Springstep: Where Kids Dance for the Fun of it

From Toddlers to Teens, Music and Dance Classes for Kids This Fall

Youth Hip Hop. Photo by Allison Fiske.

At age 5, Lindsey is already a veteran of Springstep. She’s been taking classes there since she was 18 months old. She first dabbled in the world of rhythm and song in Music Together®, a music and movement class for babies and children up to five years old and their caregivers. Now, Lindsey has tapped into new forms of expression in Springstep’s Creative Dance for Kids. Lindsey learns fun new ways to tell stories through movement and dance while keeping active and making new friends. Next session she may sample other dance forms such as ballet, tap, or hip hop, all offered at age-appropriate levels at Springstep.

Springstep is a non-profit arts center located in Medford Square that offers affordable, top quality instruction in a wide range of dance, music, and art classes. Well-known for its outstanding adult classes, Springstep has recently enhanced its youth offerings with classes that focus on fun, fitness, and even foreign language skills, with classes like Sing-A-Lingo: Spanish Through Music. In all classes, children learn listening, cooperation, and respect, while developing flexibility, balance, coordination, and strength in a friendly and non-competitive environment. According to the National Dance Education Organization, “Children learn movement patterns as readily as they learn language…Dance helps children mature physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively.” Sadly, despite its value as a learning tool, only 18% of children have access to dance in schools.

Lindsey’s mother, Nancy, chose to bring her daughter to Springstep because, “the curriculum is really geared for the children to have fun and learn. We chose to have Lindsey take Creative Dance because the shorter 8-week class schedule works really well with our family’s schedule.” Nancy continues, “I love the emphasis on the child learning dance – not being trained for an end-of-year recital. So many dance schools require families to commit to many months so she wouldn’t be able to experiment with other activities.”

When she’s older, Lindsey may enroll in Youth Hip Hop, one of Springstep’s most popular classes. In this 8-week Saturday morning session, children ages 8 through 13 practice basic hip hop moves while learning an upbeat, choreographed piece. Lindsey might also consider Springstep’s new musical theater class, Curtain, Lights, and All That Jazz. This class gives children who are enthusiastic about musicals to learn how to coordinate singing and dancing, while expressing emotion through dance, and collaborating with others in a group ensemble. Whether she chooses these classes or any of Springstep’s other great youth offerings, Lindsey the skills and relationships she develops will benefit her in school, with friends, and in many other areas in life.

Springstep’s youth classes begin the week of September 12th. For the full line-up of fall classes or to register, visit www.springstep.org and click on “Kids’ classes.”

About Springstep:

Springstep, a 15,600 square foot award-winning arts and performance facility is located in the heart of Medford Square. Springstep hosts a diverse range of cultural events, classes, and social dances for youth and adults. The building includes an art gallery of rotating exhibits, and a wide range of studios, meeting rooms, and function spaces that are available for rent for private and nonprofit special events. Located at 98 George P. Hassett Drive, across from Medford City Hall, Springstep offers ample free parking and is accessible via public transportation.

For more information or to register for classes please call 781-395-0402, or visit the Springstep website at www.springstep.org.

– Information from Springstep