As communities around the country are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, WXXI Classical recognizes the Hochstein School's dance instructor Nadia Padilla Rodriguez who recently received "The Seanate's Women of Distinction Award" for her outstanding work as an arts and education advocate with the Purerto Rican and greater Rochester community.
In 1981 Padilla Rodriguez founded the Boriquen Dance Theater, an ensemble that now is in residence at Hochstein where she currently teaches Caribbean-Latin dance classes. Hochstein President & Executive Director Hilary Respass, and Hochstein Assistant Director and Dean Gary Palmer were at the August recognition event. "This is a well-deserved tribute to one who, as a dancer, teacher, mentor, and community leader, has brought so much to the Puerto Rican and greater Rochester communities," Respass said in a statement.
Because one of the main tenets of Hochstein’s mission is inclusivity, establishing an ongoing relationship with the Boriquen presented a wonderful opportunity to reach out and serve an underrepresented community. Similarly the mission of the Boriquen Dance Theater is "to offer a diverse range of youth, many from economically challenged families, the opportunity to develop and practice discipline through the mental and physical training afforded by a rigorous holistic dance program."
Learn more about Nydia Padilla-Rodriguez.
Learn more about Boriquen Dance Theater.
Read the full story from Hochstein.
