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St. John’s School of the Arts hits remarkable achievement

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Piano instructor Diane Havrilla of Williamsport, left, teaches a new song to seventh grader Sienna Terpak, daughter of Christopher and Cheryl Terpak of Loyalsock Township at St John's School of the Arts in Newberry recently.

Sounds of familiar instruments, young talented voices and ballerinas dancing should soon be able to be heard again at Saint John’s School of the Arts, on Newberry Street in the city, with the celebration their 25th year of service and classes for local children, teens and adults with the start of their second semester of online and in-person classes on Jan. 5.

Though the school won’t be able to celebrate on the actual anniversary, Sept. 3 2021, Rebecca Ciabattari, school director, says that there are plans in the works to celebrate the anniversary in May of 2022 with a performance.

The school, which is under the umbrella of Saint John’s United Methodist Church, provides lessons of ballet and modern dance, trombone, woodwind, brass, guitar, piano and voice for children, teens and adults from the ages four and above.

Ciabattari, who is only in her first year of directing the school, has also helped enhance the school by adding on new art concentrations and hopefully reinstating some of the older programs.

“This is an organization that has not only the arts as a mission at its forefront, but the element of faith,” she said. “We instill both elements … knowing that there is a higher being and doing that through the arts. The combination is a powerful thing.”

“They are not all believing students here,” she continued. “Regardless, to know that there is hope and we need that so badly right now. The fact that we are also celebrating 25 years … that has been a part of the mission all along… to have the sense of hope and love and loving each other and helping each other. I think that is very special.”

“Saint John’s School of the Arts has consistently blessed me beyond what words can describe,” Theresa Kendall, dance teacher, said. “Knowing that there is a safe place and a positive environment where each individual is recognized and valued for his/her unique gifts, is my utmost goal. “My heart lies in the relationships the dancers develop … seeing their growth is a gift and a joy to me,” Kendall continued. “It is my desire to bring glory to God through dance, with His help, we will continue to do so for the next 25 years and beyond.”

Throughout the years, the school has continued to evolve and grow with their students, by starting with only voice, piano and wind instrument lessons in 1996 with a fellow, Jeff Seeley, Ciabattari said.

Kendall, who started teaching at the school soon after it opened, stated that it was Seeley’s vision to have a Christian-based arts school in our region and it has grown ever since.

“The dance program started with 10 students and has grown to 165 plus,” Kendall added.

SOTA started to also include dance, creative writing, theatre and fine arts as well, much of which have unfortunately dwindled down due to COVID-19.

“I do plan to reinstate these programs,” Ciabattari said with excitement. “I am looking forward to doing that.”

She added that she is also very excited for the spring semester’s new addition of what she is calling “Christian-based yoga.”

With the current environment, lessons for instruments, dance and yoga can take place in person or virtually.

“COVID has presented a lot of problems for everyone but we are thankful that we have been able to continue to keep going,” Ciabattari said.

Kendall even went as far as creating a private page to start up Facebook live lessons for the students who couldn’t make it in or those who are more comfortable to move from home.

The students that come to in-person lessons learn in the fellowship hall on a plastic sheet that has 10 feet by 10 feet boxes for each dancer to dance in, safely away from other students, all while masked.

Other teachers have maintained sanitization schedules after the use of the instruments and maintaining distances from students.

Students also have to fill out a Google form of screening questions before entering the facility.

“I don’t know what I would do without SOTA,” one student from a pointe class said.

“Thank you for keeping us safe … I am so glad we can dance,” another added.

The dancers were even able to put on a socially distant performance outside of the windows of patient rooms at The Meadows in October.

“It’s really fantastic,” Ciabattari said.

For more information on tuition and lessons for the spring, readers can reach out to Rebecca Ciabattari via phone, Facebook, or email; sota@stjnumc.com.

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