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Rude Cakes by Rowboat Watkins

December 3, 2021April 10, 2020 by Choreography by Rae

Choreography by Rae

Rude Cakes

Read Aloud with Rae 4/10: Rude Cakes by Rowboat Watkins

By Rae Wilson

It’s wonderful to know what you want, but what do you do when doing what you want makes others unhappy? Can you get what you want while getting along with others? This Friday’s Read Aloud with Rae invites your young detective to explore Rowboat Watkin’s Thunder Boy.

The reading starts at 2pm on Friday 4/7 and runs approximately 20 minutes.

RSVP online to save your kiddos spot. Space is limited. Be sure to try logging on a few minutes early. It is hard to admit friends once the session has started.

All reading sessions are free, but tips are always appreciated.Tips may be sent via Venmo.

Does your child enjoy sharing? Add this book to your home library.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Preparing for our Read Aloud:

– Dress the part. Find a fun “rain hat”, a t-shirt with an umbrella on it, or pop on some rain boots. Looking for an excuse to use that secret stash of lighting bolt tattoos? You’re in luck.

– Print out the free coloring sheet and let your book detective do some coloring before the reading session. Kids will have a chance to show their pictures at the beginning of class.

Remember your P’s and Q’s

After the Reading Session:

– Keep the conversation going! Use daily activities to encourage your child to say please and thank you. “Thank you for giving me a hug!”

– Hold an imaginary tea party for your child’s favorite stuffed animals. See if the stuffed animals are polite at tea time.

– Make your own fancy hat! If you can put it on your head, it can be a hat. grab an empty box, an empty toilet paper roll, crayons, glue, anything thing you want and make your own hats.

– Play dress up. Pretend to be a Cyclops and try on different hats.

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Thunder Boy by ShermanAlexie

December 3, 2021April 2, 2020 by Choreography by Rae

Choreography by Rae

Thunder Boy

Read Aloud with Rae 4/3: Thunder Boy by Sherman Alexie

By Rae Wilson

What’s in a name? A lot especially if your name isn’t a common name. This Friday’s Read Aloud with Rae invites your young detective to explore Sherman Alexie’s Thunder Boy.

The reading starts at 2pm on Friday 4/3 and runs approximately 20 minutes. Be sure to RSVP online to save your kiddos spot. Space is limited. Be sure to try logging on a few minutes early. It is hard to admit friends once the session has started.

All reading sessions are free, but tips are always appreciated: Venmo

Does your child have a name with a special meaning? Add this book to your home library.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Preparing for our Read Aloud:

– Dress the part. Find a fun “rain hat”, a t-shirt with an umbrella on it, or pop on some rain boots. Looking for an excuse to use that secret stash of lighting bolt tattoos? You’re in luck.

– Print out the free coloring sheet and let your book detective do some coloring before the reading session. Kids will have a chance to show their pictures at the beginning of class.

“Leyla, have you seen BoBo the keep of great hugs?”

After the Reading Session:

– Keep the conversation going! Invite your child to learn the meaning of a family member’s name.

– Inquire whether a favorite stuffed animals name has a special meaning.

– Ask your child if they have a friend whose name has a special meaning. This is a great way to help older kids have a conversation with their friends.

– Come up with ridiculous names. Create a silly name by using a food and a color/ plant. The crazier the name the more laughs. “Hi, my name is Peanut Butter Bluebell.”

– Imagine that a pillow in your home is more than a pillow, but the keeper of great hugs or sleepy dreams. Together come up with a cool name for the pillow. Throughout the weekend reference your newly named pillow.

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How much are dance classes in NYC?

December 3, 2021November 29, 2019 by Choreography by Rae

Choreography by Rae

Dance Your Dreams

How much is it? Not all dance classes are created equal.

By Rae Wilson

The holiday season brings out the shopping warrior in us all. Grown-ups eager to find a deal, don their comfiest shoes gearing up for a weekend of “super-savings.” Not everyone takes the predawn super-sized coffee route. Some prefer shopping from the comfort of their couch clicking on the multitude of offers that have arrived in their Inboxes, promising Black Friday deals unlike anything ever seen before.

No matter how you choose to pursue a great deal, there’s a good chance you’ve done price comparison at some point in your life. The desire to win a deal doesn’t seem to be defined by income or culture. Century 21 in New York City is known for providing “deals” on luxury brands. Digital sellers like Groupon and ClassPass pride themselves on delivering savings year-round with the click of a button. Even the local grocery store offers sales which are sometimes paired with coupons to deliver an even bigger savings. The need to make a deal isn’t new, but long before we think of how much we can save, we must address the question, “How much is it?”

“Asking, “How much is it?” without even knowing what’s being offered is like asking “Are you going to marry me?” when someone invites you out for a drink. Patience Grasshopper.”

As a cost-conscious consumer, I usually prefer to skip the pre-sale getting to know you stuff and just go for the price. Of course, when I’m price hunting that’s usually after I’ve already either a) done some research or b) set a budget for myself. I love a good deal also. Though a recent experiment in purchasing bread provided a strong reminder that the price isn’t always right when it comes to saving some dough.

“If you want to really save some dough, then be sure to look at the ingredients.”

My clients are great. I remember bringing “healthy” rice crispy treats as a reward for my younger students and having an 8 year decline because it was still junk food. When I was 8, I would have eaten anything that hinted at being desert. I love when my students teach me things or remind me of the little things. My bread experiment was born out of my search for a plastic free water bottle for students. I failed at finding a reusable bottle that wasn’t made of metal, but I became determined to further reduce the plastic in my own home. Bread has been a huge part of my diet– just changing a simple food purchase to a plastic free purchase would make a huge impact in my waste reduction.

In order to reduce the amount of plastic in my home, I decided to stop buying things like sliced bread. Knowing what I wanted (good bread that didn’t come in a plastic bag), I did some research.

Price	Product	Vendor
$2.99	Sliced Bread in a plastic bag.	Any Grocery Store
$4.00	Unsliced Fresh Loaf, normally $8, 50% off after 5pm	Farmers Market
$7.00	Unsliced Fresh Loaf, 1 Giant loaf equals 2 loaves	Polish Bakery
$7.00	Unsliced Fresh Loaf	Farmers Market
$7.50	Unsliced Fresh Loaf	Swedish Bakery
$10.00	Unsliced ½ a Fresh Loaf	Farmers Market

After having done my research I was able to address my budget. I decided to skip the $10 half loaf since it was 3 more than 3 times what I usually spend. As someone who eats a lot of bread, even if the bread was made with water from the fountain of youth it just seemed pricey.

The next step was to try some bread. No I did not seek out those little cube samples that some store provide. I invested in the product. I no longer give free trial classes or sample classes for the same reason I spent a month trying different breads. If I was serious about making the switch to plastic free bread then I would need to get the full experience.

Finding the Right Fit

I gave up on the $4 loaves from the polish bakery, the bread was nice, but the cashiers would get annoyed when I asked them not to put the bread in plastic bags. My criteria had now moved from, “find plastic free bread” to “find plastic free bread was less than $10 per half loaf and would include a good customer service experience.” The bakery has been in the neighborhood for decades and I really wanted to support it, but I moved on.

Next, I tried supporting my local farmers market (a plastic nightmare that’s considered trendy in New York City). After 3 separate attempts to purchase $7 loaves– customer service again became the defining factor. The vendors were too busy chatting and hanging out, to be bothered to take my order. If you walk into a restaurant that has a sign saying “credit cards accepted”, seat yourself, find a menu from another table, and flag down a server, order, and then they tell you the card machine is broken well that’s a lot of hurdles to jump through for a meal. Waiting until I have my card out to say, “Oh I don’t think the card machine is working. Hey, is the card machine working?” Was pretty sloppy stuff. These guys were well into the middle of the day and use a small attachment to a smartphone to swipe. Unless your colleague ran out to buy a new one and you didn’t notice, this was information I should have been given up front. Also, he could have keyed in the card. Point being my willingness to double my usual bread allowance was not enough to make me put up with poor customer service again.

The next vendor at the farmers market was nice. The 50% off bread was big, and it was only about a $1 more that what I spent on Grocery store bread. Sadly, it was also tasteless. I tried many varieties and finally gave up. New criteria, “if I’m going to invest in it, I should like it.”

So how much is the winning bread? For 7.50 a loaf at the Swedish Bakery I get fresh bread in a paper bag, the taste is great, I can request to have it sliced, and the service is great. Considering the convenience and quality I’m paying for I consider $7.50 to be a great deal. Is it more than double what I used to pay? Yes. But because of the great flavor and texture I eat less of it than I did of my old bread. Plus I get really excited to have a slice a bread now.

When visitors to my website, contact me asking “how much is it?” I always ask myself where that person might be in their research phase. The dollar cost of classes is publicly displayed on the website, but the ingredients of what’s included in that price goes far beyond learning to dance.

This holiday season before you purchase another “Black Friday” or “Cyber Monday” (um, what’s up with these deals lasting a full week now) think about the value it will bring to your life. Will you be excited to use those 15 Groupon classes or wear those new boots? Will you end up in a crowded class where you aren’t learning much? Will you end up with a teacher who you don’t vibe with and end up ditching the remaining classes? Perhaps, those new boots will just make it through the winter but need to be replaced next year.

I put a lot of quality ingredients in my classes for those who make quality a priority. For folks who need big name status or super cheap deals, there are plenty of other studios out there for them.

Want to check out my “ingredients”? Click here.

“If you want to really save some dough, then be sure to look at the ingredients. The price isn’t always right.”

Finding a Great Deal in New York City.

When I created Choreography by Rae, I created it with you in mind. Assuming you’re someone who loves a good deal and values quality. You won’t find my classes on Groupon and I rarely have sales. Why? Well, the classes are designed to provide quality and convenience. When I drop prices too low, then usually the quality is the first thing to be affected. I know a lot of studios that charge more than me and a lot of dance instructors that charge much less. When I buy a super cheap deal that’s convenient, I know the quality might be reduced. For me that often means attending someone’s overcrowded classroom (hence I learn less) or a teacher I don’t vibe with. By choosing not to offer you $2.99 bread like so many others or $10 half loaves and boasting my credentials I’m able to offer quality service that is designed help you take the next step in your journey.

"Amazing class. My son enjoyed learning new dance choreography. Rae is very good with her students."

Angela Clemmons

parent of (Jayden, 10 years)

March word of the Month

December 3, 2021March 17, 2019 by Choreography by Rae

Dynamics

Ms. Rae’s definition:

Dynamics in dance is the sparkle. It’s the changes we use to a dance move to make a dance routine more interesting to the audience. Adding Dynamics can mean changing levels, changing direction, changing speed, and basically making audience go “wow.”

Wow! How audiences feel when watching a dance that has Dynamics.

An example of dynamics in dance: Funky walk with levels!

Google’s Definition:

There were a lot of long definitions online. Here’s the shortest: “The degree of energy, intensity, or power in the execution of movements.” (-westada.org)

Dance Goal:

Learning to use Dynamics in our dancing.

Family Fun:

How many different directions can you travel in? Can you move your body in 2 directions at once? Challenge an adult or sibling.

Explore This!

Use directional changes and levels together in your next freestyle!

3 benefits of dance that are more valuable than any trophy

December 3, 2021February 21, 2018 by Choreography by Rae

Choreography by Rae

Dance Your Dreams

3 benefits of dance that are more valuable than any trophy

By dancers & choreographyer Ms. Rae

I once had an amazing mom tell me that she did not put her children in dance class to become great dancers. This sentiment I was very used to hearing since Choreography by Rae offers recreational dance classes. We don’t enter competitions and use trophies to support a belief that we are the best. We don’t offer a pre-professional dance track. We dance for a lot of reasons and each move is executed with the idea that we all want to be a better version of ourselves. I strongly believe in pursing being better over being the best. Why? Because Better is constantly improving. The Best is a finite state, and that title can be taken away at any moment. As dancers we should always be on a track of constantly improving.

So why did this mom enroll her 3 children? Unlike my parents who sought a form of physical exercise for her kids, this mom had a different plan. She wanted her children to learn self-discipline. At that moment I realized exactly what I wanted to teach moving forward. I no longer had to worry about whether I was in the know on the hottest new dance moves. I decided to refocus my dance classes on strengthening more than just the body. My student would focus on three of the skills that contribute to being a better person: Self Discipline, Commitment, Team Work

“In dance we focus on building Self Discipline, Commitment, andTeam Work. Three skills that contribute to being a better person.“

Self-Discipline

I meet a lot of musicians and martial artists who are intimidated by dance, but dance has a lot in common with these other art forms. The instrument for the dancer is the body. It takes a lot of self-discipline to get the body to do what you want it to do. I met a dancer once who’s had physical limitations that affected her sense of balance and memory. Her self-discipline when performing was evident in every move she made. Dancing can be hard, but when we remember what we are striving for then we accept that falling and failing is part of the process towards success. I always tell my students to find one thing to focus on. Find one thing that you will be good at for the day. In this post multitasking, smart phone world the idea of focusing on just 1 thing seems impossible. The great thing about dance is anything is possible.

“The great thing about dance is anything is possible.“

Commitment

This is probably the one area that parents struggle with more than the students. In most cases, it is the parent who is responsible for making sure that their child makes it to class on time. It is the parent who is responsible for ensuring their child that it is okay to commit to something they enjoy. In New York City there are a ton of activities other than kids dance classes that compete for children’s time. There’s a misconception that your child will miss out if they don’t try every interest while they are still young. Having lots of interest isn’t bad, but an inability to commit to something because of the desire to try it all can have unexpected repercussions. When a student tries hops around among various activities without committing learning more about the art form, they are missing out on learning more about themselves. No child should be forced to stay in a class they don’t enjoy, but they should be allowed to develop a healthy understanding of what it is that they do enjoy. The “this was fun, now let’s try something else,” attitude can lead to a desire to constantly seek gratification by what pleases us in the moment. Ever date someone who you got along fine with, but they just couldn’t commit? Ever date someone who ran for the hills, at the first sign of a disagreement? Commitment doesn’t just make us better dancers, it makes us better in all areas of our lives.

Because Choreography by Rae offers recreational kids dance classes in New York City, a lot of our students have schedules that are far busier than most adults that I know. The students that get the most of class are the one’s that: tried it, liked it, and committed to getting the most out of it for the semester or school year. These are the kids who hate being sick when it’s time to go to class. They hate it when the studio closes for a holiday. Sure these kids have had moments in class where they don’t feel like following instructions or trying the combination “one more time.” That’s normal, the same way as adults sometimes we just don’t feel like working. These students understand that they have made not just a commitment of time but a commitment to trust that themselves more.

When our dancers find they are ready to go pursue other activities, the students that were committed, are the one’s that we know will leave with a healthy belief in their own abilities, a healthy relationship with dance, and a desire to really commit to that new activity. Basically we are high fiving that awesome person as they head off to embark on a new adventure.

“No child should be forced to stay in a class they don’t enjoy, but they should be allowed to develop a healthy understanding of what it is that they do enjoy.”

Team Work

I love my smart phone. I can get a lot done while traveling between lessons. I find it hard to imagine my life without a smart phone. Strangely enough, I did survive life before I had a smartphone and even before I had a cell phone. There is a generation growing up that has never known life without a smart phone or the internet. They don’t have to go to the library to research something or ask an elder for a recipe. They can Google it. Entire dinners are eaten in homes, where kids are on their phones instead of talking with whoever is at the dinner table. While smart phones are used as a teaching tool in our classes (we offer class tips and videos via the Azagi mobile app), students must talk to each other to learn the movements. There’s no “Like” button to click on. We must applaud one another to show our appreciation of the hard work our classmates have put in. It’s not uncommon where I get a student who is used to receiving a lot of praise at home for their dance ability. These students are ready to kill it on the dance floor and they are always taken aback when I challenge them to show off while being apart of a team. Why am I so cruel? Whether their future lies in performing on concert stages or running a Fortune 500 company, they are going to need to learn to work with other people. They are going to need to be able to accept ideas from others and to work with the flaws of others. They are going to need to want success for themselves and for the group. You can Google empathy, but to understand it you must experience it and that is what working as a team in a recreational dance class can provide.

Like this post? Vehemently disagree? Let me know on Facebook.

Want to read more more great thoughts on dance? Check out this fun blog post by blogger New Jersey’s Progressive Dance Studio: I don’t Pay for Dance Class

"Amazing class. My son enjoyed learning new dance choreography. Rae is very good with her students."

Angela Clemmons

parent of (Jayden, 10 years)

Dance for Preschoolers: Creative Movement vs Ballet, where to begin

December 3, 2021February 19, 2018 by Choreography by Rae

Choreography by Rae

Dance Your Dreams

Creative Movement vs Ballet, where to begin?

a thought on dancing by Rae of Choreography by Rae®

Your child loves boogie to the beat. You’re thinking that maybe it’s time for your 4 or 5 year old to try their first dance class. Having taught dance to both children and adults, I’ve seen how a parent’s decision to make a child’s first dance class a ballet class, can lead to a negative outlook on dance as an adult. You might think that I’m crazy. “What’s with this woman?! I took ballet growing up and I loved it!” Good. I’m glad you loved ballet. I love ballet and still take classes when I can. It’s an art form that dates back to the 1400’s and it forms the foundation for many contemporary dance styles today. Ballet is beautiful. Unfortunately, ballet classes are not for everyone. Part of the problem is how American’s view ballet. The other part of the problem is how we teach ballet.

Ballet gets a bad rap.

When the first Ballet school was formed in France, it was created with the understanding that the students would study the art form with the goal of embarking on careers dancing in the King’s court.

Young Dancers stretch their bodies and their imaginations.

Ballet was not a hobby and many ballet schools in Europe and the U.S. still use this philosophy in their dance training. Students are expected to study until they either have a successful career or prove that they are not suitable for a ballet career. There is nothing wrong with training for a career on the ballet stage. Many of my private students have chosen this path. It takes a lot of hard work and self discipline. The problem is that at age 4 or 5 your child might not know what they want to do when they are 20 or 25. I’ve worked with a lot of adults who started ballet when they were young and “forced” to continue until they were a teenager. By this time they either lost their love for ballet or convinced their parents that they would never be on the ballet stage. It’s hard spending years studying a dance style just to please your parents.

Parents aren’t the only problem. Teachers fixated on creating the strongest dancers, can sometimes kill the passion a child has for ballet. As teachers we all want the best for our students and wouldn’t it be cool to be “that teacher” who contributes to the professional careers of many dance stars. If you are 4 years old then part of the appeal of dance is that movement is fun. Things become less fun when you are constantly being corrected. When we teach ballet as stern task masters to squirmy preschoolers we risk their building a negative outlook on dance.

Where do boys fit into all of this? In the U.S. there are a lot of myths about ballet being “for girls” or that “dance is for girls.” Every time I meet a 6th grade boy who tells me, they don’t dance because “dance is for girls,” I think to myself that the child will be feeling a lot differently when they are looking to impress someone they like at a school dance or even as an adult in a club. A lot of boys find that men in their family frown upon dancing, but these same kids love Michael Jackson and fail to realize that George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker was choreographed by a man unafraid to wear tights.

“If ballet were just for girls, then think of how many families would have missed out on George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.”

What makes Creative Movement Different?

The problems I raised with ballet can be found in other dance forms. As someone who has helped repair positive relationships with dance (I still kick myself over the students I couldn’t help), I believe that any parent who knows their child, will know if Ballet or Creative Movement is the right place to start. At Choreography by Rae® our Creative Movement kids dance class ages 4-6 uses dance technique from a multiple styles including Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Latin dance, and Hip Hop. Locomotor skills are developed as kids have fun skipping, jumping, and spinning their way through this introductory dance class. Sensory motor skills are expanded as students don’t just learn to follow dance instructions but contribute their own creative ideas to creating dance experiences. Creativity and Imagination are blended with proper dance technique and dance terminology in these weekly classes.These high energy classes focus on building a strong dance foundation, empowering young children to make their own decisions about whether a more structured ballet class is suitable for them or a more high energy jazz class. Boys and Girls both thrive in Creative Movement.

Like this post? Vehemently disagree? Let me know in the comments below. Like this blog post? Check out this thoughtful and scientific article from The Atlantic: Why Young Kids Learn Through Movement

"Amazing class. My son enjoyed learning new dance choreography. Rae is very good with her students."

Angela Clemmons

parent of (Jayden, 10 years)

What’s your dance personality? Finding the right dance class for your child

December 3, 2021January 1, 2018 by Choreography by Rae

What’s your dance personality? Finding the right dance class for your child

a thought on dancing by Rae of Choreography by Rae®

Having taught dance to kids and adults of varied abilities: neuro-typical, visually impaired, Deaf, Autistic, Wheelchair users, and victims of trauma I can honestly say that anyone can dance. What’s the old saying? “Where there is a will, there is a way.” Most of the students I work with that swear they, “can’t dance” or “hate dancing” just haven’t had an opportunity to find the right dance style for their personality type.

At Choreography by Rae we offer a variety of dance styles. While enrolling in “Jazz, Tap, and Ballet” is the standard formula at many dance schools, this is a useful formula if your child is looking to take on the Broadway stage. Even now Broadway actors are finding that knowing a musical instrument, acrobatics, and aerial are increasingly required to stay competitive in the industry. But what about the kid who wants to dance because of musical interest? What about the child who can’t stand still for a tendu into a soutenu? What about the child who can’t stand up to do a shuffle time step? Do they have to abandon dance altogether? Absolutely not. There is a dance style for everyone. I can honestly say this not just because I have taught a variety of abilities, but also because I’ve studied almost 40 different styles of dance. Take a look at Choreography by Rae ® Personality Chart to see which class might be ideal for you dancer. While the chart was comprised with our dance program in mind, for families residing outside of New York City you can use the chart help you identify what types of classes you should be looking for when finding the “right class” for your child.

Keep in mind this chart is based off Personality not Physical ability.

Have a question about whether your differently abled child is ready for dance class? I’m happy to help answer your questions regardless of what city you live in. Register for “A chat with Rae” on Facebook Live.

Download the Chart

Like this post? Vehemently disagree? Let me know on Facebook

Want to check out some more awesome dance news? Take a listen to this short NPR report: Scientist Study Babies Dancing…Enough Said?