Director's Note | Diane Dana

Now more than ever, I believe that the arts need to be an integral part of every child’s life because the arts bring out the beauty in the world and in people.

Here is an overview of our philosophy and how it impacts the life of a child from age one to age eighteen.

It is important to consider how the arts are introduced to a preschooler. Our preschool programs are a positive first experience for the young at art. The classes are concurrent with specific stages of child development. The curriculum is based on the use of props, sets, and imagination to encourage the children to learn music, language, math, and dance concepts. These classes also promote universal values such as sharing, caring, cooperation and self-discipline. We provide the structure that young children need to feel secure.

The curriculum is creative and progressive; students are always learning something new based on what has already been taught. The children take great pride in what they do and so do we! Our teaching methods build self-confidence at an early age. Children are motivated and enjoy learning to dance.

Children can benefit from the arts at an early age. This has been cited in numerous studies such as “The Mozart Effect.” The study of music and dance actually makes children smarter!

Enthusiastic and eager to learn, the school age child is ready for a more formal appreciation of the arts.

Ballet is the foundation for all formal dance training. Students who study ballet have an easily recognizable advantage even in jazz and tap classes. The results of proper ballet training are: power, speed, agility, placement, balance, strength, articulation of the foot, poise, excellent posture, fluidity of movement and superior technique.

Statistics have shown that many children today are sadly lacking in physical fitness. If dance is taught in a warm and positive environment, it trains the body and mind while lifting the spirit. Dance also helps the child to excel in sports, cheerleading, gym, theater, academics and other activities.

Finally, let’s talk about dance training for pre-teens and teens. Life gets a lot more complicated now. It is time for our “Choices” Program.

I believe that dance is a performing art, not a competitive sport. The arts are for sharing. The best competitor a student can have is him/herself. I believe that students should support one another as they study and grow together. Each child is unique and special, and dance is meant to bring out the best in each individual. Teens can choose to make dance a priority or an activity among many. They will benefit either way. Instead of a competitive “Company” in our school, we have Dreamdancer Performing Groups to mentor students who wish to focus primarily on dance training. Students who elect to take dance for benefits and fun it provides are encouraged and treated with the same enthusiasm as the Pre-Professional student.

Sports and competition have their place in the world. Sports are a great way for kids to enjoy exercise while learning new skills and the value of teamwork. Kids can learn about life playing sports. But sports and dance are sometimes approached in a similar manner, even though they are both very different. “Sports” are defined as a “game,” and “competition” is defined as “Striving to get something that someone else wants; as in competing for a trophy.” Art is not defined that way. The difference needs to be understood in order to appreciate how we approach dance training for children. “Art” is defined as “civilization’s storehouse of felt values; rendering of what has seemed important to those of powerful imagination and profound feeling of expression.” “Artistic” is defined as “emphasizing the use of imagination and creative ability, in addition to skill; as having good taste and having or showing appreciation of beauty.”

The arts can bring out the beauty and uniqueness of each individual child. It has been said that creativity is the highest form of intelligence. This is why I believe so passionately in what we do at The Wyckoff School of Dance. This is our mission. If we can enrich each child’s life through the arts, we can make a better world for all children.