Choreographer steps it up!

Sal Canepa dances in his head — but not before he listens to the tune about a half dozen times and then, painstakingly and intricately, puts each step on paper, sometimes pushing labeled pennies around on a table to work out the formation of the dance. He then tweaks it some more until eventually (and hopefully) the amateur dancers on stage breeze through the number as if they had just thought of it themselves at the spur of the moment.
Canepa, 36, of Oceanside, is in the process of accomplishing what is the hallmark of a great choreographer — making the movements all flow so it looks beautiful, easy and breezy.
“I’m now doing one of the most challenging things of my choreographic career,” said Canepa, referring to the more than 20 numbers he is now teaching to the cast of Island Park Theatre Group’s “On Broadway — A Musical Revue,” which features full, well-known songs from 29 Broadway musicals. The show requires teaching a cast of almost 70 amateur-but-talented actors, singers and dancers how to sing and dance at the same time — certainly a challenge for many.
“I have never done this much teaching for a show,” Canepa said. “It’s just an incredible amount of preparation. When we first come together [with the cast] I already have 90 percent of the choreography on paper.”
Canepa said that he makes changes as necessary as he goes along, but frankly does not welcome too many suggestions. “I can see what is working and what isn’t. They have to trust me.”
And trust him they do. Hillary Kass Nussdorf, of Long Beach, who has directed many IPTG’s shows, started working with Canepa many years ago — and he eventually became Nussdorf’s daughter’s dance teacher at the Dance Loft in Long Beach. “I have adored him forever,” said Nussdorf. “I have literally watched him grow from a boy to a man. He is the consummate professional. He’s talented with a good work ethic and an easy-going way about him. It’s a good combination.”
Michael Giordano, 21, of Island Park, a Theater Arts major at Nassau Community College and a member of the "On Broadway" cast, credits Canepa with kickstarting his love of the stage. “Sal was the musical director for the first play that I have ever done, “Bye Bye Birdie,” at the Lincoln Orens Middle School when I moved there from Lynbrook,” Giordano said. “It was my first role, and Sal pushed me, told me that I have talent and I should pursue it ... I will always be grateful for that, and I am happy to be back working with Sal.”

On his feet — as a nurse
Canepa does have a “day job” though — and one that he loves. He has been a registered nurse for six years, working in the open heart surgery operating room at Winthrop University Hospital. “I always knew I was going to be in medicine,” he said. “This is my career. I love what I do ... it’s what I always wanted to do — dancing is my hobby.”

A hobby and a lifelong dream
“I have been dancing as long as I can remember,” said Canepa, who credits East Elementary music teacher Gloria Renz and Long Beach High School Musical Director Ed Kennedy with helping him find his way in dance and theater. He did not have any formal training in dance, however, until he was in his mid twenties when he attended an intensive theatrical summer workshop in San Jose, Calif.
Once back home, he moved to New York City and attended Brooklyn College. He did some work in television and movies, appearing as an extra in “Sex and the City,” and the NBC mini series “Witness to the Mob.” He also taught dance for eight years at the Dance Loft. He eventually worked in community theater, appearing in, among other shows, “Funny Girl,” “Brigadoon,” “Damn Yankees,” “Into the Woods,” and last summer in Hofstra University’s “42nd Street.” He also choreographed “Oklahoma” in a theater in New Hampshire and a cabaret act in Manhattan. He has acted as an assistant dance teacher in conferences across the country.
“This is the fifth show I have worked with Sal,” said “On Broadway’s” dance captain Teri Kearn, a paralegal and Merrick resident who has been dancing since she was eight years old. “He is a pleasure to work with. He can play [piano] in the pit, or do anything, really, to get the show done. He is one of the reasons that I signed on to do this show — and knowing Sal, I knew the dance moves would be challenging.”
For the months leading up to opening night, he leaves the OR, maybe stops at home, and then gets to rehearsal in the late afternoon, straight to his “hobby.”
“I have worked with [director Socci] Renee for 16 years,” said Canepa. “We’ve done a lot of shows together.” He was invited to join the board of IPTG last fall, and along with the rest of the members planned the show and selected their own favorite Broadway tunes for the cast to perform. “We narrowed the list down and then set the songs up thematically,” said Canepa. “Working with [director and assistant director] Renee and Barbra Rubin-Perry has been a treat.
“We’re all exhausted now, but the cast — and I — will get our renewed energy again the week before we open. The show really will be wonderful.”