Where it all began

Non-Profit Dance School Opens in Somerset

December 22, 2009 – Modern Motion®, a new, non-profit dance school is set to open in the Somerset section of Franklin Township on January 18, 2010.  Classes will be offered at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on Amwell Road on Monday evenings for both beginners and advanced dance students of all ages.

“When choosing where to open Modern Motion, the location was key,” said Ginger Haithcox, Director,Modern Motion.  “Somerset residents like myself had to travel to neighboring cities to attend a dance class or performance,” she added.  “I’m really happy to offer a dance school right here in town!”

Dance schools are nothing new to central New Jersey, but having a non-profit dance company offering classes in town is something that was missing, according to Haithcox. “I chose to make Modern Motion a non-profit because dance should be accessible to all,” shares Haithcox who said all profits will be put towards furthering the mission of the school by eventually offering scholarships for dance classes or dance majors in colleges.  This will also allow the company to grow, ultimately allowing the school to have their own space for dancers to practice for free and expand their performing company to tour and provide outreach to under-served areas.”   The school’s hope is that eventually no individual will be turned away because of financial reasons.  Outreach programs, scholarships, and low cost workshops are all part of the vision of Modern Motion.

Opening Modern Motion is a dream come true to Haithcox, who began her dance training at the age of 2 ½  at Miss Kim’s School of Dance in North Plainfield.  “Dance has always been a part of my life and I’m delighted for the opportunity to share dance with others,” shares Haithcox who has spent the past 10 years dancing and choreographing at local dance studios, colleges, schools, youth programs, churches, and camps.  “My hope is for the school to grow and expand to it's own facility, and to bring dance to those who haven't ever taken a class before.”  Haithcox is a current member of National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) and Dance New Jersey and is a 2010 National Dance Week Delegate. 

Classes beginning in Spring 2010 and include a Pre-ballet/ Tap Combo class for youngsters ages 5 and 6, Beginner Ballet and Jazz for ages 7 and up, and Liturgical dance classes for teens and adults.  Additional classes such as Creative Movement for pre-schoolers and Intermediate levels of Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Modern are set to begin in September.

Modern Motion will hold an Open House on Monday, January 18, 2010 from 5-8pm at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1640 Amwell Road, Somerset, NJ 08873.




About Modern Motion:

Founded in July 2005, Modern Motion’s mission statement is to enrich the lives of dancers and non-dancers with dance as an artistic, cultural, and spiritual art form through excellence in dance performance and education.  For more information, contact Modern Motion at 732-658-0301 or visit www.modernmotion.org.