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Arts & Entertainment

Spindrift Reaches Out

Today, I focus on the Spindrift School of Performing Arts' relationship with Pacifica schools, and the formation of the Spindrift Dance Company.

Yesterday, in the first part of this article, I focused on the diverse offerings available to Pacifica youth through the Spindrift School of Performing Arts. Now, in part two, I'd like to focus on Spindrift’s interwoven relationship with local school districts and with the development of the Spindrift Dance Company.

Bringing performing arts opportunities to all the children of Pacifica has been Noelle DeWeese's primary focus as Executive Director of the Spindrift School of Performing Arts.

Knowing schools would be an integral part of the program's ability to reach out into the community, DeWeese worked diligently to cultivate long-term ties to the Pacifica School District. In fact, the only school SSPA does not currently work with is Terra Nova High School, a fact SSPA hopes to change soon.

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After school enrichment programs throughout the Pacifica School District are where most kids get their first exposure to Spindrift. These classes are held on campus, so it is easy for kids to attend, and the prices are great. Tap, jazz, multiple levels of hip-hop, glee, acting, and music are all available at various campuses every day of the week.

Through this special relationship, the school district insures that performing arts programs remain available in the face of budget crisis after budget crisis. Spindrift after school enrichment classes typically end with a show, where the performers share a stage with kids from throughout the district.

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These shows also introduce young performers to more seasoned tweens and teens, providing the opportunity for mentorship. This is great for the younger performers, and develops great leadership and communication skills in the older ones.

The diverse array of summer programs that Spindrift offers are located at Cabrillo School, Sunset Ridge, and occasionally Ortega. The teen camp meets at Oceana High School.

Allowing Spindrift to do its immersion summer camp programs in environments the performers are familiar with fits right in with the Spindrift philosophy of creating a safe comfortable environment in which children can open up and express themselves.

Oceana High School is a good example of the Spindrift school community outreach. Spindrift applied for a grant to provide a dance program for the students of Oceana High School. To a school where art is so revered they hold a Because Art Matters event, having a dance company is a big deal.

Jenna Monroe has shepherded this program, and has integrated the Oceana Dance Company with the Spindrift Dance Company’s Spring Dance Concert. To hear the heartfelt, teary presentation of flowers to Jenna each year is to understand how significant this is. "Without you, Jenna, most of us would never get an opportunity to dance, to perform," said the spokesperson for the group at this year's show.

SSPA's dedication to the youth of Pacifica merits one more mention. For kids who have economic challenges or familial struggles, Spindrift has always had a scholarship program. By nature, there is a limit, but in my experience, if there is an interest and a passion for the performing arts, Spindrift will find a way. If you need help financially it is in your best interest to let them know when you first apply. This enables the maximum flexibility and potential for help.

Instructors at Spindrift are, for the most part, active performing artists. Jenna Monroe and Brianna Anthony are part of Requisite Dance, a dance company co-founded by Monroe. Passionate and dedicated to their art, all the artists on staff at Spindrift are outstanding role models, providing the leadership and support needed as the students learn and grow.

When asked what makes Spindrift such a big part of their life, Ann Rudorf,one of the active parent volunteers, responded, "SSPA has been our home away from home since Hope, our seventh grader, was in kindergarten. A family feeling and with incredible role models in the instructors, mentoring from older kids to younger, with our den mother Keira keeping us all on track.”

Hope has been a part of multiple summer camps and winter shows, and sang beautifully as one of the lead roles in last year's Babes in Toyland production.  Hope also takes part in the Spindrift Dance Company, and has studied voice with Alex Bootzin for years.

Spindrift Dance Company was started five years ago in 2006. After teaching the skill in Pacifica for eight years, many of the dancers were quite accomplished. The only alternative for some of them was to move on to more intense training at dance studios in San Francisco or down the peninsula.

The purpose of Spindrift Dance Company is to offer year-round training for serious dancers right here in Pacifica. SDC dancers train for two hours a week in the fall, plus additional classes in areas that interest them. In the winter and spring, the dancers train four hours a week, plus at least one additional class and drop-in classes. My daughter Izzy dances five days most weeks during this period.

In addition to all this training, the dancers attend performances and lectures around the Bay Area, and take field trips to the San Francisco State dance program. Occasionally, professional dance companies like the Deborah Slater Dance Company invite SDC dancers to join their productions such as Trolley Dances in San Francisco.

Rigorous conditioning is an important facet of the training. Dancers are tough. I have been astonished at the strength and flexibility my girls have achieved, as well as an excellent state of general fitness. All this while doing what they love with people they love. Perfect.

While not a competitive studio - they do not attend or train for competitions - they train for a final Dance Concert. The Concert is very different than a dance recital, with full production values, including costumes, lights and live and recorded music.

When the concert is over, these kids start talking about which summer camps they are going to sign up for, and what the winter show might be. Diving forward into the next wonderful year, they know they will spend time in the magical limelight of the Spindrift School of Performing Arts, a true Pacifica treasure.

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