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By Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

Civic leader Walter Mugdan received the state’s highest honor last Friday for his work preserving wetlands in northeast Queens.

State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) presented the State Liberty Medal to the Udalls Cove Preservation Committee president for restoring and expanding the protected wetlands since he took up the position in 2002.

Mugdan said Avella’s support for his organization goes back to his time in City Council prior to 2011, when he was elected to the state Senate.

“We’ve had occasion to work with Senator Avella, and back before that when he was Councilman Avella,” Mugdan said. “I’ve spent my whole life – my whole career – working in the environmental field… This is an avocation and I really love the work I do with the Udalls Cove Preservation Committee.”

The mostly Parks Department-owned land in northeast Queens, which is pieced together from donations and purchases, has operated since the 1970s, going from shipyard to wildlife haven with the help of volunteers and advocates. Industrial waste and invasive species of vines and other plant life are constantly being cleared from the waters in the area to support a healthy, mostly-indigenous ecosystem.

“There’s about four or five parcels that total around three acres that still have to be acquired, and then a parcel that’s not within the designated boundary of the park – the park designation was made decades ago – but there is an opportunity that has presented itself that the community and a number of other organizations, including my own, are interested in,” Mugdan said.

Mugdan began his career with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1975 and serves as acting deputy regional administrator apart from his regular position as director of Region 2’s hazardous waste cleanup and emergency response programs.

Some of his work with the EPA has put him in charge of cleanup at toxic sites ranging from the Gowanus Canal, Newtown Creek, the Passaic River and the Hudson River.

“Two years ago, I was able after a number of years of complaining to the state to have some of the environmental protection fund, which is used upstate to acquire additional parkland, to actually be used to acquire more parkland in the preserve from private hands,” Avella said. “Why shouldn’t the city get the same amount of funding for new acquisitions that upstate does?”

This isn’t the only time Mugdan has been recognized for his work. In 2015, Mugdan was awarded the Presidential Rank Distinguished Service Award, which is one of the highest levels of acknowledgement a federal civilian employee can receive.

Udalls Cove is a small strip of land that stretches just a little over a mile from Northern Boulevard to the open water of Long Island Sound and has woodlands that gradually turn into fresh water wetlands and then to saltwater wetlands.

The cove supports many different kinds of life, including a family of foxes and an osprey nest. In 2016, the osprey were the target of vandals who lit the nest near the water on fire, sending the birds into a frenzy over the offspring which were inside. Mugdan expressed concern at the time of the incident that the osprey might not return, but reported at the medal ceremony they were still making Udalls Cove their home for part of the year.

Reach reporter Mark Hallum by e-mail at mhallum@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4564.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Naeisha Rose

TimesLedger Newspapers

York College will hold an Awareness and Prevention of Human Trafficking forum on Thursday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the school’s Bassin Theatre.

Barbara Felton, the co-chair for the Partnership for the Eradication of Human Trafficking, will be moderating the event at York, located at 94-30 Guy R. Brewer Blvd.

The guest speakers for the event are human trafficking survivor Sheila White and lawyer Susan Jacob, who is the executive director of the Queens Family Justice Center.

Panelists include Dr. Maria Almario of the Partnership for the Eradication of Human Trafficking; Lisa Hofflich, a legislative adviser for the state Assembly; Kevin Tillman of U.S. Homeland Security; and Dr. Leroy Gadsen, the president of the Jamaica Branch of the NAACP.

According to the NYPD, rescues for sex trafficking victims are on the rise throughout the city. In 2016, there were 41 sex-trafficked individuals rescued, a number that went up to 56 in 2017.

Prostitution arrests citywide have fallen, from 1,427 cases in 2016 to 679 cases in 2017, but arrests for promotion of prostitution rose from 191 to 228 in that same time frame. There were 192 arrests for patronizing prostitution in 2016, which rose to 565 arrests in 2017.

“Prostitution arrests from Vice have dropped over 40 percent,” said Susan Herman, the deputy commissioner of Collaborative Policing, at a police summit in South Jamaica earlier this year. “The emphasis has changed to stopping people who are manipulating people into trafficking or coercing people into prostitution rather than the person who is engaging.”

According to Herman, the NYPD and participating houses of worship, like New Jerusalem Worship Center in South Jamaica where the police summit was held, are working together to house human trafficking victims who have been coerced into prostitution by giving them a safe place to stay, counseling and job placement.

“We are not there to arrest those who have engaged in sex work,” said Herman. “We are there to help them.”

Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4573.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Gina Martinez

TimesLedger Newspapers

Brinckerhoff Cemetery is one step closer to being refurbished.

Last week the Department of City Planning formally certified the Parks Department’s application to acquire Brinckerhoff Cemetery, a critical step required for the city to officially purchase and renovate the historic burial ground. The project will now enter the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, where it will be reviewed by the community board and Borough President Melinda Katz, then formally approved by the City Council.

The colonial burial ground, located at 182nd Street and 73rd Avenue in Fresh Meadows, has 77 graves, with the last person buried there in 1872. The last owner originally paid $105,000 in 2010 and planned on building two houses on the property, but after it was landmarked in 2012, she was not able to. The cemetery has been an eyesore for Fresh Meadows residents. The unkempt grounds have contributed to quality-of-life concerns while neighbors have complained about the damaged sidewalks, overgrown foliage and garbage dumping.

Councilman Rory Lancman (D-Hillcrest) and Borough President Katz allocated $450,000 in the fall 2016 budget specifically for the city to purchase Brinckerhoff Cemetery and make essential repairs to the neglected property.

Lancman said that refurbishing Brinckerhoff Cemetery is one of his top priorities.

“The cemetery has been a source of much frustration for community members, understandably outraged by its poor conditions, and this project will enable the city to properly care for and maintain the property,” he said.

In December, state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) held a press conference pressuring the city to take action on the land. He was joined by non-profit group Friends of Brinckerhoff, which was instrumental in getting the cemetery landmarked.

The group said when they approached the Parks Department about buying the land, the city agency refused. In 2015, after efforts from Avella and the preservation group, Borough President Katz allocated $180,000 to buy the land back from owner Le Dan Cai of Linda’s Cai Trading. Then despite everything being in order, the owner pulled out at the last minute.

Avella claims it was because the city reversed its initial decision and interfered by offering $400,000 for the land. Avella said the city’s interference was disrespectful to Friends of Brinckerhoff, which worked hard to negotiate the fair price of $180,000.

Martha Taylor, chairwoman of Community Board 8, said entering the ULURP is an important step forward to making the refurbishment of the property a reality.

“Our community has worked tirelessly with public officials to renovate Brinckerhoff Cemetery, and improve quality of life for residents of 182nd Street,” she said. “The city’s eventual purchase of Brinckerhoff Cemetery will allow us to turn the page on the property’s disrepair, and begin fixing this space.”

Reach Gina Martinez by e-mail at gmartinez@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4566.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Naeisha Rose

TimesLedger Newspapers

An electrical fire consumed the second floor of a cultural center in Jamaica last weekend.

The Afrikan Poetry Theatre — located at 176-03 Jamaica Ave. — is around 100 years old, according to theatre director Sekou Branch.

Leaders of the center have applied for years to receive capital funding to renovate the facility, but have been denied at every attempt, according to Branch. Over the years, members of the art center have been raising money for renovations that would help avoid a catastrophe such as this. The members were hoping to gather enough funding by the end of the year.

Offices were destroyed, over 12 computers are gone and they have lost their industrial printers and copy machines. Film equipment, keyboards, and artwork have also been destroyed, Branch said.

Greg Branch, Sekou’s cousin and the executive chairman of the Afrikan Poetry Theatre, said that the items are being examined by a claims adjuster for insurance purposes, and while expensive, can be replaced. What can’t be replaced are the things that the members and leaders of the center hold dear.

“Some of the materials are priceless to us,” Greg Branch said. “You’ve got photographs that date back to the founding of the theatre in the 1970s, which obviously you can’t put a price on.”

Photos of Queens and New York City luminaries were among the items lost.

At the time of the fire, Sekou Branch was on his way to see the “Black Panther” film, as a Black History Month film festival was being held at the center. He said about 40 others attended the event.

The festival started around 7:30 p.m. and he received a phone call from the fire marshal at 8 p.m. last Saturday.

None of the festivalgoers where hurt during the fire, according to the cousins. The Black History Month film festival was a collaboration with the Museum of Moving Image. Some of the films were screened in the film center in Astoria, and the last three films were to be shown Saturday at the Afrikan Poetry Theatre.

The screening was delayed, but the cousins said they want to finish off the series at a yet to be announced date, either at MOMI or an art center in Jamaica.

As they wait to learn what aid the insurance company will offer, they said they will use the renovation money they have been saving toward fixing the center. They have also started a GoFundMe campaign.

The cousins hope that their tragedy can turn things around for the center.

“Now that we are in this situation, perhaps we will be fortunate enough to have access to those [capital building] funds,” Greg Branch said.

Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4573.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Mark Hallum

TimesLedger Newspapers

State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) held a town hall with the Bayside Business Association to discuss ways of improving commerce with the help of the state government.

The event space in the country club at Clearview Golf Course was filled by about 30 prominent members of the community, who discussed issues such as the lack of funds for organizations like the BBA in the state budget and funding initiatives for the community.

“Probably the hardest part of the job is weighing all the budget requests and priorities,” Avella said. “I don’t think I’ve ever come across a group that wasn’t worthy of funding. The problem is there’s only so much money.”

According to Avella, some of the progress in the FY 2019 state budget, which has yet to pass both houses, includes an expansion to the Excelsior Jobs Program.

It offers a 6 percent tax credit to qualifying businesses that add new jobs and other investments.

Up to $150 million was included in the proposed budget for the Regional Economic Development Councils and funds were also included for the Youth Jobs Program, which offers a tax credit to businesses that hire people between 16 and 24.

Avella said he is working to have anti-graffiti funds included in the budget to pay painters to go through neighborhoods and mask vandalism marks free of charge to business owners.

City Council members receive a set amount of discretionary funds to be allocated to groups in their communities. As a state senator,Avella does not have a similar program for discretionary spending, he said.

If he did, he claimed would use his office to fund programs for the BBA.

Judith Limpert, who has been the BBA president for over 20 years, said the organization would like to find funding for a “Welcome to Bayside” sign and dedicate trees to deceased members of the community.

Reach reporter Mark Hallum by e-mail at mhallum@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4564.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Gina Martinez

TimesLedger Newspapers

Elected officials from Jamaica and their staff members held a forum last Saturday at Dabar Bethlehem Cathedral reaching out to young people and explaining how they can get involved in bettering their community.

The hour-long forum called “Black Men in Public Forum: Navigating through Politics” held at the Queens Village church, located at 218-38 98th Ave., gave tips to community members on the importance of community involvement.

Chief staff members of Jamaica elected officials addressed a group of about 20 attendees who were mostly young black men and women.

Derrick Davis, chief of staff to state Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), talked about the importance of speaking up about what you want from local public officials. He said he and his staff take the residents’ varying visions for their community and try to come up with something that works for almost everyone.

“One of the things I noticed about the senator is that he is a consensus voter,” he said. “Even if constituents disagreed on what they want, he tried to figure out a way to come to a decision everyone could live with. He used his vision to best moving the community forward by hosting town halls, meetings with folks from the community, online surveys, and engaging in a dialogue to figure out what it is you think is best suited to move community forward.”

He said it is not always easy because Comrie represents 375,000 constituents in a very diverse community.

“So what people in Jamaica feel is best for Jamaica, people living in Kew Gardens may feel differently,” he said. “You have to take divergent factors, put it in a blender and figure out how to best proceed.”

Jamal Wilkerson, chief of staff to Councilwoman Adrienne Adams ( D-Jamaica ), said she is trying to engage younger women in politics by leading by example.

“In this district it doesn’t matter where I go, they need to be able to see and relate,” he said. “Adams is the first female council member in the 28th District. She is big on teaching young women and ladies on how to get into politics, and also just understand politics. Not everyone needs to be in politics, you just need to have an understanding of politics. By her going out there herself, when she was knocking on doors running, that resonated with other young ladies.”

He said instead of just gathering signatures she would engage with young women and ask them what they wanted from their community and explain how she can help and what they can do to make it happen as well.

“By sitting down with students and asking them to work together, she showed them that two heads are better than one.” he said.

Wilkerson said he sees more young people in neighborhoods in Harlem and Brooklyn getting involved but southeast Queens has lagged behind. He said it does not even necessarily have to be politics, just getting young people to care about the community.

“We have to push them towards civic engagement,” he said. “I think we can do a lot better job into how we can get young people involved in Queens. I care about us, I know a lot of young people who need jobs and affordable housing. My biggest fear is if we don’t organize now and step up those houses you see in Cambria Heights, in Laurelton and Hollis, we wont be able to live in them.”

Wilkerson said one example is getting younger people involved in block associations, which he believes are dying. He said Cambria Heights, in particular, is very senior heavy and he hopes that the younger generation can one day be part of the planning.

Reach Gina Martinez by e-mail at gmartinez@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4566.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Naeisha Rose

TimesLedger Newspapers

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Academy in Queens Village will be closing its doors this summer.

The school — located 92-80 220th St. — is set to close on June 30 due to a budget deficit totaling $200,000 and is also in need of massive repairs, which cost $1.5 million, according to a letter for parents and guardians of the Catholic academy.

“This difficult decision was reached, following extensive consultations, due to the continuing economic challenges faced by the Academy and a rapidly decreasing pool of students choosing Catholic school education in our area,” the letter said.

Along with a decline in enrollment, the lack of funds to subsidize students also played a factor.

According to the school, 75 percent fewer students applied to attend the school in a five-year period and there are only 170 students enrolled in classes from kindergarten to eighth grade.

The average class size for this school year is 18, which led to staff reductions.

The cost to educate each child is over $6,000 annually, but the tuition has been approximately $4,450 over the years, and the school has not been able to raise enough funds to make up the difference.

The Catholic school does not have the funds to repair the school and subsidize the students, so it will close at the end of the summer and relocate its students to other institutions.

The academy opened in 2013 to service students from sixth to eighth grade and was an extension of the Our Lady of Lourdes School, which has served students from kindergarten to fifth grade since it opened in 1932.

Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4573.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

The borough will be awash in green this weekend. The traditional Queens County St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off in Rockaway Saturday at 1 p.m.

Trade unionism will be honored this year with Steamfitters Local Union 638 president Patrick Dolan Jr. serving as Grand Marshall. The Rockaway resident was born and raised in Middle Village.

On Sunday the Saint Pat’s for All Parade gets underway at 1 p.m., beginning at 43rd Street on Skillman Avenue in Sunnyside. The parade will come to an end at 58th Street and Woodside Avenue. More than 100 marching groups reflecting the diversity of Queens are expected to march in the parade, including Irish organizations, pipe bands, Girl Scouts, and immigrant and LGBT groups.

Pulitzer prize-winning journalist and author Dan Barry and disarmament educator and anti-nuclear educator and activist Dr. Kathleen Sullivan will serve as grand marshals of the all-inclusive parade, now in its 19th year.

The parade’s co-founder, Astoria resident Brendan Fay, said the focus of this year’s march is the immigrant communities of Queens.

“At the parade we will carry signs of support for immigrants, our neighbors, friends and family who await the DACA decision,” he said. “St. Pat’s for All brings us together in solidarity and support.”

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Bill Parry

TimesLedger Newspapers

The judge presiding over the Karina Vetrano murder trial will allow all evidence, including DNA and a videotaped confession by the Brooklyn man accused of killing her, after his lawyers argued police had racially profiled their client.

The ruling Monday by Queens Supreme Court Judge Gregory Lasak in the case of 21-year-old Chanel Lewis will allow all evidence to be admitted when he goes on trial on charges that he killed the 30-year-old Vetrano as she jogged in Spring Creek Park near her Howard Beach home on the afternoon of Aug. 2, 2016.

The complaint said Lewis punched Vetrano repeatedly and strangled her, causing her death. Vetrano fought back furiously against her attacker, whose DNA was found on her cell phone, under her fingernails, and her neck.

Lewis allegedly confessed to killing her after telling investigators he strangled and beat Vetrano because he “just lost it.” If convicted, Lewis faces 25 years to life in prison, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.

Lewis’s Legal Aid Society defense attorneys argued an initial police stop two months before the killing was improper, according to court papers. The NYPD said Lewis had exhibited suspicious behavior when he was stopped, while his attorneys argued he was stopped because he was a black man walking in a white neighborhood.

During the stop on May 13, 2016, police asked for his name and address, information that was later used to get Lewis’s DNA sample. Prosecutors said the stop and questioning was permissible because it was based on a 911 call about a trespasser.

In his ruling, Judge Lasak said Supreme Court precedent holds that the identity of a defendant is never suppressible, even if preceded by an unlawful arrest, search or interrogation.

“We are pleased with the court’s decision and the case will proceed accordingly,” a spokeswoman for the Queens District Attorney said.

The Legal Aid Society disagrees with the court’s suppression ruling and its legal reasoning.

“The police had no probable cause to stop Mr. Lewis and then search his name through private sources to obtain his address and other personal information not open to the public,” The Legal Aid Society said in a statement. “This decision does not at all affect Mr. Lewis’s presumption of innocence. The defense team will continue to challenge the accuracy and reliability of Mr. Lewis’s statements to the police, as well as the DNA evidence that purports to connect Mr. Lewis, in preparation for trial.”

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.

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Source: Times Ledger

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By Tammy Scileppi

TimesLedger Newspapers

Imagine a mind-blowing musical tableau featuring an unexpected mix of classical music juxtaposed against a canvas of expressionistic dance moves. What would that look and sound like? You can bet the end result will be nothing short of mesmerizing.

Manhattan-based dance group RIOULT Dance NY has become Queens’ newest of its kind. The popular troupe will be returning to the Queens Theatre stage for a limited run this weekend – before officially calling the World’s Borough home, when they move to their new location in Astoria this summer.

Whatever your taste in music and dance, you shouldn’t miss this eclectic program, featuring founder and artistic director Pascal Rioult’s sensual, articulate and exquisitely musical works.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to present RIOULT NY at such an exciting time for the company as they open their new center in Astoria,” Queens Theatre Executive Director Taryn Sacramone said. “The fact that this extraordinary company is making its home in Queens is something to celebrate. This is an opportunity for people in the community to see the work of their new neighbors.”

A very spiritual piece, the first offering in Rioult’s “triple threat” repertoire is performed to the sounds of Estonian composer P?rt, whose classical and religious music is inspired at times by Gregorian chant.

“Te Deum,” one of Rioult’s earliest works that has stood the test of time, is based on the journey of a man at the crossroads of two careers. It’s a personal story. “When I finished my career, I embarked on a new one, not knowing what that was and where that would take me,” he said. “The central character is a man, who has to let go of his young self… a dancer. And that’s why there’s a beautiful and touching duet between two men: the older self and the younger self, as a choreographer and artistic director for many years. It is a journey in a spiritual sense.”

The second work provides the audience with a different, darker experience. Titled “Wien,” which means Vienna in German, it brings to life an image of a decaying society that remains eerily relevant today. A very strong modern dance expressionistic piece inspired by events that happened in Vienna right before World War II and the rise of Nazism, it is performed to the music of Ravel (who is probably most famous for his Boléro). This interpretative dance depicts a group of people who are sucked into that whirlpool of violence against each other, which was prevalent worldwide at the time, according to Rioult.

“It is very powerful and disturbing at the same time, and very exciting,” said the artistic director, who founded his dance troupe in 1994. Ranging from joyfully energetic to breathtakingly tragic, Tchaikovsky’s captivating melodies and vivid orchestration seem to possess an enchanting power, especially when accompanied by an extraordinary performance.

Keeping in mind that the most popular Russian composer of all time forever changed the world of ballet with “Swan Lake” and “The Nutcracker”, it seems likely that the audience will appreciate Rioult’s choice of music and his unique mix of modern movement and classical vibes in this third piece, aptly named “Dream Suite.” The truly colorful work is inspired by the surreal world of artist Marc Chagall and, according to its creator, is “full of whimsy and mystery.”

After the March 4 matinee, theatre-goers are invited to stick around to toast RIOULT Dance NY’s move to a new second floor studio and performance space at 34-01 Steinway St. in Astoria.

“Building a dance center is a longtime goal for us,” said Rioult, whose troupe will be transforming from its well-recognized dance company status in Manhattan to a friendly, community-oriented neighborhood dance school in Astoria, offering classes for kids from ages six and up.

Students will be given different types of dance instruction, including some ballet, but mostly a form of modern dance. And at the end of the year, recitals for young dancers will take place at the theater. Rioult said teachers are already lined up and ready to go.

The newly constructed Rioult Dance Center will boast five studios, which will be used by the dance community as rental spaces. One of these, the big studio, will transform into a 110-seat black box theatre, fully equipped so that young choreographers will also be able to rent space for their works. Part of the floor space will also be used by Rioult’s dance troupe, which will perform there as well. In addition, adult dancers can enjoy African, Indian, and hip-hop classes, and even Zumba.

“We’re in the process of building our own type of dance exercise for adults. At the core, we’re going to build a high level of professional dance training, mostly based on American modern dance,” said Rioult, who will take part in training new dancers to become professionals. The company also has an important outreach program for schools, including after school programs here in Queens.

“We’re starting construction this week and it’s very exciting,” Rioult said.

The dance center is scheduled to have its grand opening on or around July 1, as well as an open house; free classes will be offered then as well. Student dance classes should be filled by September, and performances will hopefully begin around December or January 2019,

RIOULT Dance, which is made up of 10 dancers and 2 apprentices, will be moving to Queens for two reasons, according to Rioult: “Because Manhattan has become too insane for artists to live and work in; it has become a place of money. It’s the rents and the whole attitude,” he said. “Unless you do Broadway shows, it’s very hard to survive there. And most dancers live outside of Manhattan.”

He also wants to be a part of the Queens community.

“We felt since we’re starting a school apart from training professionals, in terms of reaching a new community, we picked Astoria,” he noted. “The whole place is transforming, and we’ve been welcomed by the Kaufman Arts District. … It’s going to be very vibrant and great for us to move into a new community and see how we can immerse ourselves into it and what we can give to it and build something new and exciting.”

The new location is right across from the Steinway Street subway station and it will boast floor to ceiling windows, so there will be a lot of natural light and passersby can see the dancers.

Shows are set for Saturday, March 3, at 2 p.m., and again at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, March 4, at 3 p.m. Tickets range in price from $20-$42, and can be purchased by calling the Queens Theatre Box Office at (718) 760-0064, or visiting www.queenstheatre.org.

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Source: Times Ledger