Kemper Dance Academy (KDA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, strives to provide quality and professional instruction in all types of dances to all types of dancers in a positive and friendly atmosphere. Whether their dancers are training to be professionals or just dancing for their enjoyment, the benefits are endless. They endeavor to create not only well-rounded dancers, but well-rounded people with poise, confidence, discipline, and, of course, physical strength and endurance. They offer training in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, Hip Hop and much, much more. They have classes available for dancers from 18 months old to Adult.
Jeni Kemper, Kemper’s Studio Owner and Director, believes that what separates their dance studio from other dance studios is that KDA offers classes no one else offers in Colorado Springs. In addition to bringing in top choreographers and performers from Los Angeles, New York and Chicago plus making sure the dancers have the correct direction to colleges or any other future goals they may have, KDA offers their JEDI program which is dedicated for dancers with disabilities. This program happens on Tuesday evenings and it is one of Jeni’s favorite classes to teach. Jeni says they keep her young, active and remind her that life is amazing.
KDA’s aspiration is to provide professional and quality training in all genre of dance in a friendly and positive environment. Whether their students are dancing for enjoyment or training to be professionals, the benefits are endless.
At KDA, they strive to create not only well-rounded dancers, but also well-rounded people with discipline, confidence, poise, and, of course, endurance and physical strength. They offer training in Ballet, Lyrical, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop and much more. Classes are available for students 18 months old to Adult.
KDA believes that not only is dance a great way to build invaluable social skills, it is a chance to show your children the importance of being part of something larger than themselves. Dancers learn to cooperate with others, to share attention and to take turns as they work within a group. These life lessons are part of the appeal of dance classes to parents around the world. Much like team sports, dance for children can teach some invaluable and important lessons. Even though their students may ultimately choose another career path, dance can teach children the cooperation necessary to produce a high quality dance routine. Every child benefits from excellent dance training. Long-term learning goes far beyond practical applications in dance. Dancers enter the social order with the ability to maintain the high standards they learned during their dance training.
They believe that dance nurtures the creative thinking skills they learned through dance, as well as learning the value of work ethic, commitment, and discipline. Overcoming the challenge of mastering new goals and learning to apply themselves to the task before them fosters self-confidence and the ability to accomplish any they may face.
Additionally, they believe that dance teaches children about music, rhythm and beat. Students also learn to think with both sides of their brain and have a better understanding of spatial relationships. All these skills enhance a child’s academic performance, as well as their physical well-being.
Jeni’s proudest moment coaching occurred at a competition during their second year that they had been open. She had a dancer that was scared to get on stage and do her solo. She loved being on stage and killed it in every group routine in which she had participated. That year, Jeni had finally talked the girl into a solo and the girl was so scared. She forgot her choreography while warming up, got make-up on her costume, forgot her shoes, etc. Whatever could have gone wrong that day, did go wrong. Jeni finally got the girl backstage and then onstage. The look on that child’s face when she finished was priceless! She ran off stage and jumped into Jeni’s arms. The girl was so happy and loved every minute of it. After that, Jeni was not able to get the girl off the stage. The dancer progressed to where she performed two solos a year until she graduated. She is now in Los Angeles killing the dance scene. Jeni is so proud of her!
In Jeni’s opinion, the biggest mistake she sees dancers make is trying to be someone they are not. Her students are influenced by the myriad of social media and reality TV shows that are available right now. They often think that if they do this certain trick or look a certain way, they will become “famous.” Jeni believes that the dancers have to look in the mirror and be happy with who they are and only compete with that person looking back at them in the mirror. She believes you are you for a reason and no one can change that.
Her goals for this year are to keep training, keep her knowledge up to date so that her dancers are up to date so that her dancers are up to date with the dance world. Sometimes dancers get stuck in a groove and do not realize that there are new techniques or ideas out there. It is her goal to keep learning, training and become a better me.
Jeni started her studio because when she graduated in 2001, she had no idea that there was so much out there for performers, let alone dancers. She received a scholarship to the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, and it opened up her whole world! There is so much for dancers to do! She was so angry that she had the wrong training, wrong knowledge and wrong thoughts about dance. She never wanted anyone to go through that so she opened the studio so she could educate dancers not just in dance, but also in the future.
In Jeni’s opinion, Kemper is the best “family” out there. KDA does everything together and supports everyone. Jeni has so much fun with her second family. She believes that it is the greatest feeling in the world!
If you would like more information about Kemper Dance Academy, visit their website at www.kemperdanceacademy.com, call them at 719-325-6234 or email them at kemperdanceacademy@gmail.com. You can also “Like” them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
Anyone who has danced at Kemper Dance Academy, with Jeni Kemper or with any of the other instructors at KDA, is invited to comment on our blog.
. . . dancers have to look in the mirror and be happy with who they are and only compete with that person looking back at them . . .
