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B a c k t o S c h o o l / M u S i c & D a n c e - S u p p l e M e n t t o t h e W i n n i p e g F r e e p r e S S - S a t u r D a y , a u g u S t 1 6 , 2 0 1 4 7 By Holli Moncrieff For the Free Press L earning to dance provides children with something that is becoming more and more rare these days — face-to-face human connection. "There are no cellphones in dance class. You're interacting with real human beings," said Shelley Shearer-Nelko of the Shelley Shearer School of Dance. "Dancing is a team endeavour. It's a way for kids to learn how to work with other humans and interact. I love technology, but kids need real interaction with real people." Enrolling children in a dance class is a smart move for many reasons, said Angele Lavergne, director of the Marquis Dance Academy. "There are so many benefits to learning dance. Dancing makes kids more aware of their bodies. It works on their co-ordination, flexibility, and confidence," she said. "I see how much kids get out of it. I see the improvement in their co-ordination, and I see their confidence rise. There's a big sense of satisfaction that comes from learning how to dance." Dancing is a great way to introduce children to the idea that physical activity can be a lot of fun. "So many kids really love to dance. Just put music on and human beings naturally want to dance. It's an expression," said Shearer-Nelko. "The majority of our younger students are kids who have expressed an interest in dance. It's an extracurricular activity — if they don't love it, they shouldn't be doing it." Both the Shelley Shearer School and the Marquis Dance Academy offer classes in a wide variety of disciplines, including ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, contemporary and modern. "Modern dance is like a Martha Graham-style of dance. It's the original type of modern dance that was introduced in the '60s. Contemporary dance is a fusion of modern and lyrical. It includes any movement that doesn't fall into any of the other categories," said Lavergne. "We're also offering Acro this year. It's very similar to gymnastics, but it's made for dancers." Children can start their education in dance early, with the Academy's Tutus for Two program or Shelley Shearer's Two's and You. Both dance studios are finding that many boys are interested in hip-hop classes. "We have more and more boys enrolling now. Usually hip hop is what gets them interested in dance initially," said Shearer. "Lots of boys tell me they wish they had danced more when they were younger." Dancing is great training for other sports, she added. "We have hockey players and football players whose fathers have sent them here to learn grace and agility. Dancing is a great way to cross train." You don't have to be an extrovert to thrive in a dance class. Lavergne said a wide range of personality types will enjoy taking lessons. "Dance is good for everybody. Dance class is just like being in school — there are the quiet kids and the not-so-quiet kids. Usually in a dance setting, the quiet kids get out of their shells a bit," she said. "Dance offers kids an opportunity to learn how to focus. It's mental training for them and every student benefits from it, no matter what kind of personality they have." When it comes to choosing the right dance lessons for your children, Lavergne suggests finding out what their interests are. "What do they talk about? Do they talk about ballet? Or hip hop? When you talk to them about dance, what are they thinking of? See where their interest lies." Both studios have impressive credentials. Shearer-Nelko was a professional dancer with Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet and has trained Lindsay Nelko, a choreographer on the Fox Network's So You Think You Can Dance. The Marquis Dance Academy has been added to Cirque du Soleil's casting call list, and has had a finalist in the Youth America Grand Prix, the world's largest student ballet scholarship competition. If your children decide they don't enjoy dance lessons, both studios will provide a refund for however many classes are left in the session. Students must cancel their lessons at the Shelley Shearer School of Dance within one month. At the Marquis Dance Academy, they have until February. "You get a full refund if they don't enjoy their classes. That hardly ever happens, though. Once they're in there, kids tend to really enjoy it," said Lavergne. "Ninety per cent of the kids who take dance fall in love with it." Fall registration begins on Aug. 6 at the Academy and on Sept. 2 at the Shelley Shearer School. For more information, please see their websites at www.marquisdance. ca and www.shelleyshearerdance.ca. www.shelleyshearerdance.ca 204.488.9091 Kenaston&Scurfield ClassesStartSeptember2nd-RegisterMondaytoSaturday SpecializedPreschoolPrograms: Two's&You(Age2) StorybookBallet(Age3) CreativeDance(Age4) PrepSteps(Age5) Ages6toAdult: Ballet,Jazz,HipHop,Tap&MusicalTheatre SoYouThinkYou CanDanceU.S. u You ou o kYo k ink h Th T ouT uT u You o SoYo Y o S hn hn Y SoY i SoYo YouThinkY nkYo You HomeofLindsayNelko,Choreographer Unit3-986LorimerBlvd 204-269-9003 We'recelebrating10yearsofdance! Comecelebratewithusatouropenhouse Monday,August25 th from6-8pm! We'recelebrating10yearsofdance! Comecelebratewithusatouropenhouse � Ballet � Jazz � Lyrical � HipHop � Tap � Ages3-Adult � Pre-SchoolPrograms � FunkyBoys � Pointe � Acro � MusicalTheatre 2 0 1 4 Voted2014 TopDanceSchool CELEBRATE WIN! Ayearofdance worth$440 WITHUSAND Students participate in a ballet class at the Marquis Dance Academy. Photo by Darcy Finley Students at Shelley Shearer School of Dance practise dance routines. Photo by Darcy Finley

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