Philipsburg:--- A dream born 21 years ago will become reality as St. Maarten top schools in artistic training and development embark on a journey of full merger to create N.I.A. National Institute of Arts (St. Maarten).
Under the mentorship of artistic advisor Hans Minnaert, directors Arlene Halley and Clara Reyes have been undergoing intensive training to evolve their respective dance centers into the innovative National Institute of the Arts. Mr. Minnaert, former Artistic Director of CODARTS, Circus Arts, and former dancer with the International Dans Theatre, brings with him a wealth of expertise in his capacity as artistic advisor to Ms. Halley and Ms. Reyes.
Mr. Minnaert is no stranger to St. Maarten having first travelled to St. Maarten some 20 years ago as member of the International Dans Theatre and as recent as five years ago at the invitation of Motiance Director of Cees Van Dolderen, he staged "Total Theatre." An interdisciplinary theatrical production performed on St. Maarten to much public acclaim. Over the years, his expertise has included drama, dance, music, circus and total theatre.
Both Ms. Halley and Ms. Reyes consider them themselves very fortunate in having secured an artist of such caliber to guide them through the process of uniting the two performing arts centers.
The two schools, having fulfilled their personal journey of discovery in dance developmental and later in interdisciplinary art education, have in recent years began exploring the possibility of the a fusion. However, due the illness and eventually the passing of Motiance pioneering dance school founder Cees van Dolderen, the schools and the mission to merge took a back seat.
However, this year, with everything in place the two directors have taken up the baton to fulfill a vision established a long while ago.
Imbali and Motiance dance school respectively with a combined teaching expertise of over 40 years in St. Maarten have established themselves as the leader in cultural and in artistic development. Both directors have distinguished themselves with numerous awards and distinctions and look forward to this new personal and professional growth for themselves as well for the development of arts on St. Maarten.
The National Institute of Arts will be accessible to the community at large, children through adults, with a professional stream to train, coach and guide the career minded talents. NIA has already forged international links with among others CODARTS in Rotterdam, Head Made Factory and is in discussions with the Edna Manley College for Visual and the Performing Arts, in Jamaica.
