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 Career
Transitions:
CTFD In Action
By
Nancy Wozny
CTFD
helps Elizabeth Parkinson and Scott Wise switch gears to
studio ownership.
We caught up with Elizabeth Parkinson and her husband, Scott
Wise, on day five of studio ownership. The Fine Line Theatre
Arts studio opened on September 11, 2006, in New Milford, CT,
a small town near Danbury. Parkinson and Wise each received a
$2,000 grant from Career Transition For Dancers (CTFD) to go
toward studio start-up funds, which they used to build a
sprung wood dance floor. Two large studios and one smaller one
housed in a charming brick storefront suit their needs for
now. “We have beautiful high ceilings,” says Parkinson with
pride. “We looked at tons of spaces, but this one really felt
right.”
When Wise and Parkinson were ready to become studio owners,
CTFD was by their side. Parkinson received valuable counseling
from Lauren Gordon, CTFD career counselor. “Sometimes you just
need someone to listen to your dreams,” she says. “Lauren let
me know I was on the right track.” The couple went
into this decision by gathering as much information as
possible, and CTFD served as another home for them while they
were in the planning stages. With several friends who also
became studio owners, they utilized a network of support. They
were also lucky enough to have a mentor who helped them
realize their dream.
Although Parkinson is still dancing, she intends to wind down
performing as she gears up the studio. “I didn’t realize that
you don’t have to be fully retired to qualify for a grant,”
she says. “It’s so great to be able to walk into the CTFD
offices and be greeted with hope and options.” Parkinson
availed herself of the many resources offered by CTFD. “When
you make a transition as a dancer it can be frightening. You
are leaving a comfort zone. You have been taken care of by a
company or a show. Now I am my own boss.”
The new studio owners have impressive performance credentials.
Parkinson danced in Fosse and Movin’ Out on
Broadway.
She
received 2003 Tony and Drama Desk nominations and the TDF/Astaire
Award for Best Female Dancer in Movin’ Out. She also
danced with the Joffrey and Feld Ballets, Donald Byrd, and
Twyla Tharp Dance. Wise has appeared in 13 Broadway shows, won
a Tony award for Jerome Robbins’ Broadway in 1989, and
was nominated for Tonys for State Fair and Fosse.
Although next spring Parkinson
will return to dance with the Joffrey, she plans to gradually
phase into a
studio owner’s life.
But Wise, who retired from the Broadway boards, has been working
hard to open the studio on time, building
the floor and teaching many of the classes. Parkinson
also teaches and helps with the business aspect of studio
operation.
The school offers classes
in creative movement, ballet, modern, tap, hip hop, acting,
musical theater, yoga, Pilates, and
song and dance. Music and French c lasses
complement the dance curriculum.
“We are starting in a big way,” says Parkinson. “As of this
moment we have 60 students, but we hope that will grow. We
expect it will take three years to build the business.” She
spends much of her time learning about marketing and
advertising. “I have been a performer for 25 years,” she says.
“Running a studio is using a different part of my brain.”
With three ballet teachers, one voice and acting teacher, a
modern dance teacher, and Wise teaching everything else, the
new school is off and running. Wise is offering a cool class
for boys called “Ruff & Tumble Acrobatics” with the hope of
getting more boys involved in dance.
Parkinson and Wise started the studio as a long-range plan to
stay in the field and do what they love. Both are seasoned
teachers and knew it was a path they wanted to follow. “I am
used to teaching [ages] 12 and up,” says Parkinson. “The
little ones are new to me, and I want to learn more about
teaching young children.” Dealing with parents is also a new
experience, but so far it’s been a positive one. Instead of
trying to please everyone, the two dancers are following their
hearts and hoping that people will follow them on that path.
“I think we can give back what we learned,” says Parkinson.
“We asked ourselves what would get us out of bed in the
morning and this is it. We love to dance and we love to
perform; we want to pass that love on to other people.”
Photo captions (from top to bottom):
Elizabeth Parkinson and Scott Wise inside their studio, Fine
Line Theatre Arts in New Milford, CT.
Elizabeth Parkinson and Scott Wise in front of their studio,
Fine Line Theatre Arts in New Milford, CT.
Photos
by Norm Cummings of the Greater New Milford [CT] Spectrum.
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