TV shows stir new interest in Dance

Interest in dance seems to be at an all time high in the area, and many suspect it has a lot to do with television shows such as “So you think you can dance” and “Dancing with the Stars!”

The Elite Performing Arts Academy at 11637 Fox Road reports quite an increase in dance class enrollment. But, this school of dance offers a bonus–one of their teachers is straight from the show, “So you think you can dance!” Nineteen-year-old Will Adams returned to his Geist area home after a whirlwind of dance auditions for the Fox TV dance show earlier this year. He recently stopped in to see long time friends and owners of the Elite Performing Arts Academy, husband and wife team Erin and Eric Hudson.

“He told us he was home, but then he told us he was going to work at pizza shop,” recalls Erin Hudson. ” I said, ‘NO!! You can’t do that. You need to teach dance here!’”

Adams agreed and has been taking on new students as the interest in hip hop continues to grow. Adams made it through the first four rounds of auditions in Chicago for “So You Think You Can Dance” and then went on to do three more in Las Vegas before getting cut early this past summer.

“It still makes me sad to talk about it,” he says jokingly. “No, really, it was a lot of fun.”

Even though Adams has been a Pacers Sport and Entertainment Fever Inferno Dancer, the Title Winner at the Star Systems Regional Dance Competition, and the Choreographers Carnival Scholarship Winner, he still considers making it to the Top 50 on Fox TV’s “So You Think You Can Dance” show as his biggest accomplishment. Congratulations, Will Adams!

Other dance schools in the area are seeing an increased interest in dance, as well.

“We’ve always had interest in ballet, tap and jazz here, but now we are really seeing more and more interest in hip hop,” says Bev Wohrle of Dance Creations, 9257 Castlegate Drive (behind the United Artists Theaters on 96th Street).

Wohrle says they are also getting more calls from boys interested in dance than ever before. “We’ve added a musical theatre and jazz dance class for ‘boys only’ this year, just to accommodate the interest.”

An Arthur Murray School of dance opened at 8510 96th street in March and also reports business is brisk.

“The amount of inquiries has doubled just since we’ve been open,” says Whitney Gurman, who answers a lot of the phone calls. “They want to know if they can learn the Tango here, like they see on TV!”

So, if you want to keep up with the trends, it is time to get your dancing shoes on!

To view a video clip of “So you think you can dance” participant Will Adams instructing his dance class at Elite Performing Arts Academy, go online to www.atGeist.com.