Since May of 2015, student performers have taken the stage at the historic St. George Theater for the B.A.F. Performing Arts Night. This event brought hundreds of students and thousands of Staten Islanders together to showcase the talent and skills of our students. Determined to continue this tradition during the pandemic, Staten Island performing arts students and educators came together in cross-borough virtual dance, music, and theater ensembles to create three dynamic online performances. Enjoy the show!

Exquisite Island features the choreography of 28 N.Y.C D.O.E. student dancers spanning Kindergarten through 12th grade from schools across Staten Island. Under the direction of their dance teachers, each student's solo begins with the energy of the dancer before them and ends with movements representing their unique voice and style. Performed to an original piece of music by Adam Jacobs, the piece tells a story of a love of dance that continues to connect people and communities despite distances and differences here on our exquisite island.

Congratulations to our dance students and schools on this remarkable production! Thank you to our dance educators who's creativity, hard work, and passion brought this idea to life. A special thank you to Adam Jacobs for writing and performing an original piece of music, titled "Exquisite Island" for our dancers, and to Willie Chu of Willie Chu Photography who graciously lent his time, talents, and expertise in the moving image and the arts to make this production possible.

In April and May of 2020, several high school music educators and their students from across Staten Island came together to perform virtually Ain't No Mountain High Enough, by Nicholas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, arranged by Keith Waage . Guided by their musical directors, 35 N.Y.C. D.O.E. high school student musicians worked to create a single seamless performance that would inspire their fellow New Yorkers to tap into that unwavering City spirit to persevere in the face of our current challenges and reach our goals.

Bravo to our music students and high schools communities on their outstanding performance! Thank you to our high school musical directors who's incredible talent is surpassed only by their dedication to their students and commitment to excellence. A special thank you to Paul Corn for all his support and Keith Waage for his musical arrangement of the piece, video production, and support of students, without which this performance would not be possible.

With the support of their theater directors, eight high school actors/vocalists joined together to craft a tribute to all the essential workers who bravely continue to care for our community. Several hometown heroes were interviewed about their experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic. Their reflections became spoken word pieces intertwined and performed with You Will be Found, by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, arranged by Mac Huff. The students, many of whom have never met face-to-face, became an ensemble to create this uplifting and soul-stirring message of gratitude and celebration of all who courageously serve our community.

Congratulations to our theater students and high school communities on this beautiful tribute! Thank you to our high school theater directors who's deep dedication and collaborative spirit made this production a reality. A special thank you to Diane Zerega and Hyun Joo Lee who generously shared their creative genius, expertise, and time to bring this vision to life. Thank you to the team at Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) who have given so much to our community and have shared many of the photos and reflections included in the work. We dedicate this performance to you and all essential workers, thank you!