Dance - Ms. Quarantillo

Hello my name is Dena Quarantillo and I am the Dance Teacher at P.S. 52. I was born and raised in Lewiston, NY which, I still and will forever call “home.” I began my dance career by studying the Cecchetti method of ballet at a local ballet school where, I got my first dance teacher job.

I earned my BA in Dance and minor in Arts Administration from Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA. I danced with the Mercyhurst Dancers performing through out my college career. I also hold a MA in Dance Education from NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development. Still to this day I dance and perform as an alumni dancer for NYU Dance Education concerts.

I began my public school teaching career for the NYC DOE more than 15 years ago in the Bronx and later relocated to Boston to teach dance for the Boston Public Schools and then in Ohio at Toledo School for the Arts. 

Dance is my true love! And I get to share my love of dance and teaching with students everyday!

Dance Program Description

The Dance program at P.S. 52 provides dance instruction for grades Pre-K through 5 that aligns with the NYC Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in Dance as well at the New York State Dance standards. The program has been designed and implemented through the use of curriculum maps for grades Pre-K through 5.
The dance program is designed to focus on the needs of children grades Pre-K through 5. The elements of dance and dance technique are used as a teaching tools in the dance classroom to promote social interactions, awareness of one's own self in their environment and personal experiences. Engaging students while promoting successful learning is to meet all their individual needs. By offering divergent ways of presenting materials this dance program promotes a safe learning environment to enhance to the learning of all students by guiding them to become self-confidence and unique individuals in the world.