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5th Grade Student Perspective: The Importance of the Lower School Dance Program

Sierra Canyon's Lower School has a unique dance company that nurtures young dancers.

In spring 2015, Ms. Steinhart enthusiastically founded the company for grades 3-6 with about 30 dancers. Now, there is a total of four dance companies and a musical theatre class also.  Ms. Jessica Steinhart, the director and founder of the Sierra Canyon dance company, welcomes students from all grades and all abilities.  Whether it is your first day on the dance floor or you have been dancing for years, Ms. Jessica will find a place for you in the dance. After weeks of working hard in class and practicing during your free time at home, you will be rewarded by getting the opportunity to perform in a full-fledged performance complete with solos, duets, and trios, all choreographed by the students of the company themselves.  After the first week or two, I guarantee that you will become extremely close with your fellow dancers who are also going through the process of learning the new and exciting choreography. Dance friendships last a lifetime!

Because I have been dancing since I was three, I could not imagine anything else for my future career.  While I love performing on stage, I want to be well-rounded in all aspects of dance.  I have started to choreograph pieces for friends and family, sew costumes and props, and last summer I started my own business called JuJuBee Designs.  I create, design, and sell dance accessories and am using the money to help pay for my dance expenses – I can’t wait to buy my first pair of pointe shoes!  On top of dancing about 15 hours a week, I somehow find time in between all the competitions and extra rehearsals to participate in the weekly classes with Ms. Steinhart in the dance room.  After training with the company for several years, I have grown from the experience and now am helping assist with classes and costumes.  I also love sharing my outside of school passion with my school friends.  Another bonus to dance company is that it transfers to your schoolwork.  It helps build confidence in classrooms by allowing us to feel comfortable speaking in front of classmates and teachers.  In addition, having a busy dance schedule teaches students many elements of time management.  I greatly encourage everyone to join Sierra Canyon Dance Company because of how valuable it has been for me!

By: Julianna Hatton ’25
Lower School: 11052 Independence Avenue
Middle and Upper School: 20801 Rinaldi Street
Chatsworth, CA 91311  | 818.882.8121
Sierra Canyon School is a private, independent, non-sectarian, co-educational, college preparatory school for students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12 located in Chatsworth, California. The highly cosmopolitan campus community is reflective of the Greater Los Angeles area and the world at large. Students are empowered to realize their greatest creative, ethical, intellectual and physical promise through small class sizes, a diverse student-teacher culture and a family-like environment.