In the early '90s, Spence Ford decided it was time to leave the bright lights and dancing feet of Broadway and headed for an area known more for its supply of dairy cows.

Ford, head dance instructor for Penn State's musical theatre program, said she decided to make the move because she was pregnant with her son and didn't want to raise him in Manhattan.

"I waited so long to have a child -- I didn't want to miss the opportunity to be
a mother," Ford said. "I didn't want to miss putting him to bed at night, and being in the theater and being a mother is hard."

Now, a little more than 15 years later, Ford will have the opportunity to return to the stage, this time in State College, to perform her new act Taking Chances: A Cabaret Journey this Sunday at the Penn State Downtown Theater.

Ford said her act is inspired by her dream to put on this cabaret type of performance, and the theme is a reflection of what it's like to take chances, even if one doesn't know what the end result is going to be.

"I want to show that sometimes it's not about winning or losing but more how it helps you grow and change as a person," she said. "I've been really inspired and encouraged by some of the people here. They've been helping me out throughout this whole experience."

One such person is Mary Saunders-Barton, who heads the musical theatre's voice program. Ford said she was so inspired by Saunders-Barton's own shows she decided this was something she wanted attempt.

Saunders-Barton said she and Ford have been colleagues for seven years now, and when Ford asked her to help her with her own show, she jumped on the chance right away.

"[Ford] is the kind of person who goes out to do something, and if there's nothing there she likes, she makes her own path," Saunders-Barton said. "She's an original, and she's determined."

Saunders-Barton has been helping Ford with the vocal aspects of her show, and Ford said she feels as though she's made progress with her help.

"[Saunders-Barton] helped me tremendously with my singing. I love to sing, but that doesn't mean I always do it well," Ford said. "She's given me all kinds of advice, and her husband is actually directing the show for me."

Saunders-Barton said anyone who sees the show will see Ford in her element.

"Without giving too much away, her show is basically a reflection on her life and the things she's tried and accomplished so far," she said. "She's had a pretty damn impressive career on Broadway, and with the birth of her child and love of art, she's remarkable. Dance is who Spence Ford is, and she will never age in that sense."

Jason Sparks (freshman-musical theatre) is one of Ford's students. He said even though he's only known Ford for a year, she's done so much to help him.

"It's hard to put into words, she's helped me so much," Sparks said. "She pushes you really hard, but in a really good way. She's helped me in really discovering my dancing and body in ways I didn't know were possible."

Sparks said that he'll be front and center for Ford's show and that he believes everyone who goes to it will see how amazing she is as a performer.

"After this is over, I'm going to have the satisfaction of saying that I did it," Ford said. "And then again, there's always the possibility I'll decide I'm really not good at it, and I should leave it up to people who are better."

Sparks said the show will be a success.

"When Spence Ford dances you can't take her eyes off of her," Sparks said.