{"id":282236,"date":"2026-06-30T13:46:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T13:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/282236\/"},"modified":"2026-06-30T13:46:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T13:46:10","slug":"a-former-lawyer-steps-up-to-bring-dance-to-nyc-public-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/282236\/","title":{"rendered":"A former lawyer steps up to bring dance to NYC public schools"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s showtime in the South Bronx, as dozens of dancers take the stage, while the audience watches, and a drummer plays, creating the background and beat for dancers who move largely in unison.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a day filled with dance performances, but if the dance may be typical African, Flamenco, Cumbia and Hip-hop, it\u2019s anything but a typical day at PS 246 in the Bronx.\u00a0 It\u2019s a memorable day for students and for a one-time lawyer who founded a dance nonprofit.<\/p>\n

Students performed recently, not in a dance class final, but a final, somewhat magical moment as the culmination of a 10-week program at the school led by nonprofit Accent Dance NYC<\/a>, which goes into schools citywide and teaches dance.<\/p>\n

The students got lessons in dance, poise, performance, cooperation, collaboration and culture, while an audience of fellow students and parents saw a fairly polished performance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For Andrea Zeigelman, it was another day after she went from the courtroom<\/a>, turning classrooms and gyms into ballrooms.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have most of the school performing,\u201d said Ziegelman, a former attorney who founded and is artistic director for Accent Dance NYC. \u201cParents come in for the performance.\u201d<\/p>\n

While many lawyers have other loves, some shift careers and follow their passion, as Ziegelman did as she watched students dance in the PS 246 gym, which doubles as an auditorium.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow does it feel?\u201d asked Accent Dance NYC instructor Jason Ferber. \u201cI can\u2019t wait for this moment. In such a short time, they learn so much. We get to show what we\u2019ve been doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"studentsPS 246x 5th graders performing Hip Hop with teaching artist Imani Arrington.Photo courtesy Accent Dance NYC<\/p>\n

Accent Dance\u00a0NYC, which Ziegelman founded after practicing law for decades, has worked with around 30,000 students across 26 partner schools in every borough since 2018 ranging from eight sessions to full academic years.<\/p>\n

They recently completed a residency at Central Park East High School in East Harlem and after a ballet and Latin dance residency, taught by Sofia Ferero, presented 21 third to fifth graders from PS 132 in Washington Heights at United Palace.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is all the classes, both genders,\u201d Ziegelman said of the PS 246 sessions and show. \u201cThe boys too, because of cultural connections. We\u2019re very specific about dance styles<\/a>. The boys feel connected to the African dance, Hip hop. We have Flamenco, which can be very masculine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Principal Andrea Johnson called the day \u201can amazing show,\u201d adding she was happy for the \u201cbeautiful artistic involvement.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Kim Johnson, Accent Dance NYC\u2019s director of educational programming and assistant artistic director, talked about instructors\u2019 and students\u2019 work \u201cto make it all happen\u201d from the youngest to \u201cfifth graders bringing it home with Hip Hop.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Flamenco started with music joined by clapping hands, stamping feet and choreographed movements.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cFlamenco is always a big ensemble. Normally, you\u2019ll have at least one percussionist,\u201d Flamenco instructor Ricky Santiago said. \u201cThey had the skirts, the boys had their pa\u00f1uelos on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ferber said students are educated through experience, learning to trust themselves as they build confidence.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve been doing West African dance, learning the culture and tradition,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u2019ve been learning how to build community and work together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dance instructor Elisa Toro Franky, near a wall adorned with red, black and gold balloons, provided an additional educational element about the Cumbia dance.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe combine cultural roots, African, Spanish, and indigenous. All of them together make the Cumbia,\u201d Franky said. \u201cThis choreography has contributions from our students.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"childrenAccent Dance NYCPhoto courtesy Accent Dance NYC<\/p>\n

Imani Harrington, Hip Hop instructor, threw in a few words about the Bronx\u2019s history as the home where Hip Hop began.<\/p>\n

\u201cA fun fact about Hip Hop is it was born and raised in the Bronx,\u201d she said. \u201cThey will be doing today the dances of the 1990s and 2000s.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

If the program, funded by a grant, was designed to entertain, it was emphatically educational in a way students, teachers and parents seemed to enjoy.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not a typical day at school, but it is typical for the school to incorporate arts programming in the curriculum,\u201d Ziegelman said. \u201cI\u2019ve been connected to the dance since I was a little girl. For me, this is coming back to something I love.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fourth graders said they practiced on their own and together. \u201cI practiced all the time, at lunch time,\u201d one student said, while another added. \u201cI also practiced at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

They talked about cultural connections to well-known singers whose music they danced to. \u201cI felt a connection with the music,\u201d one student said. \u201cIt was really special for me to dance to the song of Celia Cruz. She was the queen of Salsa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ziegelman founded Accent Dance NYC, named due to cultural as well as dancing connection, in 2018 after practicing law for 30 years.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is one of our first school partners. We\u2019ve been here every year since we started,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cI was a children\u2019s advocate as a lawyer, so there is the connection to helping kids.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said \u201cwe\u2019re made to dance from the time we\u2019re little,\u201d making young age a perfect time to teach and learn dance.\n<\/p>\n

Ziegelman, who grew up in Detroit, believes her background as a lawyer comes in handy. \u201cI think it helps to be a lawyer in terms of running an organization, a nonprofit, and growing one,\u201d she said. \u201cAs a dancer, I can connect to the dance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Four teaching artists worked with students during the 10-week PS 246 residency that was an example of knowledge in motion.\n<\/p>\n

PS 246 Community Coordinator Patricia Smith said Accent Dance NYC provides \u201cmeaningful experiences that extend beyond the classroom\u201d with a \u201clasting impact.\u201d \u201cWhen we\u2019re open, they\u2019re open to learn,\u201d Assistant Principal Vanessa Prince said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Instructors said students stepped up as well as learning steps. \u201cThey did great,\u201d Santiago said. \u201cThis was their first time in the gym and they did fantastic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ziegelman beamed after the show, someone who found a way to combine a love of dance with a desire to help children.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s education through an understanding and appreciation of culture that goes to the heart of who we are, and our humanity,\u201d Ziegelman said. \u201cIt\u2019s the essence of what we teach.\u201d<\/p>\n

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