Allegro camp keeps kids’ toes tappin’

The Allegro Dance Center is keeping kids in step — and in rhythm — this summer.

Jill Pickett

Maggie Board, 8, left, and Lindy Dale, 7, rehearse with other campers Wednesday during Musical Theatre Camp at Allegro Dance Theatre in Radcliff. The campers will put on a performance with selections from Broadway's "The Little Mermaid."

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Jill Pickett

Campers sing during music practice Wednesday as part of Musical Theatre Camp at Allegro Dance Theatre in Radcliff.

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Jill Pickett

Campers hold colorful sea creatures as they rehearse selections from Broadway's "The Little Mermaid" during Musical Theatre Camp at Allegro Dance Theatre in Radcliff.

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Jill Pickett

Lucas Wheatley, 6, rehearses with other campers Wednesday during Musical Theatre Camp at Allegro Dance Theatre in Radcliff.

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The center hosted a musical theater camp this week, where children ages 6 to 13 worked on a performance of “The Little Mermaid.” The camp culminates with a performance at 7:30 p.m. today at the Hardin County Schools Performing Arts Center at John Hardin High School.

Director Carol Zagar uses the camp to identify new talent for other programs in the center and the community. At 13, children can become part of Youth Theatre of Hardin County.

Unlike ballet or tap, which require extensive repetition to get the steps right, progress can be made in musical theater at a much faster pace.

“They can absorb it very quickly,” Zagar said.

Zagar said the community offers few options for musical theater education, so the camp — now in its fifth year — is one way children can be exposed to performance.

“And it’s just fun,” she said.

Martha Barna, 12, said the days at camp taught her how to dance, something she had no experience with.

“Well, I’ve never tried anything like it and I’ve always been fascinated by the singing and the dancing and acting,” Barna said.

Zagar said she likes seeing students realize their potential at camp, especially with regards to dancing.

“Just to open those doors and see ‘oh, this isn’t so scary,’” she said.

Zagar is teaching students along with Kelsey Paschetto, a former student of hers who graduated last month with a music education degree from Western Kentucky University.

Paschetto said she had many teachers instill a passion for the arts in her and she’s enjoyed being able to do the same for others.

“I couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” she said.

The students also will perform at the Celebrate Summer – Celebrate Life Blood Drive on Friday at Pritchard Community Center in Elizabethtown.

Kelly Cantrall can be reached at (270) 505-1747 or kcantrall@thenewsenterprise.com.