Return engagement

Dancer Carol Bentley shares Broadway basics with Lansing students

Posted
When Carol Bentley arrivedin New York, eager to start a Broadway career, she had the memories of atheater-filled childhood in East Lansing to guide her. She remembers “A ChorusLine” and “Dreamgirls” had a big influence on her. Often, when professional touringcompanies passed through town, actors would hold workshops and share theirexperiences and teach local aspiring dancers.

Still, the competitivenature of the theatre scene in New York was overwhelming.

“When I first got to NewYork, I don’t think anything can fully prepare you for the amount of people whowere there trying to do the same thing,” she said. “I felt grateful for theprofessional foundation that was instilled in me. They offered so muchinformation and insight and inspiration that we were really able to, it justprovided us with such a foundation of understanding and hope. I can’tunderestimate how important it was to have that.”

Many years later, Bentleyhas indeed found success on Broadway and in the theater industry, having performedin “Spamalot,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Jesus Christ Superstar,” as well asbeing in the Disney film “Enchanted.” When she was growing up in East Lansing,she appreciated professional dancers who took the time to work with her, andnow tries to give back in a similar way.

On Aug. 5 and 7, Bentleywill teach classes at the Ruhala Dance Center, which is owned by her mentor andfriend, Mark Ruhala. Ruhala said he and Carol both have an interest in bringingBroadway-caliber professionalism to the local amateur dance scene, and it is amutual desire for her to come and teach at his studio.

“There are definitely youngdancers out there who would like to make it to Broadway,” he said. “To havesomeone experienced like myself or Carol in town teaching is a great advantagefor them, because they’re learning from someone who has already accomplishedthe dream that they have.”

Bentley makes an effort tocome back and teach aspiring dancers often; she said she loves to teach and isgrateful that Ruhala has the outlet for her to do so. She wants to share herexperiences on Broadway, but she also wants to simply share the joy and art ofdancing with anyone who is interested, because she understands that noteveryone dances with the aim of going into it professionally.

For those who do havevisions of fame on Broadway, she hopes to be able to offer some advice to helpthem the way she was mentored when she was just beginning her career. She saidin one past class, a girl asked her what a typical New York audition would belike, so she put her through a mock audition. Later, she said she received anemail from the girl thanking her for the realistic experience that prepared herfor real auditions.

Bentley has done “a littlebit of everything instead of a lot of one thing,” with experience in movies,TV, Broadway and tours.

“I feel like that affords meto share with other students now a pretty wide range of how things are done andwhat they can expect and what is expected of them,” she said.

“I want to share the senseof fun and adventure that comes with it, but also the amount of work there is.If you can approach the work with a sense of fun, it makes it that much morespecial. (Dancing in New York) is a very special experience. You feel the sensethat so many people hope to do this and if you get to be one of the people thatget to do it, it’s a special thing.”

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here




Connect with us