July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Stretching minds (02/04/2009)
By By RACHELLE HAUGHN-
No shoes, no leotards, no problem.
Twice a week, they set aside their flags, take off their shoes and practice their plies. The Jay County High School color guard is learning the fine art of ballet.
"The girls (and boy) hold themselves differently" now, said Pete Vogler, color guard director.
"I think I've definitely seen an improvement," said Jessica Daniels, who is teaching the class.
The ballet lessons are made possible through a grant from McDonald's restaurant. Arts Place assisted with the grant application process. Daniels also teaches ballet at Arts Place.
The ballet lessons are held Tuesday and Thursday mornings in the auditorium at Jay County High School.
The class is called a dance choreography class, and is for members of the color guard. During the rest of the week, the students practice their color guard skills. Attendance is mandatory for all members of the high school color guard.
Anyone else who wants to take the class must audition.
The sessions are not what might be found in a typical ballet studio. The front of the stage is used as a barre. Instead of tights, leotards and ballet slippers, the students wear workout clothes, jeans, sweatpants, tennis shoes, jazz shoes or socks. The music is not classical. It is hip-hop, fast, and sounds like something that might be played at a club.
The ballet lessons last about 45 minutes. The classes started in early January and will continue until March 19. Daniels teaches on her lunch break from work.
"I really enjoy it. It makes my day to go in and teach the students," said Daniels, a 22-year-old who has been teaching dance for four years.
The students enjoy it, too.
Sarah Pritchard, a senior, said she likes learning ballet so much that she is considering taking more classes at Arts Place.
Sophomore Kayla Scott said both she and her classmates also are enjoying the class.
Ballet isn't the only form of dance the color guard members have learned and enjoyed.
Daniels, who has been dancing for about 10 years, has also taught the students jazz and hip-hop.
Along with being fun and good exercise, the dance classes have provided many benefits for the students.
Vogler said he has seen the benefits of guard members learning different types of dance. He said during marching season last year, one of the judges at a competition commented on how the guard members were moving differently on the track. "He could tell we did something different in the off-season," Vogler said.
He added that the guard members seem to be more comfortable in their own skin. "They've developed the ability to perform in front of a crowd," Vogler said.
He attended a recent class and joked several times about trying some the ballet moves himself. He later said that others who work with the color guard, such as Emilie Garringer and Amy Grady, assist with the classes.
The members of the color guard like taking the classes because it gives them ideas for new movements to incorporate into their routines.
Pritchard said some of ballet steps the guard members have learned have been incorporated into this year's routine. "We already have a lot of foot and arm positions incorporated into the routines," she said.
"I hope they can take something out of the class ... to help" in their color guard routines," Daniels said.
Scott said she would like to see a jump step incorporated into the routine. She also enjoys doing plies, which is when a dancer holds his or her heels together and bends at the knees.
A plie is just one of the many steps the students have learned to do at the barre. They have also learned several floor exercises, such as kicks, turns and jumps.
"I think their favorite part ... is the kicks, turns, movements across the floor," Daniels said.
"Well, it helps us be graceful and it helps our posture," Scott said. She said she enjoys ballet but prefers the hip-hop and jazz classes, "because they're just fun. You can do whatever you want and be yourself."
She said the ballet classes at the JCHS have definitely made her more flexible.
Daniels said one of her main goals in the class to improve the students' flexibility and coordination. "It's all about balance - to be able to stay on their feet," she said. Apparently, she is meeting her goal.[[In-content Ad]]
Twice a week, they set aside their flags, take off their shoes and practice their plies. The Jay County High School color guard is learning the fine art of ballet.
"The girls (and boy) hold themselves differently" now, said Pete Vogler, color guard director.
"I think I've definitely seen an improvement," said Jessica Daniels, who is teaching the class.
The ballet lessons are made possible through a grant from McDonald's restaurant. Arts Place assisted with the grant application process. Daniels also teaches ballet at Arts Place.
The ballet lessons are held Tuesday and Thursday mornings in the auditorium at Jay County High School.
The class is called a dance choreography class, and is for members of the color guard. During the rest of the week, the students practice their color guard skills. Attendance is mandatory for all members of the high school color guard.
Anyone else who wants to take the class must audition.
The sessions are not what might be found in a typical ballet studio. The front of the stage is used as a barre. Instead of tights, leotards and ballet slippers, the students wear workout clothes, jeans, sweatpants, tennis shoes, jazz shoes or socks. The music is not classical. It is hip-hop, fast, and sounds like something that might be played at a club.
The ballet lessons last about 45 minutes. The classes started in early January and will continue until March 19. Daniels teaches on her lunch break from work.
"I really enjoy it. It makes my day to go in and teach the students," said Daniels, a 22-year-old who has been teaching dance for four years.
The students enjoy it, too.
Sarah Pritchard, a senior, said she likes learning ballet so much that she is considering taking more classes at Arts Place.
Sophomore Kayla Scott said both she and her classmates also are enjoying the class.
Ballet isn't the only form of dance the color guard members have learned and enjoyed.
Daniels, who has been dancing for about 10 years, has also taught the students jazz and hip-hop.
Along with being fun and good exercise, the dance classes have provided many benefits for the students.
Vogler said he has seen the benefits of guard members learning different types of dance. He said during marching season last year, one of the judges at a competition commented on how the guard members were moving differently on the track. "He could tell we did something different in the off-season," Vogler said.
He added that the guard members seem to be more comfortable in their own skin. "They've developed the ability to perform in front of a crowd," Vogler said.
He attended a recent class and joked several times about trying some the ballet moves himself. He later said that others who work with the color guard, such as Emilie Garringer and Amy Grady, assist with the classes.
The members of the color guard like taking the classes because it gives them ideas for new movements to incorporate into their routines.
Pritchard said some of ballet steps the guard members have learned have been incorporated into this year's routine. "We already have a lot of foot and arm positions incorporated into the routines," she said.
"I hope they can take something out of the class ... to help" in their color guard routines," Daniels said.
Scott said she would like to see a jump step incorporated into the routine. She also enjoys doing plies, which is when a dancer holds his or her heels together and bends at the knees.
A plie is just one of the many steps the students have learned to do at the barre. They have also learned several floor exercises, such as kicks, turns and jumps.
"I think their favorite part ... is the kicks, turns, movements across the floor," Daniels said.
"Well, it helps us be graceful and it helps our posture," Scott said. She said she enjoys ballet but prefers the hip-hop and jazz classes, "because they're just fun. You can do whatever you want and be yourself."
She said the ballet classes at the JCHS have definitely made her more flexible.
Daniels said one of her main goals in the class to improve the students' flexibility and coordination. "It's all about balance - to be able to stay on their feet," she said. Apparently, she is meeting her goal.[[In-content Ad]]
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