Rosena Hill performs at ODA

Aidan Dowdy wasn't prepared for the wake-up call he was about to receive Jan. 20 in the Out-of-Door Academy's Thunderdome.

Within seconds of concert soloist Rosena Hill smiling at Dowdy, a senior at ODA, Hill had him up off the bleachers and dancing with her in the middle of the gym in front of the entire high school student body.

"It definitely woke me up," Dowdy said, laughing. "It was fun, but I'm not a great dancer."

Hill, a former student of ODA's lower school on Siesta Key, visited ODA today to perform a few songs from the Broadway and other productions of which she has been a part throughout her career.

Now a mother of 11-month-old Adabella, Hill sang pieces from "Come Fly Away,""American Songbook" and other productions and compilations.

She interacted with the students by answering their questions about her career and her favorite shows.

"'After Midnight' and 'Ragtime' are probably my favorites, but they're all special," Hill said.

She also made a stop at her alma mater in Sarasota, to perform for students there, too.

"When I was growing up, people would come in and talk to us about their occupations," Hill said. "To see and here what is possible is so special. I'm giving back what those people gave to me."