Studio 9 Dance Academy “Cats” Performance Wows Audiences at BHS

Under the direction of Heather Campbell, Studio 9 Dance Academy’s 2025 recital, “Dancing on Broadway” was a top-notch endeavor. One hundred seventy-five young dancers – many of whom were in multiple numbers – performed the show three times last weekend at the Bridgeport High School auditorium.

The audience was so supportive of every number whether they were performed by the most graceful, seasoned dancers or tiny – and sometimes timid – preschoolers getting their first on-stage experience.

I thought the opening number was jaw dropping. Eighteen middle and high school students performed an eight-and-a-half-minute number from the famous Broadway production of “Cats” and it was unbelievable.

It was 2008 when the studio – formerly Annabel Timms School of Ballet – performed “Cats.” It became evident last year that this was the year to do it again.

“We had a demo last year and I could sort of visualize these kids doing the different characters,” said Cindy Timms Pulice. “(My jazz class) was a big group of dancers, and I really thought they had the technique and talent to do it.”

Cindy is my longtime friend, whose mom formerly owned the studio. She not only has taught various dance classes there for many years, she is also a veteran of the 1992 CATS stage show performed in Hamburg, Germany. She played the part of Rumpleteazer – acting, dancing, and singing in German.

“I taught the girls the choreography I did in Hamburg, which is pretty close to the Broadway production which my younger sister (Becky) was in,” Cindy said.

When the studio performed “Cats” 16 years ago, her own performance was still a little fresh in her mind, she said. This time around, she had her choreography notes and video to depend upon and she decided to make a few tweaks. It was decided to fill the stage with additional dancers and she also made changes to feature the current dancers’ particular talents.

The group consisted of one high school senior, one junior, three sophomores, two freshmen, six 8^th graders, four 7^th graders and one 6^th grader.

“I knew they had the capability, or we wouldn’t have tackled it,” Cindy said. “It’s so near and dear to my heart that if we couldn’t do it justice, we wouldn’t have done it.”

Upon learning the routine early this year, the girls were a little hesitant.

“Dancers are used to being told what to do, but when we’d tell them to curl down to the floor as a group – and be a cat while doing it – they were hesitant,” Cindy said. “They were dancers, but they had never been cats before.”

The improv pushed them out of their comfort zone, but as time went on, they began to own the number.

A bulletin board posted with pictures of the characters was left in the studio for inspiration. Extra practices were added. In addition to their Wednesday jazz class, the girls rehearsed on Sundays.

“And one Sunday, we had a hair and makeup session,” Heather said. “They started to really turn around when they could see themselves with their own individual makeup and wigs on.”

Even teaching the girls to put pin curls in their hair to create a good foundation for the wigs was educational.

The wigs were purchased through Etsy, but were sprayed to get the color just right. The rest of the costumes involved a lot of creativity. Unitards were colored with Sharpie and fabric markers to get just the right look for each particular cat. Jazz shoes were painted to match. Some of the tails from 2008 survived but had to be refurbished. The rest were made from cord and yarn – and lots of it. YouTube tutorials came in handy, Cindy and Heather said. But still, each costume took several hours to create and they both worked hard on that project. 

Once into costume and performing the lengthy show tune, it all came together purr-fectly. (Sorry, I couldn’t help it.) It is no doubt these girls are in good physical shape, too. The eight-plus minute number was exhausting enough, but those girls ran backstage, changed costumes and makeup, fixed hair and minutes later were back on stage. Some of them performed up to 10 different dances each recital night.

Heather said the performance was not only entertaining and heightened the girls’ confidence, but it was also inspiring to the little Studio 9 dancers.

“They enjoyed rehearsals, enthralled with the dancing and the costumes,” she said. “It was a good experience for them. They really look up to these older girls and think that one day they will be able to do that.”

And that is a perfect segue into one of my favorite things about watching these dancers year after year, seeing how they improve, grow and mature. It is like a family and generations have passed through Studio 9/Annabel Timms School of Ballet.

In fact, two of the dancers in the 2008 performance of “Cats” are now dance moms at Studio 9. Mary Kinkelaar and Morgan Athey’s young daughters were in the Beauty and the Beast number featuring preschool dancers.

The Broadway numbers gave all dancers appreciation for some classic shows.

“They all got an education with musical theatre,” Heather said. “Some had never heard of some of these plays.”

The 2025 Studio 9 cast of “Cats” included Emma Hansberry as Victoria, Collins Randolph as Bombalurina, Giulianna Lively as Demeter, Cadence Kelley as Mistoffelees, Payton Tomes as Alonzo, Rowan Burnheimer as Munkustrap, Lilly Gum as Cassandra, Grace Hansberry as Rumpleteazer, Charlee Tomes as Mungojerrie, Eliza Kinsey as Sillabub, Aaliyah Reider as Tumblebrutus, Annalena Lopez as Coricopat, Emma Hazey as Tantomile, Kinley Holcomb as Skimbleshanks, Sophie Hawkins as Pounce, Emery Sykes as Jelly and Laiklyn Henning as Jenny. 

Studio 9 Dance Academy’s next producton is the 2025 presention of “A Children’s Nucracker.” Dancers of the studio in fifth grade and above may audition for main character roles at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 27 at the studio.

Editor’s Note: Pictured above are Studio 9 “Cats” cast members as well as Cindy Timms Pulice in her 1992 role of Rumpleteazer and currently with Studio 9 cast members. Pictured just above/right is Heather Campbell – who has put her heart and soul into the studio since acquiring it – with members of her family.