We recently had the chance to interview Kevin Charles Patterson who is the director of the Academy 
of Performing Arts San Diego. The Academy of Performing Arts San Diego has been open for two decades. The studio is different from other studios in the fact that the focus is on the adults, however they teach people of all ages from young children to senior citizens. They offer many different styles of dance such as, classical ballet, jazz, African, modern, hip-hop, and even Bollywood, allowing a person to become more well-rounded. They want their students to be able to be ready for any situation in the dance world, including acting and singing. Their staff is a carefully selected group of professionals from the Screen Actors Guild, Actors’ Equity Association, American Federation of Television & Radio Artists, American Guild of Musical Artists, American Guild of Variety Artists, various dance companies, and other performing arts organizations.
Kevin wants to keep his dancers motivated. When his dancers get frustrated, he often asks them “Do you want a job?” He wants his students to succeed and have the strongest skills possible. A scholarship program and a pre-professional training program is offered at Academy of Performing Arts San Diego to keep the dancers motivated. Kevin would love to see more employment for his students and with all the styles offered, he is able to prepare them for anything.
Kevin believes good dance clothing is anything that compliments the dancer’s body. “Good clothing should make lines look longer.” He doesn’t believe dancers should get so concerned with the trends. The dancewear items that Kevin feels are a must are dance shorts so people are able to see what is going on with placement and they can see your muscles working. He also believes that you should wear something on the upper body that is form fitting, such as a leotard.
In 2006, Kevin got in a major automobile accident. He wound up in the hospital with a broken hip (though he nedded to replace both of them) and the nurses told him that his dancing career was over. However, Kevin still wanted to be a part of the dance world and create a platform for others, so he started the San Diego Fringe Festival. The festival is the largest performing arts festival on the West Coast. He would love to see more dancers, choreographers and directors take advantage of the festival to build their portfolios.
When I asked Kevin what advice he would give to people just starting out with dance, first and foremost he said, “Do it for fun.” He believes dance is one of the most fulfilling things a person can enjoy; it allows you to completely let go. If you want to take dancing a step further, he thinks you should be prepared to take a lot of classes but never let it not be fun.
If you have experience with Academy of Performing Arts San Diego or Kevin Charles Patterson please leave a comment below about your experience!
