This transcript has been edited for clarity and length.
Tina Sawyer- It sits in the unlikeliest of places. In an old medical building at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda. When you walk into the Northeast Academy of Dance, it looks nothing like what once sat on the base years ago. The refurbished building is now a dance studio with walls filled with old performance posters, colorful art and photos of Italian dance venues.
TS: Inside one music-filled room, mirrors around the room reflect one dedicated, dance student named Mary Emma Bennett who is leaping, bending and dipping. Her slippers make an unpredictable "creaking" sound as she practices her movements during her private lesson. Known as the "older" student at the Academy, the twenty year old says although she had been accepted and was taught by the Joffrey School of Ballet in New York last year, something about this studio, called her back.
Mary Emma Bennett: Honestly, the training here is better than what I was getting in New York. They've really helped me improve my turns. I remember when I first came to the studio, I could like barely do one pirouette. And now, like, they're helping me do clean triples and focusing on all different kinds of turns. And it's gotten a lot. More solid.
TS: So solid, Mary Emma will be leaving soon as she embarks to Chicago in the fall to work professionally as a dancer. She says she owes it all to her mentors...
Scott Heinrich: Scott Heinrich and Giuseppe Canale.
TS: They are the co-owners of the Academy. Giuseppe elected Scott to be his voice for this interview and to tell the story behind the school.
SH: We built the school here in 2004, but we've been having this business since 1997. Giuseppe , I met him in actually in Amsterdam. I started out in in Germany and then I went to Holland. I was there for 10 years. He became the director at one point of the the theater in Palermo, Italy, and I got a job there as a soloist. That was the year we came here and it was funny cause we'd work there, you know, for the 11 months and we'd say oh, I just need to go home. So he'd come with me and we'd come up here in Oscoda cause it was summer time. So, that's where my parents were. We just come vacation and sometimes we travel around but we'd always come back to Oscoda. We decided that we were going to leave Europe and see if we could find something in America... just needed a change... and I don't think we ever expected to stay here. Here we are 26 years later.
TS: Heinrich, who is also a Central Michigan University School of music alum and former Orchesis Dance student at CMU, says they understand "big" talent isn't just found in big cities.
SH: You know, there have been some amazing kids from up here and we have to say the ones that have always wanted to go on to dance, they've all succeeded. Every single one of them, that's giving it a try and that's been our always been our goal Is to Make sure that if you That's what you want to do. We will help you to do that. And so they've gotten into colleges, they've gotten into dance companies, so they're professional and just teaching and just doing it for. We've had kids that have come from out of state to to work with us, especially Giuseppe, because if people get a hold of his, his background more than mine. I always say people will will find I'm a bonus. Giuseppe's the the training that they can get from him, its just top notch.
TS: That top notch training from Giuseppe started at age 11 and continued at the School of Bejart to the Mudra School of Dance. Then he worked for the Dutch National and eventually became Director of the Theater in Palermo, where he was known for a particular move.
SH: He would jump! I mean, it was like it was like, oh my gosh, I'd never seen anyone jump... it was like anyone in class, everyone just sort of moved to the side and let him and let him do his thing. He was quite a remarkable dancer.
TS: And with those years of experience between both men comes the knowledge to recognize those who harbor the remarkable qualities to move forward with their dreams. Those students like Mary Emma and countless more hidden in the rural heart of Michigan.
SH: Well, I have to tell you, one of the biggest things that's always surprised us was the number of artists up here. I mean, there's some really good artists. Here, you know, people still still are. Like, why aren't you in the city in a bigger city? You you get so much more. But maybe. But there's something about this area that we just really love and we love this area. And we've had some just terrific experiences.
TS: And Scott and Giuseppe couldn't be more content sharing their gifts for more years to come. I'm Tina Sawyer, WCMU news.
