By Raina Hanna, Special to The Commercial Appeal

JULIE KNOWLES describes the focus of the new Collierville Arts Academy as teaching the romantic arts. While many classes center on technical instruction in ballet, music and fencing, students are also taught the history, proper terminology and important contributors of each area.

Knowles previously owned and operated the Memphis Dance Theatre with her husband Tom. They closed the school in 2002 after the birth of their third child to pursue positions that gave them more free time. However, when they saw a studio perfect for their needs for sale in Collierville the situation was too good to pass up. Not only was the building suited to them but the location was a big draw.

"Collierville is such a growing area with so many families moving in," she said.

Many of Tom Knowles' fencing students had previously traveled into Memphis from Germantown and Collierville to attend his classes and he estimates there are more people in these areas who are interested in the sport.

Both of the Knowles are well trained and respected in their subject areas. Tom Knowles, founder of the Greater Memphis Fencers Club, has been teaching the Olympic sport of fencing to a wide variety of ages and levels. An adjunct professor of fencing at the University of Memphis, he also teaches continuing education fencing courses and is a member of the United States Fencing Association and the United States Fencing Coaches Association. He estimates he has taught more than 1,500 people how to fence in the Mid-South area over the past 12 years. He also holds a degree in music from the University of Memphis, has worked as a recording engineer in the music industry and live television, and has an extensive background in theater.

Stephen Rogers, a senior at Collierville High School, and his father Rick Rogers have been taking classes with Knowles for three years and have become quite skilled in the sport.

"It's really safer than soccer or football," Rick Rogers said.

"And I get to hit him," Stephen joked.

Fencers adhere to strict safety rules, wearing steel-mesh face masks, thick denimlike jackets, protective gloves, and other safety apparel. "The goal of what we do is not to hit or hurt but to touch the other person. In fact, a person is more likely to get injured playing soccer, football, or hockey than they would in fencing," he said.

Knowles teaches a variety of fencing skills from using a foil -- a light, swift, piercing weapon -- to the sabre, which was used by cavalry soldiers with thrusting and slashing motions.

Both the Rogerses find fencing a good fitness sport and stress reliever. They have progressed to the level that they now compete in regional tournaments where points are awarded, in part, using electronic sensors worn on the body and at the tip of the weapon.

"The sport is not about force or strength. It's more about finesse, timing and accuracy. It can be very fast or slow, depending upon who is fencing. What matters most is how quickly you can think on your feet," Knowles said, adding that he teaches men, women, and children ages 8 and older.

It's not uncommon to see fencing taught with dance, although the Knowles admits it's more of a rarity in this part of the country.

"You'll often find fencing at ballet schools. One of the reasons is a lot of the classical ballets like 'Romeo and Juliet' have fencing in them. Who could forget the fighting scenes in that," Julie Knowles said.

These art forms seem to be disappearing from local public schools at a time when many children need this type of kinetic instruction, she said.

"I see children with AD/HD and dyslexia that excel in these classes. They discover great self-confidence and discipline," she said.

Knowles, a native Memphian, began her formal training with the Bischoff-Carroll Dance Centre and Memphis Ballet under the direction of Michael and Judy Tevlin and Chicago jazz great Gus Giordano. She has performed professionally through the Southeast region with classical ballet companies including Memphis Ballet, Tennessee Ballet, Classical Ballet Memphis, Lafayette Festival Ballet, Huntsville Ballet, Birmingham Ballet and others. She has also held roles in several theme park shows, industrials, television commercials and movies.

Many of the thousands of Mid-South students she has trained have been accepted into some of the country's most prestigious classical summer study programs and company apprentice programs including Boston Ballet, Joffery Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet, North Carolina School of the Arts, Virginia School for the Arts, Houston Ballet.

She also stresses the use of proper technology and fundamentals rather than focusing on limited skills like those needed to get through a recital or competition.

In addition to dance and fencing, the Knowles offer preschool tumbling, karate, body sculpting and conditioning, kickboxing, guitar and piano lessons. Active in the home-schooling community, the Knowles offer day classes convenient for home-schoolers that satisfy humanities credits.