Article Contributed on: 2/18/2008 1:59:12 PM
A five, six, seven, eight. It is 9:00 on a Thursday night. Music pulses from the Colorado Centre of Dance Studios in Golden. Dozens of dancers run through the routine, striving for perfection. They are rehearsing for the 4th Annual Hearts for Hearts' Sake show to benefit The Children's Hospital. This year's show will be March 9, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway.
"It's one thing in my life that's really fun. And it's for Children's Hospital," said dancer
Megan Evans. "It's so nice to benefit other people by doing something I enjoy. "
Evans is part of the En' Lair Performing Group at the Colorado Centre of Dance. They are contributing two numbers to the variety show. The studio's company B is also performing a dance. The show is produced and directed by studio owner
Colleen Clegg.
"I do this because I love dance," said Clegg. "I want the girls to experience the art of dance in a beautiful way. We know that we're dancing for others. And we don't have to worry about getting a trophy or judges telling us how to dance better."
"When you're getting judged from competition, you're so under pressure and it's more about technique," said dancer
Bekah Staub. "It's more fun to go out and get to your feelings."
The girls say they are dancing from the heart.
"It's fun to give back to the community through dance and to be able to help kids who can't do that, through what we can do is just really cool," said dancer
Abi Kerns.
"Every year it gets better," said Clegg.
This year, the show focuses on young people performing to help other young ones at The Children's Hospital. Other Denver area groups participating include: Danza Dance Academy, Junkyard Dogs/Crewtons, Karen Lee Dance Theatre, Denver Dance Company, Arvada Center Dance Theatre , Lindy Hop Swing Dancers, young violinists from the Denver Talent Education group and Mirai Daiko, a Japanese drumming ensemble. 9News Anchor, Kim Christiansen is the master of ceremonies. 9news and the Bank of Choice are the show's corporate sponsors. All of the proceeds from the show go to The Children's Hospital. Tickets range from $12.00-$20.00 and are available online at www.lakewood.org
At the Colorado Centre of Dance Studios, the girls are rehearsing up to three hours a week in preparation for this year's show.
"It's a lot of work, but it's worth it," said choreographer
Krysta Mees.
"It does pay off when they're up there on stage and the lights go up and the first moves hit, it's worth it. And I always cry."