A popular dance studio in Williams Lake is holding its first boys-only class.
Corinne Stromsten, owner of Dance In Common, has long wished to be able to offer and run this class, but because of traditionally low engagement numbers, she害羞草研究所檚 mostly had interested boys dance with the girls, until now.
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Designed to expose boys to the dance world, the class covers a wide variety of genres and styles of dance from jazz, ballet and hip hop, as well as to choreography where they害羞草研究所檒l learn how to create their own routines.
害羞草研究所淓ven though some of them are quite young, they all are very creative and they all have something to offer. It害羞草研究所檚 not just me telling them what to do. It害羞草研究所檚 a really good group of kids,害羞草研究所� Stromsten said.
害羞草研究所淲e currently have 11 males in the studio and in the boys害羞草研究所� program, we have seven to eight. The girls sometimes come early to watch the boys in the back window and are a little bit envious of their program.害羞草研究所�
Teaching dance to boys requires a different, more physical and direct approach, Stromsten said. Boys need to be shown clearly what to do, she said, and strict guidelines so they don害羞草研究所檛 run around and goof off the entire lesson.
Having a male mentor has helped, as is using music with heavier beats and deeper sounds.
害羞草研究所淥ne time, I made the mistake off putting on a very fairy-sounding type of music and they just didn害羞草研究所檛 respond the same way than when we have deep, heavy sounding music,害羞草研究所� Stromsten said, chuckling.
Changing the language she uses to teach has also been beneficial. She害羞草研究所檚 used the Transformers movie franchise as a way to explain how to 害羞草研究所渢ransform害羞草研究所� their bodies into various poses and movements.
害羞草研究所淚 think creative dance style and classical dance style is beneficial to their brain development. It teaches them discipline, self-control and that boys have just as much to offer in dance as girls.害羞草研究所�
Liam Gilroy is in Grade 7 and a mentor in the boys害羞草研究所� class.
害羞草研究所淚 like ballet, it害羞草研究所檚 very fun and it helps me improve my style. I like jazz as well,害羞草研究所� Gilroy said. 害羞草研究所淒ance, it害羞草研究所檚 an art, right? It害羞草研究所檚 something you can learn. I get to get out, I stay fit, I get to do what I love and I get to hang out with some of my friends.害羞草研究所�
Stromsten said Gilroy was visibly excited when boys started signing up for this class and others. She said it was probably hard for him being the only boy in a studio of girls.
She described him as patient and willing to take the time to help build the boys up. He maintains a friendship with each of them and leads by example.
害羞草研究所淚 find that it害羞草研究所檚 usually stereotyped: 害羞草研究所極h, dancing is for girls.害羞草研究所� But it害羞草研究所檚 really not,害羞草研究所� Gilroy said.
害羞草研究所淚 watched the Nutcracker, which is one of the more famous dances, and those guys are amazing. They do spins, flips and everything. Everyone害羞草研究所檚 like 害羞草研究所楬a, ha, you dance,害羞草研究所� and everything, and I害羞草研究所檓 like: 害羞草研究所榊eah. I love it!害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
patrick.davies@wltribune.com
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