Dance for Musical Theater includes a jazz warm-up, incorporating isolations and modern and jazz technique along with stretching. Students learn stylized movement from choreographers such as Fosse, Bennett, Robbins and Cole, who not only influenced the musical theater world but the entire dance genre. Curriculum includes an in-depth look into choreographers from various Broadway shows and movie musicals, learning the history and motivation behind the movement. Level I is recommended for ages 10+ and levels II and III for ages 13+. Place in levels II and III is by audition or teacher recommendation.
Related Faculty
Casey Harkness Andrade
FSPA Dance Director, Dance Company Director; Instructor of Jazz, Contemporary, and Dance for Musical Theater
Casey Harkness Andrade is a professional choreographer, educator, and performer. She received her B.A. in dance performance from Rhode Island College where she trained and studied with exceptional choreographers such as Clay Talifaro, Sean Curran, and Mark Taylor. After graduation Casey continued her education at Broadway Dance Center in New York City and Boston Ballet, where she studied weekly in a variety of classes. While a dancer of the Andary Dance Company, Casey had the opportunity to perform at the Cunningham School in New York City and tour the northeast. As a new member of the Franklin Performing Arts Company Casey has enjoyed roles such as Morticia in The Addams Family Musical and the Amayzing Mayzie in Seussical. Casey has also been an adjunct faculty member at Rhode Island College and Dean College, teaching jazz, tap and working with the RIC dance company as assistant rehearsal director. She recently joined the dance faculty at Salve Regina University, once again sharing her passion for jazz dance with SRU dance majors. In 2010 she became an adjudicator and choreographer for the Elite Dance Challenge regional and national competition. Later Casey joined the judges panel for Celebration Talent Competition and Sheer Elite International Dance Competition. Currently Casey is the dance department director at Franklin School for the Performing Arts and the director of the FSPA Dance Company. She teaches a variety of classes in dance and musical theatre as well as creates and facilitates curriculum, placement of students, and performances for the school. She joined the FSPA faculty in 2011.
