In today’s edition of “Getting to Know You”, we are beginning the first set of a two part series on our Student Helpers!  The student helpers are part of Dance Connection’s Teacher Training Program and assist in our classes each week.

Dance Connection believes in providing a warm, safe, and professional atmosphere where each student is cared for within the Dance Connection family. We are proud to also offer a Teacher Training Program to our more serious students. It is a forum for students to gain training in teaching as well as job responsibility. Enrollment in our Teacher Training Program will provide members with the highest standard of mentoring and guidance. Dance Connection is strongly committed to enriching and nourishing the future teachers and citizens of our community. Regardless of your future career path, Dance Connection feels confident that all members of the Teacher Training Program will leave our program having learned the important life skills of: respect, responsibility, accountability, discipline, confidence, and professionalism.

		Allison Bradley When not in school or at dance, Allison likes to hang out with her friends.  Her family has one cat named Abby.  Allison’s favorite styles of dance are contemporary and hip hop and her favorite song she’s ever danced to was her first competition solo, “Rockstar”.  Her favorite time of year at Dance Connection is when we get our recital costumes in and get to try them on for the first time.  Allison loves being a part of the Teacher Training Program because she loves teaching little kids something that she loves to do!
		Angelina Brigham In her free time, Angelina loves to dance and play her violin. She loves many types of dance, but her favorite is Hip Hop.  Angelina’s favorite song she’s ever danced to is “It’s My Party”.  Her favorite time of the year at Dance Connection is Christmas time, especially when teaching – she loves seeing the little kids so happy to see Santa.  In her own classes, she likes the choreography aspect of Holiday Party Week.  Angelina enjoys the Teacher Training Program because teaching is something she loves because she loves kids.  She also says it helps her become a lot more responsible.
		Elizabeth Ericson Elizabeth enjoys watching movies, playing with her family’s golden retrievers and practicing her dances in her free time!  Her family has two Golden Retrievers.  Their older one had puppies and they kept one, who just turned one in January.  Elizabeth’s favorite style of dance is contemporary, though her favorite dance she’s ever danced to is a jazz dance “Party Girls”, which is currently her duet for competition.  Her favorite time of year at Dance Connection is Halloween Party Week because she loves the games and gets to wear so many different costumes – both creepy and cute – all week long.  Elizabeth wanted to be a part of the Teacher Training Program for her entire life because she loved growing up at D.C. with all of her teachers.  She said “they inspire me every day.”
		Melissa Kinnear In her free time, Melissa enjoys playing tennis!  The Kinnear family has a dog named Shea and a rabbit named Sugar.  Jazz is Melissa’s favorite style of dance and her favorite dance she ever performed to is “It’s My Party”.  Her favorite time of the year at Dance Connection is competition season.  Melissa joined the Teacher Training Program because she loves helping kids become the best dancer they can be.
		Jessica Manziak Jessica spends most of her free time dancing, but she also likes to go shopping and hang out with her friends!  The Manziak family has a dog named Jewelie.  She is a Bichon Poodle and is a very smart dog.  Jessica’s favorite style of dance is jazz.  She enjoys the type of music and the steps and moves for jazz dances.  Her favorite song that she’s ever performed to is “Me and My Girls” – one of her competition dances this year. She said “it is so much fun!”  Her favorite time of year at Dance Connection is Halloween Party week because she loves all of the awesome decorations.  Jessica likes being a part of the Teacher Training Program because she likes to share her love of dance with younger students.
		Stephanie Manziak In her free time, Stephanie likes to dance, watch competition and recital videos and watch YouTube videos!  Her family has a dog named Jewelie.  Stephanie likes to cuddle with Jewelie when watching TV.  Ballet is Stephanie’s favorite style of dance, which explains why her favorite song she’s ever performed to is “If You’re Out There” – her ballet dance from last year.  Her favorite time of year at Dance Connection is dress rehearsal week for the recital.  Stephanie loves being a part of the Teacher Training Program because she likes helping younger students to dance and likes how the younger students look up to her.
		Camryn O’Hara Camryn enjoys working out, listening to music, and hanging out with friends in her free time.  Her favorite genre of dance is jazz and her favorite recital dance was “Emergency”.  Camryn’s favorite time of year at Dance Connection is Christmas time.  She joined the Teacher Training Program because she likes working with young children.
		Alyssa Penny Alyssa spends her free time with her family and friends.  Her family has a four year old Doberman named Duke.  Alyssa’s favorite style of dance is jazz and her jazz dance last year, “Little Swing”, was her favorite dance she’s ever performed.  Her favorite time of year at Dance Connection are the holidays.  Alyssa enjoys being a student helper because she likes to help the little kids learn to dance.
		Kiara Zeledon In her free time, Kiara does homework, dances, eats, sleeps, and then dances some more!  Her family has 2 dogs and some chickens.  Kiara’s enjoys all genres of dance and her favorite dance she’s ever performed in was “La Bamba”.  Her favorite time of year at Dance Connection is Halloween Week because she loves seeing everyone’s unique costumes.  Kiara loves being a part of the Teacher Training Program because she loves teaching kids and getting experience of what it is like to teach dance rather than just being a dancer.