DANCE AT BROOKLINE High School
The dance program at Brookline High School offers a curriculum from beginning through advanced levels. The program covers a variety of dance techniques and choreography. All students enrolled in the full year dance classes perform in the annual dance concert, Progressions. Students are also encouraged to participate in the student variety show, ReVisions in January. The classroom facilities include two dance studios. Performing Arts dance classes can be used to fulfill the Health & Fitness requirement, except in 9th grade where all students are required to take and pass WE0900.
About Ms. Hernandez
Mayra Hernandez was born and raised in Boston, where she began dancing at a young age.
Mayra’s training led her to Boston Arts Academy, where her growth as an artist started and further continued at Smith College. In college, Mayra realized that her calling in life was to engage the community through movement and arts education.
After graduating from Smith with two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Dance and Sociology, Mayra returned to Boston.
She began her professional dance career as a Fly by Night Dance Theatre member, eventually leading her to work with BoSoma Dance Company. Currently, Mayra dances with Brayton Dance, Continuum Dance Project, and BeHeard.World. Throughout Mayra’s dance career, she has had the opportunity to work with world-renowned, influential choreographers such as Paul Taylor, Mark Morris, Ronald K. Brown, and many others. After tending to her need to dance professionally, Mayra decided to focus on her teaching career while exploring ways to give back to her community.
Mayra first started teaching dance in and around Boston at local community centers, dance schools, and afterschool programs. Mayra’s work in the community eventually led her to become a dance educator and Head of the Dance Department at Brookline High School, where she currently serves the needs of dancers and future choreographers. Mayra also serves as a registered yoga teacher (RYT) who uses movement as means for her students to listen to their bodies, move with intention, accept change, and cultivate a deep sense of gratitude for life.
Mayra’s innate love for the arts has inspired her to pursue her MSED in Education at Walden University. As a Walden graduate, she explores movement as a vehicle to expand the role of the arts to be a connective force between individuals and communities to bring about social and political change.