Offering kids a ‘fun introduction’ to the art of dance

Mt Laurel Ballet

After veteran dance teacher Stephanie Rangel moved to Mt Laurel, she realized there wasn’t a ballet program anywhere in the area, so she opened her own 1,000-square-foot dance studio, Mt Laurel Ballet, in 2022.

The studio, at 102-A Croft St., offers classes in a dozen styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop and contemporary.

The instructors are current or former professional dancers and are “very well-qualified, very well-trained,” Rangel says.

This summer, Mt Laurel Ballet will offer children a great chance to have fun, meet the teachers and check out the studio with a series of three dance camps Monday-Friday, June 5-9:

► The Ballet Princess Camp will be for children ages 3-7.

► There will be a Mermaid and Pirate Dance Camp for ages 8-11 featuring a sampling of the dance styles the studio offers.

► There will be a contemporary workshop for ages 12 and older. Some prior dance training is encouraged for participants in this workshop, Rangel said.

Each class will be $100.

“I think the camps are fantastic for dancers who have danced before or have never danced before,” says Rangel, who is a co-founder and artistic director of the “Magic City Nutcracker” and president of Magic City Performing Arts.

WHERE: 102-A Croft St., Mt Laurel

EMAIL: info@mtlaurelballet.com

CALL: 205-946-7331

WEB: mtlaurelballet.com

“It’s a lighthearted environment,” Rangel said. “The goal is just to give the kids a fun introduction to dance.”

The classes have limited capacity, so people should reserve their spots by registering on the website to hold their spot by April 1.

Magic City Performing Arts will also present a ballet intensive for advanced dancers at Mt Laurel Ballet from Monday-Friday, July 10-21.

For details, call 205-946-7331 or email info@mtlaurelballet.com.

Make your summer rock

Kidcam Camps @ Oak Mountain

With more than 45 years running summer camps, Kidcam knows how to make summers rock!

Parents can build their summer in a way that works for them. Choose only the weeks you need summer camp, save 10% on tuition when you buy 3 or more weeks and pay in advance or pay weekly throughout the summer.

Oak Mountain campers enjoy:

► Boating

► Archery

► Golfing

► Petting Farm

► Interactive Wildlife

► Playgrounds

► Sports Courts

► Swimming

► Plus 3 elective “choice” periods each day to build more of what they love into their activity schedule!

WHERE: 200 Terrace Parkway, Pelham

WHEN: May 30-Aug. 4

AGES: 5-13 (must be 5 by the start of camp)

Summer Camp June

Ballerina Princess Camp

9:30-10:30 ages 3-4

•Creative movement and ballet dance classes with a craft

•Parents are invited for a presentation during the last 10 minutes on Friday

Contemporary Workshop

2:30-4:00 ages 12 and up

•explore Contemporary Dance movement and learn the history of ballet and modern dance styles

•parents are invited to warch a short presentation on Friday

5-9

Mermaid and Pirate Dance Camp

1-2:30 ages 8-11

•Wear your favorite mermaid or pirate costume on Friday for a parent presentation

•Snack provided

Register at www.MtLaurelBallet.com

Space is Limited! $100 for the week per student

For questions email info@mtlaurelballet.com or Call 205- 946-7331

CALL: 877-4KIDCAM

WEB: kidcamcamp.com

EMAIL: rocky@kidcamcamp.com

Mason Music Camps

For over a decade, Mason Music has provided music education to thousands of children across Birmingham. Mason Music’s summer camps are designed to give incredible music experiences tailored to each child’s stage of musicianship to make sure they have something exciting and educational to do during break. Mason Music has camps for every age, from preschool children (ages 3-5) to advanced musicians (up to age 18).

Mason Music is intentional about staffing their camps with seasoned music teachers who are dedicated to the value of music education for their students.

“Music education has been proven again and again to increase social skills, spatial awareness, hand-eye coordination and even numeracy and language,” says Mason Music’s Director of Marketing, Laine White.

Mason Music places an emphasis on teaching music that kids are excited about, instead of forcing genres or styles of music that children don’t relate to.

AGES: 3-18

WEB: masonmusic.com/ music-camps

“Our unique approach to music education ensures that our students get the full benefit of their musical exploration while having a blast,” says White.

As parents, it can be a lot of pressure to teach your children important life skills, but Mason Music Camps provide a unique avenue to a brighter and more socially developed child. Their vast community of Birmingham music educators and resources like popular performance venues, recording studios and guest speakers provide your child with the most comprehensive and accessible music opportunities possible. There truly is nothing like Mason Music in Birmingham.

Sean and his wife, Jamie, moved to the Birmingham area in March 2022. This is a column he wrote on his fourth day in his new town.

Day Four. We have been living in Birmingham for four days and I am lost. Hopelessly lost. Right now I am in interstate traffic and I have no idea where in the Lord’s name I am.

Also, it’s colder than a witch’s jogbra in this city. The temperature last night was 37 degrees and I couldn’t feel my digits.

Before you accuse me of being a weather wimp, I must remind you that I come from the Panhandle, where the median temperature is 103, and our hurricane season lasts from June to the following June.

So I was not ready for the freezing temps a few nights ago. My entire little family slept in one bed to keep warm, and whenever it got cold, my wife threw on another dog.

But that’s what you get here in the foothills of the Appalachians. Because when I asked the guy at the hardware store if it would ever warm up, he explained the weather like this:

“This is Birmingham, dude. You git what you git, and you don’t pitch a fit.”

Which reminds me: I know all the hardware store employees on a first-name basis now. I’ve been spending a lot of time at Home Depot lately.

Since we are still busy moving into our house, my wife has been sending me on random hardware errands for items such as felt chair pads, shims, sink stoppers, and (don’t