Bill Text: NY J00984 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Senate Resolution 984 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Commending the Dwana Smallwood Performing Arts Center upon the occasion of hosting its More Arts More Alive Festival

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-04-09 - ADOPTED [J00984 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J00984-Introduced.html


Senate Resolution No. 984

BY: Senator PARKER

        COMMENDING  the  Dwana  Smallwood  Performing Arts
        Center upon the occasion of hosting  its  More  Arts
        More Alive Festival to be held June 29, 2019

  WHEREAS,  It is the custom of this Legislative Body to honor and pay
tribute to those dance studios whose  commitment  and  creative  talents
contribute  to  the  cultural  enrichment  and  entertainment  of  their
community and the entire State of New York; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  it  is the sense of this Legislative Body to
commend the Dwana Smallwood Performing Arts Center upon the occasion  of
hosting its More Arts More Alive (M.A.M.A.) Festival to be held June 29,
2019; and

  WHEREAS, This auspicious Festival will offer free dance classes, and
free  performances  by  local artists, as well as food, crafts and more;
and

  WHEREAS, Founder Dwana Smallwood was born in Bedford-Stuyvesant  and
learned  to dance at an early age; this led to her tenure as a principal
dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater from 1995-2007; and

  WHEREAS, Dwana Smallwood was proclaimed "one of the greatest  modern
dancers" by Vogue magazine and danced before millions as a guest on "The
Oprah Winfrey Show" as a part of her "The Best..." series; and

  WHEREAS,  In  addition  to "The Oprah Winfrey Show", Dwana Smallwood
has graced many American television  shows  including  "Sesame  Street",
"Good Morning America", "The Today Show", "Vibe" and "The Kennedy Center
Honors"; in 2013, she was featured on "Oprah: Where Are They Now" on the
OWN network; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Dwana Smallwood Performing Arts Center Dance programs
include a variety of  fun-filled,  electrifying  and  rigorous  training
courses  designed for dancers with serious goals to develop, improve and
strengthen their  level  of  technique,  self-confidence  and  artistry,
culminating in a breathtaking performance; and

  WHEREAS,  Classes  provide  dancers with an intense, soul-searching,
and esteem-building experience giving voice and movement to  their  joys
and  struggles;  students have the choice of selecting individual course
disciplines in Ballet, Modern, African, Tap and Hip Hop; and

  WHEREAS,  Remaining  true  to  its  mission,  the  Dwana   Smallwood
Performing  Arts  Center uses dance as a platform to encourage, inspire,
and facilitate the aspirations of young  people  by  engendering  within
them   discipline,   pride,  determination,  humility,  respect  and  an
appreciation for the arts; and

  WHEREAS, It  is  the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  that  when
businesses  of  such  noble  aims and accomplishments are brought to our

attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the  citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Dwana Smallwood Performing Arts Center upon the occasion  of
hosting its More Arts More Alive (M.A.M.A.) Festival to be held June 29,
2019; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Dwana Smallwood Performing Arts Center, Brooklyn, New
York.