Poteet Youth Theatre

Poteet youth theatre is an organization with a mission of bringing youth from the Oklahoma City metro area together to learn about theatre, with the focus on building self-esteem and confidence, working as a team, and fostering a positive, encouraging spirit of community and friendship.  Participants come together in an environment that is nurturing and positive, where they receive first-rate performance training.  Our youth theatre uniquely includes children from all economic backgrounds, and has proven to be a much-needed alternative to the tuition-based studios and academies in the Oklahoma City Metro area.  Workshops, classes, and productions have reached hundreds of Oklahoma children, teens, and families.

To keep up with information about auditions and productions, visit this web site regularly, or send your e-mail address, and we will include you in notices for upcoming events. To get on the email list, send your address to: poteetauditions@yahoo.com

Parents 4 the Arts
Summer Classes
2008

For more information, or to book your spot in one of the classes, please email us at parents4thearts@yahoo.com or call 405.609.1016
Website: www.poteettheatre.com  

All classes will be held at:
The Poteet Theatre Dance Studio
222 NW 15th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73103

Class Sign up days: Thursday, May 15th (6:00 pm – 9:00 pm)
Saturday, May 17th (10:00 am –12:00 pm)
Classes Begin: June 2nd, 2008
Classes End: August 1st, 2008
9 week session

Monday
4:00 – 5:00 – Musical Theatre 3 (Sherri Smith, teacher)
5:00 – 6:00 – Adult Stretching and Toning (Sherri Smith, teacher)

Tuesday
*10:00 – 11:00 - Creative Movement (Ages 3-5) (Apryl Gehling, Madelyn Russell, teacher)
*11:00 – 12:00 - Introduction to Dance (Ages 6-8) (Apryl Gehling, Madelyn Russell, teacher)
3:00 – 4:00 – Tap 1 (Robert Reed, teacher)
4:00 – 5:00 – Tap 2 (Robert Reed, teacher)
5:00 – 6:00 – Adult Tap (Robert Reed, teacher)

Wednesday
**10:00 – 11:00 - Creative Movement (Ages 3-5) (Apryl Gehling, Madelyn Russell, teacher)
**11:00 – 12:00 - Introduction to Dance (Ages 6-8) (Apryl Gehling, Madelyn Russell, teacher)
3:00 – 4:00 – Ballet 1 (Madelyn Russell, teacher)
4:00 – 5:00 – Ballet 2 (Sherri Smith, teacher)
5:00 – 6:00 – Ballet 3 (Sherri Smith, teacher)

Thursday
*10:00 – 11:00 – Creative Movement (Ages 3-5) (Apryl Gehling, Madelyn Russell, teacher)
*11:00 – 12:00 – Introduction to Dance (Ages 6-8) (Apryl Gehling, Madelyn Russell, teacher)
3:00 – 4:00 – Musical Theatre 1 (Susan Riley, teacher)
4:00 – 5:00 – Musical Theatre 2 (Susan Riley, teacher)
5:00 – 6:00 – Aerobics (Susan Riley, teacher)

Friday
**10:00 – 11:00 - Creative Movement (Ages 3-5) (Apryl Gehling, Madelyn Russell, teacher)
**11:00 – 12:00 - Introduction to Dance (Ages 6-8) (Apryl Gehling, Madelyn Russell, teacher)
3:00 – 4:00 – Audition Workshop (Jay Prock & Shawna Linck, teachers)
4:00 – 5:00 – Hip Hop Dance (teacher yet to be determined)
5:00 – 6:00 – Hip Hop Dance (teacher yet to be determined)

PRICING
$70 – Entire Summer (Includes all classes, except Creative Movement and Introduction to Dance. See below for details) – This fee is for all classes excluding Creative Movement and Intro to Dance (See fee below)
$25 – Enrollment Fee
***$60 – Entire Summer for either Creative Movement or Intro to Dance, depending on age. This fee includes 2 classes a week, either Tues/Thurs. or Wed/Friday and will also include a recital at the end for the summer for parents to attend. This class will fill up quickly, so please send an email to hold your spot.

Level I means you’re a beginner, no previous experience; everybody welcome.
Level II means you remember some basics from that class you took a couple of years ago, you know the essential concepts. You must get permission from the teacher to take this class
Level III means you know the terminology, you are experienced, and perhaps you have some performance background. You must get permission from the teacher to take this class

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
Tap – These classes will emphasize the development and strengthening of tap technique and terminology highlighting the importance or rhythm and sound. Tap shoes are required for this class.

Ballet – This course provides students with an understanding of the fundamental principles of classical ballet technique, encourages students to achieve a significant level of self discipline and physical control, and instills an appreciation of the historical contributions of ballet to the overall development of dance as an art form.

Musical Theatre Dance – These classes are for those interested in musical theatre performance or Jazz styles of dance. The classes cover stretching, toning and technique exercises necessary for all dancers. Additionally, theatre dance combinations and pieces will be developed and rehearsed weekly. The class will focus on using the mind and body to create character through dance.

Hip Hop – Contemporary hip hop includes locking, poppin, and breakin. Classes start off with a basic warm-up. The teacher will lay out the basic foundations of the movement style.

Creative Movement – This class is for children ages 3 – 5 years. The emphasis is on the relationship to each other and respect, honor, and grace. There is a focus on solitude and affiliation balanced through choreographic etudes and classical music. The class is non-competitive, for children the emphasis is on creative movement.

Introduction to Dance – This class is for children ages 6 – 8 years old. The class is devoted to solid technique and age/skills appropriate choreography. The focus is on coordination, body alignment and rhythm. Classes centralize technique, combinations and choreography.

Audition Workshop – The workshop covers all aspects of “getting the part” from finding audition notices, monologue preparation, to tips for cold reading, callbacks, song selection for musicals, audition etiquette and resumes.

TEACHER BIOS

Robert Reed – Robert Reed was named one of the Top 10 Dance Acts in San Francisco in 2007. Robert L. Reed is a much sought after tap teacher, producer, choreographer, and performer. He’s taught and performed all over the world. He received rave reviews for his teaching at Broadway Dance Center in NYC. For several years he served as Professor and Artist-In-Residence at a performing arts university. Mr. Reed is proficient at teaching many styles of tap and is the protégé of Maceo Anderson, a founding member of the Four Step Brothers dance act. Three of his young students, the St. Louis Hoofers reached the semi-finals on Star Search. He was with Riverdance as dance captain and toured as a principle. with Incognito in Europe. Reed was a featured artist at the Peg Leg Bates Resort and has toured with Cab Calloway. Mr. Reed has opened for such Luminaries as Sammy Davis Jr., Jerry Lewis, Redd Foxx, Cher, the Smothers Brothers and David Hasselhoff, just to name a very few.
Mr. Reed is the founder and executive/artistic director of the internationally renowned St. Louis Tap Festival, which is now in it’s 16th year. Reed is also the founder of the Robert L. Reed Tap Heritage Institute, Inc., a non-profit organization. He appears in the critically acclaimed Peg Leg Pates documentary Dancing with the Peg. He performs and travels worldwide. As two of the Six Feet of Rhythm he performed with his daughter Robin and his son Robert L. Reed III, who toured with Savion Glover in the international tour of “Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk”. Robert hosted his own television show in Japan named for him Robert Hall, which recently featured Quentin Tarantino and Brittany Spears as guests. The Mayor of St. Louis, The Honorable Francis Slay declared, July 30, 2005 as Robert L. Reed Tap Heritage Day.

Sherri Smith – Sherri Smith has been in dance education for the past twenty plus years. During that time she has taught numerous styles of dance to students ages three to adult. Prior to teaching in the public school system, Sherri owned and operated Dance Horizons Performing Arts for eight years. Her education includes a Bachelors degree in Musical Theatre at Oklahoma City University, HPERED and Education degrees at the University of Central Oklahoma as well as a Masters in Educational Administration. Sherri has performed with the American Spirit Dance Company, Everything Goes Dance Company, Poetry in Motion, and the Kaleidoscope Dancers. She has also been seen at Discoveryland, Jewel Box Theatre, and our own Poteet Theatre.
Sherri has been teaching dance in the public school system for the past 11 years. Her program included various styles of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and musical theatre with various leveled classes from beginning to advanced including competition teams. Many of her students have gone on to college with scholarships, performed with numerous dance teams, obtained National Titles in competitions, and received Dance Education degrees as well as been members of NBA dance squads. Sherri’s choreography has led to many awards including OSDTDA State Titles, six ASC National Pom and Dance championships as well as many Regional and State titles. She has been recognized as an outstanding coach in both Dance and Pom from UDA and NDA and recognized as an outstanding choreographer at many competitions. Outside school activities have included being chosen to work with the National Testing Services to establish the certification test in Dance for the Sate of Oklahoma, Choreographer for the 2006 musical at Southern Nazarene University and establishing the Poetry in Motion Liturgical Dance Troupe for Art’s at St. Luke’s.

Susan Riley – Susan Riley is thrilled to be working with The Poteet Theatre again after portraying Marian Paroo in The Music Man and Sister Robert Anne in Nunsense. She has studied music, theater, and dance at both Oklahoma City University, and the University of Central Oklahoma. While in school, she choreographed for both musical and theater shows and studied with many talented artists such as Lyn Cramer, Robert Reed, and Hui-Cha Poos. She has worked with quite a few different theater companies including The Pollard, Lyric Theatre, Galveston Island Musicals / The Grandbury Opera House, Oklahoma Opera and Musical Theatre Company, and Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park. She has held the title of starving artist, actor, director, choreographer, dance captain, and educator (both in movement/dance and acting) and would not have it any other way!!

Madelyn Russell – Madelyn Russell has been dancing for the past 13 years. For seven years, she danced at Kim Massey where she took tap, jazz and ballet. Then for the last six years, she has been dancing at Ballet Oklahoma. She has performed in many ballets including: Peter Pan, Alice In Wonderland, America and The Nutcracker. Her favorite roles so far are Clara (The Nutcracker, 2004), Ballerina Doll (The Nutcracker, 2006) and a Lost Boy (Peter Pan, 2002). Also Madelyn was accepted into the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute for two summers for ballet. She dances non-stop and loves being able to call herself a ballerina.

Shawna Linck – Shawna Linck has been active in the Oklahoma community theatre since 1999 as a performer, costumer and choreographer. Shawna also directed 16 metro area productions including children’s theater, dramas, comedies, and musicals.

Jay Prock – Jay Prock is the executive director of Arts @ St. Luke’s and the Poteet Theatre. He has been active in community theatre his entire life and for the last 3 years he has performed, music directed, and directed in many of the Oklahoma city community theatres. For 10 years, Jay worked in the music industry in Nashville and New York City working for Warner Bros. Records, The GRAMMY ® Awards, and MTV as well as The Dixie Chicks and Tim McGraw.

Apryl Gehling – Apryl is 15 years old and has had training in Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Lyrical, Liturgical, Musical Theatre, Hip Hop and Tap for more than 5 years. She has taken classes under such teachers as Sara Phoenix, Travis Andrews, Sherri Smith, Robert Reed, Richard Yoder, Mandy Latham, and Daphne Tardibono in such places as Dove Dance, Lyric Academy and Parents for the Arts. Although she started at an older age of 10, she loves dance and she was determined to catch up to her age level and be the best she could possibly be. Dancing has given her much happiness and she hopes to pass that feeling of expression and creativity on to others who love the art form.