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YMCA dancers win competition

Date: 7/3/2012

July 4, 2012

By G. Michael Dobbs

news@thereminder.com

SPRINGFIELD — From an upstairs dance practice studio at the Dunbar YMCA two sounds could be heard on the afternoon of June 29: a version of Duke Ellington's "Take the A Train" and the beat of tap shoes.

In the studio, seven young women were preparing for Junior Springfield's Best Dance Crew Battle, a contest the was conducted the next day at Central High School and one that they won.

The Dunbar YMCA tap team, "The Elements," included Nyasia Battle, Tyleisia Cooper, Kiarah Jones, Alliha Malcolm, Kalis Malcolm, Gabrielle Stewart and Treana Taylor. The team members are all from Springfield and range in age from 7 to 12.

With a sharp burst from a whistle, the team began their number, facing a room sized mirror and their instructor, Shirley Simolari, who prompted them.

Most of the girls have been learning tap dancing for years with Simolari, a volunteer at the YMCA in Springfield who studied dance with acclaimed choreographer Frank Hatchett.

As Simolari explained, though, the classes leading up to the competition were more than just about dance.

"During the workshop, they learned how to brand and market their group name, stage names, sewing, amateur photography, developed organizational skills by note booking, indexing, etiquette classes during lunch, budgeting and so much more," she said.

The students came up with the name of the group and their stage names, "Sunshine," "Lightening," "Hail," "Wind," "Sleet," "Snow" and "Thunder."

What they learned is "something they'll need later in life," she added.

Simolari said, "As they struggled to learn the choreography, I would consistently explain how they will face challenges every day for the rest of their lives and will need to stay focused and committed to every experience. And once again, the day of their first competition ever, they were challenged with their music and dance type, the judges were tough with their critique, and I giggled to myself as I heard each judge tell them the same thing I do in class."

What drew the girls to tap dancing? "I liked the sounds and the steps," Alliha Malcolm said.

Simolari said if the team wants to compete further they would be organizing fund-raisers to pay for travel and other expenses.

"It's up to the girls," she said.

Simolari added, "When I began this project, it was my goal to create teams of Tap Dancing Youth, 100 of them! After this experience and challenge, I have more vision, the interested youth just need to know I am here for them and would love to answer questions their parents may have about the programs and sponsorships available at the YMCA to assist with their participation, if necessary."



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