Dance center focuses on spiritual and physical aspects of children

Terry Jackson, owner/director of the Christian Dance Center, believes dancing isn’t only fun but can serve as a positive outlet for children’s tness and overall health.

“Dancing increases strength in your heart, lungs and muscles,” Jackson said. “It also increases exibility, endurance and coordinates the body.”

Jackson, who opened the center 11 years ago, is passionate about what she does – getting to share her faith through her favorite hobby. She also loves seeing how the children in the dance classes grow and develop over the years. “Kids are very honest, so, when one of them hug me and say they love me, or write me a note, draw a picture, it means so much and is so very special and priceless,” Jackson said.

“Just being around them is uplifting and encouraging.”

The Christian Dance Center, which rst opened in South Park Mall in 2002, moved to 2727 West 70th St. in 2004 and a few years later reached it’s short-term goal of ministering to 100 students.

“The foundation of Christian Dance Center is to teach gospel/liturgical dance, which is a combination of ballet and modern dance to Christian music,” Jackson said.

The Christian Dance Center is unique from other local dance schools is that it doubles as a ministry as well as a dance academy. Students may pray before classes and also learn about the Bible during their liturgical classes. “Along with technical dance training and Bible study, the students receive information on health and exercise,” Jackson said. She enjoys the balance of helping meet a child’s needs, not just in means of physical health but spiritual as well.

“One of the best parts of my job is designing choreography and planning events,” Jackson said.

And there’s plenty to plan. The Christian Dance Center takes students as young as 3-years-old and offers a variety of classes such as ballet, liturgical, jazz, tap, hip-hop and gymnastics.

They also offer classes for adults.

“Dancing is an excellent way for people of all ages to get in shape,” Jackson said.

“They can have fun and get in good physical condition all at the same time.”

There are many emotional and mental bene ts to dancing, as well – not just physical. “Dancing creates an overall sense of well-being,” Jackson said. Because dancing is a social activity, Jackson believes the socialization element also contributes to high self-esteem and selfcon dence that children need. “Dancing in this way brings forth a positive outlook,” she said.

The physical activity of dance also reduces stress, which is vital to one’s health regardless of age. It can also help burn off a child’s excess energy in a positive manner. Because the Christian Dance Center so strongly believes in dance, exercise and nutrition as a whole, they also are joined with an excellent workout program called TNT Body Camp. Directed by Tarrant Graham, TNT Body Camp offers meal planning, diet advising, customized workouts and accountability to help clients meet their tness goals.

Jackson understands that just like with tness and health and religion, the key to anything important in life is motivation.

She was inspired to start the dance school because of reasons dear to her heart. “I wanted to see more African-American children learning the art of dance as a child,” she said. “I didn’t have that opportunity; therefore, I wanted to create one for other children coming up behind me.”

For unknown reasons to Jackson, parents just weren’t enrolling their children in dance schools at that time, so she decided to step up and ll the void. “Maybe they weren’t aware of what was available for them and their kids, but I wanted those children to learn and to start dancing at a young age. I wanted them to grow and develop the technique needed to be successful enough to receive college scholarships, or even to be in a dance company one day,” Jackson said. “I thought that maybe if they see me, they would be inspired to try.”

For more information, visit www.christiandancecenter.com/.

– Betsy St. Amant

DID YOU KNOW?

The physical activity of dance also reduces stress, which is vital to one’s health regardless of age.