To Chris Brown and the West Genesee School Board,

You may know my family. My brother, Michael McCartney, was deeply involved in
the music program. He played percussion in band, snare drum in marching band,
and he did the lighting for most of the school plays. My parents, Greg and Andrea
McCartney, were involved in the program as well. They spearheaded Tournament of
Bands for the marching band, and were those parents who showed up for every
band practice, dance show, musical, and play.

I was the one involved in everything. I played tenor saxophone in marching band
and band, sang in Chorale, danced in Ms. Bracketts Dance Ensemble, choreographed
Thoroughly Modern Millie(2008), and spent most of my time in the music wing.
Before I begin my plight about the ending of the dance program, I just have to say
that my high school experience was the best it could have been. I spread my wings
creatively. I began to understand why The Arts were a privilege. We were so
privileged at West Genesee High School.

Have you ever danced? I dont mean as a ballerina or a tapper. I mean at a wedding
or in your backyard or in front of your mirror when youre alone? Do you remember
how you felt? Its pure joy to dance at a wedding. Its pure silliness to dance in your
backyard. When you dance in the mirror, you see the beauty of your body and the
rhythm that life has given you.

Imagine all of those feelings and multiply them infinitely. When a dancer steps out
onto the floor in socks, barefooted, or in tap shoes, the dance floor becomes their
music score. I have never been more creative than when I am on a dance floor. I
have never felt more vulnerable. There have been several pieces I have danced to,
specifically Ms. Bracketts RENT piece, that I have left the floor in tears. What other
class can you achieve that from?

At the end of my senior year, I was sick with Mononucleosis. Kaleidoscope was in a
few weeks, and I was devastated that I might not be able to dance. I practiced with
Chorale, but I had to sit out for most of dance class. I begged my doctor to approve
me for Kaleidoscope, but she was hesitant. She told me I could dance for a minute of
the piece, but not the entire four minutes. I explained this to Ms. Brackett, who was
more than willing to find a small spot for me in the dance.

When Kaleidoscope arrived, I sang with Chorale and then rushed down to change
into my dance costume. We made our way to the stage. All of my girlfriends
squeezed my hand as they walked by me. The music began and I waited for my turn
to dance. That one minute of dance during the last Kaleidoscope I would ever be a
part of meant more to me than walking across the stage at graduation.

Do you know why the musicals and marching band are so successful? Because there
is an entire music wing dedicated to creating artists who have amazing abilities. The
Dance Program is no exception to this. Color Guard is filled with dancers from the
West Genesee Program. You cannot deny that our Color Guard is disciplined and
well-trained, and a lot of that is due to dance class. When I helped choreograph
Thoroughly Modern Millie, I pulled many friends from the Dance Ensemble to tap
dance, because there werent enough girls signed up for the musical that could. Im
not sure what I would have done without that choice.

Many, many friends have gone on from the Dance Program to dance for their career.
Caitlin Reinhardt, who now owns Caitlin Clarks Center of Dance in Solvay,
Stephanie Dattellas, who teaches for the Syracuse City Ballet amongst other things,
Jake Casey, who has danced all over the country for different companies, and David
Scarantino, who graduated from SUNY Purchase and dances in New York City, have
all prospered from the program. Have you ever seen any one of those students
dance? Look them up on YouTube when you get a chance.

And there are plenty who have gone on from the Dance Program to continue
dancing, even if its not for their career, including myself. I hope you can see what
good the West Genesee Dance Program has done for the Syracuse community and
beyond.

I am pleading for the school board and Chris Brown to overturn their decision to cut
the dance program. Its absolutely abhorrent that West Genesee, which claims to be
an elite Fine Arts school, is tossing aside one of the best Fine Arts programs it has to
offer.

With Passion for the West Genesee Dance Program,

Meghan McCartney
Class of 2008