Spotlight Studio of Dance

There’s no place like home…

Faith — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 02:16:48 +0000

There’s something about Spotlight that keeps families coming back year after year…but what is it? We decided to go to the students themselves to find the answer.

“Why do you love Spotlight?”

“I love the fact that we are treated as family. We have meaningful connections and relationships with each other and our teachers. We are taught with encouragement and are always reminded of how special and important we are. Spotlight has created a place for me and many others to do what we love and share what we love with others. We are not about being better or beating others, instead we are focused on improving ourselves and reaching our potential. The classes are about the students and what is right for them and not about what will make the group win. I love it because I can walk in and feel accepted. I know that no matter how badly I mess up it’s okay and there will always be people to help and support me until it’s right.” -Celia Anderson

“I love Spotlight because of all of the wonderful people. The teachers are amazing and help me evolve as a dancer. I also love the fact that I can give back to my community while doing what I love, and Spotlight does a big part to help by setting up charity events and performances for us to participate in. Spotlight helps improve our dance abilities while making us better people, too! Everyone is like one big family!” -Olivia Markowski

“Because there I feel like I am at home. Everyone is so close that it’s unreal. We have fun but it is still serious. We get worked to our limits and our teachers love us no matter what.” -Megan Atkinson

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The one thing that comes up with all three girls is that they feel like Spotlight is one big family. And truthfully, it is. It doesn’t matter how many classes you take, what level you’re at, or what age you are; everyone that walks through the doors is immediately accepted into the Spotlight family. Not only are the students friendly and welcoming, but so are the awesome teachers that taught them to be that way! Every Spotlight instructor truly cares about each and every student and none of them limit themselves to ‘just teaching dance’ or ‘just teaching art.’ The phenomenal thing about Spotlight teachers is that they teach life lessons too, just as a family member would, because they want their students to succeed. When the teachers were asked about why they love Spotlight, this is what they said.

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“I love Spotlight because it embraces the mindset that it takes a village to raise a child. I love that we are a big part of that philosophy! And my awesome students, of course!!” -Adelle Barrow

“We love Spotlight because of Pam, and of course because of all of you!” -Nicole Shaver

“I love the excitement I see in the children’s faces in art class, tae kwon do, acting, singing, AND DANCE! Spotlight is a fun, positive place for kids to learn and flourish!” -Audrey Lockett

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Thank you Spotlight teachers for going above and beyond to make the studio an incredible second home for all who enter! And thank you Spotlight families for coming and sharing your times of joy and laughter with us.

Celebration!

Faith — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 01:08:21 +0000

I personally think that giving back is an act that should not be treated as a chore…as a matter of fact, I think it should be treated as a celebration! And Spotlight has done just that by hosting it’s fourth annual Charity Extravaganza! With games, crafts, and other fun activities for those of all ages, our studio has managed to turn the act of helping others into something incredibly exciting for the entire community.

So what exactly went on at this event? Well, first off, there was a shoe drive/swap to benefit Soles 4 Soles. Dancers could trade in shoes for the next size up or they could simply donate some of their own pairs that they don’t use anymore.

In the room next door there were costumes for sale that could be used for Halloween or just for dress-up for some of the younger kids (with all proceeds going to Our Gang Productions, of course). But throughout the rest of the studio there were games and activities galore! Right when you walked into the building you could see children coloring happily, and if you just took a few steps there were other kids getting their faces painted! There were also crafts to be made and raffle prizes to be won, so it was an extremely fun event! But don’t just take it from me…a picture is worth a thousand words, so look at these pictures and see for yourself!

We all had a really awesome time at this event, so next time come out and join us! We’d love to have you there

Summer Break!

Faith — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 03:34:43 +0000

It’s August and here at Spotlight classes are out until the fall, but don’t let that be an excuse to lose all of the technique that you’ve acquired throughout the year! Here are a few ways to keep up with your dancing over this month off.

1. Stretch! You’ve probably heard this from your dance teachers before; flexibility is something that can be lost in an instant if you don’t stretch your body out. That is why it is so important to continue stretching even when you’re not at the studio. The great thing about stretching is that it can be done absolutely anywhere: at the beach, in your living room, by the pool…as long as you have a bit of open space and some clothing that you can move around in, you can stretch and work to maintain (or even improve!) that flexibility that you’ve worked so hard to acquire.

2. Stay Active! We all know that dancing requires some definite physical strength and endurance, so why not keep that up by simply staying active? You could take a more traditional route and go to a gym to take a class or two (I’d definitely recommend Zumba to all of my fellow dancers!) or you can do some activities that won’t even seem like a work-out! You could gather a group of friends and take a trip to a local park, go climb a lighthouse, hang out at the pool, explore your neighborhood on a bike…the possibilities are endless. Just make sure that you continue to stay active so that you will still be strong when fall rolls around!

3. Just Dance! Really, one of the best ways to keep up with your dancing is to simply dance! Come up with your own crazy combinations, pretend that your dresser is a ballet barre, do some leaps across the hallways of your house, just keep dancing! Let your creative side come out and remember the fact that dancing isn’t all about the technique, it’s about the passion that goes into it!