a love for dance
in students
Owner strives to instill
a love for dance
in students
By dave goldberg
Staff Writer
FARRAH MAFFAI Diane Gressing Rice helps her daughter Jillian perfect her form at the School of the Arts at Hidden Lake Dance Education Center on Towne Center Drive in North Brunswick.
NORTH BRUNSWICK — For more than 17 years, the School of the Arts at Hidden Lake on Towne Center Drive has provided education in dance.
"This is our 17th year in North Brunswick, and we have seen the center grow from one classroom to three classrooms," said Diane Gressing Rice, director. "Our classes have about 10 to12 students. We started with 80 students; now there are over 300 students."
Rice said that she does not want to see the school have too much growth.
"My goal is to not grow too large," Rice said. "It is important to be able to know all of the students. Our studio is family oriented, and we are not just a school. There have been so many lasting friendships formed. We are very blessed to have students that stay here," she explained.
"There are students who have gone to professional ballet companies from all over the country. It is wonderful because they all keep in touch with me. They always come to see me," she added.
The most important thing to Rice is working with the children.
"I hope I have made a great impact in their lives," said Rice. "If you don’t love children, you should not be in this business. We start at age 2 with the parents and go all the way up to the 50s. We have 60 classes offered a week. They range for 45 minutes to an hour and a half."
Rice said while she encourages students, she will not push them.
"We do competition on a low scale," Rice said. "Our first priority is their education. Dance should be their passion. I don’t believe in criticizing the students or stressing them out. Dance should be for their own fulfillment," she emphasized.
"We encourage the children, and give them every opportunity for ballet. The opportunity is there, but it has to be for their choosing. If the child is trying their best, they will always be welcome in this company," she continued. "Some studios are too competitive. It’s more important to sleep good at night knowing you made some children happy."
While some of the students go on to careers in ballet, the majority of the students will go to education, according to Rice.
"Maybe about 10 percent of the students will go on to dance professionally," Rice said. "Other students have gone into careers in education or have become physical therapists. It comes down to that we offer a good foundation. The students enjoy children. It comes back from their dance careers."
Rice said that she enjoys be able to provide a service for the youth.
"Basically, I think children are great," Rice said. "I am happy that I have been able to use my talent so that other children can enjoy themselves. It is difficult sometimes to run a dance studio, but I have fun with the children. The teachers want to be here. It is such a warm environment."
Although there are different levels of skills, they are treated equally, according to Rice.
"There are levels of skill with each grade," Rice said. "We have levels beginner through advanced. The children’s education should expand yearly or we are not doing our job. We want to teach with positive reinforcement not criticism."