COMPETITION TEAM
The waiting room is lined with trophies, plaques and medals won by AAPA's competition teams Dancewave and Littlewave. The dancers range in age from 7 to 18 and have been competing for over 5 years now. In addition to the 2 regional and 1 national competitions they enter every year, the team also enjoys performing for the community in pageants, health fairs, parades, talent showcases and for nursing homes.

Congratulations to the current team for another great year: Christie, Taylor, Emily, Madison, Krystina, Olivia, Zulmarie, Suzanna, Jaynese, Ana, Ironesen, Kailyn and Devyn. Not only is this team talented and a bundle of energy, but they always have the best sportsmanship (we even won 'nicest studio' at the Rhythms in Dance Competition.

Miss Jenny and Miss Pam are incredibly proud to coach such a wonderful group of dancers and would like to give special thanks to the team parents for all their support.

TEMPLETON SCHOLARSHIP
The Templeton Scholarship is given out annually to 2 of AAPA's finest students based on their dedication, attitude and potential.

Miss Pam's grandfather, Mercer Templeton, was a Vaudeville act with his brother James. They were dancers, singers, actors and contortionists who traveled the country performing in all the famous Vaudeville theaters since the age of 12. The brothers have performed with the Andrews Sisters, Jack Benny and in many of George M. Cohen's musicals. Later in life Mercer was in print ads, television commercials and TV shows such as I Spy, Milton Berle and Jack Benny.

Mercer's daughter Lois, also performed in some of her Dad's Vaudeville acts and was in 2 of George M. Cohen's musicals at a very young age. She directed theater in Staten Island and North Jersey before her last performance with Shelly Winters in "A View from the Bridge." You could always find her attending AAPA's recitals and watching her daughter and granddaughter teaching classes.

Lois started this scholarship 10 years ago and would be proud at the accomplishments of it's recipients: Brie Clemency, Brianna Hastie, Christie Young, Valerie Soltis, Taylor Noone, Taylor Celenza, Madison Quo and Morgan Brady. This year's winners are: Jaynese Ortiz and Kathleen VanHouten.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Along with scholarships and dance competitions, AAPA students have other opportunities to pursue their love of dance.

The studio produced a short film of "Peter and the Wolf" directed by Mr. Tony, choreographed by Miss Jenny and Miss Pam and starring 17 of AAPA's dancers. This talented trio have also collaborated on the short film "Valediction" in which Miss Jenny performs, a hip hop video produced by Paul Jerkins for local rap artist Yella and Beth El Synagogue's production of "Carnival" - all of these projects using AAPA dancers! AAPA dancers also model. Three of our dancers can be seen in the pages of the 2007 Cutain Call Costume Catalog. Many of our ballet students have recently had the opportunity to perform with the Moscow Ballet in their "Nutcracker" at the Borgata Hotel and Casino. Morgan and Helene won for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress in Tony's "Beautifully Cruel" at the AC Film Festival. Students are in production of "5th Door". Cierra received the Governor's Award for Dance.

Our students have been crowned Miss Galloway, 2 years in a row, and also Miss Atlantic County winning the talent portion in the Miss New Jersey preliminary.  AAPA actors can be seen as the leads in their high school productions as well as local productions for The Margate Players, Sojurn, Ocean City Theater, East Lynne Theater and the Surflight Theater.  The Absecon Academy of Performing Arts has won silver medals for the past 2 years in The Best of The Press poll for Best dance Studio.  This year, on our 25th Anniversary we won the GOLD!

Learning different styles from other teachers is important for a dancer's training, so the faculty encourages the students to attend dance conventions and classes in NYC. Becoming a dancer is an ongoing process and we try to give the students a well rounded education with plenty of opportunities to grow.