I teach classes at a city community center. We are fortunate enough to have a dance studio at the community center. Even though Nia is non- to very low impact, it is important to dance on dance appropriate flooring. If you are going to a, let’s say a festival and planning on dancing on the pavement for a few hours one afternoon, that is fine, but if you are planning on going to an exercise class one to three times a week, the floor needs to be appropriate. We have a nice floor at the community center. It is in the dance studio which is right off of the front desk. A lot seems to happen in the rooms past the studio. I think the preschool or small children’s’ area is past the dance studio. The dance studio has two doors. It is so cute the number of small children that walk by and stop to look in at us. Some stop to watch. I think children are drawn to dance.
A couple of weeks ago, I looked up to see a small girl looking in at us. Then I saw a hand reach out to grab hers, and she pulled away because she wanted to stay and watch. She was mesmerized. Her eyes were big and she was just standing there completely still watching. Some kids start to move while they watch. All of them get wide-eyed when any of us make eye contact with them, but as soon as we say, “Hi!” or wave, the face breaks into a smile. So many want to join us.
I always want to stop the class to ask them what intrigues them. Is it just dancing in general? Is it that we are usually laughing and having fun? Is that the was are making noises? Could be they are attracted to the whooping or growling? Could be my wild tie-dyed shirts? Or the energy in the room? I don’t know. I often wish I could ask. Especially to that little one who was mesmerized and really did not want to be dragged away.
Sometimes it is really fun because there will be a line of them . . . like a whole class walking by so we get to wave a lot and we get a lot of waves back. Also, last week, we think a group was in line for the water fountain which is right outside the door. That was funny. Because we went, “WHOOO!” then we heard “WHOOO!” from the hall. So then we went, “WHOOWHOO!” and we got a “WHOOWHOO!” back. We were able to include them in our class via vocals for a couple of minutes. It was super funny.
Kids are so drawn to dance. You know, you’ve seen those videos of the little ones just dancing away to a song they hear in the store or in the car. They have not yet learned to be self-conscious of their movement or care what other people are thinking. They just hear the music and they move. It is so wonderful to witness. I wish we would never lose that.
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