A.B.A.D. is the home of the award winning Amy Blake’s Academy of Dance “Company”. Serious students, ages twelve and up studying ballet, tap and jazz, as well as an additional “alternate” class of student’s choice, are invited to audition for the Company. Company members are challenged by their participation in master classes, conventions and 2 competitions a year. Our company members are students who are pursuing a dance career after high school. Amy Blake has a strong mentorship program implemented in developing a well rounded dancer with master teachers and summer intensives. Please see our testimonials of a few of our past company members. The company has exciting performing opportunities at local community festivals and special events to add to the complete dance experience for this specialized group of dancers.
Merging Forces Concert
The season concludes with a Merging Forces dance concert, which was established in 2006 by Amy Blake. The Company collaborates with other local dance companies, to showcase their guest artist choreography developed through the season. Each year the concert benefits a different charitable organization. Past organizations who have benefited include the the Multiple Sclerosis Society, American Cancer Society, Laura Recovery Center and Juvenile Diabetes.
Jazz Dance World Congress
In the summer of 2012, Company members had the opportunity to accompany Mrs. Amy at the Jazz Dance World Congress in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at Point Park University. They spent each day taking master classes on campus and taught by amazing instructors such as, Joe Tremaine (Los Angeles), Homer Bryant (Chicago), Del Dominguez (Chicago), Randy Duncan (Chicago), Autumn Eckman (Chicago), Laura Flores (Chicago), Nan Giordano (Chicago), Liz Imperio (Los Angeles), Ray Leeper (New York), Garfield Lemonius (Pittsburgh), Masashi Mishiro (Japan), Pattie Obey (Florida), Sandra Lee Romah (Pittsburgh), and Susan Quinn (Tucson). Each evening was spent attending the Jazz Dance World Festival at Byham Theater where Company Members had the opportunity to watch amazing dance pieces choreographed by : Giordano Dance Chicago, August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble, Conservatory Dance Company of PPU, Del Dominguez & Laura Flores, Koresh Dance Company, Masashi Action Machine, Odyssey Dance Theatre and others!
New York
In the summer of 2013, Company Members will accompany Mrs. Amy to New York. There they will be taking classes at Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway and other dance centers.