Thavion Scott has been to the Bardavon 1869 Opera House before. But, he’s never looked out from the stage or explored the backstage.'
Thursday, he and 15 of his classmates had chance. Scott, along with the most of the Smart Scholars Early College High School Performing Arts Academy’s second cohort, received a behind-the-scenes tour of the venerable City of Poughkeepsie venue.
“Being able to see what (performers saw) as they perform is a nice experience,” the Poughkeepsie High School freshman said.
The Smart Scholars Early College High School Performing Arts Academy is a first-of-its kind program created in partnership between the Poughkeepsie City School District, Dutchess Community College and the Bardavon. Participants can earn up to 24 college credits through dual-enrollment classes while receiving dedicated academic support and counseling.
The classes teach not just performing arts skills but confidence and transferable tools. The free program also features experiential elements like that at the Bardavon Thursday.
“Performing arts isn’t just about the stage,” said Director of College Readiness and Workforce Education Dr. Janety Encarnacion. “It builds skills for life, such as communication, time management, collaboration and creativity.”
The tour was led by Adelina Borman, the Bardavon’s director of education and house manager, though several members of the opera house’s staff tagged along on the tour to provide expertise in areas ranging from lighting equipment to dressing rooms and the history of the venue.
Borman explained the Bardavon’s origins as the Collingwood Opera House nearly 160 years ago, its renaming in 1923 and the William Shakespeare-inspired meaning of its name, and walked the students through its more recent evolution and restoration as a historic site. The students delighted in relaxing in the dressing room – some faked doing each other’s hair as if they would soon be on stage – and learned more about backstage jobs to make each show possible.
“I’ve been here one time and I haven’t really been able to explore the building that well,” freshman J’Vion Miller said. “But now that I’m really understanding the culture and the scenery behind it – and with the history behind this building – it’s really helped me appreciate this building more often.”
The group also played a couple of theater warm-up exercise games, including one on the Bardavon’s famous stage in which they needed to improv explanations for why they were late to class. Another, called “Chop, Chop, Saw,” taught the students to concentrate on watching and reacting to each other’s movements.
While some of the students were sheepish at first, Borman called them out and reminded them to project their voices as performers. “You have to be quiet all day long,” she said. ‘We’re telling you to be loud now. Take advantage of it!”
Jolissa Estrada said that was among the highlights of the morning. Standing next to her, Trinity Bishop praised the morning as valuable exposure to the real world of performing.
“It gives me more experience … on stage and if I want to do acting as a future, it gives me more opportunities and stuff like that,” she said.
The Smart Scholars Early College High School Performing Arts Academy is a four-year program. The first year is devoted to laying the foundation for success, with traditional high school learning and additional academic and counseling support. The opportunity to earn college credit begins with a summer program at Dutchess Community College leading into sophomore year, when students can take their first dual enrollment courses. The college credits earned transfer to all schools in the SUNY system and many private schools, depending on the institution.
“Students get a head start on their future,” Encarnacion said. “At the same time, students explore their creative passions through performing arts pathways like dance, music and theater, developing confidence, discipline and voice.”
Families interested to learn more about the program should contact Encarnacion at JEncarnacion@PoughkeepsieSchools.org
Of the tour, Niahmias Mendoza said, “It was so fun. I like being able to walk around and witness everything first hand, see how stuff works backstage.”