Featured camp of the month: Popular Dance Intensive

Parker Espada in On the Edge

Many people recognize the Patel Conservatory for our exceptional ballet program. They may not know, however, that the Conservatory recently expanded our dance program by adding more classes and more flexibility for students wanting to study additional dance styles.

Led by Kelly King, a former Radio City Rockette for 12 years, the new Patel Conservatory Popular Dance program allows dancers to explore popular dance styles for opportunities such as Broadway, television, theme parks and more.

The growth of the program in the past year inspired a new camp this summer, the Popular Dance Intensive, which will be Aug. 10 through Aug. 14, 2015.

Parker Espada, 13, who joined the Conservatory’s ballet program last summer to work on her technique, also participated in the Popular Dance program.

“I liked it because it was different from what we were doing in my other classes [jazz and ballet]. It allowed me to work on contemporary and get the challenge that I needed to improve as a dancer,” she said.

The week-long intensive, led by King and Patel Conservatory dance faulty Susan Downey, will immerse dancers in multiple forms of commercial dance including tap, Broadway, contemporary and musical theater.

“I’m looking forward to taking different styles of dance, like tap. I normally don’t take tap,” said Parker.

Students will work with teaching artists who have years of professional experience on Broadway, on tour, and in television and film. The week will culminate in a ticketed performance in the Straz Center’s Ferguson Hall on Sat., Aug. 15 at 2:30 p.m.

Students will also be given the opportunity to audition a contemporary or jazz solo that may be included in the show.

Parker looks forward to the week-long intensive as part of her training. She hopes to one day be a professional dancer and feels the Conservatory has helped push her to the next level.

Being at the Conservatory, “has been a very, very good experience. As a dancer, it’s allowed me to grow.”

The Popular Dance Intensive is open to dancers in grades six through 12. For more information or to register, call 813.222.1040 or visit strazcenter.org.

Spotlight on Kayda and Thia Sandefur

Kayda and Thia Sandefur could certainly pass for twins. With similar short, bob haircuts and only a year and a half age difference, the two sisters from St. Petersburg are often seen together on Patel Conservatory stages in our theater productions.

In their first Conservatory show, they were even double cast in the same role as Alice in Alice and Wonderland, Jr. Since then, they each have played a variety of roles in our theater productions year after year, including Once Upon a Mattress, A Little Princess and Oklahoma!

“It’s good being close in age, we’re supportive of each other,” said Kayda, 14. “If someone gets a bigger role, we don’t get mad...whether you’re ensemble, or a lead, you should be honored just to be in the cast.”

“We’ve both had leads, and we’ve both been in ensemble, we’re just supportive of each other,” agreed Thia, 15.

Kayda, left, and This in Alice in Wonderland, Jr.
in 2011. Photo by Soho Images.

Although they look alike and perform in the same shows, and share inside jokes and sometimes finish each other’s sentences, the girls are each finding their own path at the Conservatory.

In Alice and Wonderland, Jr., “the director worked with the girls to bring out each of their strengths,” said mom Kelli Sandefur.

Working with different directors, choreographers and instructors over the past five years has inspired them to branch out beyond theater classes and into vocal and dance classes and private voice lessons.

This summer, Kayda will focus on voice, participating in the Conservatory’s Voice Intensive, and Thia will focus on dance in the Junior Intensive.

Kayda is looking forward to working with vocal instructor Kavan Gillespie. “He pushes you to go outside of your comfort area. You never feel nervous when it comes time for the performance because he gives you so much to prepare. You feel like you have everything you need to give your best performance.”

Thia took an interest in dance last summer when she got a chance to work with dance instructor Kelly King in Hairspray.

On the Edge,  April 2015. Photo by Soho Images.

“She made sure I did everything very sharp. It was the most intense dancing I’ve ever done,” said Thia.

That sold Thia and her sister on taking hip hop during the school year with Miss Kelly. Though they’ve picked up some dance along the way through theater experiences, neither had ever taken formal dance classes.

“At the beginning of the year, we were nervous. But by the end of year, your confidence is so built up,” said Thia.

Last year, she didn’t even know the Conservatory had a third floor. This year, she’ll spend two weeks in our third floor dance studios as she works on dance skills in the Junior Intensive.

"I want to improve in jazz so I can take Just for Kicks next year."

Ultimately, the two girls are striving for those triple threat skills that will land them professional jobs.

“From auditions to callbacks, the Patel Conservatory has prepared them for what it’s really like in the professional world. When they go to other auditions, they don’t have the unknown fear factor,” said Kelli.

The girls recently had roles as extras in the films Five Doctors and Dolphin Tale 2.

“Improv, dance, singing, drama, you don’t have to go to different places to meet all those needs,” said Thia.

“There are so many different avenues all within one building,” said Kayda. “Patel has really given us everything we need.”

For more information about dance, music and theater camps and classes, call 813.222.1002 or visit patelconservatory.org.

So what is the Harlem Shake?

Harlem Shake videos are popping up on the internet like wildfire.

Patel Conservatory hip hop dance instructor Alesia Scott-Warren went on the national morning talk show Daytime this morning to set the record straight on what exactly is the Harlem Shake.

Hip hop instructor Alesia Scott-Warren, right, teaches the
original Harlem Shake to talk show hosts Cyndi Edwards
and Jerry Penacoli.

The dance started in Harlem and was made popular in the early 2000’s when featured in music videos from hip hop artists P. Diddy and G. Dep, as well as rapper Eve, said Scott-Warren.

The recent rash of videos are imitations of a video by some college guys, who dance to a 2012 song called Harlem Shake by Baauer.

Scott-Warren demonstrated the old version of the dance to Daytime hosts Cyndi Edwards and Jerry Penacoli.

The Daytime cast and crew even got into the action and put together their own version of the newer Harlem Shake trend.

The cast and crew of Daytime doing their take on the "Harlem Shake" video craze.

Catch the full segment on Daytime on Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. on WFLA Channel 8.

Dance Workshops feature two days of dance classes!

The Patel Conservatory announces two days of dance workshops on Dec. 15 and Dec. 16, 2012.

The Conservatory offers an array of dance classes for students of all ages and abilities. The upcoming workshops will give participants the opportunity to try several classes in one fun weekend.

Patel Conservatory Dance Workshops

Sat., Dec. 15 from 2:30 to 6 p.m.

and

Sun., Dec. 16 from 1:30 to 5 p.m.
at the Patel Conservatory
at the Straz Center in downtown Tampa
1010 N. W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa, FL 33602

The two-day workshop will include classes in contemporary, jazz, ballet, tap and hip-hop.

Led by professional Patel Conservatory instructors, the classes are open to beginners as well as experienced dancers from grade four through adults.

Our dance classes allow you to progress at your own pace in a nurturing environment. If you enjoy your workshop experience, you can sign up for one class, or take various classes with the flexibility of a dance class card.

The cost is $30 per day, or $50 for both days. College students receive a 50% discount.

All participants receive a complimentary ticket to An Evening of Dance on Saturday evening, as well as a complimentary pre-show pizza social.

An Evening of Dance will feature dancers from various dance classes at the Patel Conservatory.

Come dance, and enjoy dinner and a show on us!

Reserve your spot now! Register online or by phone.

To register over the phone, please call 813-222-1002.

To register online, click on one of the links below:

Saturday and Sunday, Grades 4 to 8

Saturday only, Grades 4 to 8

Sunday only, Grades 4 to 8

Saturday and Sunday, Grade 9 through Adult

Saturday only, Grade 9 through Adult

Sunday only, Grade 9 through Adult

For additional information, please call 813-222-1002.

New instructors for hip hop dance classes

The Patel Conservatory welcomes two new hip hop instructors this fall, Marcus Borders and Lisa Warren.

Lisa taught the adult hip hop class last year at the Patel Conservatory and this year, she’ll be taking over our Hip Hop Show Team, for grades 4 to 12.

An ethnic dancer specializing in such styles as West African Ballet and Brazilian, Lisa studied hip hop at the Broadway Dance Center in New York. A Tampa native, she has choreographed for local dance studios and summer camps, and local shows including The Chocolate Nutcracker at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg.

“This year is going to be amazing,” said Lisa about teaching the Hip Hop Show Team at the Conservatory. “My ultimate goal is to cultivate each child in a way that they will know their inner style. I just want them to feel confident, and know that anything they want to achieve, it will happen. It just takes hard work and persistence.”

Marcus Borders, photo courtesy of
VYB Dance Company.

Marcus Borders will be teaching hip hop classes at the Patel Conservatory for grades one through adult.

Marcus is a Tampa native who began dancing when he was eleven years old. He studied dance at Blake High School and went on to tour with Astro/Genesis Records for three years and performed for gospel composer Carlton Burgess and with VYB Dance Company. He also choreographed a show for gospel artists Cepeda McKay and No Limits, which was performed on the Bobby Jones Gospel show on B.E.T.

“I want my students to understand the meaning of hip hop,” said Marcus. “I’m hoping to take the hip hop classes to another level this year.”

He’s taught dance at Blake High School and choreographed shows for the University of Tampa. He’s performed in and choreographed for many local performances including The Chocolate Nutcracker, and performed with 

For more information or to register for hip hop dance classes or any of our community dance classes, please call 813-222-1002.