Weekly News Sept 17th

The new fall schedule has been posted. Check it out and see if there’s a new class you might want to try out or if the new school schedule is forcing you to switch from your most favoritist teacher and find out how awesome all of our teachers are.

Recital videos are ready to share. Cause you can never get enough of the cuteness.
The Vimeo feed for chaptered streams: https://vimeo.com/album/5336752
and for the full download: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ohqr5l37fxllkhk/AABTDQem8FJP5LqxiVHZWaUHa?dl=

MUSICAL THEATER PERFORMANCE INTENSIVE!!!!! (it’s not just for summer anymore) ONLY 2 SPOTS LEFT!!! This 12 week class will consist of putting on a fully realized production with a final performance in a theater. Students will audition, learn lines, learn choreography, learn stage direction, make friends, have fun and this will all culminate in a fantabulous show. Class meets Tuesday’s from 530 – 7 at CSSC. Session Dates : September 18th  – December 4th. Dress rehearsal and The Big Show on Saturday December 8th Open to children Ages 9 and older. (Younger students will need director approval.)

JUST SAYIN‘
(Thoughts about dance, family, parenting or whatever else is on our mind.)

Of course dancing is fun and physical, but did you know that dancing can also make you smarter? Recent studies show that dancing can provide participants with both mental and cognitive benefits.

The Albert Einstein College of Medicine published a study that reported dance has the possibility of being a powerful way to improve the health of the brain. The study’s research was centralized around the effect dancing has on the brain. Specifically, the research measured the following four factors in relation to dancing:

• • Memory
  • Sense of well-being
  • Serotonin
  • Stress levels

Dancing incorporates several brain functions that are stimulating such as music, an emotional sense of well-being, as well as rational thinking. Music naturally stimulates the brain as it is enjoyable and soothing, the emotional sense of well being comes from the enjoyment of the activity itself and rational thinking occurs when you focus on staying coordinated with your dancing partner or with the group. This combination of recreational benefits and creative thinking is what holds clues to health benefits and making one smarter.

But what, scientifically, is the reasoning behind dancing making us smarter? The cerebral cortex and hippocampus elements of the human brain are very elastic and consistently revamp themselves after each use. And, you guessed it, dancing uses these elements of the brain and increases the amount they are revamped. The more these elements are revamped, the better. This keeps them healthy and strong.

It has been shown that the areas of the human brain that are most affected by aging can be engaged, rewired and utilized before they are lost. Dancing stimulates these parts of the brain in such a constructive way that they are positively affected keeping the brain active and ready to learn or retain information.

Each time a person tries something new, like dancing, they are improving their mental capabilities. By keeping the brain active, the brain’s health can be maintained which makes one smarter and less likely to lose memories and information that is stored in their brain.

Dancing is a great way to work out the body and brain. The stimulation provided by dancing can also help the brain process and remember more information. This happens because dancing challenges the brain. All the steps, music and routines exercise the brain. Memorizing new steps engages the brain and improves mental health.

Is there any better news than finding out that your favorite pastime not only helps you physically, but mentally as well? Happy dancing all!

TEACHER FEATURE

Kaci Mallat
The incomparable Miss Kaci is beloved by hundreds of young dancers throughout Los Angeles. She has taught at Creation Station Studio City for 12 years and only gets better with age. Hailing from Wisconsin where she grew up on a real live dairy farm this beautiful lady fell in love with dance at a very young age and her talent was sponsored by her fabulous grandmother. Kaci’s side hustle is teaching dance but the rest of her days are filled making bride’s dreams come true as a wedding coordinator with the company she owns –XOXO.
Kaci has been the choreographer and director of our Summer camps for countless years. We love Miss Kaci!

DANCE TERM OF THE WEEK
Come to the desk, tell us the term and show us the move (as best as you can) and you’ll get a treat!

Chassé [sha-SAY]

Means “to chase”. It is where one foot extends out in front and then the back foot chases the front foot and very quickly the front foot shoots out again forward. They are usually done in series.