Community Dance Classes

Two years ago, Skye Maves ’27 and Alumni Grace Taylor ’25 started hosting weekly dance classes to bring together a group of energetic kids that shared a common love for dance. Currently, Maves is running these classes with Annie Loring ’26. When asked what motivated Maves to start these classes, she noted that she was previously a dance mentor and shared, “it's really fun to not always have a teacher, but almost like a big sister in the class. So, when I saw all the faculty kids running around campus all the time, I really wanted to find a way to continue to teach little kids.” Loring decided to collaborate with Maves, because she too believed in the mission of uplifting young aspiring dancers. She explained, “I love kids and being able to nurture and engage their curiosity and love for dance has been an incredibly rewarding experience. It's been amazing to be able to continue to teach at Deerfield and connect with the community around me.” Maves and Loring are passionate about inspiring kids in the community that dance is for everyone, regardless of experience. 

Every Saturday morning, Maves and Loring hold these classes in the small dance studio in the Hess, and invite kids from across the community, such as faculty kids, to learn how to dance. Loring explained that the best words to fully capture the essence of kids would be “curious, endearing and energetic.” Walking in with cheesy smiles and a pure enthusiasm to learn from Deerfield Academy’s very own dancers, Maves describes the kids as “so excited to be there.” She continued, “A lot of them don't dance any other time outside of our classes, so it’s a very special experience for them and us. Some of them have been dancing with us for the three years since we started the program.” The bond Maves and Loring share with the kids goes beyond the dance studio. “Afterwards, I'll sometimes take some of them to lunch in the dining hall or just seeing them around campus makes me smile so much,” Maves added. 

Maves and Loring teach two age groups: 3-6 and 7-12 years old kids. The younger age group is “like a bitty ballet class,” Maves explained. “That class is focused on getting the kids to be comfortable in their bodies, coordination, and social skills in the classroom setting, because a lot of these kids don't go to school yet.” Because of their youth, Maves and Loring enjoy doing games and exercises to encourage the kids to “open their imagination and be creative.” The older age group is a jazz class that has kids more experienced in dance. A class with this group contains a lot more choreography with an emphasis on technique. “Usually we start [class] with a warm up and we'll do across the floor, working on typical skills for the age group,” Maves explains. "Then, we teach a combo every class, so that they can practice picking up choreography quickly.”

One of Maves’ favorite moments from working with the kids was last year when her jazz class watched the International Dance Competition. She described their reactions as “just so amazed and inspired,” explaining that this was something that resonated with her as a dancer, and she loved sharing that experience with them. 

According to Maves, she and Loring seek to “incorporate more of the Deerfield dancers into the program this year,” offering students in the dance co-curricular the opportunity to apply as substitutes for when they are unavailable. She added, “Also, we really want them to perform at our shows in the winter,” noting that the kids “come watch the shows all the time, so the opportunity to perform on the same stage would be a very memorable experience.”