The ballet dance classes at Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts (LIHSA) welcomed MOMIX dance instructor Anthony Bocconi, who taught a lively session to the aspiring dancers.

The Master Class program is part of the school’s ongoing mission to provide its students with an inside look at the industries they are pursuing, and to introduce them to mentors within their chosen field.

“Their enthusiasm was great, the students here are very well trained,” said Bocconi. “I also went to a high school for the arts, too, so it was great to be in a place that reminded me of home. Having training like this really sets you up for a professional career.” Bocconi added that he was impressed with everyone’s technique, and that the students were able to warm up very quickly.

Bocconi was born in Brooklyn and began his dance training at the age of 13. The following year, he attended Fiorello H. La Guardia High School of Music, Art, and the Performing Arts. It was there he found his niche in modern dance, while studying Graham and Horton techniques. Upon graduation, he continued his dance training in the Ailey/Fordham BFA program under the direction of Melanie Person. He spent each summer at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Hubbar Street Dance Chicago, Nederlands Dans Theatre, and Springboard Dance Montreal. He graduated in 2013, and has since performed with Lydia Johnson Dance, The Metropolitan Opera, The Santa Fe Opera, and Lar Lubovitch Dance Company. Bocconi joined MOMIX in 2015. (MOMIX is a company of dancer-illusionists founded and directed by Moses Pendleton. Each production focuses not only on the beauty of the human form, but also the beauty of nature, music, scenography, and life itself.)

“The arts are going to move the world forward, and hopefully this is the generation that is going to do that,” said Bocconi. “Art makes the world a better place.”