West New Yorker Isabel Amarilys-Echevarria was born in Cuba and came to the United States at 8 months old. She was raised in West New York, where she has lived all her adult life.
Her mother Enilda still lives in West New York, and her beloved father Jose Perez is now deceased. She also has a sister Maritza who lives in Bergen County.
Amarilys-Echevarria was a graduate of Memorial High School in West New York and later achieved a bachelor of science degree in business administration and also a minor in dance at Montclair State University in Upper Montclair in 1979.
Isabel began to dance at 9 years old at the Oneida Dance Studio in Guttenberg. Her teacher was its owner, Oneida Quevedo. At the age of 18, she graduated from the dance studio, and also went on to take classes at the American Ballet Theater in Flamenco Dancing in New York City. She also took dance classes at Carnegie Hall for further advancement. Back in Guttenberg, she began to teach dancing at the Oneida Dance Studio. Later she began to have dreams of her own school, and began her own school in West New York, where it still is today!
She began and created her own school called Amarily’s Academy of Dance Arts on 61st Street in West New York in 1977, and will be having her 33rd Annual Recital this year at the Park Theater in Union City. Amarilys-Echevarria tells us that dance students usually graduate at age 18, then go on to college or to dance professionally. She has also danced professionally at the Town Hall Theater in New York City, and at universities around the metropolitan area.
Even though dance has been her life’s work, she did find time for marriage, and married her boyfriend from her youth, Jorge Enchevarria. They have a daughter Jennifer and a son named Jorge Jr., all living in West New York.
She tells us that some of her former students have graduated from her academy and went on to various professions. Lesley Machado, who went on to become a weather forecaster on Channel 41 and 47 and has performed in Rossetta Stone Commercials in television circles, and now lives in California. Another former local student named Carina Garcia also became a weather forecaster for Channel 41. Another former student, Yamirka Duenas, went on to dance professionally for a Latin Ballroom company in New York City.
As an owner/teacher herself now, she teaches ballet, Flamenco, tap, and jazz dancing, and tells us that hip hop, acrobatics, modern, and Samba dancing are also taught at the academy. Her academy students also perform on Spanish television, local events, and at municipal parades.
As a member of the Dance Educators of America, they go to conventions every year and have competitions where they have won numerous Bronze to Platinum Awards, High Score Awards, and Special Choreography Awards. They have also performed at such well known competitions such as Star Bound, Star Quest, Show Stoppers, and Headliners. Moreover, performing at the New Jersey Network Spanish Showcase in Newark netted the academy a $500 scholarship in the past!
Ms. Amarilys-Echevarria tells us that it is only during the summer season that she and her family have time for some leisure. They do travel to the Caribbean Islands, Florida, and Canada, but her academy takes so much time, such as paperwork, accounting, payroll, student assignments, and costume-ordering, that she gets home late at night Monday through Saturday, and is closed on Sunday. She also tells us that her academy is always looking for new teachers who would like to apply to her school.
As for weekend leisure, she does view Broadway and theatre in the metro area with a professional eye, and as for hobbies, they are all dance related, as well as reading books about dancing. She also states that she is a member of the Associated Dance Teachers of New Jersey! Thus, as the reader can see, Isabel Amarilys-Echevarria is a true dance lover and great teacher. All the Best!…
The Union City Police Department recently received the AAA Traffic Safety Commendation Award from Rose Kruse, the president of the AAA North Jersey organization. Those in the receiving line were Police Officer Peter Del Rosso, Detective Abel Hernandez, and Police Officer Tony Martinez. Congratulations! …
Josue Ledesma of Union City was named to the dean’s list at Bryant University, located in Rhode Island. Best wishes Mr. Ledesma! …
Readers, in my travels in north Hudson County, I meet the nicest people, and old friends and acquaintances, and here are some of them. Financial wiz Joseph Muniz and Vincent Tripodi of North Bergen; educational union leader Joseph Mantineo and Osvaldo “Ovi” Garcia of West New York; Councilman John Shinnick of Secaucus; Guttenberg’s Athletic Living Legend Brian Guaschino, and Kristina Prager, also of Guttenberg; and Ellen Ricciardi of Weehawken. This happened all in one day, always a pleasure to meet you! …
A proud Michael and Anna Goldnerof Union City will be celebrating their Golden 50th Wedding Anniversary this coming May 7, and celebrating with them will be their devoted children Lisa Ann Goldner, Lori Ann Di Stasi, and Michael Goldner, Jr. Many, many happy returns of your wonderful day! …
And so it goes … until next time … see you around town … MATT.
Readers who would like to contribute to this column can do so by mailing your news items and photographs, along with your name, address, and telephone number to: Matthew Amato, columnist, c/o The Hudson Reporter, 1400 Washington St., Hoboken, NJ 07030. Thank you!