Lifted up with words

Local dance team members received an experience to remember at rehearsal this week. During what was slated to be a typical rehearsal for Elite Dance Company (EDC) members, a spontaneous team-building exercise left these 11 to 15-year-olds decorated in their peer’s words of affirmation.

After hearing about the challenges these teens are experiencing from other children their age and the effect it has on them, April Hobson, Co-Owner and Artistic Director of Wimberley Dance Elite (WDE), knew something had to be done to strengthen these girls, as individuals and a team. During Monday night’s rehearsal, Hobson turned off the music and sat down with the girls for a heartto-heart. Hobson had each dancer write down, in some cases through teary eyes, a negative word they feel about themselves. She then divided the girls into pairs, blindfolded them, and had them write on their partner’s body what they thought about them. The girls left behind their papers containing words like lonely, useless, unworthy and isolated, and walked away covered in positive declarations like gorgeous, open-minded, loving-soul, and confident.

“There are so many young women out there struggling to keep a positive self-image when they come up against so much negativity daily from school, the media, and sometimes even their friends. I knew if I could just get these beautiful girls to see themselves through someone else’s eyes it would be a step in the right direction for the team,” Hobson said.

Negative self-image among teenagers can lead to far more serious issues. According to a 2016 American Pediatrics Study, even though there has been a rise in teenage depression in recent years, there has not been a corresponding rise in treatment of teens. Dance, according to The Arts in Psychotherapy Magazine, has a positive effect in the treatment and prevention of anxiety and depression.

Dancers at WDE not only study proper technique but are also encouraged to use their emotions in their dance to tell the story and evoke feelings from the audience. “Dance has always been my therapist, so to speak. Nothing quite compares to being able to put all your emotions and feelings of the day into something that is athletic, creative and beautiful. My 7-yearold daughter is a member of EDC and I’m so grateful for the positive outlet she has for her feelings,” said Angela Perrin-Altmeyer, Instructor at WDE and former professional ballerina. EDC mom, Lexi Jones, stated, “I always tell people that I don’t pay for dance, I pay for what dance teaches my daughter, and this exercise is the perfect example.”

The competitive dance team, EDC, is comprised of 40 young men and woman that share their passion for dance. EDC members travel around Texas, competing in up to five competitions each year. The current team members study different genres of dance including Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop and more, studying between 3-12 hours each week at their local dance studio.

WDE is opening their doors to the community, offering free classes for all new students during Bring A Friend week, October 21-25. All attendees will be invited to participate in WDE’s annual Halloween Flash Mob performance in downtown Wimberley on October 31, 2019.

WDE’s mission is to provide excellence in dance education and training for dancers of all ages and abilities. Serious young students train under the highly regarded and unique program created by Co-Owners and Artistic Directors, Nicole Wesley and April Hobson.

For performance and class information contact Wimberley Dance Elite at [email protected] or 512-722-3503.