Free Dance Classes for National Dance Week at Patel Conservatory | Arts & Culture

Tampa, Florida--National Dance Week (April 20-29) has started - and to celebrate, the Patel Conservatory is offering three free dance classes to the public!

On Saturday, April 28, come try:

Theatrical Movement for Dancers from 12:45-1:30 p.m. – taught by Matthew Belopavlovich.

Tap Dance Basics from 1:30-2:30 p.m. – taught by Susan Downey.

Jazz Dance from 2:30-3:30 p.m. – taught by Susan Downey.

Classes are available for those in grades two and older; students under 12 must have a parent or guardian with them. No pre-registration is necessary.

This a great way to sample a class at the Patel Conservatory at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts downtown at 1010 N. W.C. MacInnes Pl., Tampa, 33602.

For more information, you can call 813.222.1002 or visit www.patelconservatory.org.

Here's some info about the teachers:

Susan Downey, Tap/Enrollment Division: Susan Downey began her passion for dancing at age 4 in Oklahoma and never stopped. Her summer training in early years was at TCU, in Ft. Worth, Texas. She left for California at 18, and studied Musical Theater at U.S.I.U. in San Diego. She became an Actors’ Equity, Screen Actors Guild Member and enjoyed a diverse 10-year singing and dancing career that took her all across America. The last 20 years were spent in the N.Y. area where she began her teaching career. Downey was the Director and lead dance teacher for the United States Military Academy at West Point's Child and Youth Services program and was also Head Tap Teacher for 12 years at Step by Step dance studio in New York state.

Forever a student, Downey attends classes, workshops, and performances to stay fresh and current. Being a part of the Patel Conservatory and their vision for education in the arts is a huge thrill. She teaches youth and adult Patel Conservatory students tap, jazz, hip-hop and classes in the Patel Conservatory Youth Ballet program. Downey also teaches dance, musical theater and drama to kids in the H.O.S.T. program in Hillsborough Co. Public School District.

Matthew Belopavlovich: Matthew Belopavlovich is from Madison, Wisconsin and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Regional theater credits include Noises Off with Hat Trick Theatre, Pippi Longstocking with Orlando Repertory Theatre, Section 60 with American Stage Theatre, Pyretown wtih the Boulevard Theatre Ensemble, The Midnight Angel with the Skylight Opera, Alladin with Prairie Fire Children's Theatre and Fabulous 50's and High School Musical with the Broadway Dinner Theatre in the Dells. University theater credits include the roles of Claude in Hair, Riff in West Side Story, Malvolio in Twelfth Night, Arkadi Tscheide in Caucasian Chalk Circle, Patrice Bombelles in Ring Round the Moon and Wazir/Ghassen/Borges in 1001.

Belopavlovich has worked as an education intern at Florida Studio Theatre, as director/teaching artist at the French Woods Festival of the Arts in upstate New York and director at Hartford University School in Milwaukee. He currently teaches theatre at the Patel Conservatory.