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7/12/2012 - West Side Leader
     

By Maria Lindsay

Some Martell School of Dance students are shown at left at the All Ohio Dance Festival at Cuyahoga Community College in April.

Photo courtesy of Martell School of Dance

WEST AKRON — Located in Highland Square at 788 W. Market St., Martell School of Dance has provided professional dance education to children and adults for 32 years.

The dance studio is owned by Jennifer Leslie McDonald, who said she took lessons at the studio starting at age 6, taught there for several years and left to dance professionally for four years. She returned in 2005 and purchased the studio in 2007.

Martell School of Dance offers a variety of classes at various levels for students ages 3 to adult. The classes include ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, modern/contemporary, lyrical, hip-hop, dance exercise and Pilates. McDonald said the school’s teachers are professionals who love to dance and teach.

“We pride ourselves on offering both a recreational program for children and adults as well as classes for those who would like to purse a career in dance,” said McDonald. “We even have a class just for adults who have never danced but would like to learn.”

Classes are offered September through May, as well as during an eight-week summer program that started in June.

“Our professional training prepares students for a career in the dance industry,” said McDonald. “Many of our alumni have taken their dancing talents to a professional level, as well as teaching and choreographing all over the country.”

McDonald said that students learn how the body works, the importance of warming up, strengthening exercises, technique and more.

“Our classes stress old-world discipline such as proper attire and ballet buns, technique and classroom etiquette, but we also stay current with ever-changing dance styles,” she added.

All students participate in an annual spring recital at the Akron Civic Theatre, and students also get the chance to perform throughout the community. McDonald said those shows have included performances at the Orange Bowl in Florida last January for the studio’s top six students, a Cleveland Cavaliers’ game at Quicken Loans Arena this past February and other community events at churches and festivals.

This summer, students are scheduled to perform at WKDD Kidz Day at Boettler Park in Green July 21, an Akron Aeros game July 27 and at the Akron Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K event July 29 at Firestone Stadium.

“We try to use as many students in the performances as possible,” said McDonald.

In addition to classes and performances, students can attend dance conventions and master classes with top teachers in the industry held at Martell studio.

Martell School of Dance is now accepting registration for fall classes. For details, call 330-253-9900 or email jen.mcdonald987@gmail.com.

For more information about the business, visit www.martellschoolofdance.com.

Editor’s note: Advertiser features appearing in the West Side Leader are provided as a service to the advertiser and our readers. They do not serve as an endorsement of any company, person, product or service. All information contained in these features comes directly from interviews with company owners or their representatives and from additional materials provided by them.

     

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