Dancing captures the spirit of music and reflects a dancer’s soul.The fluid motion of a dancer’s body express emotions for which the mind has no words.
Honing one’s skill in this art takes years of practice and devotion. Students at dance schools become friends, and team becomes a family.
Now in their 25th year in the community, the staff and dancers at Terri Newman’s Dance Shoppe know that better than anyone.
‘You could look inside (the studio) and every single ones fo those girls I have a relationship with, I have a bond with and I have for a long time because I’ve grown up with. They’re like a whole other family for me,? said student Sophie Ness. Ness, 16, is a junior at Clarskton High School and has been dancing for 12 years at the shoppe.
Though Ness, like many of her fellow dancers, is nearing graduation, she knows she will continue dancing throughout her life.
‘It’s one of those thigns you can;t give up. You can’t stop doing it because it’s your passion,? said Ness. ‘I can’t tell you if I’m going to be a professional dancer or a dance teacher. But I know whatever I do with life, I’ve learn lessons from dance and those are things you never grow out of and you never lose.?
Many of the older students who are ready to graduate have been dancing together since they were barely old enough to walk. Whether they have a love for ballet, tap, jazz , voice or even hip-hop the student spend at least eight hours a week at the studio located on Airport Road in Waterford.
‘They’ve made dance, outside of school, they’re number one priority,? said owner and instructor, Terri Newman.
Newman is certified by through Dance Masters of America and is the former president of Dance Masters of Michigan. Newman founded the ‘Classy Dancers? group through her shoppe
Recently, 43 girls from Newman’s shoppe , . The team is currently hard at work preparting for two big challenges ahead of them.
Dance Masters of America hosts an annual national competion in the summer. This year’s competition runs from July 7?14 in Las Vegas. All stuednt attending the competition are members of the school’s intensive or pre-professional program, raging from third graders to seniors in high school.
One of the youngest students going is Kendall Huizenga. Huizenga, 9, is in fourth grade at Andersonville Elementary right now and has been dancing since she was 3-years-old. Already Huizenga knows dancing is not going to be a profession for her, but she said likes to do it for fun, exercise and to meet new friends.
Huizenga said she will be performing in solo and group dances in Las Vegas, and is not nervous about her or her teammaters performing.
‘I think we’re going to do really well, she said. ‘We always do well.?
Newman herself has been to several national compeition in the past as has walked away proud.
‘I’ve been fortunate to have some title holders for a lot of consecutive years,? she said. This year, however, Newman is bring the entire high-level company with her.
‘We only attend the nationals every other summer…because financially it’s an obligation to their parents… so the kids are very excited,? Newman said.
Regardless of how the girls perform in Vegas, Newman said a vital part of their training is to not let the spirit of competition overtake them.
‘We’re always about, individually, our best. It’s not what the judges say. If you’re doing a solo… and we’re all excited because you just had your best performance ever, you won as far as I’m concerned.,? Newman said. ‘When they trul believe that they’re not threatened by other good dancers, they fell like ‘I’m an outstandin dancer, and so is she.??
‘You want to do your own personal best and you want to outdo your last performance rather than beating the grils tanding next to you,? said Ness.
Prior to the summer’s competition, the girls will show off their skills to the Clarkston community with their June Production, which Newman described as a combination of a recital and a play.
‘It’s like a play but through movement, the story is told, rather than vocally? Newman said.
This year, the girls are literally going above and beyond previous June production with ‘Wendy’s Story.? The performance tells the tale of Peter Pan through the eyes of Wendy as an older person.
Setting this performance apart from all the others is the addition of wire technology from Foy Flying Experts made famous my movies like ‘The Matrix.? The Fo Flying Expert are the same crew that helpe Peter Pan fly when he debuted on Broadway. With nearly invisbile wires, several dancers will literally have a chance to fly across the stage.
‘Interestingly enough, all four of the lead girls go to Clarkston High School,? Newman said.
Huizenga plays Tinkerbell in the production, but will not be flying. Jenna Bartholme, however, who is playing Wendy, will have the chance to soar above her co-stars.
Bartholme, 16, started dancing when she was 2 and is a previous Miss Dance of Michigan winner and has performed in seven national competions before. While performing on stage is not unnerving for Bartholme, the idea of fling is a little different.
‘When she first told us, I was kind of nervous because I am little bit afraid of heights. It’s a once in a life-time opportunity and I’ll probably never get to fl y again,? Batholme said. ‘I’m really excited about it now.?
Agreeing with the other students in her troupe, Bartholme said he has stayed with Newman and her friends at teh same studio all these years because dancing is only half the lesson.
‘They teach us more about life in general,? she said. ‘Every single person that has graduated here has been a great person and such a good role model. More and more younger kids see how such good role models all the older girls are they want their kids to grow up like that. It’s a great place.
The performances of ‘Wendy’s Story? are scheduled for June 15 and 16 starting at 7 p.m. in the CHS Performing Arts Center.
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the dance shoppe at 248-623-1950 or visit www.terrinewmansdanceshoppe.com.