Family Y Dance Center Spring Performance

The annual Spring Performance of the Westport Weston Family Y Dance Center will take place at 2 pm, Saturday, June 9 at Bedford Middle School in Westport. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for children 3 and older (children 2 and under admitted free) and may be purchased in advance at the Family Y or at the door. 

Auditions for the 2012-2013 Dance Center Season to be held June 14; Registration for Dance Center Summer Camps are also under way. See below for details…

The theme of this year’s Spring Performance is “Holidays & Seasons,” with Dance Center dancers performing a variety of group and solo pieces, from “Winter Wonderland” and “April Fools” to “Yankee Doodle” and “Hot Chocolate.”  Choreography is by Dance Center Director Michele Conklin and instructors Lillian Fama, Danette Meigel-Cahr and Brooke Paz.  

At the performance, which marks the conclusion of a highly successful 2011-2012 dance season, “Miss Michele” will be presenting Six-Year Awards to dancers Kaytlyn Carnahan, Juliana Hopper and Jillian Rogers. The following dancers will be receiving Three-Year Awards: Marin Banks, Sophia Blum, Sophie Carozza, Charlotte D’Anna, Julia Davis, Lauranne DeVos, Samantha DiPrato, Victoria Emmert, Stephanie Field, Alex Hackett, James Horton, Alexa Lunney, Christina Meehan, Anya Nair, Alexia Ninios, Madeline O’Neill, Ryan Overley, Tyla Ozgen, Morgan Parisse, Parker Pretty, Hannah Ratcliffe, Iva Radman, Nina Radman, Jolie Shey, Kiara Shey and Jessica Walsh.

“I am so very proud of each and every one of our dancers,” said Conklin. “Congratulations to everyone, and our thanks for your continued dedication to dance and to the Family Y’s Dance Center.”

The Westport Weston Family Y Dance Center has been providing quality Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop and Creative Children's Classes for children, teens and adults for more than 25 years. The center offers a full spectrum of programs for students ages 2 to adult. The Dance Center’s youth program is composed of four companies, with rehearsals and performances at the following times:

Kinder Company (ages 5-6 – Kindergarten and Grade One) will participate in Funky Jazz/Hip Hop and Ballet I/Tap I on Thursdays. Their Funky Jazz/Hip Hop piece will be entered into one dance competition during the year.  No audition is required but participants must receive final approval from the Dance Center Director.

Mini Company (asge 7-9) students will participate in tap, ballet and jazz on Tuesdays.  The Tap and Jazz pieces will be entered into one dance competition during the year.

Petite Company (ages 9-11) students will be required to study Funky Jazz/Hip Hop and Tap on Mondays and Ballet on Wednesdays.  Competition pieces will be determined before December 2012. 

Junior Company (ages 12+) students will participate in Ballet and Jazz/Lyrical on Tuesdays, and a Ballet and Tap class on Thursdays. Competition pieces will be determined before December 2012.

The Dance Program meets from September to June, with Fall/Winter and Spring semesters. In addition to the end-of-year performance in June, the Dance Center’s youth companies also perform locally and compete in various regional competitions. In April, 30 members of the Dance Center competed in the Nexstar National Talent Dance Competition in New Haven, bringing home nine Gold Medals and one High Gold Medal for their group and solo performances.

Auditions for the 2012-2013 Dance Center Season take place at the Family Y on Thursday, June 14, at the following times: 

• Mini Company (ages 7-9): 5:45 - 6:30 pm;
• Petite Company (ages 9-11): 6:30 -7:15 pm;
• Junior Company (ages 12+): 7:15 - 8:00 pm.

Registration is also under way for the Dance Center’s summer programs:

At Princess Dance Camp, held June 25-29, 10:30 am-12:30 pm, little dancers ages 3 and 4 leap and twirl through the basics of ballet and tap. A new princess and a craft project will also be a part of each day’s fun. Participants must have ballet and tap shoes and bring a snack and drink each day. The cost is $160/week; no Y Membership is required. (Please be aware that there is a waiting list for this class.)

At Funky Jazz/Hip Hop Boot Camp, taking place July 23-27, dancers ages 8-11 will focus on the popular urban, funkier style of Hip Hop. Camp sessions are 3:30-5 pm each day; the cost is $110/week. No Y Membership is required.

Tap Boot Camp is a special, end-of-summer session taking place Aug. 27-31, 4-5:30 pm each day. The cost is $110/week; No Y Membership required.

For more information about the Family Y Dance Center or to register for our summer programs, please visit www.westporty.org or contact Michele Conklin, Dance Center Director, at 203-226-8981, ext. 197, or mconklin@westporty.org.