pre-register here
$225 for the fall session, or $75 monthly (Oct. - Dec.)
STEPS is a branch of The Pennington Studio for Dance and Creative Arts that seeks to provide training in movement for physical, mental, and emotional wellness. This years-in-the-making brainchild of Dawn Cargiulo Berman and Gabriella Proffitt Cunha is born out of an inclination to ask questions about the fundamental value of movement and dance. Gabriella is thrilled to combine her knowledge as a student of Naturopathic Medicine with her love of dance education as director of this program.
Over the years, we have noticed an increasing number of children devitalized by anxieties. Through the pandemic, we witnessed the undesirable emotional effects of unnatural isolation on children of all ages. This newly developed program will be offered online in order to reach as many children as possible, and to provide guidance and resources for connecting to teachers and peers from the comfort of one’s home.
Children suffering from different anxieties might find this curriculum to be a gentle (re)introduction into optimal socialization via freedom of expression through different movement styles.
Children suffering from different anxieties might find this curriculum to be a gentle (re)introduction into optimal socialization via freedom of expression through different movement styles.
Leap Into Wellness: dance exploration for children
Ages 6 and up will have the opportunity to learn multiple genres of dance from dynamic teachers who will give them tools to begin exploring dance creation themselves. Different styles of movement resonate with different people; our intent for children is to provide exposure and tools for success in multiple genres. Your child(ren) can expect to learn technique and fun choreography. Our teachers provide the structure and guidance needed to make movement meaningful and expressive of your child(ren)’s inner experience.
Inner Movement: ongoing maintenance & deeper physical practices
Yoga, pilates, exercise, and stretch-&-strengthen classes are offered to students of all ages. These movement modalities are designed to reveal and treat physical imbalances in the body, which we all have! Some imbalances are genetic, some are due to stress and habit, and some are postural. The more balanced we can be, the more access we have to our body for expression and communication. Our feelings and intuitions have a freer path to move through our bodies in ways that are beneficial for our development. Prevention is key; it gets harder and harder to reverse an imbalance the longer it persists. This is one of the reasons why we choose to work with children- there is opportunity for greatest lifelong impact.
Healthy Dancers Course - Coming Soon!
At age 12, students are invited to participate in a 1-year health & wellness course that is designed to give young dancers the tools to optimize their dance experience long-term. Over the years, we see many teens whose lack of positive lifestyle and maintenance habits undermine their ability to glean the most from their dance training.
Talented youths who are overburdened by schoolwork and social pressures are educated about the way their body mechanically functions and chemically interplays with their minds and emotions. Informed by anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and nutrition science, students are given concrete ways of identifying sources of imbalance in their systems and troubleshooting those issues by forming better habits.
After identifying personal imbalances and making plans to remedy them, students will have access to one-on-one periodic check-ins with Gabriella to assess their individualized plan and receive further guidance. Yoga and body maintenance classes will continue to be available for students 12+ with increasing levels of introspection and detail related to the age range and maturity of the group.
Ages 6 and up will have the opportunity to learn multiple genres of dance from dynamic teachers who will give them tools to begin exploring dance creation themselves. Different styles of movement resonate with different people; our intent for children is to provide exposure and tools for success in multiple genres. Your child(ren) can expect to learn technique and fun choreography. Our teachers provide the structure and guidance needed to make movement meaningful and expressive of your child(ren)’s inner experience.
Inner Movement: ongoing maintenance & deeper physical practices
Yoga, pilates, exercise, and stretch-&-strengthen classes are offered to students of all ages. These movement modalities are designed to reveal and treat physical imbalances in the body, which we all have! Some imbalances are genetic, some are due to stress and habit, and some are postural. The more balanced we can be, the more access we have to our body for expression and communication. Our feelings and intuitions have a freer path to move through our bodies in ways that are beneficial for our development. Prevention is key; it gets harder and harder to reverse an imbalance the longer it persists. This is one of the reasons why we choose to work with children- there is opportunity for greatest lifelong impact.
Healthy Dancers Course - Coming Soon!
At age 12, students are invited to participate in a 1-year health & wellness course that is designed to give young dancers the tools to optimize their dance experience long-term. Over the years, we see many teens whose lack of positive lifestyle and maintenance habits undermine their ability to glean the most from their dance training.
Talented youths who are overburdened by schoolwork and social pressures are educated about the way their body mechanically functions and chemically interplays with their minds and emotions. Informed by anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and nutrition science, students are given concrete ways of identifying sources of imbalance in their systems and troubleshooting those issues by forming better habits.
After identifying personal imbalances and making plans to remedy them, students will have access to one-on-one periodic check-ins with Gabriella to assess their individualized plan and receive further guidance. Yoga and body maintenance classes will continue to be available for students 12+ with increasing levels of introspection and detail related to the age range and maturity of the group.