced professional dancers, some of whom have come back to teach here.

“Two former students have also gone on to set up their own dance schools — Lizz Pimentel of In Motion School of Dance and Suzette Harvey of United Dance Productions.

“And quite a few students have undertaken degrees in dance at university.

“The school is now 60 years old. I certainly hope it has been able to educate and to spread the joy of dance in Bermuda over many years.”

To many students, fondness for the school also leads it to becoming “a second home”.

Jeanne Legere, the school’s current director and owner, said: “One of my dancers gave me a clock a few years ago with an engraved plaque which I feel sums up the school.

“It says: ‘The Jackson School of Dance, it’s more than a dance school, it’s a home.’

“I think the legacy for the school is that it’s not just a dance school. The students like hanging out here, they come here on their lunch breaks and sit on the steps. They feel it’s their second home.

“We are very proud of our technical school; it gives our students what they need to succeed in the dance world. But we also care deeply about the children, and not just for the time they are here at the school. They become like our children.”

Mrs Legere said: “I believe that dancing is a stress release. Some of the students come here and are very stressed about school work and exams, but I tell them to dance it off in class.

“Dance also teaches discipline and commitment. This can help you with your school work. It also looks good if you put it down on your college application form.

“We also try to teach the dancers to eat well, and to avoid junk food. As a dancer, you have to eat properly for energy. And of course, dancing is great exercise.”

The Jackson School of Performing Arts has hundreds of students from age three to adults and seniors.

One group of women have been dancing in a tap class at the school for more than 30 years.

Dancers Penny Cox, Fran Tucker Griffiths, Joanne Levon and Kristina Ingham will all perform in the school’s anniversary recital show next month.

Mrs Legere said: “These women have danced at every recital we’ve had for the last 30 or so years.”

“You are never too old to learn how to dance. We have adults that come here and say that they have wanted to dance all their lives, and so they take up a ballet or tap class.

“We have a good choice of classes and even seniors aged 65 and up have joined.”

The school teaches tap, jazz, modern, ballet, pointe and hip-hop. It has two large dance studios plus a store for dancewear, leotards, costumes and shoes.

Ten boys are learning hip-hop at the school, some of whom have now progressed to learning tap.

Each year, the school gives out scholarships and bursaries for up to 75 students for classes.

“It’s for those in need and also for those who have proven themselves in their dancing,” said Mrs Legere.

Mrs Legere started teaching at the school in 1984 and took it over as a partner and director in 1999.

“It was amazing to come into a dance school that did everything, from ballet to tap, to modern to jazz,” she said.

“It is unusual to have everything at one school.

“When I took it over in 1999 it was daunting, but we introduced hip-hop, pilates, Barre One and salsa, so we took it into the 21^st century.”

She said philanthropist Paul Lepercq helped to encourage boys to take up dancing 20 years ago.

“All these boys showed up and joined the school, and we’ve had boys ever since,” she said.

“We also go into nursery schools, such as Little Learners and Teeter Tots.”

Teacher Angelina (Angie) Simas also teaches hip-hop at Saltus Junior School twice a week.

Other dancers from the school are also carrying on the art form to the next generation.

Nikia Manders has a Masters degree in dance from New York University and is the dance director at the Berkeley Institute. She also teaches at the Jackson School.

Brittany Legere has a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance and elementary education. She teaches at Saltus Grammar School and at the Jackson School.

Shumeiko Ingham graduated from the Alvin Ailey School of American Dance in New York with a Bachelors degree in Fine Arts and now works and performs in New York City.

“All three of these girls danced here for 18 years and then went off to college,” said Mrs Legere.

“I believe we help to nurture the love of dance and the arts.”

There are eight teachers at the Jackson School, one of whom is Barbara Frith who has been teaching since 1973.

Mrs Legere also teaches ballet. This year the school’s annual recital will celebrate 60 years of dance.

Entitled Rewind, Mrs Legere said: “It will feature music from six decades so there will be something for everyone, from teenagers to seniors.

“We will be performing different styles of dance, from ballet and pointe to jazz, hip-hop, modern and tap.

“We will open with an exciting hip-hop performance by the boys set in 2013 and will then go back through the decades.”

The music will include Psy’s Gangham Style, Jennifer Lopez’s Goin’ In, Mariah Carey’s Hero, Billy Joel’s Uptown Girl, Burt Bacharach’s Pink Panther, Respect by Tina Turner, Elvis Presley’s Blue Suede Shoes and Fever by Peggy Lee. The costumes will also fit each era, such as ‘bell-bottoms’ for the 1970’s.

School founder Ms Jackson still attends all the shows and Mrs Legere said she felt she had left a lasting legacy.

“She gave the love of all mediums of dance to Bermuda.”

Students from the school also perform at the Bermuda National Trust Christmas Walkabout, the Bermuda Annual Exhibition (Ag Show), at Harbour Nights and other community events.

“I am hoping the school will continue to thrive and be a place at which children can learn to appreciate the arts, for another 60 years,” said Mrs Legere.

“There isn’t anything I’d rather be doing than to be here where I am now, teaching and being with these children and dancers. I love coming into work every day.”

Jackson School of Performing Arts, 15 Burnaby Street, Hamilton. Call 292-5815 or see www.jacksonsschool.com or Facebook.