Stone Ridge is updating, adding new classes and activity spaces, such as the new Physical Performance Center. A new class in the performing arts has been added to Stone Ridge’s lengthy course list: dance.
Dance has already been incorporated into the Middle School performing arts curriculum. Seventh and eighth graders are able to take dance classes after school and take advantage of truly incredible opportunities, including travelling to Paris or learning from the Rockettes.
Dance class is now available to upper schoolers. A survey of 100 students revealed that 84% of students know that dance is offered as a class.
The class is both for students with limited experience as well as for intermediate to advanced dancers. Advanced dancers are “pushed a little harder so they can improve their craft,” says Ms. LeVere, the new dance teacher. Ballet dancer Julianna Long, ’16, and a member of the dance class, says, “Ms. LeVere is harder on the experienced dancers in terms of critique and makes us better at our craft […] She is calm and focused on the dancers, considering our large class size. There are 20 students in dance.”
The class also encourages healthy living and strength conditioning. Members of the class practice three types of dances on a two class rotation–modern, ballet, and jazz.
Class is held on the gym stage in the dance studio–yet another new addition to the Stone Ridge community. On top of the gym stage where plays were previously held lies a special dance flooring called Marley and Mirrors, which allows dancers to view their movements.
However, the space that the class currently uses is not sufficiently large for dancing. According to Maya Moore, ’16, “The class is nice, but the space allotted was way too small for its function. If we want to bring awareness to dance at Stone Ridge we need to create better spaces for it.”
Students find it beneficial to include a performing art, such as dance or theatre, in their already packed schedules. Long says, “Dance class is a good change of pace from my normal classes […] it also serves as a stress-reliever built into the school day.”
Many students wish they had the opportunity to take dance. Competitive dancer Emma Volanth, ’16, “wish[es] dance was offered when [she] was an underclassman because [she] definitely would have taken it.”
Dance is classified as a performing arts class, but it is also considered an independent sports credit–a fact that only 68% of students surveyed knew. Dance is clearly an art due to the story, emotion, and lyricism of its movements, but according to the survey, 80% of students actually consider dance to be a sport. However, some are hesitant to classify dance as a sport. Katherine McClure, ’16, says, “Dance is exercise but not a sport.” However, Giselle Rodriguez, ’16, says, “Dance is just as rigorous and time consuming as the sports offered at Stone Ridge. It requires physical fitness, agility, speed, coordination, and many other skills […] considered fundamental to be a good athlete. It is a large commitment and a great form of exercise, which is why I don’t see why it wouldn’t be considered a sport.”
Being a successful dancer also entails lots of practice. Many students dance as exercise because it burns calories in a way that involves music and expression, and large dance competitions require mental concentration and physical agility. However, Alison Manca, ’19, points out that “competitive dance is judged and [can be based on] bias, whereas soccer or basketball rely on a set scoring system. Dance is definitely a sport, but it can be unfair.”
The addition of dance to the Stone Ridge curriculum undoubtedly allows more students to express themselves artistically and to work on their craft. Long concludes, “Dance class is a great addition to Stone Ridge, and I love how it is integrated into the school day.”
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