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Dance Extensions Performing Arts Center
17 1/2 West Pike Street * Canonsburg, Pa 15317
724-745-9602
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Do what you do."
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INSTRUCTORS
Betsy Wray Shuttleworth
Dawn Bercini Churney
*Owner/Director of DEPAC *Instructor of Contortion, Acro, Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tumbling, and Lyrical for ages 3 & up. Betsy has been teaching for 25 years. She started taking dance at the age 9 at the Sally Miller Dance Company in Washington, PA. Betsy taught at various places and schools and attended Point Park University. In 1996 Betsy started what is now Dance Extensions Performing Arts Center. In 2001 Betsy became intrgued in the art of contortion. While ballet was where she had the most experience, she felt the desire to get educated in the art of contortion. Through a talent contortion agent and trainer that she met from Germany, she learned the proper technique's for teaching this unusual art safely. Every year she travels with promising students to train in Las Vegas and is a annual participant in the International Contortiom Convention where her students get to work with Cirque Du Soliel trainers and fellow contortionts from arounf the globe. DEPAC students have audtitioned for AGT, SYTYCD and Paula Abdul. Her students were on morning talk shows for their contortion as well as Fox Tv and have been filmed in a Powerade commercial. Betsy has also had years of judging experience. Recently one of Betsy's students was hired professionally by "Cirque Productions".
*Co Owner/Co Director DEPAC *Instructor of Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Pointe, Lyrical, Acro and Hip Hop. *Certified in Mat Pilates and Pilates Reformer. *UPDATE
CLASSES & PRICING
CLASSES OFFERED
PRICING
30 Minutes~ (Price by hours taken a week) $45.00 45 Minutes $48.001 Hour $50.001 Hour 15 Minutes $53.001 Hour 30 Minutes $55.001 Hour 45 Minutes $58.002 Hours $60.002 Hours 15 Minutes $63.002 Hours 30 Minutes $65.002 Hours 45 Minutes $68.003 Hours $70.003 Hours 15 Minutes $73.003 Hours 30 Minutes $75.003 Hours 45 Minutes $78.004 Hours $80.00 20% discount for boys!! For Private Lessons and Optional Unlimited Pricing Call 724-745-9602 Financial ResponsibilitiesSo there are no surprises.Registration Fees are $15.00 for new students.Tuition due the first of every month. After 2 weeks past due a $10.00 late fee will be added.Costumes. Deposits will be due the beginning of November and balances will be due the middle of February. Costumes range $50.00 to $125.00 a piece. All students do not have to be in the annual recital. Fundraising can be used to pay for costumes.Every November a fee is charged to pay for liability insurance. $12.00 a year has been the average.Before recital or throughout the year you may have to purchase appropriate dance shoes or tights for class or recital. I prefer we order together so that everyone is the same. I have a place where I order from where I get a teachers price and I do not mark anything up. Dance is expensive enough.Recital ticket money is due 1 month prior to recital. You are asked to sell all of your tickets. Fundraising can also be used to pay for these. (Recital is 3rd weekend in June)If you decide to quit Dance Extensions, you are welcome to finish out the month but can not be refunded if it is your decision to leave.Anything related to Dance Extensions you can use your fundraising money for. I have several parents who pay for costumes and recitals tickets in their entirety just by selling candy bars. Take advantage !
Now offering aerial silks classes.Ballet ~ Classical dance form characterized by grace and precision of movement and by elaborate formal gestures,steps, and poses characterized. Cecchetti Method is taught at Dance Extensions. Lyrical ~ This form of dance combines the use of flexibility, grace and control with either the style of jazz or ballet.Contemporary ~ A more modern style of Lyrical.Jazz ~ Broadway and Fossi styles. Various dances characterized by the use of improvisation and influenced by rhythms and techniques of jazz music. Contortion ~ Complete focus on the flexibility in the back and legs combined with the technique and grace of ballet. For more information click on the Contortion, more info option. Hip Hop ~ Contemporary dance moves performed to modern urban music.Pilates ~ Focus on strengthening the core of the body.Tumbling ~ Work on the mats. Cartwheels, front and back walkovers, handsprings, tucks, etc.Optional Competitive Teams Dance Extensions PAC offers a Baby, Mini Contortion & Dance Company, Junior Contortion & Dance Company and a Senior Contortion and Dance Company. You must be invited to be on the competitive team. Other than competing, the competitive team does a lot of extra performing at different events in the area. Talk to Dawn or Betsy for information
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CONTORTION
What is Contortion?
Contortion Workshops are available at our studio and yours!
Contortion is an art form which displays extreme flexibility, beauty and control over one's body. Contortionists are able to bend and flex their body into positions that are beyond the scope of the normal range of motion joints are able to flex. Contortionists are often born with a somewhat limber body to begin with; however, it is important to note that contortionists are not naturally born with this flexibility. The flexibility that contortionists are born with is then developed throughout years of training. Contortionists are exceptionally flexible because they train their joints to move through its full range of motion. A contortionist is not double jointed, this is a misunderstood myth. Contortionists are not only extremely flexible, but strong as well. Many contortion poses are done on the hands and/or elbows. Incredible strength, balance, and endurance are needed to correctly master these poses. An individual who is training in contortion attempts to master maximum joint flexibility throughout the body. The area of the body that is focused on most is the spine. The spine has the ability to bend completely forward or backwards. Some students of contortion train mainly with forward bends and others with backbends. Flexibility of the spine is critical for a contortion act; the spine holds the body together and needs to be flexible and strong to ensure the success of difficult poses. It is also important to understand a contortionist must have incredible upper body strength to perform many contortion poses. Contortion training may begin at a very young age, or they may begin at an older age. It is not uncommon for contortionism to run in a family. A parent may perform contortion then train their child or children at a young age. Some students of contortion may even attend contortion training at an institution. Male or females alike perform contortion. Within society today; however, contortionists are more often thought to be female. After a student of contortion has achieved a high level of success, the person will often perform under some type of medium. Circus acts are generally the stereotypical idea of where a contortionist would perform. Indeed most contortionists in the past performed in circuses. Contortion is still a part of circuses; however, today it can also be seen anywhere from the street corner, commercials, TV talent shows, and movies. Contortion is also linked/associated with the practice of yoga and gymnastics. Contortion has been around for centuries appearing in many different venues. It is a way to display the body as a work of art. It is an art form that requires intense training and patience. Contortion can be used to appeal and evoke different emotions depending on the type of performance. More recently, contortionists are gaining recognition and appreciation that contortionists in the past were denied. Information found on www.contortionguide.com See our girls displayed on www.icc-convention.com Click on Sept 13th Newsletter, June 2006, February 2006, and January 2006 Contortion Myths ExposedThe art of contortion has numerous misconceptions and myths based on the unbelievable movements, flexibility and positions attained by contortionists. The myths have lived on - perpetuating the fallacies. Below is a list of contortionist myths and the truths behind them. Myth: Contortionists are "Double-jointed." Since contortionists have more joints than others, it makes contortion a more attainable art form. Truth: Every fully-formed person has the exact same number of joints. "Double-jointed" is just a slang expression used to describe the appearance of a person who can bend much further than one might think a joint would allow. Some people who are thought to be "double-jointed" are in fact hypermobile. Not all contortionists are hypermobile. Hypermobile joints are joints that move beyond the normal range with little effort. The joints that are most commonly hypermobile are the elbows, wrists, fingers, and knees. Click on the link for more information about being Hypermobile. Myth: You are born a contortionist and cannot start at a later age. Truth: The degree of natural flexibility of one joint in a certain direction does not determine its degree of flexibility in the opposite direction, or the flexibility of other joints in the body. This is why contortionists specialize in skills that use the joints that are the most flexible. Muscle flexibility can be acquired, as long as the shape of the bones in the joint do not limit the range of motion. Although some contortion trainers say that after the age of 26 you should not become a professional contortionist - any person with determination, strength and training can become a contortionist. Actual performing of contortion acts regularly, regardless of age - can be hard on the body. But, anyone can start at any age and progress at their own level and speed. Myth: Women are more physically able to be contortionists than men. Truth: Although women are more commonly known to be contortionists in society, it is a societal norm in the United States and not necessarily accurate. Both males and females are equally able to perform contortion acts and training, it is just more commonly known to be women in the U.S. In India, for example, most of the extremely flexible people (many Yogis) are men, not women. So this varies from culture to culture. Contortion Today: Modern Day MarvelIn the US, people that practice contortion are most often associated with circus acts or even freak shows. There is not a lot of contortion in the mainstream public; however, it seems to be gaining popularity. Rhythmic gymnastics is an Olympic gymnastic category that exploits contortion. Rhythmic gymnastics incorporates gymnastics and contortion along with an object such as a hoop, ball, ribbon, rope, or clubs. Competitors in this sport must follow guidelines on how to use these objects in their routine. Contortion websites and affiliates are often linked with rhythmic gymnastics. Contortion and aspects of contortion are also found in many yoga practices. Yoga uses flexibility to enhance the awareness of the mind by building strength and endurance within the human body. Contortion and yoga both strive to achieve maximum joint flexibility. Yoga is different from contortion in that it focuses on achieving ultimate peace within the mind; this is done through different asanas (poses) and meditation (yoga philosophy) combined. Contortion is now appearing in large musical shows; or rather a circus by the name of Cirque du Soleil. Performers, some of which were contortionists created Cirque du Soleil in Quebec in 1984. The first performers of Cirque du Soleil were street performers that got together to offer entertainment using their skills. Along with technological advances, Cirque du Soleil has grown into a world-recognized phenomenon.Contortion has grown in popularity over the years compared to what is has been; or at least, what it was thought of. It seems extensive research has been done with how to adequately train the body and master high degrees of flexibility. This extensive research can be found in medical journal discussions on joint flexibility. The connection with this research and people interested in contortion is often very weak. There is not enough information; at least in the main street public for individuals to actively pursue this discipline. Interested individuals often resort to sources found on the Internet. Because contortion acts were mostly associated with the circus, -at least in the US, there is not much written history or documentation. The written history that is available can mostly be found online or in circus museums. There are few, if any college classes that are about contortion or the history of contortion. Few institutions offer contortion training in the US; if this training is offered, it is almost always in combination with gymnastics or circus-related training. Contortion training can also be learned through written manuals, which seems to be the most popular method of training at the moment. Some fortunate individuals may even get the opportunity to train with a professional contortionist. Without a doubt, contortion has grown in popularity within the US. Perhaps someday contortion will gain the much-deserved respect this discipline deserves. Types of Contortion Performances Contortion performances can be created around a certain theme, in order to convey different emotions. The costumes and the choreography both play a part in the mood which is created around the performance. The performer's personality will reveal one of many contortion styles and performance acts, such as: atheletic, shocking, weird, humorous, beautiful, graceful, etc. Some special types of performances: An adage act is a slow, acrobatic dance in which the male partner lifts and carries the female partner as she performs splits and other flexible poses. In a rag doll or golliwog act, one or two assistants bend, shake and carry the contortionist in such a way as to convince the audience that the disguised performer is actually a limp, life-sized doll. The act usually ends by stuffing the doll into a small box, after which the performer gets out and takes off the costume. A Spanish web is a contortion act that is performed high above the stage while holding on to a loop in a thick soft rope that is hung from the roof. Other performers might manipulate props during their performance, such as spin hula hoops or juggling rings, balance towers of wine glasses, or play a musical instrument. Although these types of contortion performances are common, there are numerous other styles and types of performances which are based around the contortionist and his or her personality and preference. Each and every contortionist and contortion act are different.
Email Betsy at starcreator_verizon.net for more information.
OTHER INFO
Current Schedual
Events & Happenings
Testimonials
Email for information.UPDATE !
January 28th Alixa Sutton, Contortion workshop. WGT 7pmFebruary 18th Performance at DuquesneMarch 2nd-4th Showstopper CompetitionApril 4th-10th No Classes, Easter Break Poss Comp Practice over break.April 14th-15th Extreme Talent Showcase CompetitionMay 11th-13th ADA CompetitionMay 26th-28th No Classes, Memorial DayJune 23rd RecitalUPDATE UPDATE !
"Because I danced growing up, I wanted my two daughters to be dancers too. We tried a couple of dance studios, only to quit at the end of the year because they hated it. Then we discovered DEPAC. We tried out some summer classes, and within the first week, my girls were hooked. The other girls welcomed them with open arms. The parents were very welcoming as well. One mom in particular showed me the “ropes” for competitions, as this was all very new to us. I also love the fact that my daughters were not initially evaluated based on what they could/could not do, but rather on the potential that Dawn and Betsy saw in them. They have been given opportunities at DEPAC that I don’t feel they would have been given anywhere else. In addition, it is a very motivating and encouraging environment. Dawn and Betsy don’t dwell on mistakes; they just use them as a learning opportunity. This type of environment has enabled my daughters to grow and improve as dancers, and as people.Dance has truly become a passion for my daughters, and I don’t believe that this would have happened for them anywhere else. We found a home here. " - Missi Zanardelli (Mom)For me dancing isn't just a place to get away from the rest of the world and your every day problems it's a way to express yourself in ways you never thought you could before. I've been dancing since I was 3 and ever since thendancing is all I've wanted to do. I feel safe. When I'm on stage I feel like I can do anything, the sky isn't the limit that I could make it to the stars if I tried hard enough. I get inspired by the many amazing dancers and teachers wehave at our studio, they make you want to go the extra mile to get better. Dance Extensions has been my second home my entire life and I wouldn't know where I would be with out dancing and everyone at DEPAC. It's my life. -Erin Ross (Student)Being able to do Dance and Contortion makes me feel unique, and helps me to express my every emotion through the movement of my steps -Ashley King (Student)Dancing is a way of expressing how the music makes you feel and Dance Extensions provides me with a place to express those feelings. Some of my best friendships are friendships that I have formed as a dancer at Dance Extensions. -Kristen King (Student)Being a dancer isn't like anything else. In dance, you can tell a story, or show an emotion. Dance means the world to me. It's something I always want to do, no matter where I go in life. And Contortion, the best part is probably the shocked looks on peoples face when they see you bend and twist your body into a way they would never dreamed possible. I can't imagine a better place to learn and grow as a dancer than at Dance Extensions, and being able to dance with some of the best people on earth, makes it all the better. -Angie Ross (Student)Dance means to show how your feeling through music. i love dance because you make so many bonds and friendships At depac others are important to us We care about other studios ...we are not just dancers we are a family -Keke Campbell (Student)Every teenager attempts to find a place they can fit in, and a path they can follow. DEPAC has given me just that. We are all an extended family to each other and i can't help but smile whenever i walk into the studio. It's where i fit in. When there is nowhere left to turn, I turn to dance. It allows me to express my deepest emotion... -Kasey Puleo (Student)I have been dancing at dance extensions for fifteen years. I could not imagine a better place and better people. There I have learned that expression through dance is something that is fun and helpful. You become inspired by the amazing talent of your fellow dancers. The teachers make it possible for the things that inspire you to become a reality. I would never go to any other studio. Dance Extensions is the total package. -Katrina Andrews (Student)When I dance I feel like the only person in the world. You can be whoever you want to be for the next three minutes without giving a care. You can be happy, sad, angry, hopeful, or just plain and simple; Yourself. At Dance Extensions I have become a completely different person and it's all for the better. The friendships and family that we have formed at our studio could never compare to anything in this world. I love my Dance Extensions family more than anything. Thank you Betsy and Dawn, I love you -Bailey Krupp (Student)Dance has shown me how passionate and committed you can be to something when you truly love what you are doing. Dance has no longer become just a hobby for me; it has become a way of life. Dance gives you the ability to forget about everything that is going on outside of the studio, express yourself, and create life long friendships. I have realized that there is nothing in the world i rather be doing than dancing, especially at Dance Extensions Performing Arts Center. -Jessa Hogue (Student) !
CONTACT
CONTACT BETSY OR DAWN FOR CLASS SCHEDULE AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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OTHER INFO
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