Northern NJ Community Foundation's ArtsBergen to Present Latin Dance Performance at Connect the Dots

The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation's (NNJCF) ArtsBergen initiative presents guest performers Bogdan Tabaka and Juliana Henriques at the Connect the Dots event on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. The performance rounds out a program spotlighting tactical urbanism to be held at Fairleigh Dickinson University's Giovatto Library, located at 1000 River Road in Teaneck, New Jersey, from 6:00 p.m.to 8:00 p.m.

Connect the Dots is free and open to artists, musicians, actors, writers, dancers, performers, arts administrators, educators, municipal and community leaders, business owners, nonprofit representatives, and arts supporters living or working in Bergen County. Refreshments will be served.

"At each Connect the Dots, the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation presents a unique arts experience or hands-on arts-related activity. We recognize engaging in the arts fuels appreciation of its value in the community," said Danielle De Laurentis, Associate Director.

Tabaka and Henriques, dancers from Anchor Dance Studio in Oradell, New Jersey, will perform Latin dances and provide an interactive dance program. Tabaka has more than 15 years experience in a range of styles covering ballet, contemporary and Latin ballroom dancing. He holds several dance titles, including Eastern Regional Champion, Mid-West Regional Champion, Fred Astaire National Winner, and All-American National Latin Ballroom Champion.

Henriques specializes in the Latin Ballroom dance style. She competes throughout the United States dancing cha-cha-cha, samba, and rumba. In the Standard Division, Henrique's performances include tango, fox trot and waltz.

Tactical Urbanism

Speaker Mike Lydon will discuss Tactical Urbanism: Low Cost, High Impact via Creativity. An internationally known planner, writer, speaker, and advocate for livable cities, Lydon developed tactical urbanism, an approach to urban change that makes low-cost, temporary changes to the environment with the goal of improving neighborhoods and city gathering places. He is a Principal with the Street Plans office in New York City and the creator and primary author of The Open Streets Project and the book, Tactical Urbanism.

The NNJCF's quarterly community engagement project focuses on helping working homeless families in Bergen County serviced by Family Promise. A drive to collect laundry detergent and related products will be undertaken at the Connect the Dots event. Attendees are invited to participate in the collection and bring a bottle of detergent, fabric softener, dryer sheets, or other laundry products.

During 2016, the Connect the Dots series is exploring creative placemaking, the practice of integrating arts and culture into the fabric of a region, town, or city block. A goal of the series is to create an environment stimulating conversation about creative placemaking and encouraging partnerships that can initiate projects across Bergen County.

Space is limited. Pre-registration is required and may be done online at http://www.nnjcf.org/connect. For further information, call 201-568-5608.

About NNJCF
The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF), a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization based in Englewood, New Jersey, focuses primarily on civic engagement, education, public health, and the arts. NNJCF works with local governments, school districts, businesses, non-profit organizations, and citizen groups in Northern New Jersey to improve community life. Foundation partners identify and resolve regional problems and opportunities by talking and learning from each other, by sharing ideas, best practices, services, and resources.

For more information, visit http://www.nnjcf.org, send an email to nnjcf@nnjcf.org, or call (201) 568-5608. Follow the NNJCF on Facebook atNorthern NJ Community Foundation/ArtsBergen and Twitter @NNJCF.

About ArtsBergen

ArtsBergen, an initiative of the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation, is an emerging arts alliance in Bergen County, New Jersey that supports and encourages creative placemaking, the practice of integrating arts and culture into a neighborhood, town, or region to build community and livability and boost local economy. The initiative's mission is to energize and unify artists and arts organizations and connect the Bergen County community to the arts. For more information, visit www.nnjcf.org, send an email to artsbergen@nnjcf.org, or call 201-568-5608.

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