NORWICH – Audiences attending the Amber Perkins School of the Arts performances this coming weekend should expect a twist, a flip and a 180 degree departure from shows in the past.
In light of the tough economic climate this year, studio owner/choreographer Amber Perkins and her choreographer brother, Mikey, have designed junior and senior recitals that purport to showcase the lighter side of life like family, friends and fun.
“We all came together back in October to brainstorm about ideas. We decided to warm it up inside the studio because things were getting bad outside. We didn’t want to take everything too seriously,” said Mikey.
The result? Dance numbers accompanied by party music from Earth, Wind & Fire, rock from the Beatles, Pat Metheny-style jazz, in your face Honky Tonk and Scott Joplin’s Ragtime.
“Sometimes you have to go back before you can go forward. We thought about what we would like to see, what kinds of music had inspired us in the past to dance and create. And we wanted to have more fun this year, turn to different, less serious styles of music,” said Amber.
Titled “One80,” four Amber Perkins School of the Arts performances will be held this weekend, June 12-14 at the Norwich High School auditorium, Midland Drive, Norwich. Senior shows are Friday and Saturday evening at 7 p.m. and junior performances are Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.
Three hundred dancers, including 16 who will graduate, have been rehearsing all year to create the modern, tap, jazz, ballet, acro, hip hop, adagio and production pieces that will be performed, many of them competition winners already.
Many of the seniors on stage this weekend were in the first pre-dance class that Amber taught.
“It’s going to be very emotional for me. It’s going to be rough. I’ve grown up as an adult with these kids. They have taught me so much. I am humbled by them,” she said.
Senior David Allen of Oxford said both Amber and Mikey have not only made him a better dancer and performer, but a better individual.
“Amber has been more of just a teacher, she’s someone who I could turn to with any problem I would be facing,” he said. “Whether it be on stage or off, Mikey’s creativity and imagination has inspired me to think outside out the box and that nothing is impossible.”
The large studio is a combination of APSA in Norwich and a studio in Binghamton that closed two years ago. As a result, the dancers come from many different school districts throughout Central New York and the Southern Tier. In addition to dancing together, the Perkins’ students have become friends over time and frequently attend each others proms, high school football games and parties.
“Being part of the Amber Perkins Studio has taught me a lot about dedication, responsibility and given me my best friends,” said Jenna Thomsen, who graduates from Norwich High School this month.
Tickets are available at First Edition Bookstore in Norwich, Bartle’s Pharmacy in Oxford, Service Pharmacy in Norwich and at the studio on Birdsall Street. Call the APSA studio at 336-6143 for more information.