testimonials
"They have it all at the Performing Arts Factory. For 15 yrs our family has enjoyed every facet of performing available for each member of our family. Acting, Dancing and Musical Theatre, Recreation, Competition, all levels can be found under this one roof. We love it here!"
-Lorraine Ebbin (mother of 3 girls)
“My daughter really enjoyed being in Mini Company this past year and is looking forward to being involved again. She loved getting to make new friends and dancing with other girls her age that weren't in her normal class. She loved getting to perform at competitions and cabarets throughout the year instead of having just the recital at the end of the year. The time commitment was good for her age and not too much for the rest of the family. She has always had just one dance class each year, so the Mini Co. allowed us to see if she was really interested in dancing more and adding more classes as she got older. I felt she learned a lot and had a lot of fun doing it."
-Laura Platner
“My daughter's birthday party was fantastic, thanks to Dance Unlimited! All of the girls were so excited to come to the hip hop dance party! They gave my daughter a cool hat with her name spelled out in glittery "bling" that she still wears, and all of the kids at the party got wrist bands. There were 2 instructors, in full costume, who ran a hip hop class - everyone had such a good time. Dance Unlimited was super flexible and great about planning the party. It was perfect for a big party - there was plenty of room for dancing, time to open presents which you don't usually get anymore, and there was a separate area set up when it was time for cake. We didn't have to share party coordinators or space with other parties like you normally have to at other places - they focused only on us and it was great! The price was really reasonable, too. Thanks DU for a great birthday party!!!”
- Allison Seaton
“Our family just completed our first year with The Performing Arts Factory. My daughters, 11 and 8, have had a wonderful experience! My older daughter was able to “drop in” and sample possible classes that she may be involved with before we made a definite decision about Dance Unlimited. It was great for her to be able to try out different levels/classes and was able to feel comfortable before making a commitment. Over the course of this past year, my children have learned about being supportive on a dance team, professionalism, courtesy, and their listening skills have improved. I have seen a difference in confidence and poise that conveys not just in the dance studio, or on stage, but in their everyday lives. Their general skill/technique level has grown quite a bit too. The teachers and the other children in the programs here are kind and warm hearted. The families of students here are very supportive of each other as well. Performing Arts Factory has made a hugely positive impact on my entire family, and we will take as many years, and as much of it as we can get!”
- The Gasemy Family
“Thank you sounds like such a small phrase when compared with all that Dance Unlimited gives to the community. My first experience with Dance Unlimited’s professionalism came about when I attended a cabaret to support a teen in my youth group. I was absolutely enthralled by the show due to both the energy and enthusiasm of all its participants. Two years later, I tried a hip-hop class on a dare. I came to the studio overweight and under-confident - an adult with no dance experience who was, quite frankly, scared to death. Within my first year of enrollment, I began discovering parts of myself I hadn’t known existed. This past year, however, has changed my life. I had hoped to find a place where I could comfortably and safely portray who I am through dancing. I never dreamt I’d find myself tied into a community wrought with intimate friendships and a passionate insistence for each person to manifest their divine potential.
Instead of just teaching dance techniques you are shaping our world one life at a time and I can’t thank you enough for that.”
- Trista McAleavy
“Smithereen's Musical Theatre has given my three sons more than I could have EVER imagined. Besides learning basic speaking and acting skills - they are learning valuable life lessons. Most importantly - my sons have developed self-esteem! They are learning to thrive in a world of diversity by closely interacting with their peers and with the professionals who come to take part in the Smithereens' main stage productions; and to accept and recognize self worth in themselves and in others. In the acting 'workshops' they are learning ALL aspects of theatre: lighting, props, sets, painting, sound and more! And the amount of work and dedication expected of them has transferred to improved school grades and in their ability to budget time and organization in every aspect of their lives. They are taught to dissect each script, not only improving their reading and comprehension skills, but also making them become more 'aware' of themselves, and of the world. And, because parents are welcome to volunteer, I am spending time with my children that might otherwise be lost as they grow up and move on. All of my sons have grown and matured unbelievably since we discovered The Performing Arts Factory. Whether any of my children pursue theatre in the future is not important - what they have learned at Smithereens is invaluable. I know they will have the confidence to pursue whatever their dreams may be and I could not be more grateful that I found these people who have given so much of themselves, and their love, to my boys.”
- Antoinette Harris
An essay by Cody Weinberg, current student at the Performing Arts Factory
Essay
“Describe something that has changed your life.”
I’m staring at this computer screen and can’t think of a topic sentence. Some thing shocking or witty would probably be nice but I just can’t think of something, to be honest it’s one of the first times I’ve been speechless in a long time. Describe something that has changed your life, well that’s simple; The Performing Arts Factory. The thing is it hasn’t changed my life, just set me on a journey to the discovery of my life. It’s been nine years sense I first walked through the door of my second home and I’m still not a good singer and I’ve learned about theater and I’m an ok dancer. Yet I never expected that I would find what I found within this small community of people.
A place where it’s safe to be yourself. I’ve learned a lot about the world from being a part of this studio. You always hear in school about tolerance, about how we as a human race should accept everyone because everyone is human. Well sure it’s great to talk about that idea, but a lot of times that’s all it is; talk! A person can hardly ever escape a world that looks down on people who aren’t the majority, and the truth is I could have been sucked into that world if I hadn’t found a place where tolerance and acceptance is not just an idea but a reality. White, black, poor, rich, fat, skinny, straight or gay it doesn’t matter because when in the studio we all come together for one purpose, to discover.
No matter how bad the world around me seems I have learned that it’s important to try to find the good within any situation. I have a lot of walls that I put up to protect myself from the world, over-confidence, my cell phone, nail biting, and the outward appearance of happiness but thanks to the studio I have grown to be someone who is embarking on the journey to discover inner truth. I am me that’s my truth simply that I am me and if you were to ask me to go into detail I wouldn’t be able to. Searching and discovering light in situations has made me more aware of people around me, of their thoughts and emotions. It’s made me more aware of my thoughts and emotions.
The friends I gained at The Performing Arts Factory have grown to be more then just my friends, they are people I love, people I would do anything for, and they are my other family members. They let me be me, to express creativity and ideas. The morals and ideals I have gained from The Performing Arts Factory will be with me forever as I continue the journey through my life to find truth and light. People don’t understand how much I owe to the studio and I don’t expect them to. With that I have changed my reply to the essay topic. My new answer is that the family I have gained from The Performing Arts Factory has changed my life.
