Ms. Cerreta, the new Dance Director for this school year, is a dance teacher and choreographer who grew up in the state of New York. She trained in various genres of dance during her high school years and eventually went to Goucher College in Maryland for her BA in dance. Ms. Cerreta attended the University of Roehampton in London and received her MFA in choreography before coming to Kent. Between her schooling, Ms. Cerreta fine-tuned her teaching skills with the American Ballet Theater and choreographed pieces like the Nutcracker.
Despite her current position, her origins were restricting. Ms. Cerreta shared: “I started taking dance when I was seven – and I talk pretty openly about this – I was at a studio that […] was recreational, […] but it was an environment where I was not receiving any corrections, and I was getting hurt all the time.” She would stay at this studio until the age of 16, when she finally decided to go to a studio that had, in addition to the regular dance program, also a full ballet program. “So I was doing the ballet many hours a week in addition to jazz and modern and all the other classes,” she said.
However, Ms. Cerreta does not regret her past. It is quite the opposite. “[…] I definitely think starting ballet late shaped who I am as a teacher and as a choreographer. […] And as frustrating as it was, I think it’s really nice now because I am able to work with older students who are also beginners because I was once in that place.”
Ms. Cerreta’s favorite genre of dance is ballet. To her, ballet was “a turning point” in her life as a dancer. She said: “Had I not found ballet, I think I would be in a very different position than I am now.” She also gives another reason for her love. “I just think the rules of ballet, as much as it can feel restricting, gives a lot of freedom there because there’s a knowing of a right and a wrong way to do things. Having that clarity, having a constant goal to work towards, I think is really fulfilling when you are involved in any type of academics.” Kent students can relate to her comment. As students constantly juggle between classwork, homework, and extracurriculars, not to mention socializing, finding a concrete goal – whether for the day, the term, or their entire high school experience – helps significantly.
New students also have to worry about “fitting in” and growing accustomed to the way of life at Kent. Having lived through the process of starting anew multiple times, Ms. Cerreta understands its difficulties. “I know it’s kind of asking each other a lot to…for you guys to trust me, and for me to trust you all.” She said. “It’s always nerve-wracking being the new person coming into any program.” When asked to give insight into how it has been for her, “[…] you guys have all been very sweet and welcoming and it definitely made that transition easier for me.”
As for her plans with Kent’s Dance Program, Ms. Cerreta has already made some big changes. A few weeks ago, she helped Kent School be registered as a chapter of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA), which supports dancers who want to pursue their passion seriously during both their K-12 and College years. In addition, Ms. Cerreta wants the Kent School Dance Ensemble to have a more professional dance experience. “I think, based on my experience when I changed studios and had my eyes opened to the world of dance in a new way, I’m hoping to do that for the dancers here as well.” Whether this means bringing more genres of dance to KSDE or hosting field trips, of which a trip to The Nutcracker at the Culinary Institute of America has been planned, she is prepared to give Kent her all.
