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DANCING AWAY THE WINTER DOLDRUMS
By Keith Hagarty
 | | --Photos By Keith Hagarty So you think you can dance? Dozens of toddlers certainly did as Elizabeth Scro, artistic director of Once Upon A Dance in Toms River, teaches kids basic dance movements this week at the Brick branch of the Ocean County Library. For more photos from this event, please visit our photo galleries at www.micromediapubs.com. |
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Taking a cue that it's never too early to get on the dance floor and sway to the music, dozens of toddlers and pre-schoolers packed into the Brick branch of the Ocean County Library this week to cut a rug.
Bringing her 2-year-old daughter, Julia, to the free program on Tuesday was a rewarding experience for Jennifer Dachille, especially in the winter months when kids get a little stir-crazy without an outdoor outlet for their endless energy.
"That was really good," she said. "I was just home with the kids, and it was nice to just get her out."
Dachille plans on bringing her daughter back again.
"I would love to bring her back," she said. "This was our first time here, and it was a lot of fun. All the moms were talking about how great it was, and how we'd probably even pay for something like this at the library. It's just very different."
Directing dozens of kids in an introduction to dance at the library was Elizabeth Scro, artistic director of Once Upon A Dance on Route 37 West, Toms River.
"It's to get them moving, to get them interested in dancing and just to promote the arts," Scro said of the program and her dance studio lesson to young children.
Scro has been dancing for the last 15 years, since she was a little girl, not much older than the dozens of toddlers and pre-schoolers she was busy teaching.
"When I hear a parent say that they had a good time and their child had a good time, that's all I really care about," said Scro, who will be leading kids in basic dance move- ments throughout the Ocean County Library system over the coming months.
Although she's relatively new to teaching in a library setting, Scro was excited about the opportunity to interact with the kids, teaching from babies all the way up to 15- year-olds.
"Usually, I find with the younger ones, the little ones, that once they start coming to class, they usually want to come back every week," she said. "It's at least worth a try to come in, and see if they like it or not."
Leading the children in various fun-filled dance moves and body movements, Scro assembled an upbeat musical playlist, tailor-made to get the kids shaking on the dance floor.
"There's so much of a lack of arts in the schools of Ocean County these days that I feel it's something I can do to introduce them to (dancing)," she said. "While it's not really advanced techniques here or a vocabulary for ballet, this is something to get them used to coming to class and using their imaginations and show them what kind of movements they can do."
After proudly watching her 3-year-old daughter, Sierra, successfully balance on one foot while hopping in rhythm to the beat of the music, Hester Swint was glad she signed her up for the program.
"She did really good, I was impressed," she said. "She was so excited."
With intentions of eventually bringing Sierra for lessons at a private dance school, Swint viewed the library's free program as a great way to test the waters.
"We're at the library all the time, and it just seemed like some nice exposure (to structured dance lessons) for her," said Swint.
As Swint occupied her five-year-old son, Javin, she maintained a permanent smile on her face when describing her daughter's enthusiasm for dancing.
"It's great seeing her out there," said Swint. "This was a nice way to see how she is with it. She looks very comfortable."
As a reading volunteer at the library, Swint praised the facility and staff for the plethora of intriguing programs offered all year long.
"We love it," she said. "Whether it's the reading programs, or the dance or music, or even food sometimes, it's really wonderful."
One of the biggest hurdles of trying to teach dozens of toddlers at the same time is sometimes just keeping their attention.
"It's all about keeping their energy and keeping my energy up," Scro joked. "But it's just making sure we're all on the same level."
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