JCC Dance School Summer Intensive Takes A Holistic Approach

Every dedicated dancer knows the importance of staying in shape year-round. Enrolling in a summer intensive program can help students keep on track. Indeed, a full-day, 5-week summer session can be equivalent to 6-8 months of regular weekly training. Summer options of all sorts abound, but the Summer Dance Intensive at the JCC of Mid-Westchester in Scarsdale offers experienced students (7th grade and up) a uniquely fun and healthy approach. Its comprehensive curriculum, taught by professional instructors in Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Contemporary, Hip Hop and Jazz, Tap, also includes classes in Nutrition, Injury Prevention, Yoga for Relaxation, Pilates Mat for improving core strength, as well as a Stretch Class to increase dancers' flexibility.

Jayne Santoro, who has directed the JCC Dance School since 2002, launched the JCC's Summer Dance Intensive four years ago to meet a need in Westchester for a well-rounded, holistic summer program. "We provide a healthy dose of technique classes, as well as a chance to decompress through more relaxing options, such as stretching and alignment class," Santoro says. "We are emphasizing a full body, mind and soul approach, because I know, as a former dancer, how beneficial it is after a strenuous day of technique classes to wind down and release muscles with relaxing activities -- yoga, stretch, or nutrition class -- to give our bodies a rest while feeding our intellect."

The JCC summer program offers a flexible schedule: dancers can attend two, three, four or five weeks between June 24 and July 26. An informal in-studio demonstration takes place on the last day of the summer session. "My goal is to help teen-aged dancers feel that they have increased their skill level and formed new friendships, while exposing themselves to various forms of dance, and most of all, staying healthy and strong." This summer, students will have a special treat with a lesson in Israeli Folk Dance. Classes are limited to 16 students and there are still a couple of openings available to qualified students.

Santoro received her classical ballet training at the American Ballet Theatre School in New York City and performed with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company, as well as New York regional companies. With more than 30 years' experience teaching ballet throughout Westchester and Rockland counties, she directs the Westchester Theatre of Dance (JCC's resident dance company), and continues to enjoy teaching all levels of ballet to children and adults. She also runs the JCC's Ballet Outreach Program, which performs for seniors and children several times each year.  Her goal for the JCC Dance School year-round is to meet her students' needs in developing their personal preferences, and at the same time, ensure quality training. She hires top instructors who provide hands-on correction and help students become more in tune with their bodies and health.

As director of a dance school within a Community Center, Santoro also believes it's important to help the students build a sense of community.  Edgemont resident Liz Salshutz, whose daughter Karen is one of six seniors graduating from the JCC Dance School this year, appreciates the program's supportive environment: "The camaraderie that develops from the small class size has led my two daughters to develop lifelong friendships. The dancers support and encourage each other in a very positive way, and my daughters think of the Dance School as their second home, their second family!"  Indeed, her older daughter Emily, home from college for the summer, recently joined several other JCC dance alumnae for an impromptu reunion with Ms. Santoro after a rigorous workout in one of the school's daily Adult Ballet classes.

Serving more than 80 adults and hundreds of younger dancers in 45 classes, the school offers the highest quality instruction for preschool through adult students. "I believe our training is on par with schools in New York City, and nearly every JCC ballet class has a pianist for accompaniment -- a rarity in suburban dance schools," Santoro says. "I believe it is important that students take their training from A to Z, and their efforts make them feel successful...I know it is emotionally very gratifying to see yourself progress over the years and feel a sense of accomplishment.  We want our students to be tenacious learners, to get positive results from hard work and good training, and thereby become more diligent and self-disciplined throughout their life endeavors."

As one of Santoro's former students, Stephanie Millman of Scarsdale, stated:  "When I danced in college with a highly selective dance team that practiced five days a week, I thought constantly of Jayne and the JCC ... without whom there is no way I could be where I am today."
JCC of Mid-Westchester Dance School is located at 999 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale, NY.

For more information, contact Director Jayne Santoro at (914) 472-3300, ext. 320, or by email at [email protected]. Visit the JCC's website at www.jccmw.org.