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Combining performing arts education and traditional studio training
Published July, 2010 For dance students who are serious in pursuing a career in dance, performing arts schools provide a foundation for the years of training that are yet to come. Brian Goranson, artistic director at Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists (SPCPA) in Saint Paul, Minn., said what drew him to a position at the school is the fact that it specifically trains young adults in a pre-professional conservatory model. “We treat students as if they are going to continue on in the arts. We are not using arts to build self-esteem or academics; it’s professional training.” One special factor that sets apart SPCPA is the way that the school adheres to the conservatory model. Students are placed in dance classes, according to his or her level. No audition is required, and the school is tuition-free. Additionally, “It is unique in the sense that you will search long and hard to find a school whose mission is pre-professional training. The arts teachers are all working professional artists; they’re simultaneously working professionally and teaching,” Goranson added. The core of ballet and modern dance is supplemented by world, jazz, Pilates and African dance. “[They] compliment and support core training,” Goranson said. “It’s always good to have multiple perspectives.” What is the best way for a student to choose a performing arts school? Goranson said it’s important for students to go after the experience that they want most. “Different schools have different experiences --- they’re terrific, all noble. Some schools have art appreciation in the mission; some schools, it’s creativity, so their purpose is to engage students with an art form to support them to become [professionals]. Follow your intuition.” Several different factors affect the choice of a performing arts school. Quality of instructors, diversity of training and schools that offer a variety of difficulty levels are important things to consider when choosing a school. Emily Blacik Joos, who holds a BFA in dance performance and choreography, has been teaching for the past 15 years, most recently as a ballet, tap and jazz instructor at Midwest Youth Dance Theatre in Roseville, Minn., said, “Make sure you are being taught at your level so you can best succeed, a school whose class offerings meet your interests, a school that offers performance opportunities for all dancers.” A dancer may want to broaden his or her horizon by taking theatre and music classes in addition to core dance curriculum. One advantage of attending a performing arts school is the availability of scholarships. Most dance studios don’t offer them, so some students have left traditional studio training for performing arts schools so that they can afford their classes. Students in a performing arts setting receive additional training that would be extremely expensive at a dance studio. Kristin Delvin, a sophomore at SPCPA, has been dancing for seven years. Between studio and school, she dances over 10 hours per week. “I have always had an interest in performing arts; regular schools don’t really provide performing arts in their schedules,” she said. “I had no trouble deciding schools. I had my hopes and dreams set on this school.” Some things Delvin has learned at St. Paul Conservatory include flexibility, stamina, being open to new dance styles and finding herself in character roles. A variety of dance styles have helped to shape her into the dancer that she is today. For a student who is interested in attending a performing arts school, Delvin offered: “Do your best, be yourself, don't be afraid to push and express yourself. It helps me everyday. The chiropractor will be your best friend!” Margaret Marinoff, who holds a BFA in dance from the University of Minnesota, has been teaching for the past 15 years, most recently as a ballet instructor at Midwest Youth Dance Theatre in Roseville, Minn., said the choice to attend a performing arts school “depends on the student, because some people need different stimulation. Some need a traditional background, some flourish in a more focused [environment].” Marinoff continued, “Some who attend performing arts schools progress quickly and grow technically and artistically. Other students provide insight.” Students are guided differently, are exposed to career diversity and different influence through dance and teaching styles. The more dance experience outside a studio, the better. Although students have to become accustomed to different styles of dance and teaching, it’s good for them in terms of preparation for a professional career. Marinoff said it’s important for students to have the technical ability to give teachers what they want, whether they are teachers at performing arts school or at dance studio. Blacik Joos said, “In my experience, the students I've had who've attended performing arts schools do well in class because they are dancing more hours per week, and thus, their technique seems to improve. They also seem to be more fit as a result. I would not necessarily say that the students who attend performing arts schools are the best dancers in class -- it's not always the most talented dancers who attend them -- I'd just say that on an individual basis, attending the schools seems to help students improve their technique.” Blacik Joos considers performing arts schools to be an additional outlet for dance students. “I believe that being exposed to a variety of teachers, different types of training, different dance styles and even different dancers is a good experience that readies them for college and professional-level dancing.” She also appreciates the fact that dance students are readied for the post-secondary dance world. “It’s great to provide dance students with good guidance about what types of programs they might be successful in.” “Performing arts schools and studio dance can be a good complement to each other. You have to be willing to put more hours in at the studio, and have a more demanding and rigorous schedule, though. If you want to try to do both, make sure you are willing to make the time commitment so that one or the other doesn't suffer. But, overall, I think it is a great opportunity for students who are interested in pursuing careers in dance. You can't have too much training or experience,” Blacik Joos said. MerSadies McCoy is a freshman at SPCPA and has taken six years of dance. She normally dances 22 hours per week. “Going to a performing arts school could only benefit me. It’s given me opportunities to learn new styles and variations of dance. I’ve met teachers and choreographers who took my talent and brought it to the next level.” McCoy recognized the differences between studio and performing arts school instruction. “There are a lot of differences between my studio and my school. One being that at my studio, there is more of a feeling of competition with other studios and also other students. I get the best of both worlds by learning from teachers and choreographers I work with.” McCoy said she didn’t have any trouble choosing her high school. “All I knew was that I wanted to dance and only one school provided that. It was a tough decision; you miss out on homecoming, sporting events, school dances and prom, but in the long run, a performing arts high school is a better choice, in my opinion.” Since McCoy is preparing herself for a career in the field of dance, attending a performing arts school is preparing herself for her future. “I’m interested in teaching dance and performing nationally. I hope to be a famous choreographer some day.” Additionally, her school offers dance-related classes. “At my school, I’m exposed to new experiences, like working with live musicians, taking Pilates, working with professional dancers, learning about my body and nutrition, learning about dance auditions and getting a sense of the culture of our dance world today. Even though some of those things are touched on at my studio, I feel like I’m getting a more in depth overall view on a day-to-day life of being and evolving into a professional dancer,” McCoy said. “At my studio, I feel like I get more individual attention since the classes are a lot smaller. It’s a bonus having teachers who have known you for years. They know your strengths, weaknesses and all of your habits.” “Some critique that I get from school definitely helps me at my studio. It helps me stand out from the other dancers in my classes and helps me to get noticed by a variety of different people. I feel like I always have a special ‘wow factor’ that sets me apart from my peers at my studio,” McCoy said. Overall, McCoy said she has had a great experience at a performing arts school. “If you have even enough passion for it, then pursue it! Just remember that whatever choice you make; someone’s life will be changed forever. Depending on how much you put into it, it could be your life that is forever changed.”
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by Ashley Miller