Since its creation in 2014, the Pace School of Performing Arts (PPA) has been a leader in producing top talent, with its graduates widely represented in the film, TV, theater, and dance industries.
When the program launched within Pace”™s Dyson College of Arts and Sciences nearly two decades ago, it was Manhattan”™s first new performing arts school in almost half a century. Today, in keeping with its long tradition of innovation and in recognition of the rapidly evolving industry, PPA is getting its own stand-alone identity: The Sands College of Performing Arts.
“The Sands College of Performing Arts will be a path-setting performing arts college for the 21st century that leverages the vast creative resources of New York City to educate and inspire a new generation of diverse artists and arts leaders,” said Pace President Marvin Krislov.
Sands College ”“ the seventh school and college within Pace University – will commence with the 2023-24 academic year, enrolling its inaugural class this fall. It is named in recognition of a $25 million gift from Rob and Pamela Sands, J.D. ”™84, and comes as Pace is transforming its campus in Lower Manhattan ”“ One Pace Plaza ”“ to include a state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center.
The arts center will have three new venues. It will feature the latest technology and be supported by scene and costume shops, dressing rooms, rehearsal rooms, green rooms, public spaces, and dance studios.
“We”™re thinking about where the industry is now, and where we”™re like to see it be in the future, ensuring our students are the changemakers and the leaders it needs ”“ that”™s why these new spaces are so important,” said Sands College of Performing Arts Executive Director Jennifer Holmes, Ph.D.
Jo Jo Carmichael, who graduated Pace in 2022 with a BFA in Commercial Dance, said she”™s excited about the new performing arts college at her alma mater and the opportunities it presents for future students.
“Pace Performing Arts is so incredible,” she exclaimed. “There are so many people working in the industry who graduated from there.”
Carmichael, an Alabama native, is currently in rehearsal for the national touring production of MJ the Musical. Prior to that, she did the out-of-towns for The Devil Wears Prada musical and was a New York City Rockette for two seasons. She credits the education and experience she received at Pace for helping to set her on the path to success in a highly competitive yet rewarding field.
“Just the Rockettes alone, if you look at the Christmas spectacular cast from 2022, there will at least 10 of us on that one job, if not more,” Carmichael recalled. “Not just commercial dancers, but actors, stage managers ”“ to have all those people from one college on one contract together is huge.”
