Giving the Gift of Dance: The Rock School for Dance Education
Twenty Thousand. It’s a huge number...
Twenty Thousand kids? Whoah. Overwhelming thought…
Twenty Thousand kids dancing? Now that actually sounds pretty cool…
Twenty Thousand is the number of kids that the Rock School for Dance Education reaches through their community outreach programs. That is an astounding number, and an astounding accomplishment.
Through a combination of programs including dance classes in local schools, subsidized field trips and performances, and scholarship programs, the Rock School of Dance Education touches the lives of an incredible number of young people in the Philadelphia area.
Each year, a couple thousand students are lucky enough to be part of the RockReach residency classes in twenty-five different public, parochial and charter schools in the Philly area. The classes are tailored to each individual school, and to each individual class. The dance instructors are professionally trained to tap the potential of all kids; students with ADHD, autism, and behavioral challenges respond especially well to the dance program. It also helps shy, self-conscious students gain confidence and express themselves. Students drive the instruction, often choosing which genre of dance they will focus on for the 36-week program, and develop their own choreography.
Students don’t just practice dance steps; they learn and are even evaluated on dance vocabulary and terminology, critical response skills, improv skills, coordination and balance. They gain teamwork and performance skills as well. These are true dance classes that make up a well-rounded, multi-disciplinary curriculum.
One twelve-year old participant simply but poignantly explained, “I like to see stuff I can’t do so I can see what I can do in the future.” That’s what the heart of dance education is all about. In fact it’s what all education should be about.
The program doesn’t just touch the lives of students - their parents and family members are involved as well. Students’ families are invited twice a year to observe classes and get a glimpse of the progress their children are making in dance education. Families are also, of course, invited to end of the year shows - a very exciting event for everyone involved.
I spoke to Christina Pastras, the RockReach Manager. She explained why her program is so important. We know far too well that in Philadelphia, and across our country, arts programs are being eliminated in schools due to budget cuts. But Pastras described the schools that RockReach serves - schools that the most underserved children from Philadelphia and Camden attend. Schools where even the physical education programs are disappearing along with arts programs. Schools where there are no after school sports to offer would-be student athletes. No physical education equipment to speak of. The RockReach program doesn’t just provide arts education, but physical education as well, and an extremely important physical outlet for children. Believe me, if you’ve ever sat in front of a classroom of 25 children, you know that the value of physical movement cannot be understated.
Through our conversation, I could tell that RockReach is not just a job for Pastras, but a genuine passion. She spoke with pride and emotion about the work that is done through RockReach, and spoke highly of the RockReach Program Directors, Bojan and Stephanie Spassoff. They clearly deserve the praise; the program serves so many important, indispensable purposes in the neediest schools. It’s the largest outreach program of its kind in the region and so multi-faceted.
Multi-faceted, you say? How so?
Well, in addition to residency classes in schools, the Rock School also invites students to experience dance through low-cost or free field trips as part of the “Dynamics of Dance” program. Again, with amazing numbers - over 10,000 students a year participate in these field trips. Students who come to the studio enjoy a tour of the building along with dance programming.
Can’t get busing to bring your kids to the studio? No problem, says the Rock School, we’ll come to you! In-school assemblies are part of the repertoire too! The coolest thing about these field trips is the “children reaching children” aspect. Students don’t just observe; they are invited to join Rock School dancers on stage to explore ballet movement while classmates learn from one another.
Another aspect (yep - another!) of the program is the City Dance Scholarship Program which blew me away. Dancers aged 6-12 are welcome to audition for the Rock School. Each year, thirty children are chosen for the scholarship. They receive fully funded classes and dance supplies (shoes, costumes, etc). for the duration of their elementary, middle and high school careers!
One of the dancers expressed deep attachment to the program. “The City Dance scholarship changed my life,” she explained. “It is amazing how something that seemed so different and frightening to me at first pushed me to new limits…Through ballet, I not only developed skills that will continue to serve me in good stead for my future, but I also learned not to be afraid of hard work.”
The long-term commitment the Rock School makes in these children is enough to make any kid believe in themselves. And that is priceless. It’s no surprise, then, that these students go on to professional careers in dance or dance programs at colleges and universities. They are truly setting these young dancers up for a world of success that may not otherwise be possible to them.
Think we’re done here? Think again. I told you; multi-faceted!
“Are those diamonds on the ceiling?” That’s what one student asked upon arriving at the theater for his first professional ballet performance. Each year, the RockReach invites students to see a real ballet show. Next week, 1800 school children will be invited to experience the Rock School’s Nutcracker 1776 Performance at the Merriam Theater. For many of the students, it will be their first time seeing a professional ballet.
Wow. This has turned into one of my longest articles. I just couldn’t leave any of this astounding information out. The purpose of my website is to celebrate all things dance in Philadelphia, and I can think of no better type of program to celebrate. So forgive me for my long-windedness, but, the Rock School’s outreach program is awe-inspiring, and my tired, typing hands just couldn’t hold back.
Of course, the Rock School’s outreach program has many extremely generous donors that make these amazing opportunities possible for young Philadelphians. The donors include Campbell Soup, the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation, the Connelly Foundation, the Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation, Lincoln Financial, Macy's, the Memton Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, PECO, Penn Mutual, The Philadelphia Foundation, Samuel S. Fels Fund, the William Penn Foundation, and the Wyncote Foundation. I don’t rattle off their names out of obligation. I list the donors’ names because they deserve a thank you. They too deserve a celebration. If we don’t publicly thank those who make dance possible, who will? How will they know how much it matters?
If you want to play a part in making the Rock School’s outreach programs successful, you can do so too. Your donations, no matter how big or small, will help children in our very own community experience the blessing of dance. Check out the Rock School’ for Dance Education's website or Facebook Page to make your mark.
* All Photographs by Tiffany Yoon, courtesy of The Rock School for Dance Education
This post was part of the "Giving the Gift of Dance" article series, which highlights just a few of the amazing programs in Philadelphia that bring the beauty of dance to kids in our community at no cost. Check out the introduction to the series, and find links to the other articles in the series here. Read, be inspred, feel good, and spread the word! These programs deserve our attention and our thanks!
Article written by Hannah Lorenzo.
