Dance Boosts...

…Energy! …Confidence! …Self Esteem! …Cognitive Function! …Flexibility! …FUN!

While it is true that dance is a fun pastime, it is SO much more than just a hobby! Dance is a great way to relieve stress and get needed exercise. It is an activity that people of all ages and from all walks of life can enjoy. Improved multitasking, increased confidence, better concentration, and added self-esteem are just a few of the wonderful benefits of taking a dance class. For young children, dance can help build motor skills and enhance cognitive learning. For teens and adults, it can be a great way to build confidence and provide an outlet for self-expression.

As a dancer myself, I can say that my years of dance experience have helped shaped the person I am today. The lessons I have learned are invaluable, and the lifelong friendships I have made will be with me wherever I go. When I was growing up, I was never very good at sports. Because my mom wanted me to get involved in some sort of activity, I decided to try out dance. I was very shy as a child, and I struggled with low self-esteem. I was terrified to try new things, not wanting to make a fool of myself by doing things the wrong way. Taking dance classes helped me build my confidence. As I learned to dance, I began to realize that making mistakes along the way is just a part of life. Because I had encouraging teachers who created a safe and fun learning environment, I was able to learn a new skill that has become one of my true passions in life. As my confidence grew, I wanted to explore new styles of dance to expand my developing abilities. I began to set personal goals for myself, and I felt such a wonderful sense of satisfaction as I achieved those goals.

One of my goals was learning to dance en pointe. I knew it was going to take a lot of work to get to that level, but I was willing to put in the time and effort to achieve my dream of getting those pointe shoes. The only problem was that I didn’t know where to start to make this happen. I did, however, have some friends who already danced en pointe. After talking to them to get some advice about how to get started, I ended up at a studio in Geneva called DancEncounter. This is where my adventure began. It was not an easy journey to take, as I worked harder than I had ever worked before, pushing my body to do things it had never done. After taking many ballet classes, my teacher finally told me that I was ready to get those pointe shoes. I was beyond excited to hear this amazing news! With the support of my dance teachers and encouragement from my parents, I had achieved my goal and would begin to live out my dream of becoming an en pointe ballerina! That was the first time that I set a goal for myself and achieved it all on my own. Since then I have been dancing at DancEncounter for several years, and I have gotten the chance to try out many styles of dance and work toward a number of other goals.

DancEncounter offers an array of dance styles, including ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical, pointe, and more. If you are unsure what style you might like the best, DancEncounter is the perfect place to begin. No matter your taste, DancEncounter has a flavor of dance for you! Starting April 2nd, DancEncounter will be offering new 8-week classes designed to give little ones a taste of dance, as well as a Friday Fun Workshop series. The workshop will run from April 6th through April 27th and will present a different style of dance for you to learn each week.

Visit the DancEncounter website or give them a call to get started. Make new friends, learn a new skill, or become a performer! Give your little one…or yourself…that boost!