Norma Dwyer
President and Founder
Norma Dwyer is a Caribbean American who was born in Jamaica, West Indies. She immigrated to the United States in 1969 and has spent quite a bit of her time observing and experiencing different cultures, professions and hobbies in order to find her true purpose.
While being a single parent, she spent over thirty years working in corporate America for several of the most prestigious financial services firms, retail giants, law firms, media giants, non-for-profits and other industries along with her community involvement in politics in Staten Island. She has come to the conclusion that her rich and vibrant Caribbean Heritage along with her love for the performing arts are extremely important to her existence.
Her education includes a business associates from LaGuardia Community College, studied Marketing at Baruch and Communication Arts at St. John’s University, Staten Island. She studied computer engineering at EAI Consulting in New York City where she took the following courses: A+, MCSC, CYSCO Routers & Checkpoint Security. She also studied financial services products and administration and passed a required intensive six month training program at an investment bank and worked at two locations in Staten Island in order to maintain a position as Branch Office Administrator where she oversaw the operations of the branch and assisted the manager.
While working and going to school, Ms. Dwyer never gave up her passion for the performing arts. She studied classical ballet at the Darvash School with world renowned teachers such as Madame Darvash, and Igal Perry Founder of Perry Dance, as well as Jody Fugate, Jan Miller and others. She studied Authentic Jazz with the legendary Pepsi Bethel dancer, teacher and choreographer. At Hines and Hatchet – now Broadway Dance – she studied jazz with Maurice Hines and Frank Hatchett and jazz at The Ailey Studios with Boe Parker. At Lucille Hill Dance Studio in St. Albans, Queens, she studied ballet and jazz and performed at their annual recital at Brooklyn Academy of music. She took private voice lessons from Jerry Banks and J.T. Carter, founding member of the Crest and Hall of Fame Inductee. She studied voice, piano and theory at Dr. Trogan Music School in Staten Island. After being an acting student and performer at UJAMMA Black Theatre in New York City, she became the stage manager, taught dance, acting and songs from the UJAMMA musical repertoire at Lincoln Center and was audition host and production assistant for two Black Musicals. Her teaching experience also includes classical ballet and jazz while living in Queens.
Her performance experience includes Brooklyn Academy of Music, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, The Town Hall-NYC and UJAMMA Black Theatre at Lincoln Center.
Her diverse background and experience including arts education and passion for the arts, children and community have come full circle. She strongly believes there is a need to create a cohesive community(s) by uniting people through the Arts and encourage civic engagement.
