Sparking a love of dance, moving, creating
At Moving Arts Studio in San Francisco, everyone from the smallest dancers to those hoping to study the art beyond high school has a chance to spend the summer dancing, choreographing and learning acrobatics at the school’s new summer program.
Founded last June, Moving Arts Studio near Balboa Park in San Francisco offers everything from yoga to dance classes year-round. But in the summer, they will focus on providing well-rounded American Ballet Theatre certified programming to children ages 4-15.
“What we offer is a very professional dance program, but in a super fun environment,” said Alyce Finwall, studio director. “It’s a little less structured than our year around classes, in that we’re giving them an overview but in a really fun way. It’s camp, we want them to have fun.”
The school is certified by the American Ballet Theatre, which makes their programs stand out, Finwall said. The certification means teachers at Moving Arts who oversee campers have completed intensive training in ABT’s National Training Curriculum, a nine-level program that combines artistic training with the basics of dancer health and development, according to the ABT website. Certified teachers are only allowed to teach after they’ve successfully passed each level of training and an examination.
At camp, Finwall said young dancers can expect a full day of dance, acrobatics and theater, coupled with typical camp activities like crafts and visiting nearby Balboa Park. And although the days are varied, each week has a clear focus. For example, there are three weeks of ballet scheduled, two weeks of theater and two weeks of contemporary dance, geared to-
ward ages 8-12.
Students who participate in classes the fifth and sixth weeks of the summer schedule will focus on character building through physical theater, clown and commedia dell’arte exercises, improvisation, and working on heightened text such as Shakespeare and Moliere in addition to ballet and acrobatics.
Campers do not need to have any experience dancing, but those who do will also learn new skills and have fun expanding on what they know, Finwall said. All classes are what she describes as “explor- atory guided by professionals.” Students get to work on choreographic ideas and technique classes, then at the end of the week put on a show.
Each session is a week, but parents can pick and choose individual days. Costs vary depending on the focus, how many days are selected and whether before or after care is needed.
Campers do not need any special equipment or clothing, Finwall said. They should wear comfortable clothes and either bring socks, ballet slippers or dance in bare feet. By the end of each week, she hopes participants walk away having expanded their skills, but also encouraged by a week of fun.
“I hope we can provide an introduction to a lifelong love of learning about the enjoyment and benefits of dance, moving and creating,” Finwall said. “It’s really about taking my 20 years of experience of dance and love for that and instilling it into a new generation of dancers. I want everyone to have fun and look at dance as the wonderful thing it is.”