The Kennedy Dancers (TKD) is a non-profit professional, American dance company based in Jersey City, New Jersey. The company was founded by Artistic Director Diane Dragone in 1976, in an effort to bring high quality dance training and professional performances to the New York – New Jersey Metro area. Since its inception, the company has grown to respond to the community’s special needs serving low income, at risk, incarcerated teens, and senior citizens through diverse dance classes offering fun, fitness, and performance opportunities.
TKD has grown to include a community dance school, dance programs in local public school systems, including programming designed specifically for the physically challenged, learning disabled and urban youth, dance programs for the elderly, and Dance Vista, a cable television program that focuses on emerging dance artists.
Their professional dance company dances a regular season each year in and around Jersey City. Each year the company’s public performances reach 6,500, and their touring performances reach an additional 2,000. The Kennedy Dancers tours have ranged the mid-Atlantic coast, from Washington, D.C. to New England. The company’s video has also been shown in international venues in France, Spain, Germany, Austria and Malta. Additionally, the Kennedy Dancers’ presentation of Artistic Director Diane Dragone’s Variations on a Folk Song – Giles and Josephine, a work which portrays American immigration.
In the opinion of Diane Dragone, their Executive/Artistic Director, The Kennedy Dancers is separate from other studios because they offer different and eclectic classes, as well as performances with some competition opportunities. They also produce a cable TV show called Dance Vista which is seen in 22 states on Verizon and Comcast and airs performances by The Kennedy Dancers.
Dance Vista is an award winning cable television series that is in its 22nd year of production and seen in more than 23 states and on hundreds of channels on the NATOA network of stations. They provide their viewers with a view into the motivation and creation of expressive movement. Currently, the show revolves around Diane Dragone as she guides lively conversation that involves interviews with well known professionals in the dance world. Diane is not only the Artistic Director of TKD but also an established and internationally renowned choreographer. She is a multi-award winning choreographer and host provides a lively counterpoint to her questions. From stage to numerous new dance videos in modern 
locations, Dance Vista tries to highlight the artists within and behind the movement. Dance Vista shares and celebrates the thrill of choreography. Previous guests to Dance Vista include Eliot Feld and Ballet Tech, Rita Moreno, Nai Ni Chen, Sean Curran, Randy James, Kevin Wynn, Donna Scro, Jaclyn Bugisi/Forman, Maher Benham, Kitty Lund, and Henning Rubsan. Dance Vista travels to Dance Festivals from Jacobs Plow to Rutgers, Maine to Cape May. “Dance is movement and Dance Vista also tries to spotlight emerging minority and women dancers and choreographers (especially from the New Jersey area) who would otherwise have no access to audiences beyond their locales. Dancemakers, a recent national Endowment for the Arts report, concludes: The physical and financial strains of pursuing a choreographic career are severe and impede the creative process.” Choreographers are served by Dance Vista significantly increasing their audience and serving the audience by exposing them to original works in a format that focuses on both the artist’s inspiration and the dance as described in the show’s interviews. New Jersey’s art community is often overlooked due to its closeness to New York City. Many talented New Jersey artists do not receive the attention of which they are so worthy. That need is addressed by Dance Vista celebrating dance in all of its genres.
In Diane’s opinion the biggest mistake she sees dancers make is when they want to be a professional answer in three months or less. She finds that they do not want to study all types of dance which would increase their professional training. She believes it is important that they take other classes in all dance styles. They then become skilled in said dance styles thus setting them apart from other dancers.
The Kennedy Dancers’ goal for this year is to have a successful fundraiser for their Inner City Youth Dance Program to keep that program going. Another goal they have is to have successful summer performances for their Kennedy Dancers Repertory company and the Inner City Youth Junior Dance Company.
Diane is always proud of the Inner City Youth Junior Dance Company (ICY), which is their teen company. This particular group follows core curriculum in dance and she is very proud to watch their progress in performance competition.
ICY offers a rare chance for economically disadvantaged or at-risk special needs youth of varied ethnic and racial backgrounds. The ICY gives teens from 11 to 18 years old the chance to prepare for possible careers in theatre, dance, and other performing arts related careers. Teens are trained in ballet, pointe, tap, modern dance, jazz, hip hop, gymnastics, and ethnic dances such as Middle Eastern belly and Latin ballroom dancing. Teens get the opportunity to perform with The Kennedy Dancers Professional Company during the spring program and they obtain broadcast/television exposure through their cable television show Dance Vista. The goal of the ICY is to help and train these teens. TDK strives 
to help these teens make a difference in their socialization, expressive behavior, communication and life skills that transfer into improvements in their academics. The students will be more disciplined in their approach to everyday life whether it is academically or artistically.
Diane wanted to establish a dance studio because she was looking to have job security and to stay in one place. She did not want to always be on the road touring and traveling, but rather wanted to have a family while still being able to dance. Starting a dance studio in her hometown allowed her to be able to do that.
The Kennedy Dancers offer many different experiences. TKD also offers 29 classes weekly to children, teens, and adults in many and varied dance styles. Additionally, they have a professional dance company of eight dancers who tour New Jersey, New York and the metro area. They have a cable TV show showcasing dance companies, choreographers and dancers. TKD adheres to the New Jersey core curriculum standards in dance which is used as a teaching tool in colleges and universities.
One of the many ways that The Kennedy Dancers serves the community is by offering five weekly free fitness and dance classes to all Hudson County senior citizens that are over 60 years old and have a low or moderate income, and are residents of Hudson County. Seniors that are 59 years old and under may take drop in classes at reduced rates. These classes include Zumba, Ballroom Social Dancing, Latin, Pilates, Yoga, and Stretch.
Another way they serve the community is with their special classes for disabled children. TDK offers classes for children 7 to 13 years old who have developmental challenges such as Downs Syndrome, Autism, and psychological/emotional disabilities and classes at St. Joseph’s School for the Blind.
If you would like more information about The Kennedy Dancers, visit their website at www.kennedydancers.org, call them at 201-659-2190 or email them at kennedydancers@aol.com. You can also “Like” them on Facebook and view them on YouTube.
Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Diane Dragone of The Kennedy Dancers, Inc. .
