National Dance Day was created to support dancers and dance education everywhere.
In 2010, National Dance Day was created by Nigel Lythgoe, the producer of So You Think You Can Dance. It was recently moved to the third Saturday of September, which falls on Sep 19 this year.
On National Dance Day, all kinds of dance are celebrated: ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, musical theatre, and ballroom, just to name a few popular styles.
More than a few dancers attend CHS, and to show our support for this inspiring national holiday we have featured several of them below. But before we dive in, we have one serious question. Why do we even celebrate dance?
The importance of dance in our world today
First off, you can find dance and its effects everywhere.
Just to name a few examples, we can find dance all over social media, in shows and plays, in movies and musicals. Schools dedicated to dance and the fine arts can be found all over the world. Even other athletes, such as football players, have been recommended to take dance lessons to help with flexibility and overall improve their performance.
Dr. Burn, the CHS drama teacher, provided her input on the importance of dance in musical theatre.
“The movement creates excitement… and makes a beautiful image. Every scene, every major moment, should be a photograph. What better way to do this than dance?” said Dr. Burn.
“[Without dance, theatre] wouldn’t be as beautiful. It wouldn’t be as exciting. It wouldn’t be as fun. Think of Hairspray without dancing.”
Dr. Burn
As Dr. Burn says, dance enhances the world of theatre. Dance gives excitement and movement.
Another reason why dance is important is that it can retell the stories of history and maintain our culture. Famous ballets such as The Nutcracker have been passed down for hundreds of years, and it only make sense to keep this trend.
Other cultures also have styles of dance that give insight to the culture. For example, the hula from Hawaii or the tango from Argentina. By dancing, we are telling stories of human history. Dance truly is an art form.
Dancers here at CHS
Our first dancer is Josie Jackson, who attends Powerhouse Dance Center. She picked up dance for the second time in recent years and has “found a passion”.
[Dance] is like everything to me. It’s… what makes me really happy. It’s just my outlet.
Josie Jackson, Freshman
Avery Hallett attends Dance and Music Academy Woodstock. She’s been dancing for fourteen years.
Dance means family and lifelong bonds. Dance also means hard work but the greatest reward in return… I am able to express myself and also feel the burn of energy.
Avery Hallett, senior
Bella Januszewski also attends Dance and Music Academy Woodstock. She has danced for seven years and says her favorite style is jazz.
Dance is such a fun and amazing thing to do. The beauty and control you have within your body is incredible and just shows the power you have.
Bella Januszewski, sophomore
Mya Lavender has been in the dance field for 12 years now, and currently specializes in tap and lyrical.
I don’t really remember how I started dancing, since I was three… it allows me to have a purpose in a way. Going to the dance studio is like an escape for me. It gives me a chance to just do what I love without worrying about anything else.
Mya Lavender, freshman
Anna Kate Carroll currently attends Academy of Dance Arts. Her favorite styles are tap and jazz because she can “show off more of my personality”. She also loves performing at competition events because of the anticipation and excitement surrounding it.
I like dance because it keeps me on my toes (literally) and gives me an opportunity to perform.
Anna Kate Carroll, freshman
Several dance studios offer classes for all ages, typically ranging from pre-school age to high school age. Some also give adult classes.
But no matter who you are, what styles you choose, and where you dance, there’s no doubt that dance can be a great stress reliever and provide substantial exercise. Dance is not only an athletic activity–it’s also an art.
THE WARRIOR WORD 