Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Spring 2016 | Page 14

Emma Arenstam Campbell ’04:

Dancing on a Statewide Stage

Emma rehearses with
Thornton students
cast as the Jets, one
of the gangs featured
in the spring musical
West Side Story.

BY PATRICIA
ERIKSON
If you’ve heard that Thornton Academy has become an epicenter
for dance education in Maine, you might like to know that Emma
Arenstam Campbell ’04 is behind the curtain. The Thornton
Academy and Bates (Class of ’08) grad returned to campus in
2011 and has turned the dance program into a powerhouse that
performs three dance concerts per year, integrates dance into
both theatrical and orchestral performances, and sends students
to out-of-state conventions. Accounting for Dance I, II, and III,
and the Dance Company, Emma involves over 150 students in
dance at Thornton.

arts education in our state. I have worked as a teacher leader
for the Maine Arts Commission and am currently involved
in their census project. I’m also part of the Arts are Basic
Coalition for the Maine Alliance for Arts Education and will
work with students and teachers on their advocacy day at the
Capitol in late March.”

When asked what she’s hoping her advocacy will accomplish,
Emma quickly points to how important dance is to people
and how she wants to spread the benefits of dance statewide
to youth. “Dance is a wonderful art form which incorporates
Reflecting on the change in the program, Emma said, “At this
critical thinking, teamwork, athleticism, and aesthetics. I
point, I have had students studying four years of foundational
just want to help others realize how important dance is for
technique with me; this makes a big difference in their
kids. Arts education is so critical in the development of well
choreography and performance skills. Those students become
rounded, compassionate, and vested adults. I don’t want to
role models for the more
make an army of dancers. I
“I don’t want to make an army of dancers. I want want students to take dance
novice students. In turn, this
creates an environment in students to take dance so that they will appreciate art so that they will appreciate
the program where everyone
art for the rest of their lives.
for the rest of their lives.”
is consistently striving to
Along the journey, they
improve.”
will develop skills that are so critical to their success as adults
in both school and work environments.”
With her signature generosity and team-oriented spirit, Emma
isn’t stopping at building an amazing Thornton dance program,
One strategy for opening up more dance opportunity in
she’s collaborating with other studios, dance educators, and
schools statewide is to support dance teachers. With the
organizations to build a more extensive and cohesive dance
collaboration of other K-12, higher ed, and private studio
education community across Maine. “Public school offerings
teachers, Emma is leading the creation of a Maine Dance
in dance in Maine are very sparse, which is unfortunate. As an
Education Organization, which will support the needs of
advocate, I strive to show the importance of what we are doing
dance educators statewide. “We created a Fall Showcase in
through the positive impact dance has had on my students’ lives.
November for dancers from different organizations. This past
I will basically do anything that I can to support organizations
year, the showcase raised $2,650; we donated the money to
like the Maine Arts Commission and the Maine Alliance for
the Maine Arts Commission for a grant in dance education.
Arts Education, as well as more local groups that will support
I really hope to be able to do more things like this in the

14 ARTS

Emma shows students a
particular element from
“Cool” in the West Side
Story production. Each
show requires a new
slate of choreography
work.

future. I think it is so important to help others when possible. Currently, there are professional
organizations for music, theater, and visual art but none for dance. If we can help other dance
educators with resources that they need to provide quality instruction, then that is wonderful.”
Meanwhile, on campus, as the magazine goes to press, Emma is working diligently with a cast
of 50 students who will perform in the TA Players’ spring musical West Side Story.. “Some high
schools wouldn’t touch this musical because it’s so difficult,” Theater program director David
Hanright said about West Side Story.. “Emma has a vision and it’s very demanding. The dancing
is extensive.”
Emma explained the challenge: the cast of West Side Story dancers is predominantly men. “This
performance requires 10-20 men who are proficient in dance. We have chosen not to have women
cast as men. Of our male dancers, only a handful of them have taken dance with me before. But
they are trying so hard and being so responsive. They’re doing great.”
The original West Side Story was choreographed by Jerome Robbins who had a background as a
ballet dancer and theater actor. Emma describes Robbins’ style as explosive, technical, and very
masculine. “His choreography is based in ballet dance vocabulary, while emulating gang fighting.
He’s taking street violence and turning it into dance. The result is a complicated dialogue between
two gangs.”
A lot of choreographic work is expected of dance teachers; this is true for the current production.
Emma has used Robbins’ choreography as inspiration and the audience will recognize signature
movements like finger snapping and pencil jumps. But the rest must be choreographed from
scratch. “We try things with our cast, most of whom don’t have a dance background, at least in the
case of the guys. Then you have to find what works within their abilities.” The result? Essentially a
new choreography for each production. “I really like choreography because I like the storytelling
process.”

Emma lives in Saco with her husband Ryan and their children. By summer, she will hold
a Master’s in Arts Administration from Savannah College of Art and Design.

15