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Stepping it up

Dance instructor, performer growing talent in county

Growing up, Angela Morando-Taylor developed the desire to pursue professional performance as her lifelong career.

Raised in Sugar Grove, Angela is a 1995 graduate from Eisenhower High School. Considering herself fortunate to have the unwavering support of her parents, Jean and Richard Morando. Her parents successfully raised two children in the arts: Angela in performance art, and her brother, Dan who works in film and television in Los Angeles. In an exciting family update, Angela's nephew is set to marry Miley Cyrus -- yes, you read that correctly!

Full of a community of people that cared, Angela proudly stated, "I believe that growing up in Sugar Grove, is the reason for my success."

Saying that she learned about hard work, accountability and resilience, Angela also shared how her parents taught her that failure is just a learning tool to keep moving forward.

"Always knowing that I had them in my corner made it possible for me to really spread my wings."

After taking a gap year between high school and college, Angela wasn't sure she could measure up, coming from a small town. But she decided to audition for the Phoenix Suns' dance team, and although she was not selected, she made it from 500 down to the last 12 girls auditioning. "That was the confirmation I was looking for, I was hooked! That audition process was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life but it reinforced the value of hard work but also taught me that you can learn something from every disappointment," Angela said.

Coker College in South Carolina is where Angela went next to study concert dance but during her studies there she broke both of her feet and was not expected to recover. Despite being told she would never dance again, Angela couldn't envision a life without dance and, after almost a year of recovery, was dancing again as soon as she could.

Angela's journey then took her to the competitive ballroom circuit where she soon realized that the ultra-competitive nature of that format was not for her.

"Art is subjective so I get a little bit confused when we're competing in it."

Competitive dance just was not joyful to her, and the decision to move permanently into musical theatre was then made. This medium gave Angela the chance to get back to what she really enjoyed the most -- performing. She then performed professionally in dozens of shows in the South Florida theatre scene before gradually moving into professional choreography as the years of injuries and exertion gradually caught up with her.

After retiring from performing, Angela began working as a professional theatre and dance consultant in theatre departments in three high schools in Palm Beach County, Fla. This was an experience that changed her life because she soon discovered an ability to connect with students and entered a new phase of her career. Angela worked at several schools in the South Florida area, sometimes working on four shows at once. Working with several schools with ambitious directors, she helped grow their programs. High school theatre in Florida is a serious art form with budgets in the six-figure range and the standard of shows is almost professional.

Angela thrived on the required high standards. Identifying a need for more focused and intense training, she began holding supplemental lessons which grew quickly until she had several dozens of students. Over her years in Florida, Angela also worked on several professional shows and was nominated for and won many awards such as the prestigious Carbonell.

In 2006, Angela met her husband Michael Taylor while attending Camp Lindenmere, a summer camp in the Poconos. While Angela was the head of the dance department, Michael was the head of the climbing program. Michael was working as a film studies lecturer at Edgehill University in England and in his spare time there he was an outdoor instructor and climbing guide prior to taking the summer job at the camp. After spending the summer together, Michael returned to England but soon came back to the USA in 2007 where he began teaching at a high school in Florida.

After getting married in 2008, Angela's teaching and choreography career grew. To accommodate the needs of so many students, Angela and Michael built a dance floor in the garage of their house, but the number of students soon grew beyond what they could realistically handle. In early 2020, Angela took out a lease on her own studio space named Taylor Made Dance and Theatre, or TMDT as the students soon called it.

Excited to embark on this new phase, Angela received the keys to her new space on March 15, and they were closed the very next day due to COVID. Despite not being able to host classes at her new space, Angela persevered. Holding online classes and paying rent on a space she could not occupy, covid seemed to spell the end of TMDT before it even got going. Despite the challenges, parents were begging her not to close the doors as it was one of the few safe places for their children to go to have their own space with the freedom to engage, interact and find their full potential. Angela and Michael were both acutely aware of the detrimental effects of lockdown on their students and did their best to keep the studio going as long as they could, but the personal and financial pressures took a toll on them and their children. Additionally, the changes in her industry that covid had brought about meant that eventually a move became necessary. In the summer of 2022, the Taylors relocated to Angela's hometown of Sugar Grove.

Michael began teaching at Eisenhower High School, where their two children, Eva and Alexander also attend. In their first year in Pennsylvania, Angela attempted to keep TMDT going in Florida, flying back and forth teaching and choreographing shows, but soon the lack of time with her family and pressures caught up with her and she began preparing to leave Florida behind permanently.

Michael began teaching English and Social Studies at Eisenhower, and also became the school's varsity boys soccer coach. During the interview with the couple, he explained how various ways of expression can come out in different directions and how he believes teaching and coaching all rely on relationships between teachers and students. Having worked with children with special needs, Michael felt that sometimes those children get left behind because people tend to dismiss them. Willing to put in the extra time, he aims to harness any child's desire to reach their full potential, saying that it's a matter of finding an approach that works.

Angela involved Michael for shows with dialect coaching and he also taught Shakespeare classes. Helping students understand Shakespeare led to more classes in creativity. Using innovative techniques to help students understand and intermix literature and art, Michael would have students match painting with music along with creating a story, dance and interpretation. He believes that the illustrated exposure should be presented in a way that young students can understand dance, art and all of the mediums. "Students are often resistant to things they don't understand," he said. By focusing on stripping away the baggage that comes with things like Shakespeare, art and poetry and focusing on the story itself, Michael says his students often find an appreciation they never knew was possible. He added, "What you understand, you appreciate."

Angela declared her admiration for her husband by saying, "Honestly the way that I look at Michael, and I am not just saying it because I am his wife, but he is probably one of the best teachers I've ever met. Really, really exceptional at what he does, which in itself (teaching) is actually a dying art right now."

She continued, "Michael takes something complicated, such as Shakespeare and finds ways to teach it in such a way that helps students understand and relate to the stories."

Over the past two summers, he taught Shakespeare classes at the Warren County Summer Music School (WCSMS) and will offer classes at TMDT beginning this fall. Since classes are based on the needs and interests of the students, Michael will also teach film making and creative writing which were also popular at WCSMS. Angela has also taught three summers there and has introduced the students to her style of teaching musical theatre, dance and costume design.

With over 20 years of teaching experience, the couple sees so much potential in the area. They also recognize the fact that many children need to be encouraged to explore the arts at a deeper level while also keeping it fun. Recognizing the potential in students here and seeing an opportunity to apply her unique approach, Angela began holding dance classes at the Warren YMCA, where she was welcomed and provided a space for her theatre dance classes. Angela said that across the board, the YMCA was one of the most supportive places in wanting TMDT to succeed.

Angela shared, "I believe in collaborative works. When you collaborate, you get the best product. It's about showing to families and parents and kids that there are real jobs in the industry, but they just don't know what they are."

The importance of networking is essential for performance artists. Having taught many successful artists who now work in New York and Los Angeles is one way that Angela can plug career minded individuals to those already in the business. Several of Angela's former students have made their way on Broadway shows, tours, cruises, and more. In addition, several of them come to teach at the Warren studio during their down time. They want to give back because it's where they got their start. In addition, Angela happens to have an aunt (also a Warren County native) who owns the Wick Theater as well as "Costume World," the largest costume store in the country with the largest collection of Broadway costume wear in America. Angela believes that her various contacts in the industry can help Warren County performing arts realize its potential.

Passionate about just what the arts can do, Angela spoke in particular about a student in Florida who had been mistreated causing a very timid personality in this young person. By the end of the four years, Angela noticed the growth, maturity and an ability in the student where an amazing talent blossomed.

"What saved those kids -- was the arts. Horrible stuff going on at home. A safe environment to escape was given to them," said Angela.

Michael added, "We pride ourselves on it being fun and enjoyable; nurturing and creative and constructive, but there is a way of teaching that doesn't involve breaking students down, it’s more about building them up."

Angela remarked, "You get more."

Meaning that the freedom of creative expression, when the opportunity to tap it open arises, can unlock an underlying potential, making it priceless.

They've seen students that are excellent at their performance but they lack expression and emotion. They believe it's part of their job to help students develop an appreciation. Believing that teaching and coaching the arts can both produce a high level of ability along with having fun and being kept accountable, the couple help students find joy in their art. Along the way, they cannot help but notice the overall growth in the character of the students.

TMDT went from four students that first year while set up at the YMCA to 25 students the very next year, and 35 the following year, which ultimately led to the need for the current studio on 2nd Avenue. Their hope is to attract many more students for the upcoming dance year.

Always encouraging improvement, there are performance shows in both the winter and spring, showcasing an all-inclusive experience like no other. Families get to see what their children have worked on all year long.

For Angela and Michael, dance and theatre is an art. The spirit of what they do is centered on this statement, "It's a company of people working together to achieve a fun collaborative art form as well as assist with the future careers of those seeking the performance arts as a profession."

Michael added, "If kids have focus and drive, and put the time in, this is the place for them."

"There are kids that don’t feel special and it bothers me," said Angela. "Every human is special and it's just finding out what your special thing is, and where it lies. It is the one thing I really want to bring here."

Angela says that her professional performance experiences taught her the value of collaboration. She said, "At TMDT, the ensemble is just as important as the leads if you want to have a great show."

Open to joining forces with other local musical talents, Angela would love to collaborate with people who are like minded. Viewing her role as a launchpad into young artists' futures, Angela has many connections to New York, Los Angeles and Florida, so the networking is already available.

"I've moved from chorus girl, to dance captain, to choreographer, to educator, to studio owner. It took a lot of work...a lot," said Angela. She also keeps in close contact with several former students who are enjoying great success in the industry, and it reminds her of the impact she has had on past students' lives. She wants that for Warren and said, "Warren has a good history of producing performing arts talent, and I want to help continue that tradition."

"An important part of our ethos is collaboration with the community as well," said Michael.

They believe that building rapport with families and the children is essential and would like to have the parents involved, whether it is to visit and watch a class, have a coffee or even join an adult class. Their studio space includes an area for parents to relax and socialize and is welcome to anyone who wants to just stop by and sample the TMDT atmosphere.

An open house will take place on Aug. 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

TMDT offers classes for all ages and a full schedule for the fall is posted on their website: taylormadedanceandtheatre.com They also have an active facebook page and can be reached at 561-908-3816. Taylor Made Dance and Theatre Studio is located 314 Second Ave., Warren.