“Are competitions like those on Dance Moms?” asks a new Company Dancer father.

As studio owners who run the best dance studio in Ambler with positivity, praise, and professionalism, it becomes frustrating that the biggest example of our industry is being portrayed in such a negative way, as on the Lifetime TV show Dance Moms. Of course, “reality” television is meant to be explosive and drama-filled, but starting a series with a Pastor/Dance Mom screaming and cursing back and forth with the studio owner shows you the direction the show is heading.

We watched last year as dancers were told to “fix” their bow-legged knees and as young girls were berated time and again, even after coming in first place. But into the second season, with constant screaming, cursing between the “Dance Moms” and Abby Lee (the director of the studio), not to mention endless crying from the dancers AND the “Dance Moms” – you have to ask yourself, when is enough, enough?

So what are REAL “Dance Moms” like? Dance moms do not hop on a tour bus to take six dancers to competition. Moms get up very early, with their dancers, and drive to the destination where they haul costumes and dance bags. They apply makeup and fix their dancer’s hair. They make sure their dancer has healthy food to eat and water or sports drinks to hydrate them. REAL competition dancers are not given a private room to get ready in. Instead, REAL dance moms jump around other dancer’s bags and costumes from other schools. REAL dance moms help to do quick changes and help make sure all your costume pieces are properly put away. REAL dance moms sit through hours and hours of other school’s routines, applauding for each one. The only time a REAL dance mom cries is when their dancer is on stage, performing the routine they have worked so hard on.

Could a network run “Soccer Moms”, “Football Moms” or “Cheerleading Moms” and find a group of talented kids, overbearing mothers and a mean-spirited, screechy coach? Of course. But for now, we’re stuck with Dance Moms.

Until its run ends, we’ll have to keep answering, “No, Addicted 2 Dance is NOTHING like Dance Moms.”

In the class featured below, teacher Clare Brown spends some time with our 4-7 year olds focusing on Tap before switching to part of their ballet-inspired recital performance. Enjoy!

Agility, endurance, strength, flexibility, stamina, confidence, body awareness and control. All terms used to describe elite athletes – and all gained from practicing ballet.

Since ballet training offering all of these benefits and more, why isn’t every ballet class filled with boys trying to use the best cross-training method to improve their baseball, football, soccer and/or lacrosse skills? NFL Hall of Famer Lynn Swann and future Hall of Famer and Heisman Trophy Winner Herschel Walker are amongst the high profile athletes who have used ballet as part of their training regiment. Actor and heartthrob Ryan Gosling also takes ballet!

Ballet is “girly” … right? Ballet is for little girls in their leotards, skirts, tights and hair pulled in tight buns, shuttled to class by their mothers while their fathers run their brothers to the “boy sports”. Here’s a note to boys – dancing is masculine. Watching a male dancer leap and spin is magical. Let me share a secret to boys – girls LOVE boys who dance!

Male teachers at Addicted 2 Dance (A2D) in Ambler have all had ballet training. Being a Hip-Hop dancer, choreographer or instructor does not excuse you from being well trained in all forms of dance. Ballet training improves all forms of dance, whether it’s Jazz, Modern, Contemporary or Hip-Hop.

A2D teacher David Crosby truly believes in the benefits of cross training:

Beginning this July, Addicted 2 Dance will offer a FREE beginning boys ballet class for age 5-17. A2D also offers scholarships for continued classes to boys taking ballet.

Taking ballet will improve their skills in other sports, and boost their confidence and poise for all their future endeavors. Let’s get boys “Addicted 2 Ballet”!

Want to see ballet in action? Check out this quick Mikhail Baryshnikov video – a warmup from the movie Dancers.

Teachers included SYTYCD All Stars tWitch, Allison Holker and Kathryn McCormick, Season 4 winner Joshua Allen, Top Female Dancer Season 4 Katee Shean, Season 7 Top Male Dancer Kent Boyd and finalist Alex Wong. Guest staff on hand in Lancaster included jazz instructors Courtney Ortiz and Dedrick Lee Anthony, and Hip Hop dancers Casie Goshow and Brian Henninger.

Many of the A2D dancers at Excel in Motion were just coming off their convention experience the weekend prior in New York City at Tremaine. The students found Excel to be very exciting – with challenging combinations and a friendly atmosphere.

Saturday evening featured a choreographer’s show, with each of the star instructors performing along with “Elite Dancer” assistants. A2D Company Dancers Jake Howie and Alexia Lindsay were picked out of their first class of the day by Hip Hop instructor tWitch, and asked to perform in the choreographer’s showcase! Jake and Alexia had a great time rehearsing tWitch’s choreography and getting to shine in front of the crowd.

With the fantastic time had by A2D dancers and parents at Excel In Motion, this will be a convention placed on our schedule year after year!

On Saturday morning, the dancers were split into their respective age groups:  Juniors, Teens or Seniors. Dancers and teachers took instruction from Tremaine’s impressive group of teachers. Most styles of dance were represented during the weekend for all three groups, including Ballet, Jazz, Street, Hip Hop, Contemporary and Lyrical. If you asked each dancer who their favorite instructor was, each one would come up with a different answer!

The students also took part in scholarship auditions during the weekend. Three of A2D’s junior dancers made the finals in the auditions, with Gabrielle Katz earning a one year Tremaine Scholarship! Congratulations, Gabrielle! All of our dancers represented A2D with poise, great technique and ability during the weekend. Our senior dancers were praised by judges regarding their impressiveness at their respective auditions.

A2D teachers and parents have found Tremaine Founder and Director, Joe Tremaine, to be a very approachable and generous man, who continues to share his love of dance and experience in the industry by holding forums with studio owners and dance parents. Tremaine was recently featured in Dance Studio Life Magazine – a definite must read!

The convention was a wonderful weekend for the dancers to bond as friends and teammates outside of the studio. We look forward to many more conventions in weeks and months ahead!

In the class featured below, teacher Aleah Sullivan instructs her class on some warmup exercises and some aerobic activities. This high-energy class keeps kids interested in dance for years to come!

The convention/competition, named after its founder Joe Tremaine, is celebrating its 41st year in stellar dance education. In addition to classes in every genre for ages 6 thru adult, Mr. Tremaine is on hand to inspire the dancers and to offer his priceless advice during a parent seminar.

Addicted 2 Dance has 15 students traveling to take part in the Tremaine Convention, and taking their dancing “2 the next level”!

In the class featured below, teacher Kim Landle leads her beginner ballet class for teens. A2D offers beginner classes in many disciplines like Jazz, Tap, and more that are geared towards different age levels.

Ready to try out a class? Contact A2D today!