Begun opening year by current instructor Bernadette Pierre, the dance magnet is the youngest dance program in Dade County.

“The magnet dance is both a performance and academic based class,” Pierre said. “The students are required to do class work, such as reading materials relating to dance history, nutrition, and the exposure to the dance world.”

Students in the program feel that dancing has become a part of their life style.

“It’s indescribable. It’s like air; you can’t live without it once you start,” magnet dancer and sophomore Alexandria Jackson said. She has been dancing for about eight years.

The magnet program opens doors for students to get involved with other dance related activities. “I used to teach at T’essence dance repertoire and we used to perform at local places, like churches and parks,” intermediate dancer and senior Kahea Luces said.

For other magnet students, dancing is a way to experience new things and to learn different methods of movement.

“Dancing allows me to experience different cultures and dances,” advanced dancer and senior Christie Quintero said. “I can have an appreciation for different types of music that most traditional students don’t have,” Quintero, who has has been dancing for ten years, found music genres like classical, African and hip-hop through her craft.

The dance magnet program performs at different showcases such as the Choreography Showcase, where students compete with every school in Miami-Dade County.

Other showcases, performed at Krop, include the spring showcase, open to all students, and the senior showcase, performed at the end of the year. Many past dance magnet graduates received full scholarships to universities like Fordlam University, Florida State University, and Boston Conservatory.

“Other students have been able to audition and make it into various professional dance companies such as Alvin Ailey, Dance Theater of Harlem, Boston Ballet, and Dallas Black,” Pierre said.

Auditions for the magnet are Feb. 25 for all dance levels.

“Everyone should know that it takes a lot to be in the performing arts,” Pierre said. “Students who want to audition must be aware that it takes dedication and hard work to perform.”