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Steppin’ Out, from Lee’s Summit, Blows Broadway...
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Steppin’ Out, from Lee’s Summit, Blows Broadway Away
June 9, 2012
Contributed Photo
Red Carpet ~ Pictured left to right: Phyllis Balagna,
Megan Bishop, Elizabeth Bennett, Katie
Britton-Melisch, Mary Frances Adams,
Baylee Yeisley, Emily Hirsch, Brooke
Eddins, Drake Honn and Lilly Frevert
By Amy Buster
of the Tribune
The Steppin’ Out Musical Theatre Company from Lee’s Summit amazed and astounded all of Broadway performing at the 30th Annual Fred & Adel Astaire Awards at New York University’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. The group performed New York City Rhythm. They were the closing act of the event, which honors excellence in Dance & Choreography on Broadway and Film.
The awards started in 1982 by the late Fred Astaire and the late Douglas Watts (a critic and writer for the New York Daily News and The New Yorker). The awards were presented by Ava Astaire (Fred Astaire’s) and Patricia Watt (Douglas Watt’s daughter), and also given direction by Joe Lantern, the Executive Director of the New York City Dance Alliance, and a teacher at Julliard School.
“It was incredible! They were so amazing! This was the pinnacle experience for all of my students in their dancing training!” said Phyllis Balagna, owner and instructor of Steppin’ Out The Studio.
Steppin’ out the Studio is one of the most prestigious dance studios in the greater Kansas City area. The Musical Theatre Performance Group was performing locally last November, and Joe Lanteri saw them. He has worked with a number of the students in the past preparing them for careers on Broadway. After the performance, he invited the group to perform at the ceremony.
“Polished! Sharp! The staging, the choreography! These were comments that were made after they performed. They performed like a true Broadway Production Company,” said Balagna.
The dance group performed in a local recital early Monday afternoon, June 5, then flew to New York, quickly prepped for the performance, and then closed down the house.
“The transformation you saw in them in those short 6 hours was absolutely amazing!” said Balgogna. The studio has been operating in Lee’s Summit for the past 23 years with Balagna as the owner and instructor. She has students who have gone on to work on Broadway, Disney, professional touring companies, and local and regional theatre groups.
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