WHY DANCE? New Blog Series

WHY DANCE? New Blog Series

by | Nov 14, 2023 | Dance, Uncategorized

Written by Maizie Ferguson | Edited by Evi Wheeler

For nearly 25 years, Greenleaf Performing Arts Academy has been “the place to grow.” And what better opportunity for growth than dance? Greenleaf’s dance program is thriving now more than ever. But why is dance so popular? Why does this art form speak to our souls so effectively? Aside from the numerous benefits discovered by studies across the globe– studies that will be discussed further in future articles– our families have found that dance has helped them flourish, not only physically, but mentally, academically, and spiritually. Psalm 149:3 commands, “Let them praise his name with dancing”, and that is exactly the aim of Greenleaf’s dance program.

In this new blog series, over the next few weeks we will focus on the main benefits of dance, with topics including the relationships between dance and worship, dance and academics, dance and community, and more! We have been conducting an ongoing survey with the Greenleaf community, asking how they have been impacted by their experiences in dance at our school. The blog posts to come will include selected testimonies from parents, teachers, and dancers alike.

From Kevin and Amara Kwasiborski: 

“Our children have been involved in dance at Greenleaf for 10+ years. They have been involved in classes including ballet, musical theater dance, tap, jazz, and modern. We appreciate that Greenleaf is committed to excellent dance instruction, but mostly that they are concerned with the whole person and the development of character, compassion, and friendships. We have been blessed by the God-glorifying atmosphere and the kind, gentle leadership. We appreciate that Greenleaf is committed to being good for families and invested in growing students with vibrant, artistic souls.” 

Are you interested in enrolling your student in dance at one of our three branches, our main branch in South Olathe, our Cedar Creek branch in northwest Olathe,  or our newest branch in Bonner Springs? Click here to find out more about current dance class offerings and enrollment. 

 

Build Learning Momentum with Summer Camps

Build Learning Momentum with Summer Camps

by | Mar 10, 2019 | Blogroll, Dance, Music, Theatre

School is finally out for the summer, and your child is so excited! But… now what? There are roughly two and a half months of free time; deciding how best to spend it can be tricky. As it turns out, fine arts summer camps can offer a fantastic alternative to summer boredom and idleness for your child.

Dance Lessons

During the lull of summertime, studies¹show that students often make poor health choices, like non-nutritious eating habits and inactivity. Enrolling in a dance camp over the summer deliberately counteracts these unhealthy habits. Additionally, it offers a dynamic and fun way to spend free time instead! Dance students often experience gains in flexibility, muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness. Also, for students who normally dance during the school year, enrolling in a summer dance camp can prepare them to come back stronger and with improved technique in the fall.

Drama Lessons

Spending part of the summer in drama camps gives children an incredible creative outlet while building practical presentation skills they’ll use all their life. Creativity consistently tops the list of soft skills that employers desire. There’s hardly a more immersive way for students to flex these inventive muscles than when they’re acting out a scene or honing their improvisational skills. Additionally, the collaborative aspect of a drama camp lends itself to creating communities. Students often come away from drama lessons having made treasured new friends.

Music Lessons

For the musically inclined student, summer camps offer a wonderful opportunity to leap ahead in their proficiency. They don’t have the mental load of school on their minds during the summer, and they have extra time to devote to practice. Moreover, music lessons are tied to success in both reading and math outcomes in school – both of which often suffer²over summer.

Whether it’s private piano lessons, drama workshops, or a four-day ballet camp, fine arts summer camps are an excellent way to spend the summer! Learn more about Greenleaf’s summer offerings here.

Sources:

¹https://static1.squarespace.com/static/52eec360e4b0c81c80749630/t/590fae1be58c62a5ff7043af/1494199835890/AoW+1617_34+%28summer+learning+loss%29.pdf

²http://www.readingrockets.org/article/summer-loss