What Colleagues Are Saying

“Darlene is a master teacher dedicated to her craft.  She is able to teach to every age level using a variety of instructional strategies.  Because her ideas are always fresh and exciting, she has an unusual ability to make some of the most intricate dance moves into easily acquired skills.
Her enthusiasm, her innovativeness and her genuine concern for arts in education are exemplary.  Her flexibility in working with students, teachers and the public has earned her an enviable reputation as an excellent teacher.”

Dr. Carol Rupp, DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts)

 

“As the Theatre teacher at St. Teresa’s Academy, I have had the pleasure of working with Darlene as my Choreographer on two productions and I have already hired her for this year’s musical.  The first quality that struck me about Darlene was her level of professionalism.  She is always prepared, always on time and ready to work.  She is the consummate professional and she will go the extra mile to get the job done.  It is also important to note how loving and nurturing Darlene is with the students.  The girls at St. Teresa’s that have worked with Ms. Piane love her and are so excited that she is coming back to do another show,  In countless hours spent together in rehearsals, I have never heard Darlene raise her voice, yet she gets the results needed.  She understands the importance of fun in an arts experience and because of that she is able to create brilliance.  She can make the most amateur performers look like they have been training all of their lives.  In “Nunsense”, Darlene took 5 girls who had never so much as put on a pair of tap shoes and, in a month, had them performing a tap dance that would have taken most dancers years to perfect.  The end result was a number that brought the house down every night and an accomplishment that will live with those girls forever.   I hope that you will take the opportunity to get to know her as I have because I am a better teacher and director because of her.”

Shana Prentiss, Theatre Teacher, St. Teresa’s Academy

 

“As the Director of the Auxiliary Services at Barstow, I have known Darlene for the past 13 years in many different capacities.  I taught her children, watched her as a high school dance team coach, enjoyed her music and dance teaching in our primary school, and relished in the fact that she has been a teacher for me in the Barstow School Summer Program for the past three years.  Darlene has taught and led many different grade levels from the youngest Preschool children to the oldest eighth graders during the summer program. 
Darlene is an outstanding teacher and a strong team player.  She has a real gift for motivating the students, teaching them more than the concept or skill at hand, but passion for what they are doing.  Her students are engaged and excited about learning.  Darlene understands the learning process, and creates an atmosphere where students want to learn.  She models respect for her students, which is reciprocated in their respect for her. 

Darlene is always well-prepared, enthusiastic, organized and efficient.  She is dependable and always willing to go beyond the expected.  She is very flexible which is a must in education.  I have never seen Darlene flustered or uncertain of what decision to make if something unexpected arises.  She always puts the students and their learning experiences first.  She is a leader among her peers and co-workers.”

Suzanne McCanles, Director of Auxiliary Services, The Barstow School

 

"Darlene has worked as a choreographer for our Showcase productions at The Pembroke Hill School for the past eleven years.  She has worked with up to 135 middle school students at one time.  Darlene is a conscientious, highly creative individual.  She is one of the kindest persons I have ever known and her ability to be effective with young people is quite evident.  Her own children Michael, Denise and Karen are wonderful examples of their mother’s positive influence.

Darlene is punctual and very organized.  She gives clear directions and knows exactly what goals she wants to accomplish in a given rehearsal.  She strives for excellence and never ceases to amaze me with what she is able to do with adolescents.  Darlene is like a “breath of fresh air” and a “ray of sunshine” in the lives of people who know her.  My students absolutely adore Darlene and treasure the memories they have of working with such a positive, uplifting professional.”

Debra Anderson, Middle School Music Teacher, The Pembroke Hill School

 

“In one short week with Darlene Piane, my grandson, Alex learned more new dance steps than in the previous six months.  She also accomplished wonders with the Barstow School Dance Team.”   

Penny Vrooman, Dance and Etiquette Teacher