The Berwick events are jam packed in these final weeks of May, but a particularly special one for me has always been the amazing dance shows. Each year I am inspired to see how this program – a school within a school – comes together to put on such extravaganzas for the community to enjoy. Last weekend’s edition was one of my favorite moments to truly soak in the nature of a PK-12 school, as one can’t help but notice the progression of talent and development throughout the dance companies. Perhaps even more impressively, the dance program is one of the greatest examples we have of mentoring and role modeling across divisions. Whether that is as impressive as shared performances on stage or as mundane as managing the littlest dancers backstage, it is truly a community effort.
Selfishly, this is the one program on campus that all three of the Schneider girls love equally, and as a parent it has been such a gift to see them on stage together. While they share a common bond through the experience, they also have seemed to branch out into various individual genres of dance that speak to them personally. Thus they can both express their individual sense of joy while sharing in the collective experience together. As a Dad, I have marveled at how dance has helped them build a sense of self-confidence and a sense of joy. Clearly it is near the top of the list of things they will miss about Berwick next year.
I suppose my final takeaway from the dance show each spring is that unquestioned sense of joy one sees on the stage. Whether it is a mutant turtle costume, a hip hop blow out, or acrobatic tumbles – I love how these kids can’t help themselves from smiling while on stage. When I arrived on this campus eleven years ago, I was bowled over by the extent of the dance program at Berwick compared to other places I had been. That reaction was focused on sheer numbers of participation. Today my sense of awe is informed more deeply by the magic of a PK-12 school community and just how meaningful dance has been to my family in terms of identity and sense of self.
So while we will miss the dance shows deeply, our family takes with us a robust “dance party” culture, where we all get to share our moves with each other to the most upbeat and hard charging songs we can find. That is a Schneider tradition that I believe is here to stay.
Selfishly, this is the one program on campus that all three of the Schneider girls love equally, and as a parent it has been such a gift to see them on stage together. While they share a common bond through the experience, they also have seemed to branch out into various individual genres of dance that speak to them personally. Thus they can both express their individual sense of joy while sharing in the collective experience together. As a Dad, I have marveled at how dance has helped them build a sense of self-confidence and a sense of joy. Clearly it is near the top of the list of things they will miss about Berwick next year.
I suppose my final takeaway from the dance show each spring is that unquestioned sense of joy one sees on the stage. Whether it is a mutant turtle costume, a hip hop blow out, or acrobatic tumbles – I love how these kids can’t help themselves from smiling while on stage. When I arrived on this campus eleven years ago, I was bowled over by the extent of the dance program at Berwick compared to other places I had been. That reaction was focused on sheer numbers of participation. Today my sense of awe is informed more deeply by the magic of a PK-12 school community and just how meaningful dance has been to my family in terms of identity and sense of self.
So while we will miss the dance shows deeply, our family takes with us a robust “dance party” culture, where we all get to share our moves with each other to the most upbeat and hard charging songs we can find. That is a Schneider tradition that I believe is here to stay.
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