Recently, a survey about after-school dance lessons was sent out to students in all grades. The survey included basic questions about dance and time-management issues. Survey responses indicate that there are at least fifteen dancers at Montrose School, and these girls have dance classes up to five times a week! The most common dance studio was Harney Academy of Irish Dance, but the questionnaire shows that there are over seven other studios where Montrose students take dance classes.
When asked about time-management between dance and schoolwork, a Montrose dancer who studies at the Needham Dance Theater wrote, “sometimes I will bring my homework to dance if I have a late class and time in between.” Other responses showed different strategies, such as, “I take full advantage of my studies and Resource,” or “I try to work ahead on the weekend.” The overall favorite type of dance ranged from modern/contemporary to hip-hop, but ballet was the ultimate winner by far. One of the survey questions asked the participants if they had ever joined the Montrose Dance Club. Unfortunately, all the answers were negative, though one girl said, “It seems like it would be a lot of fun.”
Everyone had a unique response when asked about what they enjoy about dance. Some of the replies were, “the feeling you get when you are onstage;” “I can dance with my friends;” “you can make it your own;” and “going to dance class itself is a huge outlet for me, and is a place where I can leave my baggage at the door and really lose myself in the movement.” All Montrose dancers have been dancing for at least a year, though some girls have been in the dance game for over seven years.
The last question in the dance survey asked participants whether they thought dance was an art or a sport, though almost all responses indicated the the girls think dance is both an art and a sport. The survey definitely shows that Montrose has some extremely committed dancers!