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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Julianne Buenaventura, Alumnus of Ballet Tech Foundation
3:09:45
ยท
124 sec
Julianne Buenaventura, an immigrant from the Philippines and alumnus of Ballet Tech Foundation, shares her experience with the school's free ballet program and its impact on her life and career. She emphasizes the importance of arts education in New York City public schools.
- Buenaventura joined Ballet Tech in fourth grade through an Introduction to Ballet program, which provided free high-level training and resources.
- She attributes many of her professional skills, including discipline and self-expression, to her time at Ballet Tech.
- Now a choreographer and teacher, Buenaventura urges investment in arts education for NYC public school students to maintain the city's status as the arts capital of the world.
Julianne Buenaventura
3:09:45
Good afternoon everyone.
3:09:46
My name is Julianne Buenaventura.
3:09:48
I'm an immigrant from The Philippines and raised in Jackson Heights, Queens And I am a proud product of the magic created at Ballet Tech.
3:09:56
I joined the school in fourth grade and graduated middle school in 2016.
3:10:01
Back in 2010, a team from Ballet Tech visited my public school in Queens to audition third grade students for their Introduction to Ballet program.
3:10:09
I was one of three students from my school who participated in a weekly field trip program to take beginner ballet classes on-site with transportation, dance clothing and shoes provided.
3:10:20
At the time, I was already taking ballet classes at my local studio in Queens but transferring to Ballet Tech's full time school was a game changer for myself and my family.
3:10:30
To have access to high level training from esteemed professionals in the field in a historic building for the arts completely free of cost was an immense privilege, perhaps one that I didn't realize until I grew up.
3:10:43
Last May, I graduated from SUNY Purchase with a major in dance.
3:10:47
I'm currently choreographing and teaching around New York City and I'm a teacher here at Ballet Tech including the program that brought me to Ballet Tech in the first place.
3:10:56
I can confidently attribute many of my professional skills to my time here at self discipline, organization, expressing myself and leading my life with passion and being able to connect with my peers with nuance to name a few.
3:11:11
I see now in my 20s how lucky I was to have a school as eccentric as ours in such a formative period of my upbringing.
3:11:19
New York City is a city where people make magic happen, a city where culture emerges and thrives.
3:11:25
I owe it to my students and the larger New York City public school system to urge you to invest in the youth of New York City to infuse their daily education with the arts as they are the ones who grow up to make the city what it is, the arts capital of the world.
3:11:41
It is my wish that all students in all boroughs of New York City will have access to the arts just like I did.
3:11:47
Thank you for having me speak today.
3:11:48
Have a wonderful day.