South Shore Dance Alliance Inc

SSDA is one of the best pre-professional companies I have ever witnessed. You can see all of the passion in everyone's eyes. It is very easy to see that all of the kids and adults enjoy what they do. I had the privilege of seeing SSDA perform at the event Leap into the Arts last year. They took the stage by storm and left me wanting more. They definitely deserve every positive reward coming there way.

I have two children that attend South Shore Dance Alliance and I am truly impressed with the commitment level of the staff and students. South Shore fosters an environment of excellence and it is evident in their perfomances. I have watched many of the students blossom into wonderful dancers but the training also prepares them to be diciplined in other areas. Great experience overall!

My name is Nina Arzumanian and I am a parent of three children who attend South Shore Dance Alliance. I am also a board member as a representative of SSDA's parents.

My experiences with SSDA start about 3 years ago as an observer of one of the summer intensive programs which was held at a local health club in my home town. My daughter was currently enrolled in a local dance school but we were not satisfied with the program. As I was leaving the health club one day I stopped to watch the summer program and was so amazed at the talent of the teachers and what the children were learning. Having not taken dance myself I was not an expert on dance but I knew there was something missing in the current program she was in. After watching the SSDA program quit a few times on my visits to the health club througout the summer I was convinced that this was where we should be. My daughters vision for what she wanted from dance was the deciding factor.

We currently live in Munster, Indiana and drive to Miller four times a week. This a huge time commitment but worth every minute!! We joined SSDA in August of '09 and I can' even begin to detail all the wonderful things that we have done and all that Ani and now my other daughter have learned and experienced in the past year and a half. We have performed in so many venues and have been taught by the best instructors. These instructors are local as well as from Chicago and New York. One is currently a Chicago Luvabull.

The fact that they have been able to perform in so many locations has been such a wonderful experience for them. It has improved not only their dance but has built up their confidence in so many areas.

SSDA has not only provided great dance instruction but it has also provided a positive social atmosphere for our family. We are very happy with our decision to join and couldn't imagine ourselves in another location.

I have been affiliated with SSDA for 3 wonderful years. SSDA is currently filling a huge void in the artistic and educational lives of the the children of Gary, IN. I am honored and humbled to be an instructor, mentor, advisor and choreographer for SSDA.

I have been involved with SSDA on a nearly daily basis for the last two or three years. This is an organization that reminds you of all the good things that are in this world. The dancers, the volunteers, the teachers--it's an extremely positive environment in a world--and a city-- that's had its share of negativity. The work that we do for this place is such an integral part of what makes life fulfilling and worthwhile.

I think that the SSDA is a great place for kids to learn how to express themselves. They learn about their self worth and ethics, how to work together. They learn that hard work will get you where you want to go. It is a place for kids to go and know that they are nuroised through thier mind, body and soul. SSDA can make a childs whole world change to know that they are important. You can have the worst day and watch these kids dance and nothing else matters. The Artistic Director truly loves all these kids and makes them all feel special. He works very hard to get them to where they want to go and encourges them. The program itself is incredible and I am very proud to say that I have gotten to be part of this experience.

At a time when the arts are desperately in danger of disappearing from our public schools SSDA provides an environment in which our community's younger citizens can come to learn. I have had the opportunity to work with some of the students in a completely improvisational setting and saw that they were confident, disciplined and talented - unafraid to 'leap' into spontaneous movement.
The students are well supported by staff, parents and community members. Although I realize this sounds like all honey and no vinegar however I am truly proud to support an organization that asks students to strive to be more as individuals not just as artists. SSDA is such a gift to us all.