The Dance Connection Of Hillsborough Launches Virtual Classes

Press release from The Dance Connection:

Jan. 17, 2021

The Dance Connection of Hillsborough, NJ has launched a virtual dance class called Dancing Outside the Box™ for children ages 3-5 years old. The class keeps kids moving by combining elements of an educational TV series, a dance class and a virtual performance.

The virtual dance class fills a need for many parents of younger children who are looking for an engaging and educational activity to keep their kids moving at home. Each class has a limit of 10 children. Classes meet weekly, just like a normal dance class and each week’s class has a different theme. Young dancers journey to outer space, the north pole, or to a pirate ship. There are dozens of themes. During the class teachers use multiple virtual backgrounds for each theme giving children the feeling of being part of a movie.

David Kieffer, the owner of The Dance Connection and the creator of the DOTB classes, says “When creating the class, we knew that, if we wanted to keep the kids engaged and learning, we had to spark their imaginations. Each background is related to a new step, a short dance or a movement game. The teacher interacts with the backgrounds in fun, and sometimes silly, ways. The children love it!”

The class teaches ballet and hip-hop steps and engages children in developmentally appropriate games and exercises. In addition to teaching dance steps children learn about the world. “The class is educational too.” Says Kieffer. “If our theme is snow, of course we’ll do the penguin dance, but in the process, kids learn that penguins live in the south pole and polar bears live in the north pole.”

Parents of children in DOTB will love the perks that come along with registration for the class. Busy parents can opt to get regular text reminders 15 minutes before class. Families also have access to recordings of past classes so they can re-do the class as many times as they want. Plus, The Dance Connection has a highly available office staff. “We pride ourselves on getting back to our dance families quickly” says Bridget Macdonell, The Dance Connection’s office manager. “We want everyone to feel like they are part of our dance family, even if they are only taking class virtually.”

DOTB was launched in November of 2020 and started opening up to the wide world in December. Already, the program has students from all over NJ; as well as families from Connecticut, Washington DC and New York. Students from anywhere in the country, even the world, can take the classes. Classes will continue regardless of the pandemic.

Located in Hillsborough NJ, The Dance Connection was started in 2007. In addition to providing virtual DOTB classes, The Dance Connection offers in-studio dance classes to children ages 3 through high school. The Dance Connection also teaches on-site dance classes at preschools throughout central NJ.

This press release was produced by The Dance Connection. The views expressed here are the author's own.