Music and movement have always been part of artistic expression, and the love for both is passed down from generation to generation. This is especially true for sister duo Christine Curtis and Breana Johnson, the program leads for the Cook County YMCA dance program in Grand Marais.
The program has been running since October 2014, with its first recital, Breakthrough, held in 2015. This year marks the program’s 10th annual recital, titled Rewind, scheduled for May 7-9. While the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted classes and recitals in 2020 and 2021, the milestone reflects a decade of growth, resilience, and community.
“For me, it being our 10th show is an honor,” said Curtis. “In 2014, I remember applying to teach and being nervous because I didn’t know if I could do it, but another part of me was nervous because I think I knew once I started I wasn’t going to want to stop the program. Now, over 10 years later, it means the world to me that we’re still here and that I’m still doing this.”
The Cook County YMCA dance program offers classes for ages 3 and older. Ballet and jazz are the main areas of focus, taught by Curtis, Johnson, and Clare Shirley. Tap is offered for sixth grade and up, and hip hop, taught by Lesli Higgins, is offered for eighth grade and up.
“I think from the start, the first year was one of those ‘OK, I’ve got ideas’ years where we were relatively small. I think we had around 45 to 50 students. Last year, our enrollment was 125 students,” said Curtis. “Growth-wise, the program itself has greatly expanded. My very first pre-K class students are now 10th graders, so we’ve been able to build and expand on our skills. There’s been a lot of evolution.”
Rewind is a chance for the students to showcase that evolution. Dancers, along with Curtis and Johnson, have all had a choice in selecting their favorite dances from the past decade, and some of those favorites have been added to the recital lineup.
“If audience members have attended a show before, they might recognize some familiar dances from the past. Some have been revamped as the program has evolved, while others remain true to their original choreography,” said Curtis. “‘Stop in the Name of Love’ is especially meaningful to me because it was the first dance I created when I was really little, and I later taught it to Breana. Some of those original movements are still part of the pre-K piece today.”
Dance is a mix of both sport and art. In a rural area like Grand Marais, access to dance is especially meaningful.
“We are incredibly blessed. Cook County as a whole is such an artistic community. Even though the community is smaller than most, our program is really big for what many dance programs see. Part of that, I think, is that we continue classes through adulthood, which I was really passionate about, because dance shouldn’t end at the age of 18. It’s been a blessing because of the community,” said Curtis.
“I think dance at its core is about movement. Movement doesn’t have an age; it doesn’t have a specific body type; it doesn’t have a gender. If you have a body you can move—you are capable of dancing regardless of who you are, what your body looks like, or how old you are,” she said.
In another 10 years, Curtis hopes the program is still going strong.
“I really just hope to keep expanding my knowledge, not only as a teacher, but also as a mentor. I don’t need the program to grow huge, but I want to keep reaching people and building a community of dancers who love dance and support each other. I’m hoping that people still love and appreciate dance in 10 years and that I’m still able to do this,” she said.
Anyone interested in the dance program or recital can find more information online at: cookcountyymca.org. The recital takes place at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts at 6 p.m. on May 7, and 7 p.m. on May 8-9.
