Dance teacher brings studio to the students

Date: 9/22/2009

By Natasha Clark

Assistant Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD -- Gina Emanuel-Satchell is leaving those who are inspired to dance, but cannot make it to the classes, no excuse. Finally, after brainstorming and lining her ducks in a row, she is bringing dance to students with her mobile dance studio, Smooth Stone Dance Consortium.

"When I first came back into dancing and teaching, I just kept hearing certain people at my church or through other people that I knew say they couldn't [make it to dance classes]. That it had to do with parents' work schedule, or they didn't have enough money to send them or they couldn't bring them. It was always a different reason why they couldn't come to the studio," Emanuel-Satchell said. "I said, 'what if I went and I was able to come and bring it to them?' So I began to research and found that they do have portable bars. I wanted to find the longest I could find, about 13 feet. You put it in a bag and in your car and you're on your way."

Emanuel-Satchell has been involved in a number of programs throughout the community. She has worked with Hal Jackson's Talented Teens International Competition, GUMBO Live Talent Monthly Showcase, Shooting Star Dance Center, Women Who Jam and she has taught dance at the Dunbar Community Center. Most recently she has also done work with The Brianna Fund.

Lately, she has been teaching a group of women from the Apostolic Renewal Church ballet and modern dance, bringing the portable studio to them at their Salem Street location.

The women are a part of an adult dancing ministry and use dance as a form of praise during their Sunday worship services. They utilize Smooth Stone Dance Consortium to help perfect their technique and abilities. Emanuel-Satchell has been instructing them four times a month since February.

Mayra Cruz, leader of the group, said she has seen a change in her dancers since they have been working with Emanuel-Satchell.

"I have noticed a difference. They are using what she's been teaching," Cruz said.

Greitcha Velez commutes from Connecticut to participate. She said she is enjoying everything about the mobile dance studio.

"The fact that you can worship with dance ... when you have the right spirit and technique ... we are giving God our best, and it's satisfying. It's been a blessing," Velez said.

Emanuel-Satchell said she is dedicated to bringing her passion to everyone. She said her motto, "is dancers aren't made up of their technique, but of their passion."

She said the work she has been doing has been very fulfilling.

"I know for me, I was privileged enough that my parents could send me to dance class and I know what I got out of it. What it did for me emotionally, physically and mentally. It really kept me away from things that I didn't need to be involved with. It was an escape," she explained. "Today some parents really can't afford to take their kids to dance. A lot of kids need a place to vent and create and they don't have it. If they can't get there I'll bring it to them."

Emanuel-Satchell also believes the city would benefit from having a performing arts high school where students could go to dance, sing, write and focus on their creative love in addition to getting a great education.

"I am also a product of the Philadelphia High School for Creative And Performing Arts where I was able to go to school every day and take my core academic classes along with two to three dance classes a day. As a school they had creative writing, dance, art, vocal music and instrumental music, and all of those kids, if they didn't do anything else, they could go to school every day and get an education and continue to develop their art," Emanuel-Satchell said.

She added that the unique thing about the school was that it was a magnet school, not a charter, and you had to audition to get in. She said it did not matter whether or not if you lived in the district. And for four years, she had to take the city bus to school.

"There is too much creativity inside of an individual to take away the arts. I pray that they find a budget for the arts and are able to put more money into it and not take it out of the schools," Emanuel-Satchell said.

Anyone who is interested in learning more about Emanuel-Satchell's portable Smooth Stone Dance Consortium, visit www.myspace.com/ginaemanuelsatchell.