Rising dance stars ready for homecoming show
One of the greatest things about sending your “kids” off to school is having them come home again.
That’s how it is for In Motion School of Dance director Lizz Pimentel.
Taylor Railton, Marcus Smith and Jada Pearman will return to the Bermuda stage next week as part of Road Trip, In Motion’s 18th annual dance showcase.
The teenagers are at various stages of study in schools in the US (see sidebar).
“I’m so proud of these kids,” Ms Pimentel said. “I have had about 12 students over the years go abroad and pursue dance as a career. We’re all a family at In Motion and so, for me, it’s nice when they come back home and show up at studio rehearsal and learn choreography.”
The annual dance showcase is the Reid Street school’s main production of the year. All of the approximately 800 students enrolled take part.
“It allows them to advance and hone their dance skills and allows them to experience a level of professionalism,” Ms Pimentel said. “It’s key to them learning the theatre experience. Being in the studio and training is completely different. With theatre you have great costumes, hours of rehearsal ... [it’s a different] level of performance. It also allows them to build up their confidence on stage and I’m sure they would agree that a large part of that confidence and skill allowed them to pursue dance overseas.”
Audiences can expect a dance tour of the US as part of next week’s production.
“It’s all the things you’d expect to encounter on a road trip and some surprises,” Ms Pimentel said. “It’s quite encompassing, from a driving aspect, the places you see along the way. It’s called a showcase because it’s a real production. We’ve put a lot of time and effort into it. I think it’s important to be consistent and so we work hard. It’s that kind of discipline that carries on from the studio environment to the theatre environment; I’m still as excited 18 years later for a show as I was the first year.”
She added that she couldn’t do any of that without the support she received from In Motion staff.
Aside from dance instruction, In Motion students are taught to give back through the school’s community projects.
The many events they’ve been involved in over the past year include fundraisers for King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, breast cancer and Kingdom Academy and a charitable event at The Club.
“The arts are so critical in a society I want to keep them alive so people can appreciate them,” said Ms Pimentel.
Their dance education gave students the necessary foundation for countless professions, she added.
“There are viable careers as a dancer, physical therapist, costume designer. It helps with so many things outside choreography and performing — the things you typically think of. But I hope what’s instilled and the expectations I have of the school will be in place to continue to provide our community with the highest level of education and professionalism for years to come. Our students can take the training they get from us, go overseas and perform.”
Road Trip opens Friday, June 5 at Earl Cameron Theatre and runs through June 7. It continues June 10-13. Matinee shows are at 2pm with a second show at 7pm. Tickets are available at inmotion.bm.
For more information e-mail inmotion@northrock.bm
• Name: Marcus Smith
Age: 19
Student at: Tisch School of the Arts, New York
Started dance: Age 11
Student of: Hip-hop
Most important In Motion lesson: You always have to push yourself and use people around you to get better. I came from a different dance school. The standard of dance at In Motion was so different. I didn’t have the technique to back up [my dancing] and had to push myself hard
Ultimate goal: I want to be the first Bermudian to win a Tony Award
Advice to others uncertain about dance: Nothing’s set in stone. There’s nothing that says you have to stick with it but you should try it. I did and I love it
• Name: Jada Pearman
Age: 17
Student at: I just graduated from the Grier School in Tyrone, Pennsylvania, and will be going to the University of Arizona to study dance in September
Started dance: Age four
Student of: Ballet, modern, jazz and contemporary
Most important In Motion lesson: To always give 110 per cent whenever in class. It gets you a lot further and allows you to push yourself mentally and physically. I got a lot better, stronger as a dancer [as a result]
Ultimate goal: To join a company
Advice to others uncertain about dance: Go for it. You have nothing to lose. Take every opportunity you’re given
• Name: Taylor Railton
Age: 17
School: I just graduated from the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance while doing my academics online. I’ll be going to SUNY Purchase College in September
Started dance: Age 6
Student of: Ballet, modern and contemporary
Most important In Motion lesson: Professionalism. The teachers at In Motion really provide their dancers with skills they need to have when they go off to study overseas. I thank them for that
Ultimate goal: To get into a dance company where I can travel and dance
Advice to others uncertain about dance: Try it. You might find you really have a passion, a love for it. And if you don’t, that’s okay
