Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
The New Rockford Area Betterment Corporation (NRABC) is bringing back a groovy event this month.
In October of 2022, the NRABC put together a youth dance camp for local youth, and saw a great turnout from young dancers throughout the community.
And now, they're bringing back the New Rockford Dance Camp later this month.
The event is possible thanks to a $1,500 grant from the North Dakota Council on the Arts, a service and program agency of the state dedicated to ensuring that the arts play an evermore significant part in the welfare and educational experience of N.D. communities.
"Dance provides another component to the arts, and it's a great opportunity to offer something that we don't have already available in New Rockford," said Amanda Hegland, executive director of the NRABC.
The camp is open to children in kindergarten through fifth grade, and will begin on Monday, March 18 and run through Thursday, March 21, with practices held at the Brown Memorial.
As they were in the first dance camp, this year's dancers will be instructed by Northern Plains Dance Company, a non-profit organization from Bismarck that's been providing professional training for dancers since 1998.
New this year, however, will be the addition of a ballet and tap class for beginners, which will be available from 4:15-5 p.m., and from 6-7 p.m. each day.
Meanwhile, the students will also be divided into their age groups and attend throughout the day.
Children ages 4-5 will have a "creative movement" class from 2:30-3:15 p.m. every day, and kindergarten through second grade will have an "elements of dance" class from 3:15-4 p.m.
Students in grades 3-5 will also have an "elements of dance" class from 5-6 p.m. just before the evening's ballet and tap class.
The week's events culminate with a showcase in the New Rockford-Sheyenne School Gymnasium at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, allowing friends and family to see all the new dance moves the kids learned at camp.
To sign up call (701) 947-2205 or go to cityofnewrockford.com. The cost is just $20, which also includes a t-shirt for each kid in attendance. There is no deadline to sign up, but the sooner the better to make sure shirt sizes are known soon enough in advance.
Hegland said scholarships may be available for families who could use them, and that anyone interested should reach out to the NRABC at (701) 947-2205.
In addition to the $1,500 grant, this year's camp is also being made possible thanks to generous donations from the New Rockford Eagles Club and Lions Club. Hegland also expressed her thanks to NR-S for allowing the use of their gym for the dance showcase.
