Here Comes Santa!

Santa will definitely be making his stop to the Philly Region! All our little ones have been very nice this month(like every month!). They have been making sure to show Rudolph where their house is with their magnificent tendus and enthusiastic holiday inspired jack in the boxes!

The children have been doing such a great job with counting to eight this month we learned four and four make eight! Including our counting into our count bounce song has made our little ones into excellent counters.

We've been going to the Toy Shop all month and having SO much fun sneaking around and playing with all the toys! It tough to chose which is everyone's favorite between the spinning dreidels and stiff robots.

The jingle bells have ringing for Santa and the children have been doing a merrily job pulling Santa's sleigh around the North Pole and getting it all ready for his big trip! This by far is my favorite exercise we do across the floor. Seeing all the little ones as reindeer, with their hooves under their chins and pointed prancing toes fills me with Christmas joy!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS from all of Santa's little helpers in the Philly Region!

Happy Holidays!

We are so excited for the Holidays in Northern Virginia! Now that we've had some winter weather, its really starting to feel like the season!

There is nothing more fitting for this time of year than dancing and learning about "The Nutcracker", which we are really enjoying! Its so nice to see how excited the dancers get when they hear that familiar music. We are having a lot of fun dancing like the characters; jerky/sharp like the nutcracker, sneaky like the mouse king, serious like the wooden soldiers or even beautiful and graceful like Clara. Our dancers have been doing such a great job with being able to show different movement qualities, which is so impressive at this age!

In addition to all the Holiday dancing, we are still doing a great job with our ballet terminology. I recieved such a great compliment from a grandparent who let me know how impressed she was that her little dancer not only knew the names of positions, but could show her them with good technique. It puts a smile on my face to know how much these dancers are learning!

Please have a safe and Happy Holiday season!

Happy Holidays!

A Time to Give Thanks

I always never like to see class end but this month the goodbye dance is my favorite time of class. We are teaching our little ones about all the things they are thankful, not only during this time of year but always. It's wonderful to hear so many wonderful repsonses from our little ones what they are thankful for.

Many of them tell me how thankful they are for their families, friends, food, teachers, house and friends. I love this repsonse......my mom and dad because they love me and......they buy me toys! This to me tells me that they are thankful for their toys, which they should be, but they are thinking of other things first!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving :) ~Philly

Our favorite time of year

This is our absolute favorite time of year! Not only is it a beautiful time of year, the leaves are changing, the weather is mild but we also get to do one of our favorite movement stories- "The Painter and the Elves"!

I have spoken with my teachers and we all agree that there is something about "The Painter and the Elves" that our students just love! They can barely hold their excitement in, once they stack those carpet squares and know that it almost movement story time. ITS SO MUCH FUN!

Not only are they having fun with the stories, but this time of year is so exciting because we are learning so many new dance terms and some pretty tricky dance moves. Now that we got our tendues, we are moving on to posse's and boy does that take some balance!

With this movement story, the new terms we are learning and the holidays right around the corner, it is no surprise that this is our favorite time of the year!

Happy Fall!!

O, O, O.....

Everyone has been having such a wonderful time with the little "o" and all his adverntures! It's so much fun taking an adventure with the little "o" and some of his other alphabet friends :) We have been having a blast in Philly!

We are also enjoying Mr. Squirel who comes and visit's us. Everyone is doing an excellent job showing Mr. Squiel where to hide his nuts for the winter time with their tendus :)

Fun Fall! (NORTHERN VA/RICHMOND)

The first week in the October lesson plan was so much fun! I am so proud of my students, they are retaining so much information! By using the Ballet Flashcards, students can already regconize First Position, Releve and Grand Plie! I am very impressed. We are also really enjoying the "Letter O" movement story, its so much fun to guess what letter he will turn into next! We are becoming galloping experts and will start to gallop backwards this week!

Remember to make sure your email is current with our offices, we are communicating mostly though email this year and would not want you to miss out on any information!

Happy Fall!

Philly!

September flew by in the Philly region! Everyone has had such a wonderful and fun start to the year. We are a little disappointed that it has come to such a quick end. I told my classes today that it was going to be the last day we were going to be Astronauts and one little dancer looked up at me and said "But Miss Liz, I've had such a fun time being an astronaut I don't want it to end" :(. I told her that I had a lot of fun being an astronaut too but we have to try many different things and that we have a lot more stories to explore and become many different things! She got so excited and said "I can't wait" and "Me either!" I said :)

LPCW Western NY

I can't believe that September is almost over! Classes are exciting and going great in the Western NY region. The kids are doing an awesome job and are really enjoying class this month. Some of the kids really get into the tornado dance! They like to pretend that we are scaring the wicked witch away when we make the tornadoes! How cute!

I had a parent e-mail me today to tell me how her daughter is always telling her "No banana backs Mommy!" It is really neat to see the kids pick up on the material and apply it outside of class.

The staff in the Western NY region is looking forward to having a GREAT October!

LPCW-Northern Virginia

Classes are well under way in the Northern Virginia and Richmond areas! We are so excited about the fall session. We even have some dancers in their dance clothes the on "non-dance" days, because they want to be ready when we come!

Our new teachers, Miss Katie and Miss Adelle, are having so much fun getting to know their students. They are doing an excellent job and we are getting great feedback from directors, teachers and parents about their classes. They are eager to meet parents, so please do not hesitate to say hello if you see them in your centers.

Also, we are very excited to announce that we are adding birthday parties to our list of services in the Northern Virginia area. If you are interested in having one of our teachers come and host a birthday party for your child, please contact our office- (703) 830-4008. Look for more information at your child's center--Coming soon.

Happy Fall!

September 16, 2009

This month seems to by flying by! We have had our first full week of fall classes and it's wonderful to see everyone back from summer and those we missed from the summer as well :) Today in one of our classes I had some children who danced throughout the summer telling the other little dancers on everything they missed on :( But I reassured the whole class that we will even be having MORE fun this year ecspecially with all of our exciting stories!!!

We have had a great start with our demo classes this past week in the Charlotte Mecklenburg region. To say there are some excited parents and dancers to have LPCW starting up again would be an understatement. For example, Carly who has been a part of our program over the last year and throughout the summer just had to bring her dance clothes to registration. She wanted to ensure she was wouldn't miss out on all the fun!! She was serious about registering. It's students like this that make what we do worthwhile. Their enthusiasm is contagious!! We can't wait for the year ahead here in our region. Impacting a child's life through the arts, and having fun doing it, is such a great opportunity!

Fall Registration

LPCW Fall registration will begin in just a couple of short weeks! We will begin registering for our 2009-2010 season of classes the first week in August. Don't miss it! We are already having many parents call and want to register---so some classes may fill up quickly. We hope everyone is having a wonderful summer and we hope to see your child in class this fall!

Summer Dance Camp!

In just a few weeks we will be hosting our Summer Dance Camp for ages 3-5 in Greenville, NC. It is a wonderful, fun week of dance, pantomime, acting, making props and costumes and then using them in an original piece, watching children's theatre presentations, learning about dance history, and much more! At the end of the week the campers present a special class just for family and friends to watch---if you have a child aged 3-5 years-old you will not want them to miss it!

It has been a wonderful summer for LPCW so far. It is hard to believe that over half the summer has already flown by. We have been learning lots of wonderful, new things.

We Must All Work...

"Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe--a moment that never was before or never will be again. And what do we teach our children in school? We teach them that 2 and 2 are four and that Paris is the capital of France. When will we also teach them what they are?

We should say to each of them: 'Do you know what you are? You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the world there is no other child exactly like you. In the millions of years that have passed, there has never been a child like you. And look at your body---what a wonder it is! Your legs, your arms, your cunning fingers, the way you move!

You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel. And when you grow up, can you then harm another who is, like you, a marvel? You must cherish one another.'

We must all work---to make this world worthy of its children."

- Pablo Casals

Lehigh Valley Story on LPCW

During demo classes today a reporter from the Lehigh Valley Times came and did a story on Little People's Creative Workshop---here's the link:

Link to story

Dance workshop

Added by Bill Adams on April 22, 2009 at 11:51 AM

Teacher Liz Story shows children how to stretch their legs and shake their feet Tuesday at the Little Peoples’ Dance Workshop at the Family YMCA Early Childhood Development Center in Forks Township. Express-Times Photo | BILL ADAMS

Tags: dance workshop | Family YMCA Early Childhood Development Center | Little Peoples' Dance Workshop | Liz Story

This photo is part of the Day in Photos April 22, 2009 gallery

School Teachers' Comments on Benefits of Dance

A few comments from teachers---and how they think dance benefits a child's education:

“Dance for children is much needed-- along with physical education, because it explores their potential in movement ... on any size, shape, or color of body.” “I get a lot of feedback from classroom teachers who say, ‘I can tell these children have been with you and had dance because they are more assertive — not aggressive, but more assertive in their thinking and being able to share their thoughts.’” “Dance is a good experience for children who have a hard time sitting down. Once they come to dance and burn off some of that energy, they can focus on more sequential, factual information.” “Boys do like to dance. I start them off using the word ‘movement.’ Some boys are beautiful at movement. They get to explore that. Girls widen their perspective. They see that it is not just one style — dance is about what you think, what you feel, what you see.”

Dance Teachers and Director Needed....

We are searching for a preschool dance instructor in the Philadelphia suburban area; as well as western NJ area with Little People's Creative Workshop.  Our program is expanding quickly!  If you (or anyone you know) is interested---be sure to send your resume and cover letter to:  LPCWphilly@aol.com  It is a great opportunity for anyone that loves dance and young children.  Don't miss out!  Pass the word.

Little People's Creative Workshop is also looking for an individual to fill a Regional Director position in the Raleigh, NC area.  Resumes need to be submitted by April 15th to:  LPCW@me.com  This position oversees the program and instructs classes.  Great opportunity!

Our New Northern NY Regional Director

Welcome, Jaymie!

Jaymie Boudreau, a native of Elmira, NY, graduated with her B.A. in dance from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. While at JMU she performed with the Virginia Repertory Dance Company and the Contemporary Dance Ensemble. Jaymie has continued her performance career in the professional outdoor drama productions of Theatre West Virginia and as a touring member of the West Virginia Dance Company. She has been a teacher and choreographer for many years and is looking forward to sharing her love of dance and theatre with children. She is excited to become a dance educator and the Northern New York Regional Director of Little People’s Creative Workshop. 

Benefits of Dance in the Early Years.....

 

Physical Development 

 

• Moving safely, imaginatively and with confidence 

• Moving with bodily control, co-ordination, flexibility and balance 

• The development of spatial awareness 

• Dancing with props; developing manipulative skills 

• Experiencing a range of gross motor movements and fine motor movements 

• Keeping healthy - dance as part of a healthy lifestyle 

Creative Development 

 

• Communicating ideas, thoughts and feelings non-verbally through movement 

• Using the imagination to create ideas, characters and narratives 

• Making movement responses 

• Having an enjoyable, exciting and motivating time 

• Working individually, with a partner and as part of a group 

• Developing trust and co-operation 

• Selecting and using movement ideas independently and with others 

• Exploring feelings and views of self and others - including other cultures and beliefs 

• Accepting the moral code on which discipline and courtesy within the group is based 

• Interacting with a new social group 

 

 

Communication, Language and Literacy Development 

 

• The use of sounds, music, words, poems, rhymes, texts and stories as stimuli for, and 

   accompaniment to dance 

• The use of language to imagine and recreate roles and ideas in the dance 

• Interaction - negotiating plans and activities and developing conversational skills 

• Appreciation - talking about personal dance performance 

• Observation - talking about the dance performance of others 

• Developing a vocabulary of movemen

Dance for Young Children Being Used in Many Powerful Ways...

Nationwide we are finding that dance for children is now being used as a method of treating social, emotional, cognitive, and physical problems. Throughout the ages, people of many cultures have used dance to express powerful emotions, tell stories, treat illness, celebrate important events, and maintain communal bonds. Dancing harnesses this power of movement in a comfortable setting and uses it to promote personal growth, health, and well-being.

Quality dance programs for children are based on the premise that the body and mind are interrelated. Many dance therapists believe that mental and emotional problems are often held in the body in the form of muscle tension and constrained movement patterns. Conversely, studies have shown that the state of the body can affect attitude and feelings, both positively and negatively.

Dance movements promote healing in a number of ways. Moving as a group brings children of all ages out of isolation, creates powerful social and emotional bonds, and generates the good feelings that come from being with others. Moving rhythmically eases muscular rigidity, diminishes anxiety, and increases energy. Moving spontaneously helps children learn to recognize and trust their impulses, and to act on or contain them as they choose. Moving creatively encourages self-expression and opens up new ways of thinking and doing.

On a purely physical level, dance provides the benefits of exercise: improved health, well-being, coordination, and muscle tone. On an emotional level, it helps children feel more joyful and confident, and allows them to explore such issues as anger, frustration, and loss that may be too difficult to explore verbally. On a mental level, dance seeks to enhance cognitive learning.

Dance has a broad range of health benefits. It has been demonstrated to be clinically effective at improving body image, self-esteem, attentiveness, and communication skills. It can also reduce stress, fears and anxieties, as well as lessen feelings of isolation, body tension, chronic pain, and depression. In addition it can enhance the functioning of the body's circulatory and respiratory systems.

Dance has also been shown to benefit adolescent and adult psychiatric patients, the learning disabled, the visually and hearing impaired, the mentally handicapped.

Your Child's Development and Dance....

Children naturally communicate through movement.  They express their fears, excitement, and all other emotions with movement.  LPCW classes for young children focuses on the following:

*  developing creativity
*  expressing emotion
*  building social skills
*  encouraging independence
*  building their self-confidence
*  stimulating mental processes
*  enhancing their physical development
*  expanding their rhythmic and body awareness

These young years are so important---and the very time to encourage these traits.  These are building blocks for the rest of their life, that will be used and needed in every arena.   So many studies have proven the benefit of dance and a child's development:  mental, physical, and emotional.  Children who have participated in dance/music/theatre from a young age score better on SAT's, have better attention spans, are creative problem-solvers, and are more well-balanced and adjusted.   These are just a few of the benefits children reap from participating in the arts.  Parents that invest in their children with these classes are making the wisest investment around!

More Benefits of Dance for Young Children:

Here is a great article by Rachel Kemp, dance teacher:

Benefits of Dance, by Rachel Kemp

Toddlers love to move, stretch and jump. Teachers can introduce kids to new ways of moving their little bodies in entertaining and constructive ways. All forms of dance, and creative movement can be very beneficial. Kids should be introduced to exercise and physical exercise as early as possible. It might take a little more money, but in the long run it can pay off. Introducing your child to dance is one of the greatest gifts you can give them.

Dance promotes discipline, coordination, memory, flexibility, strength, line, grace and stamina. Performing builds positive self-esteem and confidence, helps with other sports, and is just great fun! All kids are capable of relating and understanding basic techniques that are shown to them and demonstrated properly.

The vocabulary they learn through dance can help them express themselves through movement and naturally incorporate it into their lives. Signing your child up in dance as soon as possible can be a great thing for him/her.

As long as children can listen and stay focused, no age is too young to get them started. Of course, forcing children into any activity is never healthy. It’s important to observe how they respond.

As children get older and more serious, the length of the class and the amount of class per week may increase. Again, it might mean more running around for you, but if your child is fortunate enough to find something he or she loves to do, it’s well worth the extra time and money. My parents ran around for me 4-5 times a week to participate in many classes, I don't know how they did it, but I’m so grateful, because I am now blessed to be making a living doing what I love.

Remember the 4 D’s: DISCIPLINE, DETERMINATION, DEDICATION, DESIRE. Dance class can help your child conquer all four.

Mind and Body Benefits of Dance for Children

ARTICLE 

Dance provides youth with mind and body benefits 

By Debra Strickland 

FamilyTalk Magazine, March/April Edition 2006 

  

Many different types of dance classes are available for children, from modern dance, 

ballet, tap and jazz to dance that celebrates unique ethnic and cultural traditions.  What’s 

the most important thing for parents to keep in mind when choosing a dance class?  It’s 

that research has proven that dance provides physical, developmental and artistic benefits 

to your child. 

 

Physical Benefits - Students build muscle strength while increasing flexibility.  Young 

dancers develop a sense of balance and improve agility and coordination.  Importantly, 

children also develop body awareness and learn correct posture. 

 

These benefits extend beyond a student’s involvement with dance, helping youth involved 

in other disciplines, such as sports and martial arts.  Studies have shown that physical 

activity helps children relieve stress and feel relaxed.  It also is a great way to help your 

child develop a positive lifelong attitude about staying active and healthy. 

 

Developmental Benefits - Dance classes are fun and a great way to meet new friends.  

Young dancers develop essential social skills through interaction with other students.  

Group choreography fosters teamwork, communication, trust and cooperation.  Dance 

also has been proven to nurture important life skills, such as discipline and focus.  

Dancers naturally display confidence, self-esteem and poise.  These skills are developed 

through participating in dance performances. 

 

Artistic Benefits – One of the greatest benefits of dance is that it sparks a child’s 

imagination and nurtures individual creativity in a unique way.  Dance classes share the 

joy of physical self-expression in a supportive and structured setting.  This can have a 

positive impact on children who have limited physical abilities, who act out or who have a 

difficult time sitting still.  Involving children in dance also teaches the basic elements of 

creative movement, such as time, space, rhythm and design. 

 

While people may not be as familiar with modern dance as with ballet or jazz, modern   

 

dance in particular honors the creative spirit and celebrates the individual.  Modern dance 

does not simply conform to conventional movements, shapes and patterns.  Instead, it 

requires the young dancer to learn movement from the inside out, nurturing the body and 

focusing the mind.  This form of dance especially is welcoming to children of all shapes, 

sizes and genders. 

  

There is one final reason to get your child dancing.  Research proves there is a strong link 

between involvement in the arts and increased educational achievement.  In fact, one 

study showed that “students who participate in the arts are not only more likely to 

participate in a math and science fair, but also out-perform their peers on the SATs by 87 

points” (www.artsusa.org).  These educational benefits are gained by students regardless 

of their socioeconomic status.   

 

There’s sure to be a dance class that fits your child’s interests and your schedule, so why 

wait?  Enroll your child in a dance class.  The lessons she or he learns will last a lifetime. 

 

Debra Strickland is the executive director of Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers, southwest 

Michigan’s only professional modern dance company.  Debra holds a Master of Public 

Administration degree from Western Michigan University and has been passionate about 

working in the arts and women’s issues for nearly a decade. 

Great Spring Opportunity.....

Classes are in full swing and with the weather we have had lately it is so important for children to get exercise!  Dance is such a healthy form of exercise for any age---and is a wonderful outlet during the turbulent, unpredictable weather that we experience in spring, when many children do not get to go out and play.  Just because there are only 3 months left in the regular season---it is not too late to register for dance.  When you register your child for dance you are giving them a wonderful gift!

Red Hot Franchises to Feature Little People's Creative Workshop!

Red Hot Franchises will featuring Little People's Creative Workshop beginning next week!  LPCW was founded in 1991 by Daune Pitman and has grown to be the largest organization in the nation teaching dance to young children.  LPCW has grown to over 10 locations nationwide, covering 6 states; and will be continuing expansion and growth through franchising beginning in March 2009!  Lots of exciting things are happening around here!

Upcoming Summer Programs.....

We are in the process are putting together the Little People's Creative Workshop Summer Program!  Whew!  Can you believe it is already time to start thinking of summer?  Don't let your child miss out --- we will be offering lots of great choices this summer.  There will be 10 week summer sessions and 1 week Dance Camps.  We also offer 1 week Acting Camps for ages 6-14.  Check with your area's director to see what your choices for summer fun and learning will be!

Notes from One of Our Directors:

As a dancer and performer since the age of three, I cannot think of a better way for young children to explore movement, enhance creativity, and build self-confidence than through dance classes. I have taught many age groups and with many companies, but Little People’s Creative Workshop provides a completely rewarding experience. 

Dance and LPCW, is more than just another form of exercise for the children, it provides an exploration into the arts that all children should be exposed to.  Through LPCW, children are able to learn how to use their bodies as a form of expression and a possible outlet for creative thinking. Learning this at an early age can provide life long benefits for our students; such as better problem solving skills, more self confidence and of-course better coordination.

Personally, there are few things more rewarding than being able to see a child’s creative mind grow and see them move and explore on their own.  I enjoy seeing children approach the lessons in a completely different way than I expected them to and everyday is a surprise! I have grown as a dancer with LPCW because it caused me to look at movement from a child like perspective; giving me a new approach to dance.

I look forward to continue to share my love for dance with young children through Little People’s Creative Workshop.

       ~Jennifer Delfin, LPCW Northern Virginia Regional Director

A New LPCW Region to Open in the Fall.....

We are so excited to announce that we will be opening a new LPCW region this fall.  Ms. Jaymie Boudreau will be directing and overseeing our new Northern New York Region.  We are in the process of getting everything set-up and ready to go---we may even be able to start classes in the summer!  We have had great interest and requests from the area and everyone there can hardly wait for classes to get going.  Welcome Aboard, Jaymie!

Investing in Your Children with Live Performances....

If you are a parent of a little one we cannot understate the importance of taking your child to performances that are geared to their age.  Sure, going to the movie theater is a treat----but it is a wonderful experience for a young child to attend a live theatre performance that is geared to their age.  In most areas there are children's theatre groups---and colleges and universities usually host a Family Fare type of season of performances for young ones.   Take a second to check into it today for your area.  You and your family will have so much fun! 

Be Specific in Questioning Young Ones

As we have a bit of spring weather during February---always a teaser---it is a time that all of us, parents and children can get into a rut.  We are all ready for consistent spring weather and more playtime outside.  

Us this time to encourage your child in their endeavors.  Be sure to use the monthly newsletter to ask your child specifically about the things we are doing in class.  We compose our newsletters in a way that makes it easy for parents to have a conversation about dance class with young ones.  At this young age children are overwhelmed by such a huge question as:  "What did you do in dance class today?"  That question is just TOO BIG for them!  You will usually get an answer like:  "Nothing" to a big question like that.  Use the monthly newsletters to ask specific questions about what is going on in class---and only ask 1-2 specific questions every few days.  Asking too many questions at one time can be overwhelming to young ones as well.  Enjoy this great journey with your child----we are honored to be a part of it!

A Month of Growth

February is off to a great start!  We appreciate all of the wonderful notes that we have received about parent observation.  Thanks to those of you that responded with kind words and excitement about the program.  

February is the month that we see great growth in our students when comparing their skills to the beginning of the year.  We hope those are being shared with parents at home.  We see increased balance and depth perception; as well as stronger bodies and better flexibility.  These are wonderful skills and abilities that will be taken throughout life.  We recently had a parent ask if they could sign up for our class---they thought they could use some of the great skills that their child was acquiring!  We might have to look into offering that in the future---A Parents' Class. :)

Our Dance Teachers and Directors.....

Here at LPCW we have always been blessed to have wonderful teachers and directors.  We began 18 years ago teaching dance in Eastern NC and for the past several years have been nationwide.  As our program continues to grow and expand we never marvel at the many wonderful instructors and directors that are a part of the Little People's Creative Workshop family.  Our Philadelphia area Regional Director shared these thoughts about how she feels about what she does:

"My love for dance started at a very early age.  I was excited every Saturday morning to get up, put on my leotard and get to go to dance class!  What made it such a wonderful experience for me was my amazing teachers.  As I grew older I used them as my role models and saw not only how much passion they had for dance, but for teaching as well.

I always thought I would end up teaching  high school or older students in a studio, but once I started working with LPCW I knew those thoughts were gone!  Ask anyone you know how they get greeted when they come to work.   I bet they won't say by twenty smiling and excited faces screaming your name, and these aren't even the children you teach!

Teaching 'little people' brings out the best in a teacher, not only because they make you smile and greet you with hugs so powerful that they almost knock you over; but because they are so eager to learn.  LPCW has an amazing curriculum that allows children to explore dance through themselves but yet in a very structured and fun atmosphere!

LPCW is so great for children because it allows them to go off into imaginary, secret places while learning how to move their bodies properly throughout space.  At this young age children absorb everything and what makes LPCW so great is that we are able to offer the classes while the children are in school---so they are able to relate things that they are learning to dance and to the arts which most children do not have the opportunity to do!"

                             ~  Liz Story, LPCW Philadelphia Regional Director

The Obvious Benefits of Dance

We wanted to share this great article written by Sarah Wilkiamson:

"The Obvious Benefits of Dance School"

www.romancetracker.com/the-obvious-benefits-of-dance-school/

Here is an excerpt------

"There are many benefits to your child when they attend dance school.  It not only enables them to realize creativity within them but gives them training for other areas in life.  Dance is a wonderful creative art that can enrich your child's life for many years to come."

Ms. Wilkiamson goes on to list several benefits such as:

Learning the art of creativity

Dance is good exercise

Confidence

Dance leads to learning respect

Dance helps develop social skills

Dance helps with bonding

Be sure to click the link above to read the entire article.  All of us here at LPCW see the many benefits before our eyes each day---it is a pleasure to invest in young lives with what we do.

Benefits of Children's Dance Classes.......

Children---boys and girls---who participate in dance when they are young enjoy many benefits.  A few are increased self-esteem, coordination, balance, poise, and many others.  Parents are beginning to see the importance of enrolling their children in dance and theatre classes; and seeing the investment that doing so creates.  Take a moment to read this short article about some of the benefits of dance for children:

http://www.essortment.com/all/childrendancec_rczk.htm

Check Out Some of Our Star Dancers:

Parent Observations: a Great Success!

Last week we held our mid-year Parent Observations---or what we like to call here at LPCW "Informances".  All the students did a great job and each class was never short of comedy and entertainment.  Preschoolers are certainly a group that is full of surprises.  It was great to see parents and family with their cameras; and the students thrive on their applause.  Thanks to all of you that joined us; if you had an unexpected conflict and you did not make it to your child's presentation---please give us a call and we will give you another time to attend.  We wouldn't want anyone to miss it!  Here is what one parent in our Philadelphia area classes said about last week:

"Just a note of thanks for the great Informance today--the kids were so well prepared and it was easy to see why they love you and class - nice job!  Thanks for making it fun!"

                                                    ~Janelle, mom of Chloe

Welcome to LPCW!

Welcome to the Little People's Creative Workshop blog---a place for parents and teachers to share their thoughts and what is going on with our program.  We consider it an honor to work with children--and we have such great things to share with you!  Join us in the conversation!