1902 Jules Street, Saint Joseph, Missouri 64501
680 KFEQ AM Radio & StJosephPost.com • May 24, 2024
Dance Arts Center Director gets great spring break opportunity by Matt Pike
KQ2.com [St. Joseph, Missouri]
18th Annual 'A Chance to Dance' bringing together dancers to benefit Voices of Courage
Story by Noel Hardin [KQ2]
(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) The Dance Arts Center hosting their 18th annual 'A Chance to Dance,' with all funds raised going to benefit Voices of Courage Child Advocacy Center.
Melissa Birdwell, Voices of Courage's executive director says, "This is basically a dance recital where Marla Heeler, from the Dance Art Center brings in troops from studios from around the area. And they come from as far away as St. Louis and some come just from right here in town or Maryville or wherever. And they come they put on an evening worth of performance, and they just have a great time dancing and just showing off their talents. And it's a fundraiser then for Voices of Courage."
The Dance Arts Center has prepared weeks for this event, and the other studios preparing just as much to put on a show to not only impress the crowd, but to benefit Voices of Courage. Marla Heeler, the founder of the Dance Arts Center said, "Our studio performed, we kind of set up everything our studios, the ambassadors for this, and there was all different styles of dance tonight, you had a little bit of ballet, a little bit of contemporary, a little bit of jazz, little bit hip hop, a little bit of tap. So our students are just integrated into the program by being the host of the event. But we really want it to be about Voices of Courage. So all the students that come donate their time. And our studio loves to do it. We have kids who they say it's their favorite event that we do all year."
The fundraiser hit their goal of $10,000 from the tickets and the silent auction, and were extremely grateful to all those who showed up to support them.
If you're interested in participating in the dance arts center or donating towards voices of courage, you can find their websites here: Dance Arts Center Voices of Courage
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CHANCE TO DANCE GIVES ST. JOSEPH A CHANCE TO HELP KIDS IN TRAUMA
By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
A benefit performance hosted by the Dance Arts Center will raise money to benefit Voices of Courage.
Voices of Courage Executive Director Melissa Birdsell says the organization is a child advocacy center working with children who have been through abuse or trauma.
“We work with child abuse victims in a couple of different ways, we provide several services,” Birdsell tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. “We do the forensic interview, which is the initial step in the investigation of a child abuse case, and then we work with the family regarding advocating for them, finding them resources, helping them in any way that we can.”
Birdsell says the organization does the forensic interview for victims, but makes sure from the beginning the child is only interviewed once, “When a child goes through some kind of trauma, when you interview them over and over that re-traumatizes them every time it can, and the other thing it does is it makes them feel like no one is believing them if they have to keep telling the story over and over again,” Birdsell explains. “So, our goal is to get one interview, we record that interview, and that’s then used in the investigation.” Birdsell says that process helps make the focus on the child and that they are treated safely.
The performance, called A Chance to Dance, has been held for 18 years and has raised roughly $140,000 for Voices of Courage.
Dance Arts Center owner Marla Heeler says the idea for the benefit came from her just wanting to help make a difference, “I work with kids and have pretty much my entire life as far as being a dance teacher, so it just always hit me really hard when you would hear those stories on the news of things that had happened to kids,” Heeler says.
Heeler started the effort while she lived in Illinois, but when she moved back to St. Joseph brought the idea to Voices of Courage, “I said I want to put together this benefit dance concert, because that’s really all I know how to do is dance, so I said but i think we could raise some money at least and help out,” Heeler explains.
This year’s performance will be held on Saturday at Central High School starting at 6pm. Tickets can be purchased at JoMoTickets.com or at the door.
News-Press NOW: better LIVING April 27, 2023
Local dancers perform at nationals
News-Press NOW
Dancers from The Dance Arts Center in St. Joseph earned numerous awards at the recent Heart of America Chapter 28 regional competition and earned the right to compete against dancers from across the United States and Canada in July at the 138th Dance Masters of America National Competition and Convention in Atlanta, Georgia.
Over 100 dance students from Dance Masters of America chapters in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma competed in the regional competition.
All competing dance students submit a fact sheet about themselves and are then interviewed by the judges.
They then take dance classes and students, age 12 and under are scored in ballet, jazz, tap and acrobatics while students age 13 and over students take classes and are scored in ballet, jazz, tap, acrobatic dances and modern dances. Finally, each student performs a pre-choreographed solo dance and are judged on technique, performance, choreography and overall impression.
Solo Title Winners from The Dance Arts Center were Sam Ward, age 11, Junior Mr. Dance 2023. Sam’s solo was a Contemporary dance, “From Beginning”. He is the son of Russ and Summer Ward.
Lily Phillips, age 14, was awarded Teen Miss Dance 2023. She also earned High Scores in Ballet, Modern Dance, and overall High Score in the Teen Miss Class. Lily performed a Contemporary dance, “HALO”for her solo. She is the daughter of Kyle and Tia Phillips.
Atticus May, age 15, Teen Mr. Dance 2023. Atticus performed a Contemporary dance, “SO WILL I” for his solo. He is the son of Dr. Nathanael May and Michelle Rautmann.
Claire Phillips, age 17, won Miss Dance 2023. She also earned the Interview High Score as well as High Scores in Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Modern Dances along with Overall High Score for the Miss Dance Class. Claire performed a Contemporary dance, “SOMETHING IN THE ORANGE”. She is the daughter of Kyle and Tia Phillips.
Other Dancers from The Dance Arts Center receiving Class Awards and Honorable Mentions were Elina Sherman, age 15, High Score Interview and High Score Tap Dancing along with 3rd Runner up for Teen Miss Dance. Elina is the daughter of Gary and Renee Sherman.
Estelle May, age 18 received the Miss Congeniality Award and was 3rd Runner-Up for Miss Dance. Estelle is the daughter of Dr. Nathanael May and Michelle Rautmann.
Dance Masters of America, Inc. is an International Non-Profit Educational Organization of dance educators, who have been certified by test to teach; have had a professional dance career; have a degreed certification from an approved institution of higher education; or have successfully passed an exam in an approved professional dance organization.
Dance Masters of America has been certifying and setting the standards of dance education since 1884.
The Dance Arts Center has been a member since it was founded in 1985.
The Dance Arts Center is has been teaching art, discipline and joy of dance in St. Joseph for over 38 years. Classes include Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Musical Theater, Pointe and Tumbling for youth ages 3 and up along with adult tap, ballet, and yoga classes. The studio has grown to offer classes at two locations, 1902 Jules and 2300 Frederick Avenue. The Dance Arts Center is owned by Marla Heeler.
News-Press NOW: better LIVING January 23 and 24, 2021
Local dancers perform at nationals
News-Press NOW
St. Joseph and Chapter 28 of the Heart of America DMA Chapter was repre- sented at the 2021 Dance Masters of America National Title Scholar- ship Competition at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee by three dancers from The Dance Arts Center.
The DMA Heart of America Chapter 28 include studios from Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. Dancers representing The Dance Arts Center include Mr. Dance regional winner, Caleb Keling, son of Troy and Brandi Keling; Miss Junior Dance regional winner, Lily Phillips, daughter of Kyle and Tia Phillips; and Mr. Junior Dance regional winner, Atticus May, son of Nathanael and Michelle Rautmann May.
Caleb Keling performed a lyrical dance titled “Smile” choreographed by himself and Marla Heeler; Lily Phillips performed “Higher Ground,” a jazz dance choreographed by Kealey Mathieson; and At- ticus May performed “Feel Good,” a tap dance choreographed by Marla Heeler.
Dance Masters of America was founded in 1894 and is a professional, certified membership organization of artists and educators committed to the elevation of the art of dance and to provide innovative artistic experi- ences for the advance- ment of dance worldwide.
It awards over $200,000 in scholarships to aspir- ing dancers and teachers annually.
The Dance Arts Center has been teaching dance to youth and adults for over 35 years and is owned by Marla Heeler of- fering classes for boys and girls 3 years old and up through seniors in high school featuring Ballet, Tap, Pointe, Jazz, Contem- porary, Hip Hop and Mu- sical Theater along with classes for adults which include tap and yoga.
Dance studios get back to normal operations | Bailey Ketcham, News-Press Now | September 24, 2020
Local dance studios were heartbroken when they had to close down in March and cancel recitals and competitions, but now they’re getting back to normal classes.
The Dance Arts Center and Darcee’s School of Dance both shifted to virtual classes in the spring. Marla Heeler, owner of the Dance Arts Center, is continuing to offer virtual lessons despite most of her students returning to the studio.
“Kids are quarantined every other minute right now with school so they’re able to still Zoom in if they need to and we have cameras that can take both angles of the classroom and we’re mic’d up,” Heeler said. Read more...
Students with The Dance Arts Center in St. Joseph performed a sneak peek Sunday afternoon of their upcoming rendition of ‘The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe’ by Ray Scherer | News-Press NOW 01/13/2020
The wonders and utter magic of a classic novel are uniquely making their way to dance floors in Northwest Missouri this year.
Students with The Dance Arts Center, 1902 Jules St., performed a special sneak peek Sunday afternoon of their version of the C.S. Lewis favorite, “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.” The three Narnia-themed performances in “Tea With Tumnus” served as the kick-off to the center’s 2020 season, with the full show set to occur over the next few months.
Marla Heeler, the center’s owner and director, said rehearsals every Saturday have been a constant since September. The studio itself has been around for some 35 years, and she’s been at the helm for the past 15 years. Read more...