Fallsnewspress.com - ROAD program looks to 'Excel' at engaging students in dance

Photo courtesy of ROAD; Students in the Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet’s Reach Out and Dance program practice their dance and choreography. The program, which teaches fourth- and fifth-grade students dance, started 10 years ago.

Who will you find dancing with 'straight elbows' and 'crispy fingers' while moving to catchy music? The Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet's educational outreach program Reach Out and Dance's Team EXCEL.

Reach Out and Dance (ROAD®) is an educational outreach program of the Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet (CVYB) founded in 1998. Its mission is to inspire excellence, to motivate learning, and to instill a life-long appreciation for the arts. A professionally trained dance instructor and musician teach fourth- and fifth-grade students key elements of dance, choreography, performance, and music, as an addendum to participating schools' arts and physical education curriculums.

"Dance is not just for girls, it is for everyone," said Warren Levene, artistic associate with ROAD®. "Dance and teamwork compliment one another in promoting self-awareness, self-control, and self-confidence; all the tools that lead to success." TEAM EXCEL continues this classroom experience through an after school program that is offered to students whose schools participate in ROAD®.

In response to the successful 2007-08 school year for Team EXCEL, its inaugural year, the after school program has expanded for the 2008-09 school year.

"EXCEL is fun, active, and you feel good when you accomplish something," said Megan Arsena, EXCEL Dancer from Lincoln Elementary.

Many participants share this sentiment with Megan, so much so that a Super Wonderful Advanced Team (SWAT) has been created to accommodate all of the EXCEL dancers from the 2007-08 inaugural season who were looking to come back for a second round. In addition to Team EXCEL and SWAT, ROAD® also provides access to a scholarship program for qualifying students interested in classical ballet training at CVYB's Nan Klinger's Excellence in Dance Studio.

ROAD® reaches approximately 1,100 fourth and fifth grade students in the Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, and Wooster school districts. All 1,100 participants are introduced to the benefits of dance through weekly ROAD® classes that culminate with an end of the year performance.

"Having to dress up and go on stage was pretty cool," said Jacob McClellan, SWAT dancer from Richardson Elementary.

Last school year's performance highlighted Ohio history; this year ROAD® dancers will explore international cultures and celebrate the world's vast diversity through dance and music from different nations.

Future goals for the after school program include more community performances.

"Performance opportunities will showcase how dancing affects children's lives," Levene said. "It is not just about how well they execute the steps. Through their movements, the dancers will radiate their self-confidence gained through ROAD® and how much they are having fun."

This March, in addition to taking part in the year-end performance, SWAT dancers will also have the opportunity to showcase their talents at the Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet's annual performance at the Akron Civic Theatre.

Students and parents alike applaud the unique experiences TEAM EXCEL and SWAT offer.

"It's great to socialize with kids from other schools," says Anna Swyers, SWAT dancer from Roberts Middle School.

Valerie Imdorf, mother of EXCEL dancer John Rehs, said she believes "it's a great opportunity for our kids to express themselves through dance."

Those students who are inspired by their in-school ROAD® experience are welcome to audition for Team EXCEL, regardless of artistic talent and academic standing. Children selected are able to participate at no cost to the dancer.

Team EXCEL and SWAT take place Wednesday evenings at the Quirk Cultural Center in Cuyahoga Falls. For more information, or to make a donation, contact Kara Stewart, artistic director, at Kara4Road@aol.com or 330-524-6697.