(Newswire.net — April 19, 2014) Singapore, Singapore — Singapore American School (SAS) elementary school students enjoyed this year’s Happy Feet Dance Program, which included high school dancers serving as mentors and instructors. Formerly known as Twinkle Toes, the program which started about ten years ago changed its name this year to be gender neutral.
The classes consisted of playing warm-up games, working on skills, learning a short dance and playing a cool-down game during every session. When asked which aspect of the program stood out as best, a participant’s parent answered, “I love seeing how engaged my [five-year old] daughter is with movement and her high school teachers. She just adores them.”
The faculty dance advisor, Tracy Van Der Linden, shared that one of the joys she has are watching the high school students form strong relationships with the younger students. She loves, as a teacher, to hear what the high school students have learned about themselves through the process of teaching.
Some of the volunteer high school student instructors shared that they love how “cute and funny” the younger dancers are. They enjoyed sharing their passion for dance with them and hearing the perspectives of the younger dancers.
Other parents of participants said that their children really enjoyed the program and the instruction provided by the older students. “The program is a wonderful introduction to dance skills and movement.” A few of the program participants said that they really “enjoyed their time with their high school dancers and learning little dance pieces each week.”
For the high school volunteers, some of them remember how much they loved ‘Twinkle Toes’ when they were younger. Kisara Thompson, who is now a junior, participated in Twinkle Toes when she was five years old; this year she was in charge of the program. She and the other high school volunteers have similar fond memories of how much they loved [Twinkle Toes] when they were younger.
Ms. Van Der Linden also shared that the best thing about this program was “the mentoring and relationships that the students build with each other, the platform for students to share their passion of dance and the exposure of movement patterns and skills for the younger children.”
Established in 1956, the school primarily serves the American and international expatriate communities of Singapore. SAS is registered with the Singapore Council for Private Education, affiliated with the Office of Overseas Schools through the U.S. Department of State, and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
For more information about Singapore American School visit www.sas.edu.sg.
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