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Boardman preschoolers learn a few dance moves
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Camille Wagner (left), Paige McGivern, and Sydney Gozur stretched with intensity during their April 12 movement class.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Sydney Metzinger tried out some ballet moves during the April 12 movement class at Boardman United Methodist Preschool.
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Even the teachers at BUMP joined in the fun of the ballet class. Stretching and showing off their moves were, from left, Jessica Norris, Callie Ronci, teacher Cara Pecchia, and Ava Sabirn.
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Ben Phillips (left) and Ethan Feezle had a lot of fun stretching like Superman during their class.
By SARAH FOOR
On April 13, Ballet Western Reserve instructor and outreach coordinator Pamela Reeping visited Boardman United Methodist Preschool (BUMP) to share her passion for movement with the students of the school.
Reeping, a teacher of ballet and movement with Western Reserve, purposely left the ballet shoes at home, instead making the event a fun exploration of what our bodies can do.
“It’s a particular passion of mine to teach to kids, and especially at this age. Movement, stretching, and dancing are very important developmentally for preschoolers,” Reeping explained.
“My approach is to make it like play. They’re having more fun than they realize, but I’m still teaching them important parts of ballet, jazz, and even yoga.”
The dancing began with ballet, exploring the positions of feet in the form of dance, while also trying movements like bending at the knees, standing on tiptoes and pointing and brushing the feet on the floor.
Reeping then played games that made stretching and moving fun.
The teacher called one of her stretches “Sandwich,” as the kids began by stretching their legs in front of them and reaching for their toes. Reeping asked what the kids wanted on their “Sandwich,” and was greeted with answers like cake, strawberries, hot dogs, and shrimp. When more was added to the imaginary sandwich, Reeping added more stretches for the preschoolers.
Along with other fun movement games, each student did a dance move across the floor, a gallop-like move called a chasse.
BUMP administrator Marilyn Phillips stopped in to see the event, and was happy to see great participation.
“The boys are dancing just as much as the girls; it’s wonderful,” Phillips observed. “Everyone can hardly keep the smiles off of their faces.”