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bility through stretching, finding the beat, and learning the ‘8’ count. We play an array of games that combine a “dance like no one is watching” philosophy with exercises that work on beat identification. When the boys enter Third Grade they are ready to start building on the ‘8’ count by learning basic choreographed combinations.
rope opened on February 28th. The show was designed by a dream team of upper school students under the masterful direction of Ms. Stacy Donovan. This collaboration between theater and dance from the Middle to Upper School has produced an aesthetic throwback of style and swagger. The ASDC was excited to welcome twelve rookies this winter season. Joining the group from the Fifth Grade were Teddy Friedman, Connor Bird, Jonathan Harris, Brandon Amplo, Stuart Harris, Ryan Claffey, Xander Peterson, Jason Kreloff, Jack Posner, Jonathan Katz, Derrick Simmons, and Fallou Babou. We were very proud to welcome back veterans Vince Cone, Henry Liu, Bryan Nicholson, Matthew Demmler, Kathan Mally, Max Watson, and dance captains, Alex Mercurio and Nicholas Silberman.
In Middle School, an A-S boy begins what we would think of as "formal" dance training. Basic ballet technique is introduced throughout the warm up in an effort to help the development of hip flexibility and ankle strength. Each student is expected to master across-thefloor traveling combinations throughout the year in the hope of increasing balVince Cone ’14, Henry Liu ’14 and Max Watson ’14 ance and coordinaAs dance flourishes throughout the Fifth and Sixth tion. Most importantly, the boys have class Grades, the fourth graders have organized together to every week instead of the rotation that is instiform their own fourth grade dance crew. The Fourth tuted in the Lower School. This freedom allows Grade crew will act as a preparatory program to help them to learn a combination every week and ready the boys for their ASDC auditions. The veteran gives them the opportunity to choreograph sixth graders will help mentor the fourth grade dancers their own pieces. If a Fifth or Sixth Grade boy as we work together to prepare for an end of the year discovers he has a passion for dance and wants show. I look forward to embarking on this journey. to pursue this love further, he can audition for the Allen-Stevenson Dance Crew. As the snow began to fall this January, rehearsals were heating up for the winter cast of the 2011 Allen-Stevenson Dance Crew (ASDC). Select boys from the Fifth and Sixth Grades worked tirelessly after school perfecting moves for the first show of the ASDC season. Rehearsals began in early January on a show that remained top secret until the velvet
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SPRING
2011
In my short time here at A-S I’ve managed to learn a few crucial lessons when it comes to teaching boys the art of dance. Ballet isn’t that bad if you are allowed to plié to a Michael Jackson song. Freeze dance heals all wounds. Pop culture always works. And yes, to the gentlemen of Allen-Stevenson, dance class is fun. by Kristina King