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The Summer Stride

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The Summer Stride

Summer is just around the corner and here at Kick Performing Arts we are super excited about all our fantastic summer program offerings!

With the current dance season winding down and the new season ramping up, you might have been wondering lately if summer dance classes are right for your child. From our experience, every student has the potential to hit their “summer stride” … in other words, they all have the ability to keep their learning power going in the summer, without losing any momentum!

We believe there is a unique benefit for each and every student who dances with us in the summer, whether it’s during a weekly class, a dance camp, or an intensive. Read on to see which advantages might be in store for your child!

Making Progress
Because dance is built on muscle memory, summer study can help your child fine-tune their movement vocabulary and technique, allowing them to improve their skills, grow stronger, and be better prepared to take on new material.  With so much more available time, we see our dancers make huge progress each summer!

Being Consistent
Young children do well with stability in their routine, so maintaining that normalcy with summer dance can give them (and you!) peace of mind, even as the rest of your summer plans may vary.  For our older dancers the consistency allows them to stay strong all summer long!!

Getting Motivated
After the showcase, we find that some students are eager to try a new dance style (usually something they were inspired by!) to see how they like it. Summer is THE perfect time to test out those new interests, without a long commitment.

Gaining Confidence
Our summer programs, with their blend of both structure and fun, can give your child the boost they need to jump into fall classes feeling good about themselves. There’s nothing quite like the personal development that can be built in the summer!

It’s part of our mission to ensure that your child is learning how to balance their hard work with time off, and the summer offers the best of both worlds. We encourage all of our students to make time for rest and relaxation, and also make time to keep their bodies strong and minds engaged. This balance is what the true summer stride is all about!

There’s something for everyone here this summer at Kick Performing Arts. We’re happy to help you customize the right schedule for your family or make a special recommendation for your child … just ask!

driven to dance

Grace Lehman: Driven to Dance

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Drive.

Drive to improve. Drive to be the best. Drive to learn. To master technique. To achieve goals.

Grace Lehman is driven. And actually, driven may be an understatement.

At 14, Grace was a competitive gymnast, contending at a very high level. Then something clicked in her brain. She wanted to dance.

And dance she did.

Ten months later, at 15, Grace is taking tap, lyrical, hip hop, ballet, acro, jazz, and contemporary dance. She made Team Kick and takes solo classes. Oh, and she made the diamond plus team, the elite team at Kick Dance Studios.

All less than a year after she began taking dance.

But what made her want to leave her comfort zone and a life of gymnastics, everything she has always known and excelled at, to give dance a shot?

“I just didn’t have the spark in me to do gymnastics anymore,” said Grace. “I achieved what I wanted to achieve.”

When Grace told her mom, Meridith, that she wanted to switch to dance, her mom wasn’t surprised.

“She really enjoyed the competitions ing ymnastics,” said Meridith. “Then her focus changed and she was ready for the next big thing in her life.”

So Grace made the move to dance.

When she was 3, Grace took one dance class with Vanessa Berry, owner of Kick Dance Studios. So when her daughter was determined to dance, Meridith immediately turned to Vanessa for advice and guidance.

driven to dance“I talked with Vanessa before Grace started last year and I told her she wanted to dance,” said Meridith. “Vanessa was open to it although starting dance as a teen can have its struggles. I knew knowing Grace that if someone would give her a chance, she would take it.”

And she did!

Vanessa herself began dancing at an older age so she understood how difficult it was to make the transition. In Grace, Vanessa saw a familiar passion and drive to dance.

“Because I started dancing when I was 13, I understood the challenges Grace would face,” said Vanessa. “In Grace I saw extreme passion and dedication.”

Grace practices and practices some more. She stays up late perfecting her technique.

“She has to do it right,” said Meridith. “She has this ability to make corrections and go back out and do the dance correctly. If she has a bad performance, she bounces right back.”

At her first competition, Grace received a high score for her solo performance. Remember, this is a young girl who had just started dancing and performing.

“Vanessa gave me the chance to dance. She’s the reason I’m achieving my goals,” said Grace.

Making the diamond plus team was a pivotal moment in Grace’s young life.

“It was my ‘ahhh’ moment,” said Grace. “It was so satisfying. Everything was official.”

Meridith sees a change in Grace since she began her dance journey. She’s a young girl who is learning life skills, something that is extremely important to mom. “It’s about setting goals, following through, making friends with people who have the same aspirations,” said Meridith. “It’s about discipline, commitment and learning. And especially as a young woman, it’s about developing power and strength.”

But Meridith has also noticed a more grown up Grace.

“She’s great at taking constructive criticism and overcoming some of the subjectiveness of dance. But most of all she’s following her dream,” said Meridith.

For Grace, dance is also about getting to satisfy her many different sides. “Dancing brings out all my sides,” said Grace. “I have a pretty side, a jazzy side, a musical theater side, and a tumbling side.”

But there’s also a much more powerful reason Grace is dancing. Once you start talking to her, you feel her emotions come through and understand that dance is a passion passed on to her.

Her cousin Sammy was a dancer. Sammy passed away from osteosarcoma when she was just 9-years-old, and through it all — a leg amputation and many treatments — she danced.

“Sammy is my inspiration to dance,” said Grace. And Grace is honoring Sammy in her solo this year with the song Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Sammy’s favorite song.

Grace has never had a single regret about giving up gymnastics for dance. Her commitment, her ambition, and her drive to be the best have made her a strong Kick Dancer and inspiration for so many others.  Her mother, instructors and friends are all touched by her dance.

And we know Sammy is watching and smiling from above.

To see Grace’s performance and other Kick Dancers, attend Kick Dance Studios 2016 recital at Count Basie Theater May 22. Click here for more details.

Photos by Purelee Photography

Grace McOrmond

Andy and Grace McOrmond: A Dynamic Father-Daughter Duo

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Support.

 Grace is whole-heartedly into her game of Ms. PacMan at YESTERcades in Red Bank. Her dad Andy is watching, cheering her on. Nothing going on around them breaks their attention away from each other. The two are completely invested in the time they spend together. Grace time is precious time for Andy.

Grace McOrmondEight-year-old Grace is a miniature version of Andy, in personality and character. She is the only daughter of Andy and his wife Joanna of Rumson.

“We have very similar personalities,” said Andy. “We’re both outgoing and openly express ourselves. We talk a lot, and we talk about everything.  We have a good time together no matter what we’re doing.”

Part of their intense bond comes from their time dancing together. Grace is a dancer at Kick Dance Studio. To say she loves to dance and perform would be an understatement.

“I love making other people happy,” said Grace. “I love to perform. I love to sing. I love to dance. I just love to feel the different types of music flow while I dance. It just makes me feel good and happy.”

In fact, Grace seems to be most comfortable when she’s entertaining family and friends. Putting on a show in her outgoing style.

“I especially love the holidays because it’s when all my family gets together and I perform for them,” said Grace. “Sometimes I sing, sometimes I dance, sometimes I do both.”

Andy and Grace have been dancing together since Grace was a baby, dad dancing daughter around before bed to lull her to sleep. And Andy and Grace are still dancing.

Grace McOrmondThe father-daughter duo is dynamic.  A force to be reckoned with on the dance floor. At the annual Kick Dance recital, daddy-daughter dances are a tradition, and Andy and Grace have participated for years. For the two of them, taking part in that tradition was a no-brainer.

“These dances are something Grace is going to remember,” said Andy. “I know by the look on her face that she’s happy and for me that’s everything.”

And it’s not just the day of the big dance that Andy and Grace will cherish.

“We just love it,” said Andy. “It’s not just that moment on the stage, but the time we spend practicing together. It’s that little thing you share together, just the two of you.”

Each year Andy and Grace take their dance to a new level, with Grace gaining confidence, going for bigger and bolder moves with her dad.

Spending time with Grace is Andy’s top priority. He spends three weeks a month on the road for work, so when he’s home, he’s with Grace.

“We’ve been buddies from day one,” said Andy of the tight bond the two share. “I give her my energy when I’m with her and in turn she gives me back that same energy, always including me in her life.”

Grace is at her happiest when she is performing, whether it’s on stage for an audience, at Kick Dance with her friends, or at home for her family. On stage, Andy sees a kid who has confidence through the roof. Some of that is innate. Some of that is dance.

“Grace isn’t shy,” said Andy. “When she was four or five she wanted to do a solo. She wasn’t ever scared and had the biggest smile on her face.”

And Andy attributes a big part of that confidence to her involvement in Kick Dance.

“Kick has given her challenges to overcome,” said Andy. “Those challenges have helped her become more athletic and flexible. Her physical confidence has sky rocketed.”

Confidence isn’t the only thing that Grace has gained from dancing at Kick.

“She’s an only child and it’s a great opportunity for her to be around other kids,” said Andy. “She’s made such great friends by being at Kick Dance.”

There’s no doubt that Andy is Grace’s biggest supporter and cheerleader.

“I’m so proud of her,” he said. “I can see how Kick has helped her success now and will help her in the future. These are the character building blocks every kid needs and doing dance all these years has been great for her.”

Grace’s face lights up when her dad walks into a room, but Andy’s lights up even brighter when he sees Grace in her element, dancing, performing and being her outgoing and confident self.

See Grace’s outgoing personality in action in this video:

Photos by Purelee Photography

Maggie Martin

Maggie Martin: Finding Strength in Dance

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Strength.

Maggie Martin thinks her mom is strong. Her mom Kristen thinks her daughter is strong. We think they’re both strong.

At 14, Maggie has had to learn lessons that some adults never will. According to Kristen, she’s had to grow up quickly.

“She’s learned compassion and how to really help people,” said Kristen.

Kristen was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) 16 years ago. Maggie is her biggest fan and supporter, always worried that she’s ok.

“She brushes my hair and massages my feet,” said Kristen. “Even the things I can do myself she’ll do for me.”

But when Maggie is in her happy place, all those concerns melt away, and that’s the way Kristen wants it. Her happy place is Kick Dance Studios.

“When I’m a Kick, I’m in the zone,” said Maggie. “It’s such a freeing atmosphere. It makes my heart feel free.”

Maggie MartinMaggie has been dancing at Kick Dance for six years, taking contemporary, jazz, hip hop and musical theater. During the photo shoot for Kick Dance Studio’s 15th anniversary celebration, Maggie’s grace and poise radiated through the entire studio. She moved elegantly between her position and her mother sitting in a nearby chair, always checking on her, keeping an eye out. While getting her mom situated in the chair, Kristen commented on Maggie’s strength.

“She’s so strong!,” said Kristen.

“I get it from you, mom,” Maggie replied softly.

We whole-heartedly agree.

Dancing at Kick has helped Maggie hone that incredible physical strength. But it’s done something for Maggie’s emotional strength that no one could have imagined. It’s given her a mentor to turn to when things get rough. A mentor, that like Maggie’s mom, has MS.

Michelle Tolson lives and breathes dance and performing. Dancing since she was little, Michelle went on to become Miss New Hampshire, a contestant in the Miss America Pageant, and a Rockette for six years. But her passion is teaching.

“I’ve taught dance since I was 16,” said Michelle. “l started teaching out of a garage, and I continue to teach at Kick and Wagner College in New York.”

Michelle was diagnosed with MS in 2014, but that diagnosis isn’t allowed to affect her dance life. About this she is adamant.

“I do this because it’s not a dance studio, it’s a family,” said Michelle, who drives two hours each Saturday to teach at Kick’s studio in Rumson. Michelle teaches solos, jazz, tap, lyrical, hip hop, ballet and co-teaches advanced dance.

Michelle and Maggie have a bond. A bond so firmly rooted in strength that it would be impossible to break.

“I hope I can be as positive and wonderful a role model for Maggie as her mom is,” said Michelle.

In Michelle, Maggie sees a different face of the disease. Kristen and Michelle are in different stages of MS, so it looks different to the outside world.

“She’s watched her mom power through when there wasn’t the medication there is now,” said Michelle. “She has such a positive attitude; you’d never know she was sick.”

Dance motivates Maggie to be the best she can be and really focus on what she loves. And she does it about 12 hours a week. That’s dedication.

Each year, Kick Dance Studios picks a charity to support with their annual performance showcasing new dances. Two years ago they chose the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Maggie performed a lyrical dance to a song called “Cry” and dedicated it to her mom. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

“It was such an emotional experience,” said Kristen. “She danced that dance throughout several competitions and it always meant so much.”

Watching Kristen and Maggie together is a special treat. It’s obvious where Maggie gets her funny and witty personality, and it’s clear that Kristen is extremely proud of her daughter. During the photo shoot, Maggie looked at her mom and grinned a grin full of admiration and love. Mom looked back with pride, seeing her daughter in her element and full of strength.

Michelle joined Maggie and Kristen for their photos, highlighting the special bond the three share. While getting Kristen in her chair, she joked “It might take a village,” to which Michelle responded, “Well, you’ve got one.”

The strength that emanates when the three are in the same room is inspiring and humbling. Three strong women, in different stages of their lives, coming together in strength.

Photos by Purelee Photography

Kick Dance Studio Shakes It Off to Build Up Local Families

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‘Tis the season for giving, and here at Kick Dance Studios we’re giving back to the community by doing what we do best – having fun with friends!

We are continuing our annual tradition of creating Thanksgiving food baskets to help local families in need. And new this year, we’re inviting T-Swift fans to a dance off and Lego build in our new Fair Haven studio, where all money raised supports our local community. There’s so much to feel good about at Kick and we’re calling on our dancers, their families and friends to join us as we shine merry and bright throughout the holiday season.

Holiday Happenings at Kick

 Join us from 2-4 p.m. for a Black Friday, Nov. 26 Shop-N-Drop Party at our Fair Haven dance studio located at 611 River Road. Ages 4-11 are welcome to shake it off to the tunes of Taylor Swift with a dance-off, complete with costumes and prizes. If T-Swift isn’t your child’s jam? Sign them up for the Lego build off. This activity is perfect for both boys and girls. The event is $25 per dancer; $50 per family. All proceeds benefit the Life Guard Ecumenical Foundation (LGEF). To register, click here and sign up under special events.

 Kick Dance is also proud to help LGEF with our annual tradition of creating baskets full of Thanksgiving food to give to local families in need. Collection boxes are located at each

Kick Studio, and those interested in helping can drop items off from 3-6 p.m., Monday through Friday, during the week of November 16. Items needed include grocery store gift cards, boxed stuffing and mashed potatoes, canned cranberry sauce, canned vegetables, canned yams, turkey gravy, pasta/rice, applesauce, apple juice, cookies, dinner rolls, apple pies and pancake mix.

Please also mark your calendar for our December 19, 4 p.m. MiniCracker Ballet performance in our Rumson studio. Our dancers can’t wait to entertain you for a good cause. Admission is a canned good or other food donation for the Red bank charity, LunchBreak.

About Our Holiday Charity Partner, Life Guard Ecumenical Foundation (LGEF)

Founded in 2009 in our very own backyard by a group of neighbors in Fair Haven, the nonprofit Life Guard Ecumenical Foundation (LGEF) raises awareness of those around us that are in need of assistance. Just as a lifeguard sits on his stand and actively searches for those in need, such is the purpose of LGEF.

LGEF has helped more than 80 families through organized events such as neighborhood barbecues and yard sales that have raised funds for food gift cards, overdue utility bills, excessive medical bills, and expensive life-dependent medications. This amazing charity is right in step with the needs of our community, and Kick is ready to dance, donate and collect food throughout the holidays to support LGEF’s inspiring mission.

“I’m always looking for ways to get more involved in our community so a charity that is about keeping an eye out for community members who need help is a perfect fit,” said Vanessa Berry, owner and instructor at Kick Dance Studios. “It’s a charity our dancers can understand and help.”

Helping Those in Need

Life Guard Ecumenical Foundation knows you don’t have to travel far to find families who are facing severe economic hardships. Each day, families in our area have to make the gut-wrenching decision to sacrifice paying a utility bill to put food on the table or make rent.

Mary was a Superstorm Sandy victim, living in motels after the storm with her two children, ages 2 and 4.  A single mom who worked full-time and received no support, she saved enough money to rent an apartment, but found she couldn’t get her electricity turned on because of an outstanding bill. Mary used all of her savings for the rent and security to move into her new apartment. Life Guard Ecumenical Foundation helped Mary pay her overdue balance so she could have electricity in her new home with her children.

Eight-year-old Tommy woke up one day and couldn’t move his legs. It took a week in the hospital to determine he had a bacterial infection that could be treated, but he would need physical therapy to rehabilitate his body. His mom needed time off work to help him recuperate, but her job didn’t provide paid leave and the family relied on her paycheck.  LGEF provided funds to help them with the hospital bills and groceries, easing the financial burden.

Each month, LGEF finds a local family in need and hosts a fundraising event to help that family. But they do more than donate monetarily. They volunteer time, skills and resources with the hope of spreading the spirit of giving, encouraging others to help community members in need.

“Life Guard Ecumenical Foundation is beyond grateful to be Team Kick’s charity for this season,” said Tori McAndrews, Board Member of Life Guard Ecumenical Foundation.

To learn how you can help support local families with LGEF, visit www.lifeguardnj.org.

To register for our special events to benefit LGEF, click here.

Kick Dance Studios is More Than Just Great Dancing

Kick Dance is More Than Just Great Dancing

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Being a part of Kick Dance Studios is more than just great dancing. Literally.

Kick Dance Studios is part of a group called More Than Just Great Dancing, an organization made up of dance studios around the nation focused on making a positive impact on dance students and the community. In fact, Kick Dance was one of 15 founding members of the organization, started in 2012, and is the only dance studio accredited by More Than Just Great Dancing in Central New Jersey.

“In addition to our network, we have live events to share and learn from each other,” said Vanessa Berry, owner and instructor at Kick Dance Studios. “We share both business and curriculum information, while learning customer service best practices.”

Kick Dance Studios is More Than Just Great Dancing
Vanessa Berry, More Than Just Great Dance founder, Misty Lown, and member Alicia Knopps.

But More Than Just Great Dancing has an even wider reach, encouraging community outreach, community service, and fostering and nurturing dance students to become great people, on and off stage.

“Kick Dance joined More Than Just Great Dancing to have a network of like-minded studio owners dedicated to elevating our industry and preserving childhood,” said Vanessa Berry.

And that’s precisely the mission of More Than Just Great Dancing — to raise the bar for dance studio education, and to honor, support and recognize the studios who desire to offer age-appropriate education for dancers growing up in a complex world.

Community service and outreach is a big theme at More Than Just Great Dancing, and something Vanessa and her instructors take very seriously. Each year the studio chooses a new charity to work with, and all proceeds support that organization.

This year, Kick Dance raised $10,000 for StrongMom.org, an organization supporting one mother’s battle with colon cancer, and Project Write Now, a group offering writing classes and workshop experiences to children, teens, and adults in Red Bank, NJ.

Two years ago, Kick Dance chose to support the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, and raised $8,500 with their annual “Kick for a Cause” performance on February 23. The charity was chosen to show support for a mother of one of Kick’s dance team students who has MS, a chronic disease that attacks the central nervous system.

Other charitable efforts include raising money for Hurricane Sandy-damaged Monmouth Beach Elementary School, All Fur Love Animal Rescue, and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer.

Vanessa Berry and K-3 students during a Halloween flash mob rehearsal.
Vanessa Berry and K-3 students during a Halloween flash mob rehearsal.

“Our annual charity show has raised over $80,000 so far,” said Vanessa. “We also are very involved with our local schools. Right now I am teaching K-3 a Halloween flash mob dance to perform for the parents at the annual costume parade.”

This year, Kick Dance is standing up to bullying with the help of More Than Just Great Dancing. The organization is sponsoring a “Define Yourself” campaign to raise awareness about October’s National Bullying Prevention Month. The idea is for teenage dance students to start a movement to shed labels and define themselves by who they are and not how others define them.

“At More Than Dancers, we believe you are more than just a dancer,” said Misty Lown, founder of More Than Just Great Dancing. “You are a sister, a brother, an athlete, a student, a volunteer, a person of faith, etc. And you are even more than that! You are a person of worth and value simply because you are you. You are uniquely gifted and already have everything inside of you to reach your dreams!”

Kick Dance Studios is one of the first dance studios to support this anti-bullying movement, asking its dancers to fill in this sentence: I will be more than a dancer, I will be ______. Students may say “a positive influence to others,” “a good friend to everyone,” or “a person who tries my best.” The answers are limitless and are meant to remind us all that there is more to us than meets the eye. The campaign revolves around the fact that we all dance to a different beat and that we shouldn’t let others define us.

More Than Just Great Dancing and Kick Dance Studios are committed to excellence, both in the classroom and in the community. The close-knit group has proven to be a great resource and learning experience for Vanessa, her instructors, and the studio as a whole. For more information, visit www.morethanjustgreatdancing.com.

Now ask yourself, how will you define you? Then fill in this sentence:  I will be more than a great ______, I will be ________.

Photo 1: Vanessa Berry, More Than Just Great Dance founder, Misty Lown, and member Alicia Knopps. More Than Just Great Dancing provides dance studio owners with a knowledgeable and dedicated network of like-minded business owners who know the business of dance.

Cover Photo: Kick Dance students Anna Ciardiello, 9 of Fair Haven, and Lauren Connoly, 9 of Little Silver, on stage after a community performance at Harvest Fest at Knollwood School in Fair Haven. Kick Dance Studios is a member of More Than Just Great Dancing, a group of dance studios focused on making a positive impact on dance students and the community.