SILER CITY, N.C. — Formal dance instruction returned to Jordan-Matthews High School for the first time in decades with a two-day workshop that kicked off next school year’s production of the Broadway musical, “Oklahoma!”.
The six-hour stage dance workshop in mid-May was organized by JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, thanks to a Grassroots Grant awarded last fall by the Chatham Arts Council. It taught dance terminology and basic steps, helped students understand what to expect at a dance audition and allowed the performers to work through some choreography for the upcoming theatrical production.
“For most of our students, this was a real challenge,” said JMArts President Rose Pate, who created the workshop. “Only a few have ever had dance lessons. But it was great to see their enthusiasm and delight in learning something new, and I’m extremely proud of how hard they’ve worked. And this dance is going to be a memorable moment in our production of ‘Oklahoma!’ next year.”
More than a dozen students participated in the free workshop. They filled the auditorium stage two Monday afternoons, beginning slowly with stretching before moving into more rigorous steps introduced by workshop instructor Peggy Taphorn, who is in her 14th season as the Producing Artistic Director at Temple Theatre in Sanford.
It was a rare opportunity for young actors to work with someone like Taphorn, who has directed, choreographed and performed across the world, including numerous productions on Broadway, London’s West End, and touring the United States, Canada, South America and Asia.
After learning some basic steps, the pace picked up and focus shifted to choreography for “Kansas City,” a well-known number from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.
At times, Taphorn walked methodically through segments of the dance with the entire group. At other times, she split the group in two and worked with each half separately. Every time she turned on the music, things got almost frenetic, with bodies moving across the stage and Taphorn’s voice towering over the score, keeping the rhythm with short words reminding the dancers about their techniques, turns and steps.
Though she works with some of the most talented theater professionals in the world, Taphorn said it’s also rewarding to teach beginning actors and dancers.
“It was very enjoyable to work with such a committed and fun group of young people in this class on learning this classic dance,” she said. “We also talked about a life in the theater and the different opportunities on and behind the stage. A lot of the skills learned in theater and the arts are transferable to 21st century learning, including learning how to cooperate and how to think creatively.”
Judging from upbeat banter during water breaks, enthusiasm on stage and responses after the workshop, it was a huge hit with the students — including junior Wendy Castillo Mejia, for whom it was all a new experience.
“This is my first time doing anything with theater, but the theater kids seem like they have everything together and they are having fun,” she said. “Even though this is new, I’m feeling good. I’m still trying to decide between working backstage and auditioning for the show.”
Sophomore Buck Thornton had a similar reaction to this flurry of activity to kick off the production, “It’s a work in progress, but that’s what makes it fun,” he said. "This is my first time having dance lessons and I am excited to learn more!"
The Grassroots Grant Program that provided funding for the dance workshop is made possible by individual contributions to the Chatham Arts Council’s general operating fund — and by the Grassroots Arts Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
More information about JMArts, including a schedule of upcoming arts events and information on membership, is available online at JMArts.org.
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