By Mary Damiano

When Ricky J. Martinez, now artistic director of New Theatre in Coral Gables and a well-rounded performer and director, was in high school, he auditioned for Juillard, the prestigious school for dance, drama and music in New York.  Even though he was offered a full scholarship, he passed, due to family concerns.  Martinez then auditioned for New World School of the Arts in his native Miami.  He got in.

Even though his classmates at New World School of the Arts were impressed that he earned admission to Juillard, Martinez says he’s never regretted his decision to attend his hometown school. 

	Music students from New World School of the Arts

“I found out that I wouldn’t become a number here, but a person here,” he says of his experience at New World.

New World School of the Arts is celebrating its 20^th year of training students in the visual and performing arts, and the school is celebrating in a big way, with a full slate of productions and special events.

The school is an educational partnership between Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami Dade College and University of Florida. New World School of the Arts was the first high school, college dual-enrollment arts program in the nation. Nowhere in this country had three major educational institutions come together as partners to nurture and maintain programs that go beyond the scope of one institution. Through the three partners, students earn their high school diploma, Associate in Arts, and Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees. High school and college students gain admission to New World to study dance, music, theater, or the visual arts through an audition/portfolio review process that focuses only on the arts.

While many New World students have left the area to take positions in some of the country’s leading arts organizations, many, like Martinez, choose to work in South Florida’s arts community.

“I can stay here and work and be a proud Miamian,” says Martinez. 

Theatre
One of the highlights of NWSA’a 20^th anniversary celebration is the theatre department’s production of Tony Kushner’s Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches.  The play won the Pulitzer Prize in 1993 and the Tony Award for Best Play in 1993.  In 2003, HBO produced a TV version, which won several Emmys, and Golden Globe awards as Best Miniseries.

	Katy Middleton and Domenic Benevento in New World School of the Arts production of Angels in America

Exhibiting the kind of artistically brilliant moves which has defined New World School of the Arts since its inception, the school’s theatre division will mount a full scale production of Part One: Millennium Approaches of Tony Kushner’s two-part multi-award winning drama Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, to be presented Friday and Saturday, February 9 and 10, at 7:30 p.m., with matinees Saturday and Sunday, February 10 and 11, at 2 p.m., at the Colony Theater, 1040 Lincoln Road in Miami Beach.

Faculty member Stuart Meltzer is directing NWSA’s college students in Angels in America.

“What an enormous opportunity it is for NWSA’s theater division to present Tony Kushner’s masterpiece,” says Meltzer. “The timing could not be better. The department has never backed away from producing daring and culturally diverse works that are true reflections of our society.” 

Among the theater world’s most fearless playwrights, Kushner had chosen as his main theme the world of AIDS to illustrate the corruption, homophobia, and racial politics consuming the country when he first started to write his play in the late 1980s. A world premiere in May 1991 at San Francisco’s Eureka Theatre Company was followed in January 1992 by its London debut. In 1993, New York saw the play on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre, where it was received as a major artistic and soon-to-become commercial success.

“In celebration of our 20^th Anniversary, we have decided it was time to present one of the greatest plays in American history, a play that resonates in our political and cultural conscience,” says Meltzer. 

In addition to Angels in America, there are several more highlights on the theatre division’s schedule.  A group of contemporary plays will be presented February 16-18; Women of Troy March 28 thru April 1; and the Playwright Festival May 4-6.

Dance
The New World School of the Arts dance division has a full slate of events to commemorate the school’s 20^th anniversary.  First up this month is the BFA Concert at the New World Dance Theater, a dance performance choreographed, directed and produced by the senior BFA candidates at NWSA. 

	Dance students from New World School of the Arts

As one of the most anticipated performances of the college year, the College BFA Concert marks the most comprehensive and final project delivered by New World School of the Arts dance theatre’s aspiring graduates.

Designed to prepare students for life after graduation as they experience the full throttle of producing a dance concert, the course emphasizes both the business aspect of a dance production as well the artistry aspect. 

Called 11 Defined, the show is a reflection and introspective look at the student’s everyday issues and struggles with life and features solos, duets, and group performances, music scores are varied ranging from jazz, pop, classical, gospel, techno and instrumental works.

“Tell me ‘no’ and I’ll show you I can,” says Rashaid Harris, a young dancer reviewing his performance. “When they said I’d never last, it only drove me harder to express my innermost dreams, desires and fears all at once. And I can only express all these emotions through the art of dance.”

“The best revenge is to accomplish what others say you cannot,” says Anya Talbot, another college senior in the dance group.

The show takes place Friday and Saturday, February 16 and 17, at 7:30 p.m. at the New World Dance Theater, 25 N.E. 2^nd Street, Miami. The performance is general admission, students and senior citizens are $5, and reservations are recommended.  To purchase tickets call 305-237-3341 or visit mdc.edu/nwsa.

Also this month is a performance, brunch and fashion show to raise money for the dance division on Sunday, February 25, at 11 a.m., at the Miami Airport Hilton, 5101 Blue Lagoon Drive, Miami.  Tickets are $50 and reservations are recommended.  To purchase tickets, call 305- 237-3341 or visit mdc.edu/nwsa.

Future dance division events include NWSA Rising Stars at the Olympia Theater at Gusman Center for the Performing Arts, a program of classical, neo-classical and contemporary work by faculty and guest artists showcasing the talented high school and college students in the Dance, Theater, Visual Arts and Music, March 16 Friday 7:30 p.m.; the Student Choreographic Performance on Thursday March 29; the College Spring Dance Concert April 19-22; the High School Spring Dance Concert May 17-20 and High School Senior Showcase on May 25

Music
On the crest of its reputation gained nationally as first place winner of New York’s prestigious Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Competition, the New World School of the Arts Jazz Ensemble will host and perform at its annual “Puttin’ On The Ritz” signature benefit dinner, dance and concert, on Friday, February 16, 8 p.m., at the Hilton Miami Airport Hotel, 5101 Blue Lagoon Drive.

	New World School of the Arts Symphony performs

Under the direction of James Gasior, director of NWSA’s Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Band, many jazz students have been recognized on a national scale.  Among their most recent honors, several students have received Downbeat Student Music Awards and have been selected to perform with the High School Grammy Band in Los Angeles.

“This is the type of benefit that enables our students to perform at events such as the 33^rd Annual International Association of Jazz Educators in New York City,” says Glasior. “This is a prestigious event with over 8,000 jazz musicians, educators and aficionados.”

Visual Arts
Two major art shows will be presented this month during New World School of the Arts. First up is “Handmade”, a showcase of fine art craft and design, presented by Florida Craftsmen, a statewide non-profit organization, will feature the work of over 35 local artists. The exhibition is a partnership with the New World School of the Arts and the major art guilds in our community including the Ceramic League of Miami, Enamel Guild South, South Florida Fiber Artists, and South Florida Jewelry Arts Guild. 

“We are delighted to partner with Florida Craftsmen once again,” says Maggy Cuesta, Dean of Visual Arts of New World School of the Arts. “The quality and variety of the work presented is an inspiration to our students.”

Judges for this exhibition of South Florida crafts in fiber, clay, wood, glass, metal/jewelry, enamels and mixed-media include Lilia Garcia, administrative director of Division of Life Skills and Special Projects, Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Stephanie Odegard, founder and president of Odegard, Inc., a company renowned for its creation of hand-knotted carpets.

A special feature of this year’s exhibition is a partnership with Casa Valentina, a local non-profit organization, that assists young women in Miami-Dade County who age out of foster care at age 18. For Handmade 2007, several local artists are producing limited editions of five pieces reflecting Casa Valentina images. A major portion of the proceeds from each sold piece will be donated to Casa Valentina.

The opening reception for Handmade will be held Thursday, February 15, 6-9 p.m., at the New World School of the Arts Gallery, 25 NE 2^nd Street, Miami.  The exhibition is free and open to the public and runs February 15 to March 1.

There’s still time to see Paul Rand: Designer, Illustrator, Educator, Author, a collection of collages, posters and book covers developed during the career of the well-known designer of trademarks.  Curated by Georgette Balance and on view for the first time to the public, a selection of original artwork by famed graphic designer Paul Rand, along with examples of Rand’s graphic designs, is on display through February 8 at New World School of the Arts New World Gallery, 25 N.E. 2^nd Street, downtown Miami.

“The fact that New World School of the Arts was able to acquire the 28 pieces of original artwork gives us a great sense of pride,” says Cuesta. “The work of Paul Rand, who the world knows as the Father of Design, is an ongoing inspiration to our students who immediately develop a connection with the artist as they study his corporate, yet childlike works.”