Alumna Uses Her Dance Theater to Empower Youth

St. John’s University alumna Deidre Sears ’09CPS has blazed a trail of entrepreneurship, social impact, and self-expression from Queens, NY, to the Poconos region of Pennsylvania. 

Ms. Sears studied Communication Arts with a concentration in Public Relations at the College of Professional Studies, now called The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies. There she developed the multimedia and marketing skills that support her roles as the founder, owner, and artistic director of Elevé Dance Theater, LLC., located in the small Pennsylvania borough of East Stroudsburg. 

Through her new nonprofit, the Elevé Dance Theater Foundation, she has created a safe space for members of the Black and Brown communities to grow in holistic wellness and mental and spiritual affirmation through motivational discussions and dance.

Creating programs such as the F. L.Y. Girl initiative—F. L.Y. stands for First Love Yourself—Ms. Sears empowers young Black and Brown teens by promoting body positivity, cultural enrichment, and leadership skills through dance

Meet Deidre Sears, Dance Studio Entrepreneur and Leader in the Arts Field

Ms. Sears established the dance theater in 2011, hoping to provide opportunities for young people in the area who could not access performing arts programs available in larger cities.

“I wanted to serve the underserved,” Ms. Sears explained. “Many parents in the Poconos area came to me because their children felt excluded from other local studios. I wanted to provide these children an opportunity to discover their passion and come into their own as young adults.”

Elevé Dance Theater offers diverse classes, including ballet, hip-hop, jazz, tap, and traditional African dance. The studio provides classes for students as young as three years of age who reside in the Poconos area. Some classes accommodate dancers up to 19 years old.

The dance company made its New York City debut at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater in Manhattan, NY, on March 1, where Ms. Sears shared with her students the Big Apple experience she acquired at St. John’s. That experience, she said, provided her with the foundation of skills she has called on as an artist, business owner, and philanthropist.

The Preprofessional Ensemble, consisting of dancers between the ages of eight and 17, and the Alumni Company, whose ages range from 19 to 22, performed African, contemporary, hip-hop, and lyrical routines during the NYC debut.

Deidre Sears’ Vision Was Established at St. John’s University  

During her time at St. John’s, Ms. Sears was a member of Haraya: The Pan-African Students Coalition; was Committee Chair of the Caribbean Students Association (CSA); and was one of the founders and first President of the Fashion Club, now known as the Red House club. Ms. Sears said her time in the Haraya coalition and at CSA inspired her and her fellow club members to display their talents and voices, and to showcase the Black experience across the St. John’s community and beyond. 

Ms. Sears’ responsibilities as a CSA board member included organizing elaborate events and building a sustainable brand. In establishing the Fashion Club, she organized its first show, coordinated with the University on budgeting incentives, and managed meetings and events. The skills she learned are now essential to her work with Elevé and as a community leader and mentor.

“St. John’s gave me the initial tools to become a successful and independent business owner and community leader,” Ms. Sears said. “The campus environment compels you to be bold and embrace challenges, and the school prepares you for the outside world.”

In cultivating a creative space for young dancers in the Poconos, Ms. Sears combined her love of dance and her business, social advocacy, and organizational expertise—buttressed by her experiences at St. John’s—to serve the underserved. 

Ms. Sears said her values and the company’s, align with St. John’s Vincentian mission of service, compassion, and meaningful impact. She said that “as a Christian, my goal is to love and share my talents. My ability to give and see the smiles on my dancers’ faces is my reward, which is what St. John’s Vincentian mission truly is.”