SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN

 

 

Where

 Children Take

  Flight

In Dance

547- 1040

                                                    E-Mail:  backstagedance@mindspring.com

                                                                                                                                                                [Class Rates]

                                                                                                                             [Class Schedule]

                                                                                                                        [Current Newsletter]

BACKSTAGE II is a. state-of-the art facility designed and built for the art of dance. Our classrooms have "floating" and "sprung" dance floors. These are raised floors on staggered sleepers on rubber pads which allow the floor to flex and rebound and absorb impacts. This means students can dance longer with less stress and fatigue and have less risk of injury.

JOAN PALETHORPE was initially trained at The Royal Ballet School in London. She performed in the West End of London and also on television and film. She came to the United States to become a Ron Lewis dancer. In 1979 Joan began choreographing shows at major resorts in Las Vegas, Reno, Tahoe, New York, Miami Beach and Carnival Cruise Lines. In 1992 she had the privilege of choreographing several numbers for the incomparable Liza Minelli. Joan was the first female in 50 years to choreograph the "Lido" in Paris.

STEVE BECKER his first audition brought him from his training in L.A. to Las Vegas to perform in the renowned "Casino de Paris". In 1979, Steve became assistant choreographer to Joan Palethorpe, learning many aspects of cabaret theatre. He worked as company manager for two Las Vegas style revues and became a co-owner and director of "Backstage" in 1984.

Our instructors are dedicated to giving support and encouragement to every student whether they plan on becoming a professional or just want to dance for health, self-esteem or fun.  Each individual is evaluated for placement by technical level and age to ensure the progress to the best of their ability. 

All instructors are adult professionals with advanced training, experience, creativity, and the strong practical knowledge gained from performance backgrounds.  Ballet credits have included: The Royal Ballet of London, Ballet Caracas, Ballet Russe Des Monte Carlo, The National Ballet of Cuba, and the schools and companies of Moscow.  Our contemporary staff have danced in MTV Videos, Films, on Vegas stages, and for such renowned troupes as Tap Dogs and The  Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.  Notables, teachers have danced with, range from New Kids on the Block and TLC to Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr.

                                                                                                                                                              CURRENT STAFF                                                                                                                                                             

THOMAS  DISABATO while still in his teens was accepted and trained in the school of the world renown modern dance company, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City. Thomas performed in many production shows and was the men’s dance captain at Siegfried and Roy. His expertise is now being fully utilized at the Las Vegas Performing Arts Academy High School and with us since 1992. Thomas teaches Modern: beginning thru advanced and Jazz: intermediate thru advanced.

ALEX FERDINAND grew up thru our school and has been a working paid professional dancer since age 7 and at 13 started performing in special event shows at many Las Vegas hotels. She was featured in the performer “Bow Wow” video and by age 16 had already choreographed a Hip Hop number for Carnival Cruise Lines. Alex was utilized by the “Super Crew” management to instruct on the national competition circuit and herself won 2 gold’s in the World Tap Competition in Germany. Alex choreographs completion numbers for Silverado, Arbor View, and Cimmeron high schools and is the captain and a choreographer for the Rebel Girls Dance Team at UNLV. Alex brings all her talents to us teaching Hip Hop beginner thru advanced and the advanced Tap class.

CHRISTINE HAYNICK brings the patience and experience from years of teaching and owning her own dance school to students age 3-4 and 5-6 in the Combo classes. She is versatile in Tap, Jazz, Tumbling, and Ballet and also teaches the lower and younger level classes: Tap beginner thru intermediate, Jazz beginner age 7-10 & 11 up.

JOAN PALETHORPE has for decades been one of the most respected national and international professional choreographers working. Since 1979 she has choreographing shows at major resorts in Las Vegas, Reno, Tahoe, New York, Atlantic City, Puerto Rico, Miami Beach, The Bahamas, and Carnival and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. In 1992 she had the privilege of choreographing several numbers for the incomparable Liza Minelli. Joan also was the first female in 50 years to choreograph the "Lido" in Paris. She continues to work for Carnival and is in her 12th year choreographing the Palm Springs Follies in California. Joan brings her vast wealth of experience her Choreography class that’s for advanced and high Intermediate students.

ILEANA ROJAS joins us from Cuba with more of a contemporary ballet style. She performed with the National Ballet de Cuba and teaches advanced Point.


HEATHER VICTORSON grew up from a young child in the School of the Royal Ballet in London to later perform with the company. Coming to Las Vegas, she was the lead principal dancer in the highly acclaimed “Casino de Paris” production show. Heather has been with our children’s school from it’s conception and is a highly devoted classical ballet instructor for the beginner thru advanced Point student.

KEELIE WRIGHT has trained since age 3 in Acrobatics, Contortion, and Competitive Gymnastics. She went on to tour with the Lee Grant show throughout the USA & Canada before making her home here at the “Follies Bergere”. Keelie has been teaching most of her adult life and brings her love and enthusiasm for acrobatics to her classes to make it a fun learning experience for beginners thru advanced.

During the day BACKSTAGE II is Las Vegas' best equipped rental space for auditions, rehearsals, and private lessons. Production shows, touring Broadway companies, cruise lines, acts and headliners are often in rehearsal at the studio. Students can also audition for the numerous convention shows that use BACKSTAGE and its kids.

BALLET
Technique & foundation of dance

JAZZ
Style, attitude, technique

                                                                                                    TAP
                                                                                                    Timing and rhythm

                                                                                                CHOREOGRAPHY CLASS

                                                                                        Develops creative ability & self confidence: Pre-requisite Jazz IV/V 

Today's Hip Movements

MODERN
Unique meld of Jazz and Ballet

JAZZ FUNK
Fusion of Hip Hop & Jazz

TUMBLING
Floor tumbling, Beginner — Advanced

AGES 3-6
Combination age 3-4 — One hour intro to dance, focusing on Ballet, Tap and Tumbling in 20 minute segments.

                                            Combination 5-6. Now a little older, the students can concentrate 30 minutes each on Ballet, Tap, and a Tumbling option.

Our annual concerts have been presented at the Artemus Ham Concert Hall, UNLV and the Horn Theater, CSN.  The venue's stage and lighting facilities are enhanced by  high-tech automated lights by Vari-Lite.  These lights, used extensively by popular music artists and Vegas shows, complement the colorful costumes and varied choreography of this fast-paced production show.  Students over age 10, all levels, may participate in the exciting Opening and 11 and 11 and older in the Grand Finale numbers which receive near riotous ovations.

^{Finale production number from our annual concert.}

"Among the more professional and entertaining concerts I've seen locally are those produced by
Steven Becker and Joan Palethorpe."

Hal de Becker
local dance critic
City Life and Call Back - Aug. '98

For your convenience, and savings, we sell all required shoes, leotards and tights at reasonable prices.  We carry products by  top of the line manufacturers Bloch, Capezio, and Revolution.

We are conveniently located off the 95 just south of the Boulder Highway exit.

[HOME]  [BACKSTAGE I]  [Rentals/Rehearsals]  [CLASS RATES]  [CLASS SCHEDULE]

E-Mail:  backstagedance@mindspring.com