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LEARNING TO BE PRINCESSES

Kaitlyn Ward (age 4) enjoys herself at the camp.
Imagine spending part of your summer as one of the Disney princesses.Well several three- to seven-year-olds are doing just that at the Princess Camp at the In Motion School of Dance.Teachers Courtney Lopes and Fiona Brydon spoke to<I> The Royal Gazette </I>about the camp.

Imagine spending part of your summer as one of the Disney princesses.

Well several three- to seven-year-olds are doing just that at the Princess Camp at the In Motion School of Dance.

Teachers Courtney Lopes and Fiona Brydon spoke to The Royal Gazette about the camp.

"Everyday we've decided to pick a Disney princess and we focus on them," they said. "On Monday, we focused on Ariel and on one of the classes we had toy Flounders and they were doing dances and jump over sharks. We incorporated underwater stuff into their dance moves.

"With Cinderella, we did things like not breaking their glass slippers. It is different things like that in their ballet, jazz and creative movement classes.

"So it is basically a dance camp for them."

Ms Brydon added that the camp was also a fun way for participants to assess whether dance was something they wanted to continue studying.

"We've had some good feedback with that," added Ms Lopes. "It is a fun way for the kids to be active, whilst still having fun."

In addition, the children participate in painting.

"We have arts and crafts as well, which we try to focus on," said Ms Brydon.

"Today we painted crowns — we try to incorporate the princesses as much as we can. So that is from 9 a.m. to 12 o'clock everyday."

In addition, the school is also holding a Summer Dance Intensive for older dancers.

"They are aged from seven to ten and I think we have one 11-year-old," said Ms Lopes. "That is a little more serious, as the girls are a little more mature. We do ballet, jazz, modern and creative movement. They do a little bit of arts as well and the history of different ballets.

"We are also having a little show for them and they made up their own dance. It is just another fun way to be creative and to be serious about dance."

Ms Brydon mentioned that she found the younger dancers are striving harder, as they are mixing with the elder students.

"We have six-year-olds with the ten-year-olds and they are keeping up," said Ms Lopes.

Adding to the above, Ms Brydon said: "This is really great for us, because we have dancers who are developing quicker and it is an easy way for them to develop, because there are smaller classes."

The reason behind the Princess Camp, Ms Lopes said, was that when she was younger they did things like the Summer Intensive.

"But there was rarely anything for young, young children," she said.

"We thought, why not have a Princess Camp, and if it was just a dance camp a lot of kids may not be interested because they may not be dancing.

"But we have incorporated a lot of different themes, so they do get excited about it. A lot of the parents said they are so excited and everything is Princess Camp.

"Also everyday they get a princess piece of jewellery or a hair accessory and they come in the next day with their jewellery.

"It is just something different than your regular camp."

For more information on the camps, please ring 292-7615.