Sacred Heart Greenwich Upper School students explore the art of physical expression, immersing themselves in the world of dance through their participation in the school’s new dance program.  Mrs. Meghan McMahon, Head of Upper School, and senior Antonia Iraola began the initiative as a way to spread their love for dance.

The dance program occurs during club time Days Three and Seven and during GOALS time on Day Eight.  Days Three and Seven are open dance classes for all Upper School students.  However, GOALS is a dance class for students with prior training.  There is a rotation of the different styles of dance offered, which are ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz, and hip-hop. 

Antonia has danced since she was four years old and currently dances at Greenwich Dance Studio.  She started a dance program, Step by Step, introducing it as a club this year. Step by Step is a program that endeavors to spread the joy of dancing and give underprivileged children more opportunities to dance. Antonia commented on how, over the past few years, she felt dance was missing at Sacred Heart. 

“Our school offers so many different arts and sports, but I felt that dance was the only thing missing,” Antonia said.  “It is an opportunity for people who have never tried dance to see if they like it.  Through this program people who do dance outside of school will be able to show this whole other side of them that our community doesn’t know about.”

To Antonia, dance means more than just steps.  Dance embodies a connection to her feelings, allowing her to communicate with her emotions using physical movements and create a unique narrative through every motion.  She reflected on how dance allows her to utilize both her artistic and athletic abilities because it is simultaneously an art and sport. 

“Dance is an outlet for expression and movement,” Antonia said.  “I really crave the physical exercise and intense training that goes behind it.  You need to be creative and understand rhythm, music, storytelling and even acting.  You have to be very in tune with your emotions and have to be able to portray that in a dance.  By watching it, you can touch people and give them a certain feeling.”

Mrs. McMahon has also danced since she was four years old.  Dance has always been a passion of hers, and it remains a prevalent part of her life today.  As a Sacred Heart graduate herself, Mrs. McMahon felt that Goal Three, “a social awareness which impels to action,” inspired her to help open and lead a public performing arts school in New York City.  The mission of the school focused on providing access to the arts to all students, regardless of their background or prior experience. 

“Dance is a true vehicle for connection and communication,” Mrs. McMahon said.  “Dance has allowed me to connect with people from so many backgrounds and to make connections through movement, artistic expression, and creativity.  When I came to Sacred Heart Greenwich and took a tour of the amazing campus, one of the stops was the dance studio.  I was disappointed when I quickly realized that it hadn’t been utilized much recently.”  

Antonia and Mrs. McMahon connected through their shared love for dance.  Together, they worked to discover ways to provide the dance studio as a space for the students to utilize during their day.  

Through dance, Mrs. McMahon encourages Upper School students to express themselves physically and creatively.  She aspires for dance to foster an environment where physical movement conveys individual stories and emotions.  Mrs. McMahon shed light on the objectives of the new program. 

“Right now the purpose of the pilot dance program is really just to have an outlet for students who are interested in dance,” Mrs. McMahon said.  “My hope is that we are part of upcoming performance opportunities and that the program can become more accessible for students who are interested in studying dance and have time in their day to do something that they love.”

Featured Image by Caitlin Leahy ’25