SWMHS students keeping on their toes this summer
By takesha pettus

SAYREVILLE — Two local students are dancing their way into some of the most prestigious dance programs in the country.

Sayreville War Memorial High School students Heather Brown and Tiffany Joseph are spending their summer a little differently than most kids.

Heather, a sophomore at the high school, recently completed a two week program with the prestigious Joffrey Ballet School, New York.

The 15-year-old was accepted into the summer program for the second year after auditioning for the school.

"It was an excellent experience and a really great opportunity," she said.

While at Joffrey, Heather said she focused mainly on pointe, a toe dancing technique.

The Jackson Avenue resident said she has been dancing since the age of five when her mother, Denise, began taking her to classes once a week.

Over the years, she has studied ballet, tap, jazz and modern dance, but said she enjoys ballet the most.

In addition to spending time dancing, Heather manages to find time during the school year for theater and choir.

She said she plans to study dance after high school, possibly earning a degree in the field.

But for now she will continue to practice three to six hours every day at the Bordentown Avenue dance school, The Dance Stop.

Her next stop will be at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., in August where she has earned a summer spot with the American Academy of Ballet.

Fellow classmate and Dance Stop dancer Tiffany Joseph recently completed a summer stint with the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, also in New York.

Tiffany, who will be a senior this fall, will also be dancing with the company under an independent program.

Tiffany said she was ecstatic when she first heard she was accepted into the program.

"I was really excited," Tiffany said.

Unlike Heather, this is Tiffany’s first year studying with the dance company, although she wanted to try out last year.

"I wanted to do it last year but my parents didn’t feel I was ready to go to New York alone," Tiffany said.

Tiffany said she began dancing when she was 4 years old and hasn’t stopped since.

Although she has studied many different types of dance, Tiffany said she likes jazz and ballet the most.

She plans to attend college for dance after she graduates from Sayreville War Memorial High School.

In addition to dancing, Tiffany said she would also like to become an actress one day. She has already begun her pursuit by taking singing lessons and acting classes.

This school year, Tiffany said she plans to try out for some school plays, if time allows.