The energy and hope seem to be coming out of the walls of the building. So much happening, all good.

This is a rebirth and renaissance time for Bishop Maginn High School in Albany, N.Y., after some years of struggle, the school is bursting with energy and creativity, as well as challenges. The school is celebrating and supporting the school’s mission: helping the needy and the gifted and the vulnerable.

There is a new computer lab, science lab, art program, choir, and music program. Today I also saw a  spontaneous rehearsal of the new Bishop Maginn Dancers, a gifted, hard-practicing group of Karen refugee students and children, dancing some of the ancient dances of their colorful and rich community.

They hope to perform all over the area and work with the new school choir forming in September when new Choir Director Judi Merriam starts work (Judi is looking for a keyboard for the choir.)

These dancers, refugees from the Karen culture, driven from their homes in Southeast Asia by persecution and genocide, practice for hours, day after day. The Karen culture is colorful, joyous and rich.

There are dozens of Karen refugees at Bishop Maginn, their love of music and dancing and education have enriched the school.

I was invited to watch them rehearse today in preparation for the school year. Bishop Maginn is restarting its art, athletic, music, science and computing classes. Now, it looks like there’s going to be a dancing group as well.

I loved this dancing, it was beautiful and evocative and heartfelt.  And the Bishop Maginn gym is a perfect place for them to practice, there is so much hope in the school it sometimes feels as if it might lift up off the ground. Come and see the new dance troupe.