Broadway star, dancer pays it forward in dance workshop
Posted on Monday, October 20, 2008
Daily Record photograph by David Frank Dempsey Renowned Broadway dancer Bill Hastings, center, led more than 30 area dancers in steps from ‘ A Chorus Line’ in a THEA Foundation dancers’ workshop at the Classical Ballet Academy in Bentonville on Sunday. Hastings has performed in hundreds of Broadway shows and now teaches dance around the world.
BENTONVILLE — Students of dance gathered at the Classical Dance Academy Sunday afternoon to learn from a master.
Bill Hastings, star of more than 40 Broadway musicals and dancer for famed choreographer and “ Cabaret” director Bob Fosse, led a workshop of 40 dance students as part of the Thea Foundation Dancers Workshop.
Based in North Little Rock, the Thea Foundation was formed by Paul Leopoulos in honor of his daughter, Thea, who died in 2001 in a car accident.
By the time of her death, Thea had discovered arts as a life-changing experience, and became an accomplished artist, actress, writer and dancer.
“ It literally changed her confidence, ” Leopoulos said.
In the six years since its inception, the THEA Foundation has worked with schools across the state to bring arts education to youth. It also offers scholarship programs to those in the fine arts.
Leopoulos also has seen how funding for the arts has dwindled in public schools in recent years. “ There’s a reason why there are less science and math majors; it’s because we don’t have the arts in the schools, ” Leopoulos said.
Hastings, an Oklahoma native who now lives in Arkansas, agreed. “ People have said there’s not enough money; people think the arts are isoteric, ” Hastings said. “ But the arts should come first. ”
Leopoulos said the arts can give kids an outlet that some may seek in drugs or alcohol. Without the arts, the children suffer, Leopoulos said.
“ Thea’s story isn’t unique; people don’t understand the nuance of what art can do for humanity. A society can’t be fulfilled without the arts; kids can never be happy when they’re robots, ” Leopoulos said.
Hastings, who has been teaching workshops with the THEA Foundation for three years, said his teaching “ allows me to pay it forward... my teacher did the same for me. ”
When asked what the arts can do for children, Hastings said, “ A better question to ask is what can they not do ? ” In more than 30 years as a professional dancer, Hastings has traveled the world performing and teaching students.
“ The arts are about life, and how to love life. You can become a creator for information, ” Hastings said.
Hastings’ workshop was only $ 20 to attend a five-hour session, in which students danced to original music by Steve Marzullo, who wrote the original score of the musical “ Mamma Mia ! ” and other Broadway shows. Marzullo wrote the original music based on Thea’s diary entries.
“ Our mission and our foundation is to help kids learn how to dream, ” Leopoulos said. “ If you can’t dream, you’re never going to go anywhere in your life. ”
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