Spring Spotlight: Youth Performing Arts at the Academy

Spring is a dynamic season for youth performing arts at the Academy Center of the Arts—filled with imagination, storytelling, and transformative educational experiences.

We kicked off April with a special MOMIX Student Matinee, welcoming over 150 middle and high school students from public, private, and homeschool communities to the Historic Academy Theatre. MOMIX, an internationally renowned company of dancer-illusionists led by Moses Pendleton, is celebrated for its stunning fusion of movement, light, and illusion. Students experienced a Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL)-aligned performance that connected dance with science, visual art, and physical expression—broadening their understanding of how the arts intersect with education. For many, the highlight was a post-show Q&A session with the performers, offering a rare and exciting chance to engage directly with international touring artists.

The performance of MOMIX was made possible thanks to generous corporate support from Schewel Home and Bank of the James. In addition, funding from the Al Stroobants Foundation directly enabled us to offer this dynamic and engaging student field trip opportunity.

Later in the month, our Academy Youth Theatre program brought magic to the stage with a full-scale production of Disney’s Alice in Wonderland. This beloved program invites young people from across Central Virginia to take part in a professional-style theatre experience, from audition to final curtain call. Through guided instruction in acting, movement, choreography, and stagecraft, students gain valuable performance skills while building confidence, teamwork, and creative expression.

At the heart of the Academy Youth Theatre is a deep commitment to access. Thanks to generous donors and corporate sponsors—including Foster Fuels, IWT, and Runk & Pratt—the Academy offers tuition assistance to ensure that no child is turned away due to financial barriers. Dozens of students participated in Alice in Wonderland this season through our Tuition Access program—ensuring that all young artists have the opportunity to learn, grow, and shine on stage.

This spring also marked the launch of the Young Storytellers: Script to Stage program at Amelon Elementary School in Amherst County, reinforcing our mission to expand rural arts access.

The program paired 5th grade students with trained college-age mentors who guided them through a 10-week journey of writing their own original plays. With the support of Centra and Financial Designs, the Academy was honored to be the first organization to bring this dynamic program to Virginia.  Suzanne Halka led this program as the Head Mentor. She is a seasoned teaching artist, director, and youth mentor with a strong background in theatre education and community engagement. Under her thoughtful guidance, students explored their creativity, found their voices, and saw their words come to life—performed by professional actors in a culminating staged reading. For many participants, it was their first time seeing their ideas fully realized on stage.