FRIENDS OF CREATE

CREATE Dance Company is currently a small community program with an Internationally large idea. The idea, seemingly simple, is to give up some of the decisions we make as dance teachers, while holding the expectation of discipline sought after in any dance class.

We began in the Fall of 2016 renting out a small space for 10 dancers who never really felt they were treated as individuals in their dance studios and hadn't really ever FELT the art of dance. They WERE AND ARE talented dancers, but only putting motions together without feeling what the art of dance is meant to be in its entirety.

The concept to give them the reigns to music selection and costumes honestly, was just something I was given as a child and loved it - I thought that opportunity had to be common. When I learned it wasn't, the purpose of this dance company COMPLETELY changed.

The freedom of giving my students the ability to choose music, costumes, a story line, and sometimes develop their own choreography, kept me in a corner, week after week on the ground... in tears.

Not only were these dancers developing dances that were beautiful... they were telling their stories. Some, very hard to watch, knowing these kids were going through things so heavy.

Our motto is "Leave your joys and fears on the dance floor."

Dance is one of the highly most sought after arts, but sometimes there is a disconnect between the importance of technical aspects vs. the feeling of the art form itself. (Often times paying more attention to the technical side)

The power of how therapeutic it is, seems unreal when taught by giving up a little bit of control. We as dance teachers need to not only be the voice of discipline, but a platform for our students to dance out whatever they are facing.

Facts are facts, with so many stories of bullying, and over the top high rates of suicide in kids, teens, and young adults, it is our mission to impact even a little to help this CHANGE!

OUR MISSION:

To teach kids they are UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS who may dance differently or look differently than the person next to them.
To face where they are as a dancer and grow from that point without comparing themselves to anyone else.
To work together by finding each others strengths, even if they are on a different level than their peers.
To use dance as an outlet to work through ANYTHING that comes their way.
To write down their goals and connect to WHY they are dancing.
To demand and show respect inside and outside of the dance studio to their peers and their instructors.
To learn posture not only for dance, but for CONFIDENCE.

It may be a long shot, but the dream is for these to pop up around the world. We truly believe it can be a way to change how kids treat each other and lessen the terrifying numbers of young ones lost or for the reason that so many kids are experiencing anxiety at such young ages.

Dreams like these, definitely take some kind of backing, so any support, monetary or simply sharing CREATE with your friends is greatly appreciated!

If you are interested in sponsoring an individual dancer in either a half year or full year of CREATE, please email amy@createdancecompany.com

Also, I have worked diligently on publishing two journals to take dancers, teachers, and choreographers back to the "WHY" we dance. These are also listed below and can be purchased for any dancer, teacher, or choreographer you may know.