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This is Chris Redgrave for Zions Bank Speaking on Business.
Dr. Susan Brady says one thing she hears all the time about Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts is how welcoming the school is and how engaging the students are. It's a public charter school so anybody is allowed to attend. They're serving 300 students, so class sizes are under 20 students each. They have students coming in from across the Wasatch Front to attend, and they tend to bond with each other over their mutual love of the arts while having a hands-on experience.
And last year, one of the proudest achievements at the Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts was the school's ability to produce a 95 percent graduation rate. They partner with Highland High School for the academics with a bus that travels back and forth throughout the day. No audition or tuition is required.
Anyone who knows Utah knows we've always been supportive of the arts. This is one reason why Salt Lake City is one of only a hand full of cities across the U.S. to maintain a full symphony. And why we have organizations like the Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts in Salt Lake City.
The Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts grew out of a desire to support high school kids who wanted to be involved with the performing arts. They teach all types of dance, theater and music classes. Dance classes include ballet, modern and jazz with 19 theater classes, including voice and movement for the actor, plus storytelling. This year, they added a Business Promotion class so students learn to promote their own performances.
Many students are being prepared to be professionals in the field they love. Dr. Brady says they bring in artists from Ballet West, RDT and other performing arts groups to teach master classes. This helps increase students' dedication and excitement about their craft. The school has also become a feeder to the University of Utah dance department and other universities, often with full-ride scholarships. Some students have landed on Broadway, others in professional organizations around the world.
For Zions Bank, I'm Chris Redgrave, speaking on business.
Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts 2291 S. 2000 East Salt Lake City, UT 84106 801-466-6700 www.saltlakespa.org
