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.

Guest blog: Tap dance is alive and well

Ashlyn Bolton with Savion Glover and
younger sister Emma (left).

Guest blog by Ashlyn Bolton, Patel Conservatory dance student

I was recently fortunate to have the opportunity to witness one of today's tap dance masters, Savion Glover, in performance.

Mr. Glover came to the Straz Center with the touring tap dance production, StePz, which also features fellow tap dancers Marshall Davis, Jr., Robyn Watson, Lisa La Touche, and Sara Savelli.

While in Tampa for the day, the cast of STePz spent time at one of the Patel Conservatory's partners in education, Blake High School, where they hosted an educational talk-back session. Glover spoke about how he first entered the world of dance.

By the age of 7, Glover started dancing at Broadway Dance Center, which was known as Hines-Hatchet Dance Academy at the time. Through his younger years, he was surrounded by tap dance greats such as;  Jimmy Slyde, Gregory Hines, Chuck Green, Lon Chaney, and Lady Dianne Walker to name a few. They were his mentors the, “Balanchine's of the tap world.”

During the talk, Glover was very thoughtful with every word he spoke. Each word was thought out with care and intelligence as he made it clear that the reason he dances is to honor the tap greats throughout history.

Glover gives students a preview demonstration at Blake High School, a Patel
Conservatory community partner.

The cast tap danced in an improv circle, showing musicality, creativity, and a pure love for what they do. Over the past several years, I have had the opportunity to work with one of the cast members, Lisa LaTouche,  at different tap workshops. Seeing one of my mentors/teachers perform that night was very inspiring.

As showtime approached, the audience's excitement grew. The show was magical. Fluidity, style, and spunk graced the stage. There were a few pieces done with miniature staircases, to pay homage to the famous tap staircase dances done throughout history. I automatically think of Shirley Temple and Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, singing and dancing together up and down a staircase in the movie The Little Colonel. This famous dance, and duo, is what made me want to start dancing when I was younger. I'm sure that somewhere in the audience there were young kids, in awe, much like I was at their age.

Tap dancers in the audience caught onto one of the “shave-and-a-haircut” rhythm sequences, which Glover executed by gliding down the stairs backwards while scraping the edge of each step with his taps. This phenomenal display of brilliance elicited much excitement from the audience.

Each piece had a certain unique feeling, in music, style, and execution. One of my favorite moments of the night was Glover's solo, performed to the song, "Mr. Bojangles." It gave me chills, as I'm sure it did others. He made it look so effortless, even when his feet moved so fast you couldn't see them moving! No joke!

After the show, I attended a Q&A with the cast. One of the questions asked was, "what is one thing you want the entire world to know about tap dance?" The entire cast agreed that the world needs to “know the history of the dancers [for what they're worth], in their respected level.” As Sarah Savelli put it, "we can't move on into the future without knowing our past." It's sad to say that I've witnessed the majority of my generation having no clue who people like Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis Jr. are. After watching Savion Glover perform in the show and at the school, I truly believe our tap dance legends who have passed on live today through him.

A question asked during the course of the night "what's your favorite tap step?"

Glover  replied, “it's all about the sound, not the step.”

Personally, from a tap dancer's point of view, I feel that that is one of the hardest questions to answer. You get to a point where you've done all the so called "steps" and turn to more of the music you're making.

“Tap dance is music - not just dance,” Glover said. It's an art form, one which shouldn't be overlooked.

Perhaps the most poignant quote from the night, which has stuck with me, was Glover's advice to aspiring dancers to “be an individual, look to the greats for inspiration, and never stop self discovering.”

After hearing that, I definitely felt inspired to get back in the studio to learn more about myself, through the music coming from my feet, because, as Glover put it, “[you], your heartbeat, makes the music.”

For more info on tap classes at the Patel Conservatory, call 813.222.1002 or visit patelconservatory.org.

Dance intensive brings students young and old together for a week of holiday fun

What are you doing for yourself this season? You’ve worked hard all year. So put on your dancing shoes and have some holiday fun with the Patel Conservatory’s Winter Fantasy dance intensive.

Patel Conservatory’s Open Dance Intensive:

Winter Fantasy

Dec. 16 through Dec. 20, 2014

Winter Fantasy is a week of dance classes that culminate in a ticketed performance in the Straz Center’s Jaeb Theater.

“To see what you can actually put together in such a short period of time,” said Jacqueline Rivera, who did the open dance intensive last spring, “it was a lot of fun...I was really proud of being a part of that.”

Bianca Rivera, left, with daughter
Bianca Rivera-Irions

When Rivera signed up for the adult jazz class at the Conservatory last summer, she had never before taken a dance class.

“I wanted to be a dancer when I was young, but we just couldn’t afford it,” she said.

Her daughter Bianca, 14, had taken classes at the Conservatory for years before Rivera finally decided to try it herself. Rivera and her daughter participated together in the open dance intensive in March.

“She was so encouraging, she would practice with me at home,” said Rivera.

Rivera currently takes the adult ballet class and is looking forward to the Winter Fantasy intensive.

“I refuse to give in to the fear, or the idea that I’m too old,” said Rivera.

In the upcoming intensive, students will get their toes tapping to Pennies from Heaven, experience the dazzle of Radio City as they learn Rockette style kicks, get their jazz hands on to Let it Snow and shake their hips with a little Flamenco.

It’s a holiday celebration from around the world that will get your heart rate going and help you earn a few extra treats this season.

Led by Patel Conservatory dance faculty Susan Downey and Kelly King, the week-long program allows students to challenge their skills and learn fun choreography in a variety of dance styles.

Whether you have had former dance experience, or if you want to try something new, the intensive is geared towards adults and teens of varying skill levels.

Tuesday through Friday, you’ll learn and rehearse dance and musical theater pieces. On Saturday, you’ll be ready to perform in the Winter Fantasy showcase, a ticketed performance that will be fun for the whole family.

Dancers will need tap, jazz and character shoes, a black leotard, black tights and black jazz pants.

Open dance intensive rehearsals will be:

Tues., Dec. 16 from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m.

Wed., Dec. 17 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Thurs., Dec. 18 from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m.

Fri., Dec. 19 from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m.

Sat. 11:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The showcase will be on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in the Jaeb Theater.

The tuition for the week is $250. For more information, or to register, please call 813.222.1002.

For more information about the Patel Conservatory’s open dance program, click here.

Dance class of the month: Tap

Joyce Richardson has been a Broadway subscriber at the Straz Center for years.

She comes to the Broadways shows regularly. About two years ago, Joyce started noticing brochures in the lobby for dance classes at the adjacent Patel Conservatory.

The 53-year-old insurance claims manager had never taken a dance class in her life.

“I didn’t give any consideration to anything other than tap. I thought, maybe I can do that,” said Joyce.

Thinking a tap dance class sounded fun, she came to the beginning Tap class, with instructor Susan Downey.

“It was a small class. The other women were about my age, so it didn’t intimidate me,” said Joyce.

What she didn’t imagine is how the class would set in motion positive changes in her life.

“It’s such a wonderful outlet. For that hour or two that I’m there, I don’t think about anything else. I let go of everything from work, and all I do is focus on the steps and the music. It’s just such a wonderful release,” she said.

After a few months of tap, she added the jazz class to her schedule, and found herself wanting to learn more and more.

“Once I really started learning and getting a little better, I just wanted to get better and better,” she said.

One day in class, she looked in the mirror and had a realization.

“When I started (taking dance), I was 50 pounds overweight, my cholesterol was through the roof, and I was pre-diabetic...I had one of those moments where I saw myself and I was shocked and appalled. How did I let this happen?” said Joyce.

Inspired by her new found joy of movement, she began running to supplement her dance classes.

“I started dancing more, and practicing more, and the pounds started to come off,” said Joyce.

“Now I’m the healthiest I’ve been in 20 years. (Dance) was a catalyst that helped me make the changes I needed to live a healthier lifestyle.”

Now Joyce is in both the Tap II class and the jazz class. In both classes, the ages range from teenagers to seniors, but Joyce says the ages and skill levels don’t matter.

“It’s not like when I tried to join a gym when I was younger. This is all love and support,” she said. “Some of these people have become my best friends, and that’s a really cool benefit I had not anticipated.”

Instructor Susan Downey teaches to a wide array of physical talents and abilities, yet makes it both challenging and fun, said Joyce.

“I try to get people to come to class, and they’ll say to me, ‘Oh I can’t dance.’ But I tell them, if I can do this, you can do this!”

Tap I, II, III

Grades 9 - Adult

Instructor: Susan Downey

Tap Dance I: Fundamentals

Tuesdays, 6 to 7 p.m.

Tap Dance II: Beginning

Tuesdays, 7 to 8 p.m.

Tap Dance III: Intermediate

Tuesdays, 8 to 9 p.m.

Cost: $57.25 per month

Pay by the month or by the class with a dance card.

Dance cards are $65 for a 5-class card or $120 for a 10-class card.

For more information, or to register, please call 813-222-1002.

More pictures from Broadway Ball

Many of our Patel Conservatory students participated in the flash mob at last month’s Broadway Ball at the Straz Center. Dressed as characters from The Addams Family, students mingled with guests until it was time to break into random dancing to the Addams Family theme song.

Here’s a couple more pictures from the event...

Tap III students (left to right) Mary Jo Heiger, Pat Adams and

Valerie Hirvela looking somber for their roles.

Tap student Carol Cohen (right) as Uncle Fester with

theater instructor Audrey Siegler as Grandma

Tappers show off their talent

Patel Conservatory tap students got to strut their stuff at the Metropolitan Ministries holiday drive this past Saturday.

Students from Susan Downey's Tap I, II and III danced to different Christmas classics.

"It was really fun and put everyone in the Christmas spirit," said Laura Cheek, one of the students who performed.

The group will also perform this Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 at the Adult Student Showcase, featuring performances from the following classes: Adult Tap, Hip-Hop, Modern, Flamenco, Jazz, Musical Theater Cabaret and Jazz Voice Ensemble.

You can also check out the final performances from our acting classes this Thursday!

Come watch your favorite Patel Conservatory student as they put the skills they've learned into action on stage!

Charley Belcher checks out performing arts camps

Charley Belcher from Good Day Tampa Bay dropped by the TECO theater this morning to highlight some of our summer camps and classes, including dance, musical theater, rock n' roll and youth orchestra.

Thanks to all the performers who showed up bright and early for their TV spotlight! Check out videos from this morning's show:

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/good_day/charleys_world/charley-straz-camp-062810

Spotlight on Valda Robinson

Today's spotlight is on Valda Robinson, an 81-year-old tap dance student from the University area.
Valda is loving living her life to the fullest in her senior years. Here, she shares her experience with the Patel Conservatory, in her own words...


"At age 77, having retired after devoting a lifetime to making a living, I was proceeding to spend my last decades making a life. I had always loved the humanities, and I was taking classes in painting, writing and acting in small plays. I wanted my final years to be a masterpiece in living. Anyone can be a work of art at 16, but it’s harder at 81.


I saw a Patel Conservatory ad, “tap classes for adults.” I took a deep breath and told myself, “That’s what I’m missing.” I was not one of those who had early years in tap training. The closest experience I ever had in tap was when I saw the movie with Shirley Temple tapping with Bill Robinson. (I was about 5.) I thought, I can do that.” Some 70 years later, I marched in to the Patel Conservatory, thinking, “I can do that.”

My teacher was kind, gentle, encouraging, never commenting on my white hair or how I stumbled when I tried to do spin turns with the younger students. A second tap class opened, and I enrolled. A third tap class opened, and I enrolled. At 81, I now have three highlighted days in my week. I tap like crazy (and probably sometimes look crazy), and feel inside as young as I did when I watched Shirley Temple.

Performance is not my goal. My goal is for an hour and 15 minutes putting my whole self into moving. While dancing, there is no past, no future, only the present with a perfect sense of being.

I applaud Patel Conservatory for bringing young poeple into the arts, while also recognizing the essence of the performing arts for all generations. Thank you for helping me, at this age, feel as if I myself am becoming a work of art, a true masterpiece."

- Valda Robinson

Why put off living? Check out our adult classes in dance, music and theater to find the special something that will be the highlight of your week, at any age.