The Academy of Performing Arts founder and instructor Shoni Jaeger is a dancer to her core. 

Growing up in a dance studio her mother operated in Iowa City, Jaeger was a “stone’s throw” from Chicago where she attended weekend dance classes to study. With dreams of dancing professionally, she began an apprenticeship with the premier dance company, Joffrey Ballet.  

“I studied under one of their company members. It was a program to see if this is what you really want to do inside the world of professional dancing,” Jaeger said. 

In her late teens, she studied at a school in Los Angeles and was admitted into their scholarship program. She was interested in becoming a professional dancer at a time when music videos and people like Paula Abdul, a singer, dancer and choreographer were reaching the height of their fame. 

On her way to California, however, Jaeger stopped in Montana to visit her father when she was injured and had to undergo back surgery. 

“Long story short, they had hit a nerve in my back,” Jaeger said, which left her with painful, shooting pain. 

She spent the next six months healing and couldn’t start the program in Los Angeles. A career as a professional dancer ended before it could take flight. 

“It was very devastating,” she said.  

Having invested so much time and energy, Jaeger didn’t give up on dancing. 

“I grew up with it. It became part of my life. It’s all I did in high school. When I was a little older in high school, I found a deeper respect for it because it was hard. Dance is something you never attain perfection in, yet you’re always working toward it,” Jaeger said. 

Her parents suggested she teach dance. She did enjoy working with children after assisting in her mother’s dance studio. She had a new goal to focus her devotion to dance — opening a studio.  

In 1996, she opened Center Stage School of Dance, passing on that passion for dance to children and teens. 

“I like to see kids get that feeling of, I did it; oh, my gosh, I worked really hard, and I did it! When it clicks for them and to see the delight on their face that I did that. It’s great,” Jaeger said. 

In 1999, she expanded the studio building, adding voice and instrument classes. She renamed the studio at 11 Meadowlark Drive in Evergreen to the Academy of Performing Arts. 

“Music is so important to a dancer. I also wanted to offer an option for kids who were more inclined to do the music portion of the arts,” she said, noting that it’s an opportunity for families with multiple children who want to engage in different areas of performing arts. 

“Like siblings — one can take music class and the other dance class at the same time,” she said. 

Currently, the academy offers guitar, piano, clarinet, voice, flute, drums, saxophone and trumpet classes. 

Dance teaches skills of both body and mind, according to Jaeger. 

“Dance isn’t just moving around. It gives kids the skills to get up and be in front of people, it teaches leadership skills, perseverance and working hard to achieve. 

“It’s awesome to see in a day of instant gratification, that kids work through that process [of learning to dance]. It’s something that you can’t just swipe or click through,” she said. 

At the Academy of Performing Arts, preschoolers through adults may take classes in traditional dance styles — ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hip hop and contemporary (modern) and unique offerings such as Broadway class, which she described as musical theater. 

“You get to portray stories through dancing,” Jaeger said. 

There are also classes focusing on technique including turns, leaps, jumps, stretching, strength and progressing ballet technique.  

“If dancers are technically trained, you can achieve more in the world of dance,” Jaeger explained. 

New this year is Itsy Bitsy Academy, which introduces dance styles to preschoolers through third graders over 10 weeks. Each class covers different dance styles depending on age. Jaeger said it's geared to families who want to try out dance to see if it’s something their children enjoy before committing to monthslong sessions. 

Academy students also participate in a large dance recital each year. Students may also get other opportunities to perform for the public such as in parades, or events like Arts in the Park. Last Christmas, a group was invited and performed in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, California. This year, a group of 20 dancers are fundraising to perform 45-minute shows on a cruise ship next summer.  

Youth ages 8 through 18 who are looking to step up their skills are invited to register for an Epic Dance Workshop taught by professional dancers and choreographers on Aug. 16 and 17 at the studio on 11 Meadowlark Drive. This year’s guest instructors are Tammy Laframboise and Tyne Stecklein. Laframboise is New York-based professional dancer and actor who was on the TV show “Dancing in the Starts” and was a lead dancer for Michael Jackson, according to her bio at epicdanceinc.com. Laframboise is a Los Angeles-based professional dancer, dance teacher and choreographer, according to her bio. 

Register for the workshop or regularly scheduled sessions online at academyoftheperformingarts.net or call 755-0139. The academy may also be contacted by emailing academyoftheperformingarts@hotmail.com. 

“Dance means so many things to me. For me personally, to express the kind of person I am through dancing and choreography gives me a sense of achievement working toward something that is hard to ever obtain perfection in. For the kids, we try to instill the value of leadership confidence, work ethic and teamwork,” Jaeger said. 

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com. 

    The Academy of Performing Arts offers a variety of dance and music classes including hip-hop. Pictured are advanced hip hop students Blayde Wehr, Arrayah Wehr, Safira Weil, Callie Dugan and Hazel Zlogar. (JMK Photography courtesy of the academy)
  

    The Academy of Performing Arts in Evergreen offers ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hip hop and contemporary dance classes and classes focused on technique including turns, leaps, jumps, stretching and strength. Pictured is jazz solo jumper Callie Dugan. (Photo provided by the Academy of Performing Arts)