Prepped for professionalism: Private school has arts focus

By Levi J. Long
Seattle Times staff reporter

	JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMES Ballet students Temple Kemezis, center, of McMinnville, Tenn., and Kelly Walsh, right, of Pittsfield, Mass., rehearse Thursday at the Conservatory high school in Redmond. The school attracts students from many states across the country to its intensive performing-arts program.
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High-school students Logan Denninghoff and Lindsay Rice don't get stage fright very often.

"Are you kidding? No. This is what we love," Denninghoff and Rice say, almost in unison. And within a second, the pair are led back into a 16-member chorus line singing out the tunes:

"This is our once-a-year-day, once-a-year-day."

Denninghoff, 15, and Rice,17, are musical-theater majors at the Conservatory, a private performing-arts high school in Redmond, and they are busy rehearsing for their year-end musical comedy, "Pajama Game," opening next month in Cadle Theater at Lake Washington High School.

Upcoming events and performances "Concert of Dance," 7 p.m., May 28 and 29 at Overlake High School. "The Pajama Game," 8 p.m. May 21-23 and 3 p.m. May 22 and 23 at Lake Washington High School. Tickets: $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors for either show. On the Web: www.waperformingarts.org

Though performances are still a month away, Karyn Bracilano, choreographer for the show, said getting started early is standard for her students.

"We're definitely trying to prep them for the professional world," Bracilano said.

In fact, getting ready for the professional world of acting, dancing and singing is the mission of the Conservatory.

The school, part of the Washington Academy of Performing Arts, has about 30 students ages 14 to 20. Now in its seventh year, it is one of a select few across the country that combine state-accredited academics with a rigorous pre-professional schedule of rehearsals and performances.

"The focus here is on arts training, but we try to develop life skills and encourage our students to explore other areas and other fields," said Julia Colson, Conservatory director.

Typically, students start at 7:30 a.m. with three hours of academic classes in math, science, world cultures, history and literature. The afternoon is left largely for dance and voice classes, with rehearsals sometimes lasting until 9 p.m.

"The exciting thing is sometimes we have to kick them out of classes. Kids want to stay here," Colson said.

For the most part, the curriculum centers on performing arts, she said.

	Ballet students wait for their cue during rehearsal Thursday.

Recently, Carol Nussbaum, a math-and-science teacher, incorporated dance into a student physics project. Students studied the velocity and physical principles of dance. Ideas like these engage the kids more, Nussbaum said, and makes them want to learn about science and math.

With smaller classes, typically six to eight students, Nussbaum said she gets to know her students quite well.

"It's like a one-room schoolhouse," she said.

Nussbaum is not from a performing-arts background and says she is learning from her students as well. "I'm taking a piano class," she said, laughing.

Cost for attending the Conservatory depends on how many hours students choose to take, but typically, an academic year runs about $12,000. Colson said about half the students receive financial aid.

"But even then, we try to work with fund raising to get them here. No kid should not be allowed to attend because of cost," she said.

However, kids do have to come with talent.

Auditions, usually held in spring, can be intensive and vary depending on the desired area of study. For musical-theater majors, a monologue, a dance piece and an ability to carry a tune can be the ticket for admission.

For ballet, the audition requires a dance class and an assessment of artistry and versatility.

"We're also looking for an ideal ballet body," Colson said, meaning dancers with lean, long legs, trim in appearance and graceful in manner.

Students from as far away as Massachusetts, Utah, California and Ireland come to the Conservatory.

Abby Jardine, 17, a junior majoring in ballet, moved from Salt Lake City, last year.

"I just knew it was worth it because of the combination of academics and arts focus. The performances are a major part of the school. I don't think I'd get that anywhere else but here," Jardine said.

Over the years, several students have been selected by dance companies, in Boston and as far away as Switzerland.

Parent Helen McClaine looks forward to the year-end performances.

"I was in shock. I've never seen a production of that caliber before. It's definitely something I'd expect from a professional troop," McClaine said.

Levi J. Long: 206-464-2061 or levilong@seattletimes.com

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