Dare to Dance: Students find teaching dance a rewarding experience

Squeals of anticipation filled the main lobby of Vision Studio of Performing Arts on Wednesday evening.

A group of girls bounced around the room, unable to contain their excitement. But it was not the entrance to a Jonas Brothers concert. The girls — dressed in pink tutus — were waiting for their ballet instructor, Grand Rapids junior Shanna King, to begin class.

Sherry Wohlscheid of Mount Pleasant said her daughter Alexa, 5, always looks forward to King’s ballet class.

“Alexa loves Shanna,” Wohlscheid said. “I think she does a wonderful job.”

King leads the future ballerinas with stretching exercises at the start of each class. On this night, smiles spread across each pupil’s face as she praised their improvement.

“You work so hard to help the kids learn,” King said. “When you finally see the light go on, it’s so rewarding.”

Share the talent

King has been dancing since she was three and is eager to pass her skills to others. One day, she hopes to teach kids with disabilities to enjoy dance as much as she does.

“Dancing is what I love to do, so why not share my talent with others?” King said. “I love to see other people learn.”

Comstock Park sophomore Alastair Watt has spent the past 11 years perfecting his own dancing and dreams of one day performing in the movies.

He teaches classes at the studio five days a week.

For Watt, the real prize is watching the children turn into great dancers.

“Everyone has a limit where they want to give up,” Watt said. “I want to get them over that and make them want it.”

King and Watt are members of Orchesis Dance Theatre and perform as part of the University Theatre series.

Teaching not only benefits their students, but also is a way to improve the duo’s own skills.

“When you dance by yourself you don’t really see what it looks like,” Watt said. “By fixing them, you fix some of the things that you do.”

A challenge

Amy Perschbacher of Mount Pleasant owns the studio at 115 South Mission St. and said she looks for teachers with a passion for dance that will inspire her students.

King has worked with Perschbacher for two years, while Watt just started last month.

Perschbacher said both are a joy.

“I always want to bring in something that’s going to challenge the students; something that they may not get anywhere else,” Perchbacher said.

At the end of class, King is always reluctant to say good-bye to her young students.

She cannot help but smile with pride at their accomplishments.

“There’s no better job than doing what you love to do,” King said.