CElEbRAtiNG LEGAciES - St. Pius X Catholic High School

Samantha Jones:
Dancing in the Big Apple
The two photos above were taken
at St. Pius X by Keiko Guest.
In her senior year at St. Pius X, Samantha Jones ’09 was awarded a $25,000 scholarship to the Fordham
University-Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) program. This was a huge
accomplishment, and for Samantha it was the realization of a dream. “I am very blessed to be chosen to be
a part of this program,” said Samantha in an interview for Spiritus (St. Pius’ parent newsletter). “Hundreds
of students from around the world audition for this program, and only about 30 are awarded admission.”
The partnership between Fordham University and the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre Company is a unique one.
It began in 1998 when the Director of The Ailey School, Denise Jefferson, approached Fordham with the
idea of a collaborative program allowing students who wished to pursue dance to also have the ability to
earn a college degree. According to the Web site for The Ailey School, this joint B.F.A. program “offers the
best of two worlds: the artistic pre-eminence of the official school of the world-famous Alvin Ailey American
Dance Theater (AAADT), combined with an exceptional liberal arts education rooted in the Jesuit tradition of
intellectual development and personal attention. Both institutions are located in the cultural heart of New York
City—the epicenter of the dance world.”
Samantha’s dance journey began in Kingston, Jamaica. She was only 4 years old when she started training at
the Jamaica School of Dance, studying the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) ballet syllabus. Under the RAD
syllabus, she was administered regular ballet examinations to monitor her skill level and understanding of the
technique. For Samantha, these examinations are fond memories. “There are different levels in the RAD syllabus, and
in order to progress through these levels you must pass an examination during which you perform all that you have
learned in front of a licensed examiner,” Samantha explains. “I began these examinations at age 4, starting at the lowest
level (primary). These ballet exams are quite memorable because they taught me confidence at an early age as well as
how to work hard to get to where I want to be.”
Samantha was 7 years old when her family moved to the United States. She continued to study the RAD syllabus at the
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center and worked with several influential instructors including Kelly Oakes-Dent, Jerylann Warner, Amy Gately, and
Jeanne Hanglitter-Zender. The dance ensemble at Callanwolde also introduced Samantha to jazz and modern dance. “Modern is my favorite
style of dance. I believe it is the most expressive style there is,” says Samantha. “Modern dance has certain technical aspects, but it leaves room
for your emotions. [It] encourages you to express who you are or how you feel.”
When Samantha entered high school at St. Pius X, she enrolled in dance classes under the direction of Mrs. Lisa O’Connor (formerly Ms.
Martin) and was introduced to hip-hop for the first time. Wanting to expand her horizons, she auditioned for the St. Pius X Dance Company, the
school’s elite dance ensemble, and was accepted. In her four years as a Dance Company member she had the opportunity to work with several
choreographers including Martha Goodman, Melanie Lynch Blanchard, Clay McCloud, Peter Garrick and Jason Kalish.
Though Samantha enjoyed dance and was committed to learning more about different styles and techniques, she admits that dancing professionally
was never her ultimate goal. Commenting on her involvement in dance as a young girl, Samantha says, “Unlike most dancers, I never
really had [that childhood] dream. Dancing started out as just an afterschool activity, but it became something I loved—my passion.”
A career in dance may not have been something Samantha had initially wanted to pursue, but things soon changed. In her sophomore year, the
SPX Dance Company attended the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre’s school show at the Fox Theatre. Samantha was awestruck at the
talent, skill, and beauty displayed by the dancers. “I was completely inspired by the entire Alvin Ailey Company,” Samantha remembers. “The
one dancer that I would have to say I admire the most would be Linda Celeste Sims, a principle dancer. Her
movement, her lines, and her stage presence are just breathtaking.” Reflecting further on that day’s performance
and the influence it had upon her, she says “I just knew this was exactly what I wanted. I not only wanted to be
a dancer, I wanted to be an Ailey dancer.”
The experience stayed with Samantha, and she soon spoke to her parents about the future she wanted to have
as a dancer. With her family’s support, she began researching programs online, specifically looking for ways in
which to be involved with The Ailey School and still be able to receive a traditional college education. “That
is when we stumbled upon the B.F.A. program with Fordham. It almost seemed too good to be true; getting a
degree from a top university, while dancing with one of the best dance schools in the world. The program was
an absolute God-send.”
Due to the prestige of the program, the application process is highly competitive. A student must first submit applications
to both schools. “You must be admitted to both Ailey and Fordham to receive admission to the B.F.A.
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