Expert Contributor by Sheila Turner From the Top Dance Studio
Lessons Beyond the Classroom It is easy to spot a well-trained dancer in the crowd – the one who stands just a bit taller, shoulders back, head high and most likely an alternating stance between 2nd and 4th positions. Whether it’s in the grocery store or a neighborhood party, dancers just “know.” But not all lessons learned in the classroom are as obvious. Dancing through your youth into adulthood offers limitless amounts of benefits that extend well beyond time spent in the studio. Here are just a few:
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3603 Chapel Road, Newtown Square
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610 -353 -2623 • info@fromthetopdance.com 26
Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors
July 2019
Confidence It is estimated that 75% of the population is terrified at the thought of getting on stage for an audience or even in front of co-workers. Ask a dancer, and they’ll hop right up there with a smile! The butterflies they feel? That’s excitement, not nerves. It’s the result of countless hours of hard work and preparation for performance day. They understand that their role as a dancer is to be the bridge that connects the art to the audience.
Balance We’ve all seen those viral videos of football players dressed in tutus leaping for laughs, right? Well the truth is that dance training can significantly improve an athlete’s performance on the field. Just ask Hall-of-Famer Lynn Swan or Herschel Walker and they’ll tell you that regular ballet lessons improved their focus, flexibility, agility and balance and that more and more NFL teams are installing ballet barres for their players to stretch. According to Sports Rec, “because dance training involves the memorization and constant repetition of precise steps, it can also help athletes become more coordinated. More than that, dance classes that focus on group routines can sharpen spatial awareness, which is crucial to sports that require athletes to track a tiny ball across a playing field that's dozens of yards long.”
Inclusion A dance studio offers a very unique opportunity for students to meet and form friendships with others outside their everyday circles. Often times, students in the same class are from different schools and have different backgrounds, personalities and abilities. Throughout the dance season, teachers encourage their students to not only work together as a team, but to trust, encourage and support each other, which in the end makes for some pretty amazing performances. These valuable lessons beyond the classroom significantly benefit dancers because these concepts and skills can easily be applied to future endeavors. They will stand tall and move through life with courage, confidence, poise and acceptance. Dance truly is a gift! Sheila Turner, owner of From the Top Studio of Dance, is a life-long resident of Newtown Square who teaches the fundamentals, techniques and performance of dance to youth and adults. To contact Sheila Turner, email: info@fromthetopdance.com. N S
