West Side Campus

The West Side Campus of the Joan Harris Centre for Gifted/Talented is located in the Harris Conservatory for the Arts.  at 545 Charles Street in Luzerne Pennsylvania. This locale was specifically chosen to position the studio in the center of the major municipalities of Wyoming Valley. Students from Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, West Side Communities and even the Poconos who study at the Kingston Campus appreciate its easy access to the main arteries that crises-cross the region, such as the Cross Valley Expressway.

The TWENTY THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT facility features five specially designed dance rooms including a massive 1,500 square foot grand studio. The high ceilings in each studio and the walls of windows promote a feeling of freedom and space and permit the rehearsing of lifts, large production numbers and partnering classes. The stained wood floating floors in all four of the classrooms are cushioned to give our jazz and ballet dancers that extra bounce, while the tappers love the crisp clean sounds that only a wooden floor can give. A separate dance studio is dedicated to ballet and modern classes and features a rich black Marley floor, perfect for both technically demanding Pointe work as well as free flowing bare-footed lyrical pieces.  Hundreds of square feet of mirrors in every studio reflect the student’s every move in the brightly lit dance rooms.

From the subtle sounds of Stravinsky, through the big band music of Count Bassie, to the powerful compositions of Pink Floyd, music at the West Side Campus is played over a multitude of state of the art stereo systems. High amp speakers are connected by heavy gauge wire to racks of equipment that include pitch controlled multi-disk CD players, cassette decks with speed control, and top end mini-disk players and receivers ensuring a full rich sound that encourages the dancers to become part of the music.

Ballet, tap and jazz shoes, along with basic tight and dancewear is available for purchase in the school’s nicely appointed lobby.  A small café is also on premises for the enjoyment of both the students and their parents.  Serving as the headquarters of the Joan Harris Centre. The Kingston Campus includes a full office, teachers’ lounge, and a music library. All types of costumes and fabrics, from elegant velvet outfits to simple headpieces can be found in the Centre’s extensive costume warehouse, which is next door to the school’s prop room. Spare and touring equipment is stored in the facility’s on site electronic storeroom featuring full lighting and sound systems.

The Harris Conservatory for the Arts, host of the Joan Harris Centre, features an eight thousand square foot rehearsal and performance space located on the first level.  The great room will be used for the special events such a summer ballet camps, cheerleading camps, student dances, Ballroom socials, gallery viewings, poetry readings and small intimate performances.