Rebecca Droke, Post-Gazette "All I Ask of You," from Andrew Lloyd Weber's The Phantom of the Opera during the Arena's Dance Centre recital, "New York New York," Friday at Cornell Education Center in Coraopolis.

By By Jane Vranish, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A New York City skyline is being erected on the auditorium stage at Cornell Educational Center. Oblivious to the activity behind them, a group of women tap away, twirling their pink parasols while Gene Kelly croons "Singin' in the Rain."

It's rehearsal week for Arena's Dance Centre at Cornell Educational Center's auditorium, and owner Adrianne Arena-Jacobs has been there since 11 a.m.

It's now 8 p.m. and she shows no signs of slowing down.

Clad in a black-and-pink T-shirt with the "New York, New York" recital theme logo, Ms. Arena-Jacobs, 43, proudly notes that the adult women tapping and twirling on the stage had only begun taking classes that year. Then she moves on to the scenery, including the familiar sights like the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, which has yet to be draped with twinkle lights.

"We like splashy," the petite dancer notes with a twinkle in her own eye.

In her 13th year of business, Ms. Arena-Jacobs has 400 students and seven instructors at her current Moon location and plans to open a new two-story facility later this summer. The building will quadruple the space with three studios, a dance wear store, a lobby, a teachers' lounge and a party room.

Parties are big at Arena's, where the operative word is "fun." But this fun sometimes has its price. Even Ms. Arena-Jacobs admits, "I don't sleep. It's hard to turn my brain off."

She worked overtime to schedule this summer's workshops, which include nine week-long classes with themes such as "High School Musical," "Cheetah Girls," "Princess," "Fun in the Sun" and "Whodunnit?" That doesn't include the birthday party options ("Hip Hop Birthday Bash," "Ballerina Ball," etc.) and the regular classroom technique classes.

In addition to creative talents honed at Point Park University, Ms. Arena-Jacobs finds inspiration for her ideas from her twins Kent and Nikki, 8, and daughter Brooke, 6.

Following her education at Point Park, the Moon native went to New York to perform and spent five years on the road. But she was pulled back home, where she established her school and a family.

During recital week last week, the dance center virtually took over Cornell, with stage rehearsals for each class on Monday and Tuesday, and then dress rehearsals for each of the three performances.

Friday night's performance found New York City complete, with a stop light and street signs accenting the black and white buildings. An array of colored lights played upon white fabric that extended upward like an Art Deco version of a rising sun.

The show begins and ends with "One" from "A Chorus Line." In between, 15 "Broadway Babies" trot on with their frills and finery to a big cheer from the audience. Other routines get in a "New York Groove" or take on "Central Park." Ms. Arena-Jacobs also includes a slide presentation of her eight graduating seniors. Although she enjoys all of her students, this is a special group, because "these are the girls that started with me."

	Rebecca Droke, Post-Gazette Dancers perform "Diamonds" during the Arenas Dance Centre recital Friday at Cornell Educational Center in Coraopolis. Click photo for larger image.

The rest of the recital focus is on the school's dance company, which will be heading to Disneyland this summer for Magic Music Days. With more than 40 members ranging from age 8 to 18, these students take their dance seriously. On top of extra rehearsals, they perform at community events, nursing homes and malls in addition to theme parks. Divided into six groups, they accounted for more than half of the routines Friday night.

Far from the hustle and bustle of New York, this is a decidedly casual atmosphere for a recital, where Ms. Arena-Jacobs' accent on family and fun is readily apparent. The tiny tots are led on and off the stage in full view, but their relaxed comfort level with the audience extends to members of the dance company.

It's easy to see where they get it when the teaching staff takes the stage for its number, set to Liza Minnelli's rendition of "Bye, Bye Blackbird." Choreographed in the hip-twisting, finger-popping style of Bob Fosse, the teachers obviously know how to enjoy the moment.

But as the curtain comes down, there is no time to rest. The wheels are already turning as workshops begin. And, says Ms. Arena-Jacobs, "My brain's already on the next recital as soon as the curtain closes."