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ur cover this month features four of the students from the Academy for Movement and the Performing Arts (AMPA). Elle Eickholz, Alex Lindsey, Brooklyn Mitchell and Garlynn Gillespie represent the dance and stage craft classes that are available to AMPA students. The academy’s main objective is to educate its students in the techniques of dance, and instill values such as confidence, ambition, and commitment. Owner and instructor, Tressa Wilham, prides herself on providing professional dance training, top-of-the-line dance facilities, and exposure to nationally known dance choreographers. “At AMPA, we feel it’s important that our students learn the history of dance and movement,” she explained. They should also know and use the proper terminology, and the root of the technique they will be learning.” AMPA is located in Jordan's Crossing (behind Kentucky Oaks Mall) and offers some of the best equipment a dance studio can provide: Floating dance floors, creating less impact on the dancer’s joints, Marley dance surfaces, the best dance floor surface available, a Bose sound system and of course wall length mirrors.
Meet the faculty! Tressa Wilham who was raised in Paducah, travelled the nation competing in both regional and national dance competitions. Her mother took her to a dance class when she was four year old. “Once I found dance, I never wanted to do anything else,” she told me. Wilham graduated from Hunter College in Manhattan in 2006 with a BA in dance, and a minor in Economics. After college, Wilham danced and trained with such choreographers as Andy Blankenbuehler, Jack Hertzog, AC Ciulia, and Mia Michaels. In addition to dance, Wilham went on to get her NSCA personal trainer certification. As a personal trainer, she is not only able to instruct the technique of dance, but to teach the anatomy of the human body which is very important for all dancers to know. Joining Tressa is Paducah native, Lauren Walker. Her love of dancing led her to a degree in Dance and performing Arts Administration from Western Kentucky University where she graduated with honors. She has studied and performed with Balleto di Civitavecchia in Rome, Italy. Lauren continues her career teaching and choreographing for students, and companies of all ages and abilities. Her classes emphasize musicality, confidence, proper terminology, and fun! Manika Kalia-Musgrove, AMPA Dance Instructor, and Costume Designer, is a Paducah native who found her passion for dance at age nine. She has danced competitively and trained in New York City at the Broadway Dance Center and Steps. Manika obtained her BS in Anatomy and Physiology from Western Kentucky University and has been a dance instructor for over 15 years. Manika’s passion for dance has led to a love of costume design. In 2012, Manika won 2nd place at the national DESIGN SOLIA competition and attended a convention for Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, NV last year. Two of her designs were selected for their Michael Jackson show. As well as teaching dance, Manika is a Physical Therapist Assistant and is currently pursuing a MS degree in Health Management and Marketing Douglas P. Arnold has joined AMPA as their Vocal/Drama/Musical Theater Instructor. With the help of his father, a master pianist, he taught himself to play piano. Arnold attended Southeast Missouri State University and studied theater, piano, voice, trumpet, and music theory. He also studied voice under Dr. James E. Moore of Vienna, Austria. Arnold has been involved with Community Theater since high school, serving as an 8 • July2013 www.purchasefamilymag.com