Character & Leadership at the FOA

At The Foundation of Arts, we believe the greatest gift we can give the artistic community is a dancer and artist who not only has a broad knowledge and strong technique, but who can apply those talents in a spirit of confidence, compassion, and a commitment to community service.

Dance can be a powerful tool for developing individual character. The process of learning dance and performance teaches our students to set goals, to work effectively in teams, to creatively solve problems, and a host of other important attributes.

Theatre-done-well is the essence of unity and character building.  Storytelling in collaboration and partnership with an audience teaches teamwork, sincerity, problem-solving, and creativity.  Many life lessons are experienced and learned through participation and growth in theatre.

And the beauty of creating an evolving piece of visual art can inspire and uplift the soul.  Learning the techniques of visual art creates an appreciation for the detail of beauty and growth.

We recognize that only a small percentage of our students will become professional artists…while all of them will become professional people!  At The FOA, we are committed to helping our students and our volunteers become the most successful people possible.

Students who have completed a fundamentals program at The FOA Arts Center and are accepted for additional training are considered part of the “Leadership” team.

We charge our leadership team with the responsibility to guard the positive culture that we’ve built at the FOA. Team members wear the word “leadership” on their uniform and are expected to demonstrate the leadership principles in their behavior on and off the floor and the stage and to be an example to newer students.

Those who most successfully demonstrate the principles in their individual practice are given opportunities to further develop their skill through assistant teaching, further performance, and other leadership development experiences.

Each month we focus on a specific leadership principle and explore how applying that skill enhances our artistic practice and our success in social, academic, professional, and family life.

Goal-Setting Discipline Creativity Integrity Self-Esteem Knowledge Compassion Communication Responsibility Loyalty Community Service Teamwork