By Dedra Cordle
Staff Writer
Dance Rhythms Studio instructor Alyson Townsend (far right) and assistant Taylor Frasure teach a class the moves of a nation-wide routine to celebrate National Dance Day on July 30. The studio, which is located in Galloway, will be hosting a dance party to commemorate the day and have invited the public to join the free event.
While waiting for her daughter’s class to finish one day, Karen McCall picked up a flyer at Dance Rhythms Studio announcing a public dance party to celebrate National Dance Day on July 30.
According to this flyer, participants would learn a routine created by choreographers on the hit show “So You Think You Can Dance” and footage of their group performance would be submitted to the show for a chance to be featured on national television.
Knowing that this would be something Rianna might be interested in, McCall passed along the information and gave little thought as to whether should be interested as well.
“I figured I would just be coming as a cheerleader and cheering them on from the sidelines,” she said.
But when fellow parents and instructors at the studio got wind of her plan, they encouraged her to take a more active role.
Upon hearing that balance issues keep McCall from doing a majority of physical activities, a brainstorming session took place and Trisch Groves, the owner of the studio, came up with a solution to get McCall to participate in the dance routine.
“We can put you in a place where you’ll be comfortable and you can just do the arms,” she said.
McCall admitted that it was an appealing prospect and said she would give it some more thought.
“It definitely seems like it (the dance party) will be fun,” she said.
Groves said she certainly hopes so.
Though the National Dance Day has been around since 2010 – “So You Think You Can Dance” co-creator Nigel Lythgoe is one of the founders – this will be the first time the studio has hosted an event to celebrate the day whose mission is to show and spread the love of dance.
Groves said they just wanted to do something to give back to the community and share the joy of the popular art form.
“I’m really excited to see how this goes,” she said.
While some may be hesitant to sign up for the event due to a perceived lack of dance skills, Melissa Cox says it is a judgment free zone and a judgement free dance party.
“No one should have to worry or be self-conscious,” said Cox, a former instructor who is also Groves’ niece. “You just have to have a love of dance, not skill or knowledge of it.”
But if the prospect of dancing cold to a new routine fills you with fright, the creators of the routine have posted the moves online to learn at your own pace.
Taylor Frasure, an assistant instructor at the studio, said the routine is really fun and easy to learn.
“I think this routine will be possible for everyone.”
She encouraged the public to come out on July 30 and give it a try.
To learn the moves on your own, visit http://dizzyfeet.wpengine.com/national-dance-day/. And if you like to learn on the fly, sign up for the dance party on the Dance Rhythms Studio Facebook page or reserve a spot by calling the studio at 614-851-3945.
There will be multiple sessions throughout the morning and early afternoon to accommodate all age groups. The schedule is as follows: 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. for ages 5 and under, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for ages 6 to 10, noon to 1 p.m. for any age above 10. Time permitting, solo artists will have a chance to showcase individual moves. Dancers are also encouraged to wear blue, white or black gear.
Dance Rhythms Studio is located at 5622 Hall Road in Galloway.
