Students can experience New York City without even leaving Bel Air this weekend.

On May 5, at 7:00 p.m., students can catch a cab to “A Tribute to New York,” the first annual Academy of Performing Arts and Dance performance right at JC.

The performance will follow the plot of a school teacher taking students to see the sights and sounds of New York City.

Sophomore Madison Meyer is enrolled in the academy.

“To move the story along, [the musical theater class] has short scenes and narrations along with duets and smaller songs, which are. . . totally different from the big, chorus numbers,” she said.

To help accommodate all of the numbers, there will be a performance of just that class on May 3, at 7:30 p.m.

According to musical theater class teacher Julie Parrish, “we started some of the numbers as early as when we first started [last fall].  We’ve been adding on since then.”

“I’m really excited to perform my tap and jazz numbers along with the musical theaters in the big show, but the musical theater showcase will be great because there will also be acting,” Meyer said.

“[The first annual Academy performance] is going to be great. . . I hope the parents of the nearly 70 students enrolled will be pleased with their children’s progress and re-enroll for next year,” Brueggemann said.

Changes are already in the works for next year.  35 students from ages six to 16 will be enrolling for the next year, so considerations for splitting into two classes are being taken.

Additionally, “we are contemplating adding lyrical dance,” Brueggemann said.

“My hope is that the numbers will grow and the Academy will become the first place people come for dance and performing arts in Harford Country,” Brueggemann said.

Brianna Glase is a Managing Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com