Episode 276-The Intricate Dance: Transforming Children's Lives with Once Upon a Dance with Teacher Terrell

Can dance transform a child's entire world beyond just physical fitness? Join us on this enlightening episode of the SJ Child Show, where we sit down with Terrell from Once Upon a Dance to uncover the myriad ways dance can enhance children’s lives. From boosting brain and body coordination to enhancing social skills and mental health, Terrell shares her incredible journey from being a dance teacher to becoming an author, crafting interactive stories that get kids moving and thinking creatively. Her personal anecdotes reveal the profound impact of dance on confidence, creativity, and problem-solving abilities for both children and adults.

Our conversation takes a deeper turn as Terrell reflects on her passion for dance and her commitment to giving back through her books. Inspired by her Peace Corps experience and a strong sense of service, Terrell describes how the COVID lockdown was the catalyst for creating the "Once Upon a Dance" series. With 20 books now in the "Dance It Out" collection and more technical guides for pre-professional dancers, each title is a testament to the universal and healing nature of dance. Learn about the self-taught skills and the collaborative efforts with illustrators that brought these stories to life, each one filled with whimsical illustrations and life lessons designed to inspire young dancers.

Finally, we spotlight the importance of community support and advocate for the preservation of the arts in schools. Highlighting how essential it is to back local businesses and musicians, especially in terms of donations and writing reviews, Terrell emphasizes the neurological benefits of engaging children in creative activities. Hear our heartfelt appeal to parents to recognize and promote the arts in their children's education, ensuring that despite budget cuts, the transformative power of dance and creativity continues to flourish in future generations.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:04

Welcome to the SJ Child Show, where a little bit of knowledge can turn fear into understanding. Enjoy the show. Hi and welcome to the SG Child Show. Today I am meeting with Terrell, and you just told me Terrell and I can't seem to function in words. It's a good thing I can talk and make my way through these podcasts. Yeah, it's so nice to meet you. More importantly, once Upon a Dance, which we'll get into and talk about, but first introduce yourself. Let us know where you're at, what you're up to, and, yeah, and we'll get into why you're here.

Speaker 2: 1:08

So yeah, I am Daryl at Once Upon a Dance and I was a dance teacher pre-COVID and then I decided to write a book and then, of course, in Washington we were locked down for a long time. So I have written many books and they're all children's movement and dance books and they infuse like actually getting up and off the couch and getting active, so they're like kind of like little one-act plays. The bulk of the stories that we have I say we because my daughter is featured in the stories and so it's kind of a collaboration there with mother and daughter and there's just really fun. And I'm such a dance enthusiast and the more I kind of dig into dance and you know, read these articles that come across my path like just the benefits are huge. So getting kids started early and kind of introducing them to dance in a new and fun way is just really, really fun and really special for me and I'm having a really good time with it.

Speaker 1: 2:06

I love that. When did your love of dance begin? Is it something from your childhood or something from having a child, which brings all kinds of new experiences?

Speaker 2: 2:17

Yeah, well both. So I danced. I started dancing pretty late for a dancer, I started around age eight, and we just did a little park and recs class and that teacher told my mom like hey, maybe you should, you know, look into this. And I did dance, kind of pre-professional, until I was in high school and then I pretty much stopped cold turkey. And I'm always telling people like don't stop, you could still like go, you know, like it's not all or nothing, it doesn't have to be all or nothing, um, but anyway so. And then dance just kept coming back.

Speaker 2: 2:43

I just kept coming back to it like all my life like, so I went to college and I got back into it I did choreography and dance and then, you know, I went to grad school and I found African dance and I went to Peace Corps and I like found a group there and and you know, and then I started my professional career and then I just kept coming back to dance and I started teaching dance and then eventually I was teaching dance full-time. Yeah, dance has just always been there, kind of on and off. And for my daughter I used to always say, you know that I only taught ages seven and up for a long time and then once she was there and dancing and I saw such joy in her, I really kind of studied, you know, more of the child development and built a curriculum and so started teaching all the ages and things.

Speaker 1: 3:25

That's wonderful. What an amazing way to be able to take your passion and what you've always excuse me loved to do and make a lifetime and a life, you know, career in a profession of it for yourself self. Those types of what I'm looking for. Endeavors make it so special and more meaningful and you connect more with, probably, your dancers and yourself and it sounds like your daughter. And what a wonderful way to also bring benefits that people might not think about. So let's talk about that. Let's talk about some benefits of dance that are not physical, because obviously that is a benefit right there. What are some other things that people can maybe think about when questioning whether they or their child, or maybe a neighbor or something nephew, niece or nephew might be good at getting getting into dance?

Speaker 2: 4:27

yeah, well, just mentioning physical, there are a lot of things there that maybe we don't think about, like I used to. You know, start with these little kids in class and I'd like the first day I'd be like, oh, I'm terrified. They were gonna bump into each other and just like how quickly. It was amazing how quickly that spatial awareness would develop, and so just awareness of other people in the room and things was really fascinating to me to see. And then you know our balance and our coordination, but then just the brain and body connections. So we're actually forming new neural pathways all the time and we're learning about sequencing and patterns and so many good things, many, so many good things.

Speaker 2: 5:05

And then there's also that social component. So you're taking turns and you're sharing space and you're collaborating and you're supporting each other. And you know, if you get into like performance, like there's so much like love and support that I see in these dancers just everywhere, um, it's just really special. So, yeah, I could, I could just like sit here and like go on and on about the benefits of data. So many, so many good things. And we know at every age that it's good, like for infants, you know, the brain development and for kids the social is so important and the confidence, the creativity, the problem solving Adults we know that they're really scientifically decreasing the likelihood that they're going to have mental decline, that they're going to be able to move more easily, that they're going to be more socially connected and have more sense of community.

Speaker 1: 5:57

I love that Our daughter did a similar like a dance acting thing at starting at three and she doesn't do it now. But I, like you said, the confidence, the being with the people and the socialization part and all of those things I found were so important for that timeframe for for her. And my son, on the other hand, didn't have that same experience. He has a hard time connecting with the group on the social level like that. So skills we're still working on today, but you know I think that there's there's an I talk a lot about neurodiversity and autism but there's an autistic dance group in Florida that I've been kind of talking to and things and just the amazing abilities to give all ability people that you know they can tap into those also creative styles for themselves and to see that nurturing grow. How does that look for you and what's your experience have with that in your time?

Speaker 2: 7:12

Yeah, I taught a lot of atypical kids just as part of my class. They come in and you know some of we. We'd work with the parents. Sometimes I would have an assistant come in like the parent would bring us yeah especially if there was machinery involved with a child or something like that.

Speaker 2: 7:28

Yeah, I mean, we just always integrated them the most that you know, the best we could into whatever, and I would give them options, and I mean it just always felt really natural. And I did read something recently that just that there's studies that are showing that there's a lot higher function for neurodivergent children with dance, and so it's just a really positive force for them. And so get them involved in something like that is is really beneficial.

Speaker 1: 7:54

And what about the kind of growth, if you will, of dance itself, from how much more accepted it is? I guess there's a lot more that's accepted in our era that we're in now than ever before, and part of that are some of the maybe career choices, if you will, that you know were a stigma back in the older eras, like oh my, were a stigma back in the older eras, like oh my, you know, they probably would have taken a lot of discipline, a lot of like dedication, and now there's a lot more opportunities for anybody to want to learn how to dance, rather than just your who is going to be the most perfect dancer to be that you know. I'm not sure what that looks like, but what is that? What have you seen in you, in the growth of kind of the social impact dance has had on the everything?

Speaker 2: 8:51

Yeah, yeah, so a couple of different ways. One, I will say that I'm a board member at Pacific Northwest Ballet and so just they have really shifted in the last I would say decade, being more aware of who's welcoming who's welcoming the class and, you know, relaxing the dress code a little bit and like the hairstyles, and being just more open and welcoming and accepting, I guess, which is really nice. And then also they have a big focus. The artistic director there really wanted to focus on diversity. So they're, you know, kind of looking. Maybe it's a little bit different body types and we've got a, you know, a non-binary dancer who's doing feminine roles now and a lot of different fluidity there, um, on forms, what.

Speaker 2: 9:40

So there's that aspect and I think that's yeah trickling through the companies, um, and then there's like the adults are just like, adults are flourishing in dance more than ever before. I don't know, I don't know exactly why that is, but it's definitely catching on and like there are more opportunities for adults to study, like, like there's, like now, summer dance camps for them, you know, more summer intensive, and I think it's just the interest has really spread. You know, as word spreads, I think it's just a matter of word of mouth there that you can go back and and do this thing. That's really fun thing, go back and learn and learn.

Speaker 2: 10:16

And so many people you know you were talking about your little three-year-old so many people like identify, like, oh yeah, I danced when I was little and so to come back to it, maybe even after your kids are are grown and gone, I had a lot of people come and dance with me as older adults, like even in their 70s, and they loved it and they got so much out of it and they actually, um, like they're still all. A lot of them are still really connected with each other, even though they're not taking class. I'm meeting them next week at the park because they're so cute, like, and they just always get together and you know they they, they are more in touch with people than I am.

Speaker 2: 10:47

Like they'll tell me the news that the you know the mom who moved to canada and they tell me about her kids and stuff. It's just really sweet, um, and then and then also just every study that we see is like dance is so beneficial. Dance is the best, the best form of exercise that you can do in terms of that mental you know, as you age, the mental acuity and ease of movement and things and really extending your life. So I think the more science is behind that, the more people are taking notice and and getting their kids involved and getting themselves involved.

Speaker 1: 11:21

I love that. Let's talk about kind of your journey is out of the United States. You said you did Peace Corps or something, so that you probably went somewhere in the world. I'm assuming what kind of maybe dance or music did you pick up while you were out there and maybe incorporate in into your own life?

Speaker 2: 11:45

So I was in Africa and I was in Namibia, in Southern Africa, and it was not. It wasn't a huge. I'm trying to think what I did some workshops and things and some other styles that maybe were more indigenous, but mostly it was, you know, contemporary and jazz, very similar to what you know, you see, in the US. I will say that, like talking through the books and some of my motivations and things like that. It was interesting to, because somebody else asked me about Peace Corps and I you know that was 25 years ago and I don't think of it very much, but it was this whole like, oh, like. I have always been really interested in kind of service and giving back, and so our books are actually all a passion project and we donate I donate all the royalties to non-profit charity partners, and so it's just funny to be like, oh, actually like. This is something that has run through my life for a long time, this kind of sense of giving back and things like that. So that's interesting to think about.

Speaker 1: 12:43

I love that. Yeah, I don't know why that came up, but these thoughts just come in there. I think there's probably a lot of like amazing experiences that you probably saw in those community and just in knowing that dance is something universal, something that everyone in the world and and you know, with regards to all abilities as well enjoy in some form or another in it, with music, which is so healing and brings people together and it just has, is so powerful in so many ways. Let's talk about, once upon a time, dance and what. Where did that inspiration come from and what's happening with that now?

Speaker 2: 13:35

So originally we were, like I said, we were going to do one book and it was kind of a you can dance anywhere, you can dance in your imagination, even you can dance in any space, you can dance in your home. So you know, that was for the COVID lockdown thing and a little ballet and a little bit about my daughter's pre-professional career, just kind of a fun little book. And then we did a couple of those, so we have four in that series. And then I had made stories for my dance classes. It was always the kids most favorite part of class and they would, you know, I would like stay up late and write a new story for them and I'd go in.

Speaker 2: 14:08

I'm like I have a new story today and they're like we want to do the one we did last week, like it was always, you know, loved them, and so I I thought, okay, let's see if I can figure out how to do, you know, find an illustrator and and write some of these down and then actually kind of broaden them out into a little bit broader story. Yeah, so the you know the, the, the first books we did one illustrator was out of Canada and another one I did know and they made it. It was just so cool that we could do this all online, never meeting each other. It was out of Canada and another one I did know and they made it. It was just so cool that we could do this all online, never meeting each other. It was kind of this like miracle and you know, and I figured out, I saw I just self-taught myself in design, um, which was a lot. It was kind of like learning piano, I say, because it's like playing chords and you've got, you know, multiple fingers going multiple places and to try to watch that YouTube video and figure out what they were doing was a

Speaker 2: 14:59

lot, but now I do it, yeah, so we have that series that's, that's called dance it out and that's you know, that's. I just love that. I looked for this stuff when I started. You know, I would have rather not had to create my own stories and write them, so I really had searched for this, these things, and didn't find them. I know that we would have loved them. Oh, my goodness, I would have loved them so much. Um, even when I was a little girl, I would have loved them and uh. So, yeah, so we have 20 in that series.

Speaker 2: 15:24

And then at some point I made, um, like a more technical book. So we have these kind of older books. One's called this one the falling into dance just came out yesterday. Um, oh, wow, congratulations, thank you. Um, so this one is all posture and it's just kind of like a lot of life lessons as well and kind of how to navigate. That, you know, pre-professional, but really like any, you know, anyone with a passion would appreciate them, I think. And, um, they're, they're're really funny because, you know, I kind of made this really boring book and then my illustrator who I had worked with before and I had.

Speaker 2: 16:03

I had wanted her to work on these and waited quite a while for her, and she made them so, like, lovely and entertaining. There's a, there's a cat, and now then this new one, we have a dancing chicken, and they're just always doing these funny things and they're just really lovely.

Speaker 2: 16:15

And then we have another series now that is called ballerina moments, and the first one is called ballerina wisdom for dance and life and its reflections and advice for pre-professional dancers. And again it's all dance related, but it would apply to you know, anything, any, any kind of passion project. And you know, page one is just you just gotta you gotta show up. And you know page one is just you just gotta you gotta show up, and it's so I love it.

Speaker 2: 16:40

That's a such a basic thing. We can actually trace back my daughter's like whole career to a moment in time where she showed up and no one else at her studio did. It was an early morning masterclass and everyone was tired and she showed up and she that got her like a little network and that you know that led to this and that this and they led to B and C and D and so yeah, it's just, it's that's just, you know, kind of wild.

Speaker 2: 17:03

And it's like everything that that I, that I've learned little tips for success, and you know, it's just like embrace your journey and learn all you can and grab every opportunity to explore new experiences. It's the second. It's the second one and part of kind of why I think I've been able to learn so much about dance. Well, I'm just, I mean, I just do everything dance right, like I go see all the shows and I'm on the board of P and B and I you know, obviously it was a dance teacher and a dance mom, and you know we did like both my kids went through.

Speaker 2: 17:36

My son was a dance teacher and a dance mom and you know we did like both my kids went through. My son was a dancer until COVID and that took him out, but he was 13. So he had gone through and, um, but my daughter, let me be in the room with her, and so I was always there taking class and you know, learning, learning kind of as a little shadow learning what that looked like and a lot of corrections from the teachers and things like that.

Speaker 2: 17:57

So it's kind of as a little shadow, learning what that looked like and a lot of corrections from the teachers and things like that. So it's kind of like two lifetimes of of wisdom there that I'm that I am relying on to make these and create these stories.

Speaker 1: 18:06

No, and they're beautiful. They're beautifully illustrated. It looks like and definitely isn't it amazing when we put our words down onto, um, you know, a piece of paper, we type them into something and then, out of that thought and and those ideas become this tangible thing, and not only this tangible thing, but this valuable, tangible, like, lovable thing that you can share with the whole world.

Speaker 2: 18:37

now, yes, yeah, I know, you know how that is because you're an author too.

Speaker 1: 18:42

Yes, how many books do you have? Seven.

Speaker 2: 18:46

Seven. Yeah, yeah, it's in your hand and see that you have, you know, created this and yeah.

Speaker 1: 18:54

And my daughter did the same. She did one of the books and she was eight at the time and she illustrated one book and so I basically wrote the book about her illustrations kind of it was an ABC book and I just followed her, her lead and let her see that she could take the you know the reins and make something that is now in you know Amazon bookstores or whatever. It's so exciting. So I think at this point in her life I don't think that that's on her, anybody look at list but someday when she's older and not in the teen phase, I mean, that's something she's gonna have forever, and what a nice experience to share with you.

Speaker 2: 19:40

You know, that's that's just a beautiful, a beautiful moment and a memory.

Speaker 1: 19:45

Yeah, absolutely. Well, tell you you had another one. I want to see what's this next book. I'm excited to see, so this is our bestseller.

Speaker 2: 19:53

This is Princess Naomi helps the unicorn, and this is when I always did a dance class. So you know Naomi's out for her horse ride and the horse is really silly and he does all the funny moves and he even twirls and things and then they find a little passed out unicorn and the unicorn needs help rescuing her baby and it's just very sweet. So we have photographs of my daughter actually doing some of the moves. In this one there's a little bit of dance, um, so there are chassés and jumps, but a lot of like. You know you're acting like a snake and you're lifting your head up and and different things like that. So it's just really it's really sweet. I love this.

Speaker 2: 20:32

Uh, this illustrator is out of Idaho and he's working on book five for me. I think at this point and I always said I wanted to have when I started I was like every book is going to have a different illustrator and it's going to be all like a different show. It's going to have different backdrops and you know, and set design, and so every book is different fonts and everything and I lay it out differently, which is like so much work. I'm not sure I would do it again.

Speaker 2: 20:56

I knew where I was going with this. I might've made different choices, but then I just love my illustrators too much and so I've gone. You know, I've gone back, back and back again and I have like a team of maybe 12 now that I'm kind of mostly back on.

Speaker 1: 21:10

I love that.

Speaker 2: 21:11

Yeah, because they did such a great job and because they did such a great job and you know, you build relationships with these people and you talk to them and you know he has, he has two kids and it's so it's just really fun and, um, so, yeah, that. So that's that series, that dance it out series, and our latest one that we have there is, um, phoenix and the firework flyers, and this one I have a couple collaborators now. So, um, I was at a book event. We were, you know, you know, book signing and, uh, there was someone with a Peace Corps memoir and, of course, peace Corps volunteers have a special bond, um, there. And so we were chatting and we went to lunch together and on the way out she said you know, I have this kid's book that I have had in my desk and no one ever wanted it because it wasn't, it wasn't laid out, you know, the right way, or whatever. And um, and she, because it wasn't laid out the right way or whatever, and she's like, would you want it? I'm like, well, is there any movement in it? And she's like, no, nothing. I'm like, are you sure? And she's like, yeah, I don't think so. And I'm like, well, if you want me to look at it, I'll look at it. And so I get it and I'm just looking at these pages Fully illustrated book.

Speaker 2: 22:16

This one was Sora searches for a song. Fully illustrated, beautifully illustrated. So I'm looking at these gorgeous pictures you know that she's had tucked away in her desk for over a decade and I am turning the pages and I'm like movement, you know, movement, I'm like, I like, and so I'm like getting really excited. And then there was, there was one page that we, you know, we didn't use and of course I changed it quite a bit. You know I'm putting movement on on some of the things and adding a little bit here and there.

Speaker 2: 22:38

But, yeah, so this, this was the collaboration with her Wow, beautiful, right, and it was just done, and she didn't know what to do with it. So, and that was this, the last page is is, is the picture, is the page I couldn't use. So so I used it anyway. Then she was like can I write another book for you? So that was really fun and I was kind of telling her my ideas and I was, you know, I was listing stuff and I was like fired by story and she was like that sounds good. And then I was um, because she wanted this was a friend of hers, the illustrator, and so she wanted to use that. So I think we had it enough. You know, you have it in your mind, like right.

Speaker 2: 23:14

Like the illustrations and the style are very different for different books and I told her that I had this these are my ideas for a Firefly story and I was like, wait, I wrote this story and that's how it is.

Speaker 2: 23:27

I have all these little stories here and there that I've already written and I just haven't had time to go back to and think, wait, I already wrote this one and so I sent her what I had and she changed it quite a bit and, you know, made this and of course I changed her story and then and the editor process and all that, it got changed quite a bit as well. But this is really sweet because it's a nice collaboration and, um, it's called Phoenix and the Firework Flyers and a lot of the let's see, I have five, I think, now that have a not um, ungendered main character, so it's perfect for classrooms. So Phoenix has no pronouns. So, you know, boys or girls could kind of do that, and the same with Sora, sora has no pronouns.

Speaker 1: 24:07

Wow, I'm very like thought out and intentional and really really nice illustrations and how. What are some some feedback that you have gotten about the books? That that's something wonderful to always hear.

Speaker 2: 24:27

Well, the most recent feedback I got was that my book Joey Finds His Jump and I do I really like to balance. I love that I have this series of books that can be diverse throughout. So diversity is really important to me and I love that there's not a lot of series that have, like you know, diversity throughout. So it's more like, oh, you've got diverse characters and it's you know, they're consistent, but, like every book is different. So we have, you know, a lot of different faces and families and characteristics in our books, um, and I love that.

Speaker 2: 24:58

But so Joey finds this jump is a male kangaroo, and so I wanted to balance that out with some female dancers that he finds and then he kind of learns to jump from them. And it was a. I told the illustrator I'm like I want the women, you know, I want them in feminine clothes, not necessarily women, but femininely dressed. And so this review came in that was just like seething angry that there were no boys, boy, male dancers. And, um, you know, it does hurt my heart, I have a pretty thin skin oh, and I do.

Speaker 1: 25:32

I try to use everything when it's personal to you, yeah, so you know it did.

Speaker 2: 25:37

It did hurt for a little bit, but kind of sitting in that for a while I was like you know what, like, like, like I'm gonna lean more into strong girls. So it actually pushed me more toward the and I kind of shifted some of our messaging on the website and things like that. I'm like we're all about strong girls, like, and this kind of other thing that I've. You know, as a board member, I'm always trying to push Pacific Northwest Ballet into like let's make some, let's be more thoughtful about the ways that we're portraying women. You know, maybe we could get rid of some of the just unnecessary like groping and thinking it's funny on stage.

Speaker 2: 26:12

And I was really pushing for a different story narrative because it's always the prince rescues the princess and we just did Harold and the Purple Crayon and I'm just so excited about that. You know that, like I love a good print story let's. You know we'll do it next year. But like to just to have something a little bit different for once was really important to me, and so I kind of like I'm like, oh, you know, these actually these two things that I'm kind of working on that are I'm passionate about, I can. I can actually emerge them a little bit more. And so you know, I really try to be so diverse and kind of a 50 50 split, you know, in a lot of the books with with men and women and girls and boys and things like that. But now I'm like you know what we're all about women power.

Speaker 2: 26:55

And so it's just going to be a little bit like nothing is changing. I'm still going to have these ungendered you know, lovely stories for teachers to use in their classes, and we're still going to feature a lot of different faces and characteristics, but we're just going to be a little bit more on this side of the like strong girls doing all the adventuring, doing the rescues themselves. They don't need to be rescued, they're. They're amazing, as is. So. Yeah, that was a really like clarifying moment and I did like I said. I sat with that for like a month before.

Speaker 2: 27:27

I was like you know, but yeah, it's true, those one-star reviews on, like a mom, daughter, like who are giving up all royalties, you know away and yeah like just really creating for the love, like I'm like, yeah, why hate me, so why did you take time to do? This it would be like one day when, just like this book was so disappointing it's so, you know, so awful and pathetic and sad that you know, and I'm just like anyway.

Speaker 2: 27:51

So yeah, I know mostly people love the books and that's what really fuels me and keeps me going. And I and I literally like people like I have like probably three the books and that's what really fuels me and keeps me going. And I and I literally like people like I have like probably three super fans right, that's probably it. And each one of those has come in a time where I was like maybe I'll just give up, like because it's so hard to you know, you know how it is to get the books up there. It's so, so hard. And, um, they all like were like these little angels that came in just when I needed to hear like, oh, you know, we've grabbed hold of this, my kids adore it, it's their favorite thing, and so that I'm like you. Just, you just bought me three more months and like yeah, right you know like that, just like a review, will come in.

Speaker 2: 28:30

It's like this is my daughter's favorite book and I'm like that's another month like. So it's just you know it's like a bank and I just that was back from strangers especially you know that, that that don't know me, that are just that have found this on or whatever. Um, those are just gold, gold.

Speaker 1: 28:48

Yeah, oh, I love that. I can completely understand that and it's amazing when you can see a child's love for something and you've created it and they're excited about it and it's so rewarding.

Speaker 1: 29:07

And adults can sometimes ruin that joy and sometimes we have to maybe, like you said, put that aside and place the child's love over that, and also, you know, I like that you said put that aside and place the child's love over that, and and and also, you know I like that you said sitting on it and maybe thinking about it and deciding. Well, you know, information is always good when we know we can do better on either side right, and and decide to to do whatever we want. It's our creations to begin with, so I love that. What are some upcoming things that we can be seeing and looking at, supporting you?

Speaker 2: 29:48

Oh yeah, more books. So yeah, we just launched Falling Into Dance. That's for age 12. What's the next? Dance it Out? I don't even remember. Oh, my goodness, so many things are in the works actually. No, we have a, we have a new one coming out, a new series coming under everything else, so it'll be kind of three to six and that's called ready set dance.

Speaker 2: 30:12

Probably may release um, super cute, uh, super cute book, just kind of these animals having fun in a dance class. They don't know what they're doing. It's their first day. So there's a frog and a chicken. We just really have doubled down on the dancing chickens, on the dance um. So yeah, we had an instagram like contest to name one of the chickens and that was fun, you know, like just kind of, we did a lot of like brainstorming all together and then we did a vote and everything was it's so. It's paulette the chicken, dancing chicken in this, um, in this falling into dance book. But bella beak comes in ready set dance and uh. So yeah, that'll be out in may and it's just a really beautifully illustrated, really fun little introduction to what a dance class might look like.

Speaker 1: 31:01

I love that, and I really, really just am so intrigued at the way you've taken something like dance and put it into books and made it intertwined in that sense, because I don't think that I mean, like you said, when you were looking for these things, you weren't finding them. It does sound more rare than not, and so bravo to you for doing this Amazing.

Speaker 2: 31:32

Reading and movement, and we also have breath work in most of the stories and also connection with your reader. So there's like a lot of. There's even more opportunities that aren't expressly mentioned, but it'll you know that you can have some tactile and connection points as well.

Speaker 1: 31:49

Lots of skill building, yeah for sure. Lifetime, and not only just for children but for older teens. It sounds like an adult. So that's just a fantastic idea. Fantastic idea what is your website so we can send people to go and and order these books and see you know what you might have up and coming and get on a newsletter or email list, whatever you have going on, what you might?

Speaker 2: 32:17

have up and coming and get on a newsletter or email list, whatever you have going on. Yeah, yeah, so it's wwwonceuponadancecom. If you forget that. I also have dance storiescom and we're on all most of the social media platforms. I'm on Instagram pretty much daily so you can find us there once underscore upon a dance and, yeah, we love. But you know, like I said, like this, those fans and just people reaching out are just so, so important to me and I try to do that for other people now a little here and there. You know even the musicians I love like write a review for. You know it doesn't have to be me, like your favorite, your favorite local business, like it's so valuable to them.

Speaker 1: 32:57

Really is. Community support is huge and especially when you are doing what you're doing and donating the books to charities more community support. So just thank you so much for the amazing work you're doing and it's been so nice to get to know you and I love the idea of what you're doing and how it's. It's, you know, being presented to the world and such an opportunity for families and schools, like you said, to really help get kids moving, get kids thinking and being creative, and it just it helps so much with neurological development in all ways, like from baby and up. So keep doing it, people. Any last advice or anything you want to give to the listeners and viewers today?

Speaker 2: 33:52

I would just say like support the arts too. So community and arts are so important and you know a lot of schools with their teacher teachers. You know staffing issues and things like that and budget cuts are cutting the arts. So parents maybe reach out and just let people know the arts are important, because they really are, and we know study after study shows that all the arts are important.

Speaker 1: 34:15

Absolutely I love that sentiment. Thank you so much important. Absolutely, I love that sentiment.

Speaker 2: 34:18

Thank you so much for having me. It's been great.

Speaker 1: 34:21

Oh, thank you so much for your time today and it's been so nice and, um, I look forward to staying in touch, for sure, okay.