After performing in Kinkaid musicals and dance company as a student to later touring the world professionally on an international tour of “West Side Story,” Mr. Ashton Lambert, ‘18, brought his indispensable knowledge of the arts back to Kinkaid.
Mr. Ashton Lambert started his journey at Kinkaid at age 4, tagging along with his parents, Mr. Scott Lambert, director of Visual and Performing Arts, and Mrs. Kate Lambert, Upper School English teacher and department head.
“I did all the plays, all the musicals, all the dance concerts while I was here,” Mr. Ashton Lambert said.
After graduating from Otterbein University, he landed a role in the world tour of “West Side Story,” playing Big Deal, a member of the Jets, and serving as an understudy for the role of Action, a member of the Jets with a bad temper.
He said the stress related to these big performances and jobs he has worked on has been undeniably helped by his education at Kinkaid.
“It’s a 14-year mission to try and figure out how to manage stress,” Mr. Ashton Lambert said.
He returned to Kinkaid for the week to teach both Middle School and Upper School dance classes. He taught everything from a condensed version of his pre-show warm-up to complicated choreography from Broadway’s “West Side Story.”
He also taught the men’s dance class.
“We did some more one-on-one specific training because a lot of these guys have never danced with other men before,” he said.
He provided his expertise in the casting for Kinkaid’s upcoming musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.”
After living in the world outside Kinkaid for the last few years, Mr. Ashton Lambert said he wanted Kinkaid students to realize just how lucky they are for their arts facilities.
“You’d be hard-pressed to find a theater that is prettier than the Brown Auditorium,” he said.
His advice to his students was to not give up even though he is a professional teaching difficult dance moves and choreography.
“It’s important to have fun with it,” he said. “Continue dancing in your room or car or shower.”
