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 The move from Nova to Dillard High School was a compromise after a long battle between Nova Performing Arts supporters, and the Broward County Schools administration. The excellent track record and the future development and direction for a professional training Performing Arts High School had been established except for one big mistake.Nova Performing Arts had dared raise its achievement and expectations above mediocrity. In the public school system then as well as now, with very few exceptions, reaching the level of ‘better’ or ‘special’ or even ‘different’ attracts many enemies. Actually, this was a problem for the Nova schools in general.Of course an area of training specializing in the Performing Arts marks its achievement with an audience and in glaring lights so the enemies made their presence known. The staff and inner circle of parents and friends felt without a doubt that the success had been too visible (shows at the professional theatre Parker Playhouse with revues and supportive articles in the major newspapers of the Fort Lauderdale and Miami area). In slang terms, some thought they were too big for their britches.The attempt to close the program at Nova had failed and a compromise was made to move the program to Dillard High School as a magnet school. This was during the height of forced integration and Dillard had a primarily black enrollment. Putting an ‘attractive’ program at this location and allowing students from the entire county school system to ‘choose’ to attend would advance the cause of integration without conflict from the community. Part of the deal was a new Performing Arts building on the Dillard site. It was a remarkable day at the Dillard campus when the performing arts representatives from the parents association and the school board representatives headed by the boisterous William Dandy met for a tour. Waving his arm he gestured to a large area to the south and east of the main campus saying “that is where the new building and theatre will go”. This sounded workable, so Joyce, Allen and Tom were moved to Dillard to create the new Broward County Performing Arts training program. The move and ultimately the program itself had many problems along the way. The first of which was a delay in starting. The first quarter of the following year, performing arts construction had not even begun and there was no place for the program, so Joyce and Allen spent the time looking at each other in a small cubicle in the administration building of the Dillard campus. Boy, was that fun 🙁 Upon the completion of a new cafeteria for the Dillard campus (about mid way into the school year), the Performing Arts program was assigned to the old cafeteria and a starting date was planned. Starting in the middle of the year, the first day was quite a site. Later it became clear that ‘some’ of the ‘powers that be’ fully expected the program to fail and finally, be out of their hair. But that didn’t happen. Around 30 kids climbed off that first bus (10 to 20 others drove) with their tap shoes and tights and exploding spirit. The collection of ‘suits’ that had assembled to watch was literally open-mouthed
FIRST HUGE SETBACK! The building was NOT where Dandy had said it would be, but instead, between existing buildings in the middle of the Dillard campus. This alone eliminated the possibility of an adjoining theatre. Again, in spite of everything, we all looked forward as the building slowly came to shape. Joining Joyce, Allen and Tom as part of the BCPA school were Revel Shaw (dance) and – – – – – – – – – – yet to come – – – – Applause fiasco – dismissal demanded clip, mavredies, dandy and bonner with clips about their demise – and dynamic duo clip |
School Pictures
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