West Windsor Plainsboro Dance Company was awarded a $4,”000 grant from Church & Dwight Company to support its work in providing dance scholarships to at-risk youth in the neighboring communities and to assist them in their efforts to offer quality, yet affordable, dance company productions. Church & Dwight manufactures a wide range of personal care, household, and specialty products under the Arm & Hammer name.##M:[more]##
Directors Roni Wilityer and Amy Flood DeCesare established the dance company in January, 2001, after both performing and teaching dance for many years. The West Windsor Plainsboro Dance Company (WWPDC), the Dance Corner’s affiliate performing company, acts as a training vehicle for the children and pre-professional students of the surrounding communities. The dancers are provided with extensive training, individual coaching sessions, and numerous performing opportunities. All dancers are welcome to audition for WWPDC productions.
Wilityer has performed as a principal dancer with the Metropolitan Opera, Light Opera of Manhattan, New Jersey State Opera, Bel Canto Opera, Monmouth Civic Ballet Company, and the Bejart Dance Company. She has been a featured dancer on “The New Show” with Steve Martin, MTV videos, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade; and danced the lead role of Maggie Anderson in the New Jersey State Opera production of “Brigadoon.”
Born in New York, Wilityer began to dance at age eight. Although her father was an opera singer and her mother performed as an extra in his shows, they both worked in advertising for banks. She and her husband Peter moved to West Windsor in 1988. Their children include daughter Megan, 18; and son Ryan, 10.
DeCesare, also a West Windsor resident, is a graduate of the Professional Children’s School in New York City and has Royal Academy of Dance training through the advanced level.
Professional performances include “7 Brides for 7 Brothers,” “South Pacific,” “Wizard of Oz,” “Hello Dolly,” “Music Man,” “Guys & Dolls,” “A Connecticut Yankee,” “Peter Pan,” and “Gypsy.” DeCesare also worked with the International Pavlova Celebration, Ballet Hispanico, and American Ballet Comedy. She has appeared in soap operas, movies, instructional and music videos, and national commercials in principal roles. She is a member of Dance Masters of America and union affiliations include the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Screen Actors Guild, and Actor’s Equity Association. She and her husband, Jim, live in West Windsor.
“We strive to foster a sense of family atmosphere with the company members,” says Wilityer. “In all three productions the more advanced dancers have been incorporated into certain dance numbers to guide to younger ones onstage. We also have more than 100 parent volunteers to assist with the sets, costumes, ticket sales, quick changes, backstage crew, or as helping parents.”
WWPDC has also established a scholarship fund in conjunction with the West Windsor-Plainsboro School District to identify at-risk youth who may benefit from a dance program. Fully-funded dance scholarships, dance attire, and dance shoes, have been awarded to seven students in 2004 and nine in 2005.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz will be performed at Grover Middle School on Saturday, April 1, 2 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, April 2, at 1 p.m. Tickets are $7 in advance and $8 at the door. For more information visit www.thedancecorner.org or call 609-799-9677.
