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Talent scout talks at studio
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Neighbors | Chelsea Weikart .Chloe Klotz, 14, of Canfield, turned in a bio of herself to New York talent scout Peter Sklar after listening to his lecture "Getting Started in the Arts".
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Neighbors | Chelsea Weikart .Peter Sklar, New York talent scout spoke to a room of about 30 parents and students who were interested in becoming professional entertainers.
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Neighbors | Chelsea Weikart .Peter Sklar, New York talent scout speaks to a room of about 30 parents and students who are interested in becoming professional entertainers.
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Neighbors | Chelsea Weikart .Ruth's Dance and Fitness Co. students prepared for a personal interview with talent scout Peter Sklar after hearing him speak on how to get started in the arts. He recommended they drink plenty of water before the interview.
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Neighbors | Chelsea Weikart .Ruth Smrek-Balestra, owner and founder of the 24-year-old dance and fitness studio, Ruth's Dance and Fitness Co., talked with New York talent scout Peter Sklar about her students and their high levels of dedication.
By CHELSEA WEIKART
New York talent scout Peter Sklar, credited with launching the careers of stars like Sarah Jessica Parker and Reese Witherspoon, came to Ruth’s Dance and Fitness Co. May 19 to speak to students about how to be what talent scouts are looking. Many of the studio’s students and their mothers attended the lecture, titled “Getting Started in the Arts: everything you need to know in 90 minutes,” followed by an interview with Sklar to determine if he was interested in helping any of the children.
Sklar travels around the country giving talks to students who desire stardom. This is his second time speaking at Ruth’s and said coming back to speak somewhere a second time is rare.
“Ruth’s is not one of these competition and money-hungry store front operations. She’s here for good, this is what she does,” said Sklar.
He said many dance studios are concentrated on the competitions more than the dancer. He doesn’t return to those studios.
Ruth Smrek-Balestra, owner of the studio, was excited about Sklar coming for a second time. Four years ago after he spoke, she said she saw her students blossom because of the advice he gave them.
Some of the students who attended the workshop had seen Sklar four years ago. Laurie Klotz brought her 14-year-old daughter Chloe of Canfield back after Sklar told her she had promise. Klotz said Sklar seems abrasive, but he gets his point across. She has been bringing Chloe to Ruth’s since she was 5, and says it’s the best dance studio they found.
“Ruth is amazing, she is a wonderful influence on the kids and teaches them life lessons that are invaluable,” said Klotz.
Sklar spoke on health, relationships and emotional well-being to the students, and gave them tips on what an interview for Broadway or a feature film would be like. His dry and blunt speaking style and humor was surprising to some parents, but Sklar said this style is how he would have hoped to be talked to as a teenager.
“I talk to you the way I would have been reached as a teen. That’s how I honor the teen in me that was lost,” said Sklar. “Now you know more than 97 percent of the most experienced performers in Hollywood.”
Sklar is a graduate of Julliard.