New Performing Arts School Strives to Produce Excellence

Stating that he is “dedicated to bringing the arts to the community” Rickey Payton kicked off the opening of his latest venture, the Urban Nation Performing Arts Academy on Fenton St. in downtown Silver Spring. The school features classes in music, dance, musical theatre and health and fitness for children, youth and adults.

Payton, director and CEO of the academy, said he has assembled instructors who are “the best of the best” in their field with many years of professional experience. The academy gets its name from the Urban Nation H.I.P. H.O.P. Choir, founded nearly 20 years ago with Dr. Sheila Johnson Newman, co-founder of BET, and Payton.

The choir serves as a creative mentor to youth, according to Payton, and has performed with celebrities and dignitaries in the Washington D.C. area and other cities throughout the country. “I have always wanted to have a place that would encourage young people to be in a positive atmosphere and be creative,” Payton said, “the academy will be a great place for them to get started.”

Although the Urban Nation Academy has a number of classes for young people, Glenn Pearson, one of the deans of the music department at the academy, encourages adults to come in to reconnect with an instruments from their past. “Many people have played instruments, or have sung in a choir or group when they were young,” he said, “now is the time for them to pick up that instrument or start singing with again.”

Modern dance teacher Neil Whitehead said that he is eager to get started with the academy. Whitehead has just returned to the area after spending more than 16 years perfecting his craft in Europe and Australia.  “Everything has come full circle for me,” he said, “I want the Washington metropolitan area to become a mecca for all areas of dance.”

And for those who are very early risers, LaToya Morton will be teaching a fitness boot camp beginning at 5:15 am each week. “Not only will we have a workout, but I will educate participants on how to keep the weight off,” she said, “It is my job to educate my students on preventative measures, Morton said.

There will also be intensive sessions on artist development for aspiring musicians and singers according to Payton. “We will give instruct our students on how to handle the business side of the industry,” he said.

He added that he is pleased to be a part of the revitalization of the downtown area of the city.  The building located on Fenton Street went through extensive renovations in order to have state-of-the-art facilities for students. “I hope the Urban Nation Academy will be a great asset to Silver Spring and Montgomery County,” he said.