Caron Moore Creates - Motivates - Dedicates - Produces
Caron Moore is organized. From her wardrobe, time lines and productions to her ethics, commitments and her life she personifies the sharp combination of creativity and administration.
Caron Moore Dance Productions, Inc. (CMDP) serves the community with two studio locations: one in Benbrook, western suburb of Fort Worth, Texas and the other in Weatherford, a community of 20,000, twenty-five miles west of Fort Worth, known for its peach crop, Mary Martin Elementary School (named for the late Broadway star) and Christmas-on-the-Square.
Caron's mission is expressed in her brochure, "Striving for excellence is its own reward. Achieving it makes the world a little better."
Her flyer covers the usual Tuition Rates, Class Attire, Performances, Severe Weather, etc. Registration Fee and Spring Recital Fee are included with First Month's Tuition. Costume Fee is due October 1st. Potential and returning students know what is expected of them. Caron's teachers realize that their music and costume selections need to be chosen by Thanksgiving. Spring Recital Choreography is to be finished by Spring Break.
CMDP begins classes after Labor Day and runs through May. For the first time in 2006, CMDP offered a four week extremely successful summer intensive, which also included acting technique, stage make-up, modern dance and partnering. Caron has found - like so many dance schools - that gymnastic and cheerleading activities tug on the time commitments of her clientele. Caron observes, "Kids are so diversified today." and she is working on engaging new and younger students with a contemporary approach to her curriculum.
The flyer states: "CMDP cannot be responsible for dancers except during their actual class time. Please tell children to wait in the lobby for parents . . . All dancers should be bathroomed before class begins."
Caron Moore believes in civic participation by her dancers. Twenty-six of her students participated in the Thanksgiving Half Time Show starring Carrie Underwood at the Dallas Cowboys - Tampa Bay Buccaneers football game. To prepare, the dancers rehearsed the two preceding weekends on both Saturday and Sunday plus Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Thanksgiving week. The casual student is left huffing and puffing.
CDMP has a staff of nine teachers with a curriculum of Combination Classes, Jazz, Lyrical Jazz, Ballet, Clogging and Tap. Creative Dance is offered for ages 18 months to 30 months. CMDP's faculty handbook is full of ideas, planning, interaction, deadlines and dress. Caron laughs, "You cannot dance to 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' in a pink costume"
Caron inaugurated her Benbrook studio in 1980 and in 1982 she opened in Weatherford. The faculty teaches at both locations. Syllabus and curriculum are developed and each lesson plan is presented to classes in both locations.
The faculty includes Trinli Millliorn, Larissa Gaston-Simpson, Janet Lindell, Whitney Moore, Gretchen Patchell, Leah Sparkman and Amber Ford. "Idy" McCoy is Weatherford Studio Manager and Joan Moore is responsible for costumes.
Caron sees that kids are busier than ever but the desire to learn remains the same. She is enjoying the second generation of students. One youngster wanted Caron to know that her mother, Mary, was also a student as a child . . . as if Caron had had only one student named Mary in 26 seasons.
Caron Moore Dance Productions, Inc. welcomes the recreational student as well as the student who wants to develop skill and talent. The student's approach to class and to learning may be different but the curriculum and expertise of the faculty is the same for all students. The website is extremely helpful: www.cmdpdance.com
For many professionals directing and teaching at two dance schools would be enough of a challenge. Not for Caron Moore.
In 1998, Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc., "Prestige of Learning and Performing with the Best" was added to Caron's business enterprises. In discussing issues with other teachers, Caron found that the business side of the studio can take a hit from inarticulate scoring definitions or feedback from inexperienced judging.
For the positive benefit of the dance student, the local teacher determines the adjudication level of each routine which is divided as follows: Beginner Dancers study up to three hours per week and/or have had one to two years of competition experience. Intermediate Dancers have 4-7 hours of training per week and/or 3 to5 years competition experience. Advanced Dancers study eight or more hours per week and/or have six or more years of competition experience. Teachers/ Pro/Am professional category derives 50% of income from teaching, performing and/or choreography.
Every routine is adjudicated and recognized. Caron seeks judges with exceptional credentials, who record their comments on cassette tape. These are given to the studio owner along with the written critique.
Caron enjoys exploring the regional differences in competition. The Seattle area, for example, presents a more concert style. The Phoenix area has offers a plus-plus technical level with outstanding costumes. Variety of styles and creativity is imaginative and vast.
The prestigious Encore Dance Team performs at Encore National Finals held in June in Las Vegas. Dancers are chosen from each regional city based on overall performance quality. Each Elite Dancer is awarded a scholarship to the Encore National Convention and performs in the special number choreographed by a top choreographer at the Awards Gala.
From February - May Encore Performing Arts tours to Seattle, Washington, Austin, Texas, Detroit, Michigan, Phoenix, Arizona, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Denver, Colorado as well as California and Florida. Website: www.encoreperformingarts.com
Caron believes that her background as a dance professional and studio owner give her empathy to the concerns and issues of the local studio. Kids today can be home-schooled, live in dual income families, be over scheduled and out of time, or unaware of extracurricular opportunities. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Pedagogy from University of Oklahoma. Caron is a certified teacher with Dance Masters of America and Texas Association of Teachers of Dancing. In 1991, she was named one of the "Outstanding Young Women in America."
Caron's students have received national and collegiate dance scholarships. CMDP alumni have performed professionally in NYC, Las Vegas and internationally. Tim Varney, who now lives in Canada, received positive notices when he toured with "Tap Dogs." Brad Barnes toured in the national production of "Cats" and has recently completed contracts with "Follies Bergere" at the Tropicana in Las Vegas and as assistant choreographer for "Radio City Christmas Spectacular." In Hollywood Carmen Scott, while working and choreographing for independent films, appeared in "Desperate Housewives." Laura West was a member of the national cast of "Hello Dolly" and is currently touring in "Oklahoma."
Caron's contributions continue. It seems as if Alexander Pope had her in mind when he wrote, "Let such teach others who themselves excel."
Dancer/Teacher/Choreographer Amanda Stone devotes time to Dance Council, a non-profit that supports and promotes dance in North Texas.