Whirling and twirling like King David

 

By Eric George Tauber

SAN DIEGO — There are numerous different schools of parenting to choose from.  Tiger moms make demands by cracking a whip.  Helicopters hover and make a fuss.  Free Range parents allow their children to explore and take risks.  Whatever your parenting style, if your goal is to bring up your child to be expressive, teach them to dance.  If you want them to face life’s challenges with confidence and poise, teach them to dance.  If you want them to be disciplined and hardworking, enjoying the fruits of their labors, teach them to dance.

That was the message of Change, the 2016 showcase by San Diego Civic Dance Arts at the Casa del Prado Theater in Balboa Park.

The program began with some testimonials by the young dancers about how dancing has influenced their lives:

• “Dance has made me a more confident person. It has helped me believe in myself and step out of my comfort zone.” –Araela Anderson

• “Dance has changed me into a person with integrity & ambition.” –Karine Kim

• “Dance has showed me that I should embrace change and can handle whatever life throws at me.” –Chiara Mattioli

• “Dance doesn’t just teach me steps & music, it gave me passion, taught me the value of hard work, & increased my discipline, which are things that have permanently changed my life.” –Elexys Escobedo

What followed was a collage of dances and styles by different troupes: the Company, the T Troupe, the Young Adult Ensemble and the Adult Ensemble.  Like a banquet, these young hoofers dished up generous helpings of tap garnished with ballet, some side dishes of modern and peppered with hip-hop.  In musical selections, we were treated to some great jazz standards like Irving Berlin, some classic rock from Elton John and Michael Jackson and a little Beyoncé.

As a puppeteer, I was delighted by Ain’t that a kick in the head choreographed by Shawnte Ledgerwood.  The ladies wore flaming red dresses leading their smartly dressed partners, full-sized puppets.  The ladies led and were graciously followed.

I was also pleased to see diversity in their body types.  Few of us are really built for ballet, but that didn’t seem to matter.  Even the larger dancers were graceful, healthy and fit, a tribute to their teachers.

The dancers were mostly young –as most dancers are- but there was an adult troupe in the mix willing to laugh at themselves as they came out in curly gray wigs and walkers.

There were twenty-five dances in total with each new selection requiring a costume change.  Lord, help the poor souls tasked with those smelly hampers.

The dearth of boys made me think of the dad in Billy Elliott asserting that boys didn’t do “f*in’ bally.”  Out of 76 dancers, 6 were male.  But those lads were the cock of the walk and should be the envy of their peers.

One lad distinguished himself straight off and throughout the evening.  Lithe and wiry with very busy feet, twelve-year old Aaron Schueler hoofed atop a grand piano like a young Fred Astaire.  Keep an eye on this one.  He has something very special.

Is dance really all it’s cracked up to be? Judging by the faces and body language of the dancers, it is.  According to the Tanakh, when the Holy Ark was returned to Jerusalem, King David “whirled with all his might before the LORD.” (2 Sam. 6:14, KJB) Like David, these kids hoofed up a storm, shining rays of hope, electric with the indefatigable exuberance of youth.

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Tauber is a freelance writer specializing in cultural coverage.  He may be contacted via eric.tauber@sdjewishworld.com.  Comments intended for publication in the space below must be accompanied by the letter writer’s first and last name and by his/ her city and state of residence (city and country for those outside the U.S.)