Meet Ari and Paula Powell | Business Owners, Music, Dance, and Theater Instructors, Parents

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ari and Paula Powell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ari and Paula, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
To us, taking risk is a test of faith. Without stepping out on a limb and taking on the risk of failure in order to obtain or achieve something greater, than we will continue to helplessly remain as background characters in a fairytale where witches, ghosts, and wolves appear. It is only the characters, like Cinderella, in those fairy tales that take on the risk to remain kind and loving in the face of ridicule and unjust shame from a wicked stepmother and stepsisters, and then poor out their discontents and unmet needs to a high power and then they receive that power to achieve and the before perceived impossible. Learning to take risk and trust in God who we look to as our higher power had made all the difference. We’ve learned that it is common to be pushed to the farthest that we think we can go, and it just doesn’t seem like things will work out, but, then miraculously everything we need is suddenly provided and things work out.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
“Art has little meaning unless it inspires us to change.” This quote sums up what we are about at Powell Performing Arts, and it is what makes us different from other music, dance, and theater schools. Technique is important and we teach excellent high level techniques. However, technique only gives you an exquisite and refined vocabulary. That vocabulary is of little use unless it is tied to communication or change. We strive to help our students awaken to the artistry that lies within them. To become agents of action rather than well trained cattle that can do what a drill Sargent shouts out at them. We encourage and teach critical thinking and problem solving in everything we do and encourage our students to take the tools they are learning in class into their daily lives. Our goal as educators is to inspire a thirst for learning in our students, so that they want to to learn more on their own. We got where we are today by listening to that still small voice they leads to all things good and taking swift action when we hear a prompting. We have learned that we need help to make our business function and serve the community in the capacity we desire. We have learned a lot about being humble enough to ask for help. We have learned it’s important to set aside time to be at home with family and not become too overwhelmed by future aspirations. Slow to grow is good. We want the world to know that each one us as individuals have something unique and important to share with unique missions fulfill. Don’t let the cycle of fear hold you back from taking the risk you know you should have taken yesterday!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Nature, neighbors, family. These are by far the best places and people to visit in the area. Georgia is so luscious and beautiful. It has been such a joy visiting and getting ready I know all the things that grow in our yard as well as in our parks and forests. The neighbors are so kind and everyone has such an amazing life story to share. Spending quality time with family and really hearing and listening to each other is my favorite itinerary as those conversations can take you to exciting places you never thought to go.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
“Art has little meaning unless it inspires us to change.” I remember my Theater teacher, Bob Bauer in Provo Utah would always say very wise snippets like this quote. We are so very proud to have permission from him to use his quote as our motto at Powell Performing Arts! While there are a long list of very inspirational teachers, mentors, neighbors, and family members that have helped and encouraged us in our journey I wanted to hit on something that Bob Bauer taught me that has driven and inspired almost all we do in our business. I remember him teaching our loud and often obnoxious drama class about the importance of the arts. He would say that as artists we were duty bound to become seers of our community, nation, and world around us. To see the good, the bad, the ugly, and nasty problems. But seeing was only part of the duty. As artists we were also duty bound to create art that would help our audiences awaken and see those things, and where possible to suggest solutions to those problems and inspire change through the medium of our art form. Entertainment is cheap and fleeting, but true art causes us to think deeply. It stirs something with us moving us to want to be better, and see the world of our new eyes. I am grateful that my drama teacher cared enough to speak from his heart about the arts.

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