Dance studio encourages expression, helps kids fight obesity North Shore Performing Arts Center: Photos of dance classes at the studio, located in Syosset, New York. Photos by: Katie Thompson |
North Shore Performing Arts Center Syosset,NY Helping students stay healthy and fit through dance |
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(...continued from page 1) “Many of our students take more than five classes per week, and each one is an hour long,” said Katie Kellerman-Demick, also an instructor at the studio. “If you add up those hours of exercise that these kids are getting, it makes a big difference in their overall health and energy levels.” One major cause of childhood obesity lies in the dangers of today’s entertainment programs for adolescents. Video games and computers have replaced outdoor activities. Playgrounds are seeing less and less children each day. For about 18 dollars a class, North Shore battles this technology addiction by providing students with fun and challenging dance routines to all of their favorite songs. “Students can choose to take jazz, classical, hip hop, and contemporary classes,” said Kellerman. Research suggests that as many as 70 percent of obese children become obese adults, putting them at risk for health complications like diabetes and heart problems. Dance, Kellerman says, is one of the few activities that kids pursue for long periods of time, helping to maintain their weight and exercise over the years. The studio prides themselves on instructing students dance from adolescent ages into adults. “It makes me feel happy all day long,” said Nikki Bergman, a ten year old from Syosset, who describes dancing as her passion. She has been taking lessons at the studio since she was just four years old. |
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