Celebrate the Beat

CELEBRATE theBEAT

Tapping into the joy and possibility within kids through dance

By Kimberly Nicoletti

Every child has a powerful beat within. We teach them to find it, hear it, feel it, embrace it, express it and celebrate it so they can be empowered by it in every aspect of their lives.

This is the guiding principle of Celebrate the Beat (CTB), a national nonprofit introduced to the Vail Valley by Heather Watts and Damian Woetzel in his first year as director of the Vail Dance Festival. In 2020, the Vail Valley Foundation brought the local CTB branch under its wing as an official program of YouthPower365.

A quality arts education program, CTB impacts children of all abilities through movement and dance. The program embraces the heartbeat of YouthPower365’s mission to “inspire, educate, and empower youth and families.”

Vail Valley Foundation’s YouthPower365 strives to serve “Every Child, Every Day” through academics, social-emotional learning, and enrichment. From the Magic Bus preschool to afterschool programs, from mentoring to scholarships, YouthPower365 walks hand in hand with youth until they launch into college or career. CTB is now a shining star among the YouthPower365 opportunities, available in every public school in the Vail Valley.

YouthPower365’s commitment to youth and their success never wavered during the pandemic, and CTB embraced that commitment this past year, reaching more than 1,000 students through virtual programming. In partnership with CTB in Colorado, the program hosted online classes focused on dance, yoga, fitness, music lessons and brain breaks to kids ages 3 through 12. Aligned with YouthPower365’s education and enrichment, CTB intertwined learning into these activities on everything from the solar system to math.

The program will return to the stage for the first time this summer and dance its way into schools this fall. Professional

Ron Myles performs with Celebrate the Beat in 2016. Photo by Erin Baiano.

dance instructors will be back to dancing with elementary students in person, accompanied by live musicians.

“The ability to connect with the body is so important to the learning process,” said Sarah Johnson, Senior Vice President of Philanthropy and the Vail Dance Festival. “It raises the level of engagement through the day and may spark a passion for dance or music they might not otherwise have access to.”

CTB curriculum incorporates math, science, and history and revolves around such themes as persistence, systems of the body, poetry and rhythms of the world.

CTB AT VAIL DANCE FESTIVAL For more than a dozen years, CTB has hosted a free five-day camp, called Pop Hop, open to all 9- to 14-year-olds in Eagle County (including kids who are visiting for the summer). The camp culminates with the kids performing at the Vail Dance Festival.

“It’s the kids’ favorite week of the summer. They get to feel nervous excitement, pride from performing — all those elements of emotion,” said Kris Ashley, Celebrate the Beat Manager at YouthPower365.

It’s also a hit with audiences.

“It’s a favorite night,” Johnson said. “The energy level that comes from CTB is like nothing else during the festival. It’s just pure joy and magic.”

A professional dancer from the Festival traditionally joins the camp for a day, then performs with CTB, allowing the students to interact, ask questions, and share the stage with a professional dancer.

This summer’s CTB piece is particularly special because it celebrates the 20-year-anniversary it could not showcase last year, due to COVID-19. All CTB alumni are invited — grades 9 through college age — to be featured during the Festival.

EFFECT ON LOCAL YOUTH Whether through its summer camp or classes during the school day, CTB has a strong impact.

“CTB makes me feel like anything is possible and that everyone is a star. It also taught me to dream big and that I can do anything I put my mind to,” said Avery Burgund, a fifth grader at Edwards Elementary School. “CTB gave me hope in this past year.”  VAIL VALLEYACADEMY OF DANCE

The Vail Valley Academy of Dance is Western Colorado’ s most prestigious dance instruction destination. Founded in 1989, we educate and train The Eagle Valley for a life full of dance! We offer top quality dance instruction to dedicated young people from 3 to 18, as well as adults! We consider our Dancers and Teachers to be our family, and we love being part of the Vail dance community. Styles include: Ballet Jazz Tap Dance Hip Hop Musical Theatre Contemporary Yoga Strength & Fitness NOW ENROLLING FOR 2021-2022 SEASON!

Find us at: VVAD.net 970-926-2820

It would be our pleasure to meet you, and help your dancer realize their full potential.