LEAP is DDC’s (Detroit Dance Collective) new creative dance company for children. LEAP, conceived in the fall of 2015, is offered to children of all ages and abilities by DDCdances, a Detroit metro based professional modern dance company currently celebrating its 36th season. DDC does not own a dance studio, therefore, the Borgo School of Dance in Royal Oak, Michigan, has generously provided space and a home to conduct DDC’s LEAP program. DDCdances is well known in schools and communities surrounding Royal Oak, Michigan, for their exciting classes for children of all ages and abilities. DDC provides a positive learning environment where boys and girls experience a joyful way to explore movement through music, develop physical skills, channel energy, stimulate imagination, and promote creativity.
LEAP will offer every child the opportunity to explore the arts, discover the creativity within them, celebrate their accomplishments, and share the products of their work with family, friends, and others. LEAP is directed by Claire Call, DDC dance artist, performer, choreographer, and educator. Claire’s dance training began at the Borgo School of Dance in Royal Oak, Michigan. She was a member of the H2 Dance Company during her attendance at Hope College from 2010 to 2014. Under the direction of Crystal Frasier and Matthew Farmer, H2 Dance Company (including Claire) performed works by Steven Iannacone, Sharon Wong, Kristen Farmer and Angie Yetzke. She graduated from Hope College in 2014 receiving her BA in English, Philosophy, and Dance. In addition to directing LEAP, Claire currently teaches ballet, modern dance, jazz.
Claire describes LEAP as a unique, multi-disciplinary dance/arts adventure that offers a joyful and rewarding arts experience for young people. In Claire’s opinion there are very few 
children’s dance companies in existence, so LEAP provides an opportunity not only to dance, but to think and explore and choreograph movement in a creative, noncompetitive setting. Rather than teaching steps, they give their students the tools with which they create, and perform, their own dances.
Claire’s proudest moment as a coach occurs on a very regular basis. She is proud of these students every time she meets with them. Often when she challenges them with a movement problem, they will come up with a creative solution that she would never have thought to teach. It never ceases to amaze her just how creative children can be. Perhaps her proudest moment was watching them perform at their first formal concert in December of 2015. To see the final products of their creative process and for the children to get to perform their own works of choreography and improvisations for their families and friends, was a wonderful experience for Claire.
Because LEAP is a creative movement company, they always start the choreographic process with the exploration of different movement concepts (time, space, energy, and relationships) and improvise with different ways of using these concepts in movement. Unlike a technique class, there is no wrong answer or wrong movement. After the dancers have some sort of choreography, she usually asks them if they like it perfectly the way it is, or if they would like to change, add, or remove anything. This way the dancers can decide for themselves what the best choreographic choices are for their dances.
This is LEAP’s first year so their initial goal was to provide a type of program that would be a new and different opportunity for children. Creative dance programs are few and far between 
when compared to the amount of technique classes available to children.
LEAP was the idea of Barbara Selinger, the artistic director of DDCdances. She created LEAP after years of wanting to start a children’s dance company. DDCdances is a company that focuses not only on performing repertory but also on education and the use of movement in learning. After years of teaching creative dance in schools and workshops, Barbara decided it was finally the right time to begin a children’s creative dance company. Barbara appointed Claire Call the Director of LEAP and it all took off from there.
LEAP runs in short sessions at a time rather than an entire season. That way there is always the opportunity for new students to join, and to bring their own ideas and creative processes into the mix. Dance experience is not necessary to join LEAP, only a willingness to move and to learn. They are just beginning their Winter 2016 session and are also planning their Spring 2016 session.
If you would like more information about LEAP, visit their website at http://www.ddcdances.org/DDC_Website/Leap.html, call them at 810-444-4553 or email Barbara Selinger at barb@ddcdances.org. You can also “Like” them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Claire Call of LEAP.
