Jarek's Story
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“The performing arts have taken me across America and around the world. It’s been an amazing adventure and my favorite part has always been opening the door for the next generation of performers. Memphis has proven no different, and I am thrilled to have been a part of this community.”
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Jarek A. Stultz brings over 22 years of experience in training, performing and educating to his studio classroom. “The first time I saw a live theater performance, I was hooked for life. It was a performance of ‘Mame’. When Patrick, the nephew, walked on stage, I stood on my seat and loudly announced to 15,000 people ‘That’s what I want to be when I grow up.’ The audience clapped, I bowed and sat down. I was three years old.”
While growing up Jarek studied a variety of dance styles as a soloist, a duet partner and an ensemble member. His experiences included choreography, musical theater, competitive dance and a season as a goodwill ambassador with the “Muny Teens”. Jarek completed his studies under Mark Krupinski, a long-time leader in the St. Louis performing arts community. “Being a young performer is hard. You’re sweating and sore and have blisters on your feet while other kids are home playing video games. What carries you through is the sense of community at a good studio. Everyone is doing homework and talking and goofing around together between classes. You’re all in it together – that’s what carries you through when you’re tired. The new dance studio we have in Memphis was developed with both the need for workable studio space and the need for community in mind.” Upon graduation Jarek attended the Pacific College of Performing Arts in Los Angeles. “The education I received at PCPA was invaluable, both as a performer and as an educator. It is absolutely essential that we, as dance educators, thoroughly understand how the bodies and minds of young people develop. Dance is a very demanding art and injuries happen. However, nothing is as heartbreaking, and infuriating, as seeing a young dancer’s career cut short because they have been encouraged to perform moves their body isn’t capable of yet. We, as educators, must consider the developmental stage of young dancer’s joints, tendons, ligaments and bone growth plates when developing choreography. Dance at all ages can be fun, flashy and safe if we do our jobs well.” While attending PCPA, Jarek was accepted by the international education and performance group ‘The Young Americans’. “Touring with the YAs was phenomenal! I worked with over 25,000 kids in seven countries around the world – kids in juvenile hall, exclusive private schools, and European factory towns. I’ve performed everywhere from gymnasiums in eastern Maryland to opera houses in Japan. I learned lighting and sound and the million other things that go into producing a successful show. I’ve been everything from a stage manager to a truck driver. I’ve carried everything I need to live for four months in one duffle bag. Oh, and I learned you can actually be tired enough to sleep on the floor of a bus.” Jarek spent two years in Fairbanks, AK as an associate professor of dance at the University of Alaska. While there he also worked as an instructor at the Dance Theater of Fairbanks, started a state-funded after school dance program for at-risk youth and was the dance squad choreographer for the local Arena League professional football team. “Alaska is cold – and beautiful – and cold. It truly is an entirely different way of life. I’m really glad I got to experience it and meet some of the best people on Earth. Several of my students traveled to California for Young American auditions and were accepted by PCPA. It was incredibly gratifying.” Jarek has also spent a year at sea as a performer for Disney Cruise Lines. “Ships are also an entirely different way of life. Disney is a phenomenal employer. They offer the best training anywhere and when I was injured they took care of absolutely everything. They asked a lot from their performers, but they also gave a lot to us. The Caribbean is spectacular and I loved watching all the kids faces light up with the magic of Disney.” When not on tour, Jarek made his home in Los Angeles where he worked as a performer, resident choreographer, and as a production staff member for live events and for television. His most recent credits include Art Director for the upcoming season of “My Cat From Hell” on Animal Planet and Choreographer for Cupcake Studio's production of "Little Shop of Horrors." “Several years ago I was on a hillside overlooking LA at night. There were millions of lights spread out across the city. Bill and Robin, the Directors of the YA program have probably touched as many young people’s lives through musical theater as there were lights. If I can touch just a fraction of that number, I will have lived a good life. It’s a guiding principle for me; and I’m truly grateful for the journey my life has taken thus far, and I am looking forward to the future.” |