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School History

 

Class Act Performing Arts Academy has been in existence since January 2005, but there was much that lead up to the school being opened.

 

Gintaras and Nancy Genys met while teaching a dance class together at a University in 1980. After they married and moved to Australia, they formed the first professional dance team for the Australian National Basketball Association (Canberra Mazda Cannons). Nancy formed the Dance Team; Gin was the team mascot, Lord Bruce.  Upon moving back to the United States Nancy formed her first performing group for children in Henderson, Nevada and had over a hundred children in it. Gin’s work moved them around, and in each city/state they lived in Nancy and Gin continued serving the community by having children’s groups or putting on community plays etc. In 1993 Talent Team was formed by Nancy in Moscow, Idaho with its sponsor being the University of Idaho Community Enrichment Program. It soon had well over 80 participants and was their biggest program.

 

1n 1995 Gin’s work brought the Genys Family to Gilbert, Arizona. Once again Nancy started Talent Team, and quickly grew the program to over 300 children in 3 locations. The biggest frustration for them was being ‘nomads’ – having to find places to rent on a continual basis. Having a permanent home was something they wanted – but it seemed would never happen. During these years Nancy also taught at a few schools in Mesa. She was their drama, dance and music teacher. The dream of having a permanent home continued.

 

In 2002 Nancy started expanding Talent Team. To do this meant she had to produce the music, pay royalties, and design a program that could easily be duplicated by others. Thus, ‘National Talent Team’ emerged, and more children benefited throughout the country from their participation in Talent Team.

 

Many important things were learned over the years, and the evidence of incredible change and increased performing skills were proof that the Talent Team program worked. Confidence in participants was just one of many things that stood out as successes for our youth. Children who stayed with Talent Team were progressing fast. Some were thriving. The need for more training for the participants in Talent Team brought about the formation of Totality. This group has become an amazing group of performers who are true triple threats (can sing, dance and act proficiently). This highly sought after group is booked for dozens of shows throughout the year, and sometimes booked years in advance.

 

In December 2004 studio space became available at 511 W. Guadalupe and the reality of a dream was born. The Genys family (Gintaras, Nancy, Benjamin, Amber, Trey (Amber’s husband) and Joseph all cancelled Christmas vacation time and spent 3 exhaustive weeks putting the studio ‘together’ in preparation to open in January 2005. Friends were recruited and miracles occurred. Dance classes were offered, private lessons added to the curriculum, and we were off!

 

The first year came to an end with the accidental death of Benjamin (the Genys Family’s oldest child). This was a devastating blow to them, and one that was not easily overcome. Staff helped carry the studio, as well as supportive parents. Benjamin was thrilled to have this studio come to fruition; was proud of his mother for seeing it through…. It is this that has sustained them all – the knowledge that he would want them to continue on. In his honor the studio has moved forward through the dark times.

 

Many programs have been implemented. Many changes have occurred as need dictated. The thing that has been ever consistent is the determination to have a performing arts center that is family friendly, G-rated, and that encourages participants to develop their talents without compromising family values. All costumes, choreography and music are free from questionable moves or lyrics. We are also performance based rather than a competition based studio. This enables our teachers teach fantastic technique without the pressure to teach tricks to ‘win’ competitions. This model has been shown to be successful. All of our senior dancers have placed in Advanced Dance in their local high schools (most as freshmen) and in company at their schools when they have auditioned. Their training (for many) began with Talent Team; they moved through Totality 2, into Totality and for some, they went on to participate in our CAD Co. Dance team. We are proud of the results that we have seen. Another great advantage to our students (in being a performance based studio) is the fact that they learn quicker than most because we teach more than most studios. Our performance teams have to learn a complete show…. (Which means SEVERAL numbers…not just the typical one dance per class enrolled in as is the case with traditional studios) three times a year. This helps them learn quicker in their academics as well. Guest teachers are always amazed at how quickly our students learn.

 

Class Act recently became affiliated with the Millie Lewis Organization, which provides talented people the opportunity to compete with others in front of major talent agents, scouts, record labels etc. Nancy went to an event and checked them out, was impressed that an organization shared similar values and ethics with regards to standards for the performers, costumes etc. Here is a place that truly talented children and adults can audition, and have the opportunity for a professional career without the risk of exploitation. They also insist that participants have at least a 3.0 GPA – which we also feel is important.

 

We are different than other studios because we have production time as well as technique. Most studios have kids enrolled in a class, where they learn the choreography for that genre. We teach technique (and also teach a recital number in that class) as well as production, which enables the students to become totally proficient in the performing arts. We have had directors of studios come from different parts of the United States and Canada to see what we are doing…. And are thrilled to say that they have all left highly impressed, with the desire to duplicate what we are doing.

 

It is our dream to have Class Act be the catalyst for professional hopefuls in a way that will have a long term effect on the arts. We believe there needs to be more positive role models for the youth of our country, and by creating truly talented and confident individuals, this will occur whether in our local town or by national exposure. We also know that by providing a positive place to educate our youth that communities will be strengthened. It is this dream that we are all committed to – and thank you for your support of this.


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