Amazingly, The Thomas School of Dance in, Bangor, Maine, has been providing quality dance training in the greater Bangor area for over 85 years and in all these years has had only two directors! The 
current director, Jane Bragg, has been the director since 1983. Former students are teaching and performing throughout the state, the nation and the world. The school offers classes in a variety of dance styles and is fortunate to have a former Balanchine dancer, Ivy Clear-Forrest, as the head of its classical ballet department. Students travel as much as 2 – 2 ½ hours to take classes with Ivy. Jane believes the Thomas School of Ballet offers the best training in the area.
Jane understands the benefit and allure of competitions so they do send students to one competition a year. However, they do not focus on competitions but try to give their students ample opportunity to perform. They are the official training school for Bangor Ballet which is celebrating its 20th season this year. Most of their advanced students are part of this organization and their younger dancers can aspire to become part of Bangor Ballet. Even before they are advanced enough to be “in” the company, the younger dancers sometimes have the opportunity to perform with Bangor Ballet.
Although many studios have more than one annual recital, the Thomas School of Dance does one show at the end of the year in which every student has the opportunity to perform. The school has a policy of spending the fall semester devoted to teaching technique rather than learning routines and doesn’t begin working on “recital” routines until the second semester. When the school presents its annual show, they try to give their students the most professional experience possible. As such, all dancers have to remain backstage during the performance and are not allowed out into the audience. Jane keeps the show under 2 hours because she doesn’t feel it is fair to ask parents (especially some dads who would rather be home watching sports) to sit for any longer than that. Also, she wants the students dancing at the end of the show to get the same kind of attendance as the first routines do. This year their show is called “Mainely Maine.” The show will open with a tap line dancing routine to the Maine Stein Song and will include many Maine icons – puffins, lumberjacks, troop greeters, black fly season, etc. The show is scheduled for May 17th and 18th at the Peakes Auditorium at Bangor High School.
According to Jane, the faculty uses a number of methods to motivate their dancers. They encourage their dancers to stay focused, work hard and enjoy the moment. They point out that progress isn’t a smooth path and they will experience plateaus and then great advances. Slogans are posted around the studio to motivate the dancers, i.e., “If you rest, you rust!” “Luck is when preparation (perspiration) meets opportunity.” “When the going gets tough, the tough do ballet.” Jane believes she is fortunate to have a dedicated faculty that shows great caring for their dancers and this in itself helps to keep their dancers motivated.
Jane says one of her proudest moments as a dance teacher was when she heard someone comment on the grace of one of her students who did not have a lot of natural grace but who had worked very diligently in class with the results obvious to an outsider. Also, watching a student “get” a step or concept after struggling has provided many proud moments. Additionally, the studio’s annual recital usually opens with an advanced routine followed by the tiniest dancers. Seeing the contrast and knowing that the little ones will be in the opening routine in a few years always makes Jane proud.
She believes the biggest mistake dancers make when performing is when dancers think that they are ready just because they know the “steps.” She tries to emphasize that knowing the steps is only the beginning of being ready to perform and knowing the steps does not make them the artist that they aspire to be.
As far as good dance clothing, Jane feels that the clothing should allow freedom of movement and not distract from teaching. To her mind this usually means “no” to flashy or fleshy attire.
Jane’s goal is to always inspire students and instill a love of dance as they provide the best training possible. They aim to provide the basis for a life-long love of the art form and to give solid training so that any student who wishes to pursue a career in dance has the background to follow his or her dreams.
One issue that Jane deals with, and most likely other studios do as well, is how to assist needy 
students. As a result, they provide full or partial scholarships. Also, they try to offer situations where some of the parents at Thomas School of Dance can help at the reception desk or with costume alterations or other tasks to help pay for the classes. It is always a challenge to provide the opportunity to as many as possible regardless of family income but still have enough income to pay the bills!
She stated that she took over the Thomas School of Dance in 1983 because of her love of dance and because she and her children were all involved in the school. As the founder was getting ready to retire, Jane felt that the school was too great an asset to the community to just be closed and she wanted children and adults in the area to continue to have the opportunity for quality dance training.
If you have experience with Thomas School of Dance or Jane Bragg please leave a comment below about your experience!
