Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA)
June 22, 2006

Alliance boosts Worcester arts

by Richard Duckett

Two of Worcester's performing arts schools are joining forces to offer what they say may be "the first real conservatory in Central Massachusetts."

The Royal Academy for Music and Performing Arts and Jo Ann Warren Studios will combine their respective specialties of music and dance to offer a comprehensive program under one roof at the Royal Academy's school at 258 Park Ave. The program will begin in the fall.

"I think it's going to be a great opportunity for performing arts students in Worcester," Warren said yesterday. "I think Worcester will benefit from something like this."

The Jo Ann Warren Dance Studios at 321 Grafton St. and in Whitinsville will continue to operate at those locations. But Jo Ann Warren Studios will also offer dance at the Royal Academy schools as "The Jo Ann Warren Studios at the Royal Academy," Warren said. "We're combining our offerings where I can offer dance and they can offer music."

Royal Academy music director Omar M. Soffan said, "There's really nothing in the city that has all the music, dance and theater (together). ... The only school that did was the Performing Arts School of Worcester."

PASOW, which had a long history in Worcester before succumbing to various troubles, is now effectively defunct with most of its programs either taken over by other organizations or discontinued. There are other performing arts schools in the area that offer various combinations of music, dance and theater, but Soffan believes the Royal Academy-Jo Ann Warren combination will be the most comprehensive.

"There really is no other performing arts center in the area other than the conservatories of Boston and New York that will offer such a wide variety of high-level arts instruction all under one roof," Soffan said.

"I think it will give a conservatory environment for students where it's all under one roof," Warren said.

In terms of dance the program will include tap, jazz, pointe, hip-hop, acrobatics and theater arts for all ages and skill levels. Similarly, the music program offerings include instruction in piano, voice, strings, woodwinds and brass, and percussion, as well as performance ensembles, chamber music, and music theory and composition. There will be both private and group classes available.

The Royal Academy for Music and Performing Arts is a community music school that currently has about 400 students of all ages, Soffan said.

Jo Ann Warren founded her first dance studio on Grafton Street in 1979. Last year there was a gala celebration in Mechanics Hall to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Warren's studio that featured performances by students, teachers and alumni.

Under an agreement with the two schools, Jo Ann Warren Studios will also offer dance at other Royal Academy schools in the future. The Royal Academy plans to open a new school in Shrewsbury next year.

Soffan said that the Royal Academy has considered adding dance to its programs for some time. "People want dance at our school. There was a point where we almost did that, but we didn't know enough about it. We wanted to make sure it was properly run."

More recently the decision was made to contact local dance schools to see if they would be interested in joining forces, Soffan said.

"Jo Ann Warren was at the top of our list," he said.

"His students were asking for dance, and my students were asking for music," Warren said.

"I'm very excited to work with Omar. I think it will be a great combination."