As it observes its 30th anniversary, the American Dance Theater Workshop’s roster of recognized entertainers who attended the school keeps growing.
The alumni roster of the workshop at the Herricks Community Center includes actresses Natalie Portman (“Black Swan”) and Jamie-Lyn Sigler (“The Sopranos”) and New York City Ballet star Lauren King, among others.
Which is no coincidence. It was founder Maddy Dempster’s intention from the beginning to provide a grounding that could set a course for youngsters for the Great White Way.
“I loved Broadway and I loved the concept,” Dempster said.
Dempster originally modeled the school after Lee Theodore’s American Dance Machine in Manhattan and used the same name until 1986. The theater workshop’s location had changed from its original home in Albertson to Herricks two years earlier.
The school originally offered classes in ballet, but added musical theater classes in dance and performance in its second year. Tap and modern dance eventually became part of the curriculum as well.
But all of the 300 female students currently enrolled in courses at American Dance Theater during the school year took their first tentative dance steps – or are taking them now – as ballet dancers.
“Ballet is the foundation of all dance,” Dempster said.
The school has an annual recital featuring ballet, tap and musical theater numbers, but the students don’t compete for opportunities to perform.
“We’re not a competition school. We’re here to learn technique,” Dempster said.
Many students have professional aspirations and some just want the training, but either way Dempster said the school aims to impart “something that they will have all of their lives.”
Annual tuition at the school is $790 per course, with advanced ballet classes meeting three times weekly.
Originally the youngest students in the school were seven years old, but the school now offers a creative dance class for students as young as three years for $650.
Dempster said the faculty is the key to the education at a school like American Dance and virtually all of the faculty members are past or present professionals in their respective teaching disciplines.
“This is the real thing. They actually learn how to do all this here,” said musical director Bill Holland, a Broadway veteran and longtime accompanist for musical theater classes.
The presence of live accompanists for all classes is a particular strength, according to Holland.
Kristen McGrew, a veteran dancer who’s performed with the Eglevsky Ballet and the New York City Ballet said that’s one of the reasons she enjoys teaching at American Dance Theater. McGrew, took classes at American Dance when she was younger, said she also feeds off the enthusiasm of the students.
“The students are very focused,” McGrew said.
Many of her ballet students, she said, have professional aspirations.
American Dance ballet teacher Ali Pourfarrokh had an extensive professional dancing career and was ballet master of the Alvin Ailey Company and artistic director of the Iranian National Ballet. He enjoys being able to give back to the students.
“I enjoy sharing with them my professional experience,” Pourfarrokh said.
Olivia Dellova, a high school junior from Merrick in her second year at American Dance, said she’s been dancing ballet seriously since age 14.
“I can put so much character and emotion into it. And the discipline is great too,” said Dello, who wants to dance professionally.
Dana Calabrese, a junior who’s been performing in musicals at The Wheatley School, said she wants to be a doctor and simply enjoys the classes.
“They give you a good background,” Calabrese said.
Julie Hart, a Herricks High School junior, has been taking classes at American Dance for nine years. With experience dancing in an off-Broadway show, “Darkling,” and a member of an a capella singing group, “So Young,” Hart is intent on becoming a professional performer.
“I just love to dance. “I can’t stop dancing,” she said.
Musical theater is the thing for sixth grader Melissa Aliotta, who performs in plays at South Side Middle School in Rockville Centre and sings in the girls choir at St. Agnes Cathedral. She has also played Flotsam, one of the Little Mermaid’s sidekicks in a stage production of the Disney creation.
“I love singing. I love dancing,” Aliotta said. “I want to be on Broadway.”
Some of American Dance’s Broadway alumni may be returning to perform for the 30th anniversary bash in June, and may also be offering master classes in the run-up to it.
