Creating lifelong movers and learners
Posted on Wednesday, May 7, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/rhtn/News/3916/
Although she’s only a freshman, Kelsey Prowell had the chance to choreograph for the spring performance of the Northwest Arkansas Academy of Fine Arts Dance Company.
“ We’re different because of being student led, ” she said. Almost all the dancers in the 12-member company choreographed their own performances, she explained, something that’s rare in the dance world.
“ Every dance is different, ” Junior Phillip Jones said. “ You can see each person’s personality. ”
For Prowell and Jones, the dance company is the reason they chose to attend the charter school in downtown Rogers.
A charter school is a public school that’s open to any student who wants to attend. It’s not part of the local school system and has been granted exemptions from regulations by the state Department of Education. Students still learn the core curriculum that’s required by the state, but their choice of electives is different at the charter school.
“ There’s nothing at the public schools for a male dancer, ” Jones, a junior, explained. He’s interested in a career in dance.
He started with private dance studios two years ago. Hip-hop got him involved in dance, but he soon added ballet. He found more freedom at the Fine Arts Academy. Dance studios, he said, encourage conformity.
“ The studios produce robots, ” he said.
Prowell learned to dance at the Benton County School of the Arts. She considered a traditional public school for high school, but the only dance opportunities there would be pompom squad and cheerleading.
“ That’s not really dance, ” she said. Her favorite type of dance is lyrical, although she understands that ballet is the basis for all dance and will continue to study it.
Students audition to get into the dance company which is taught as a class by teacher Alaina Simms. For less-experienced students she teaches ballet, modern dance, survey of dance, jazz and yoga / pilates.
“ All students are welcomed into my classes, regardless of experience levels, ” Simms said. “ Some of my students have danced for a long time, and others are new to it. ”
Although dance is the only way for NWAAFA students to earn a physical education credit, most of her students are not in it for the credit, Simms said.
“ The majority of my students, including the guys, take my classes because they want to gain more control over their bodies, improve confidence, or gain strength and flexibility. Dance is great for these things. ”
The boys in the class are usually very shy in the beginning, she said, but they come around. Other students are supportive and accepting, she said.
All the dancers perform for the school twice a semester. The company dancers have one additional performance each semester and competed in April in Little Rock. They also do some community performances throughout the year.
Another difference between the charter school and traditional public school is that the teachers are more sympathetic to their young performers, Prowell explained. All students are expected to do the work, she said, but at the charter school teachers may allow their students to postpone big assignments in favor of a concert or dance performance.
“ The teachers are just as excited (about performing ) as we are, ” Jones added.
They both expect the entire school to turn out for the performance. It’s a small student body and students all support each other, Jones explained.
“ Dance and the creative outlet it provides is, I believe, as essential to education as any of the core subjects, ” Simms said. “ I think the most important thing is I want the kids enrolled in my classes to take away with them is that dance is fun. It is my goal to create lifelong movers and learners. ”