Leadership and Life Skills

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That Dance Thing

That Dance Thing (TDT) is a safe, secure, and friendly environment for teens to socialize, dance, and learn more about God.  The classes last from September to May and cost $195.  TDT Lite runs from June through August.  Students must be at least 12 years old by September 1st of the year enrolling in TDT or TDT Lite.  See House Rules and Dress Code. See Calendar of Events.  See Registration Forms at the bottom of this page.  

Scholarships are available.  Click here to download the application.

 Introduction to Dance  -  Fridays at St. Giles
 6:15 pm – 10:00 pm                 1st year students (ages 12 and up)
First year students acquire a good level of comfort on the dance floor.  Boys and girls learn the art and basic skills of leading and following.  The safe and comfortable atmosphere is fertile ground for growing social graces and new friendships.  The combination of a very structured curriculum and encouraging, experienced teachers brings many victories and emerging self-confidence to new students.  First year students are exposed to a variety of ballroom music, taught how to recognize each, and learn foundational basic steps for six classic dances.
 
Intro-Mediates  -  Fridays at St. Giles  
6:15 pm – 10:00 pm                                          1st year students
Intro-Mediates is a combination class.  Each night students spend half of their instruction time with the Introduction to Dance class and half with the Intermediate I class.  Intro-Mediates is for any first year student who is beginning TDT and who also may want to be with friends already in the Intermediate class.  Even students who have attended another cotillion are required to complete TDT’s Introduction class to learn our foundational curriculum.   This class offers a fast track for older students.

Intermediates I  -  Fridays at St. Giles  
6:15 pm – 10:00 pm                            At least one year of TDT
Increased dance ability and more self confidence become very evident as students develop into more accomplished dancers.  Good manners and appropriate social skills become more natural.  The Intermediate curriculum adds more dance steps and new dances to the solid foundation learned in the Introduction class.  Students have even more fun, dancing becomes easier, smoother, and more polished.  This is about the time students ask parents if they would consider installing hardwood floors in the garage.  

Intermediates II  -  Fridays at St. Giles
6:15 pm – 10:00 pm                       For 3rd and 4th year students
Third and fourth year students ease into their own comfort zone of dancing.  By now the art of conversation also finds its way into the mix as dancing, listening, and talking (all at the same time!) becomes more natural.   Now that the basics and foundations of leading and following are becoming second nature, students begin to develop their own sense of style and confidence.  Students move to a new level of “dancing” instead of just walking through the routine of steps.  This is a time when dancing becomes smooth, relaxed, and a wonderful activity with a great community of friends.  More dances and steps are introduced.  

Advanced  -  Saturdays at Emmanuel Episcopal  
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm                                         At least 3 years of TDT
The Advanced class offers much more than advanced dancing.  Even though new steps continue to be taught and new dances are introduced, the Advanced curriculum goes deeper in dance and wider in experience.  Advanced dancers work on style and polish. Leading and following skills are perfected, and step combinations are learned which are appropriate for social dancing.   Now that a solid foundation has been mastered, students begin to experience the freedom of their own personality in dancing.  An additional level of dancing occurs in Advanced as students also learn choreographed dances throughout the year.  This added format teaches teamwork, discipline, presentation, and provides a very real sense of accomplishment.  Advanced students are also offered opportunities for community service, and other formal venues of dance presentation.  Participating in these events is optional, of course . . . but big fun indeed.  An expanded level of etiquette and hospitality is taught in Advanced.  Students learn the basics of table setting, attention to detail, refreshment presentation, and the art of being a host or hostess. Another option for Advanced students (again, not required) is the opportunity to cook and serve fancy, fun dinners for parents in a home setting.  The kitchen training is great, the food is delicious, and providing a well deserved night out for parents is a privilege. The scriptures and leadership curriculum woven into Advanced offer insight into practical Christian living for teens. When these concepts are experienced on the dance floor, these Biblical truths come to life.  Advanced is a rich combination of leadership, life skills, dancing, and wholesome teen friendships.   

                                                                   TDT Lite - Thursdays at St. Giles in the summer
                                                     6:00 pm - 10:00 pm                           Beginners and all students
That Dance Thing Lite is the summer version of TDT.  It came into being because the community of TDT friends could not imagine going all summer without seeing and dancing with each other.  The first hour is dedicated to teaching beginners (new students who start during the summer) the fundamentals of Ballroom Dance.  The remaining 3 hours are devoted to dance, fun, and refreshments for all participants.  Classes are from 6:00 pm till 10:00 pm on five Thursday nights at St. Giles Presbyterian church.  

                                                                            Designated Adult Dancers (DADs)

DADs are a very special and critical part of That Dance Thing.  DADs are paramount in providing a safe, secure, and fun environment for the students – and that is appreciated by all participants and parents. 

 

Being a DAD is a win-win situation for you and your teen(s).  You spend time with your own teen/s (and other great kids) on Friday or Advanced Saturday nights.  You become an accomplished dancer. You enjoy the great satisfaction of investing time in today’s young people.  Your presence at TDT provides additional adult supervision on the dance floor with the teens and balances the ratio of girls to boys.  Your regular attendance and commitment are extremely important.  We depend on DADS in many ways.  If you register to be a DAD, please know we expect you to be present.  The need for DADs is based on the number of teens registered and ratio of girls to boys.  

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Phone:  804 262-4355



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