First all-boys' dance class to perform at June recital - ‘Dance is analogous to a sport. Girls aren't the only people who can do something like this.'

HARRIMAN — Up the stairs and in the side studio of Terpsichore the Dancerschool, the sounds of Carl Douglas’ 1970s one-hit wonder, “Kung Fu Fighting,” can be heard blasting through the door. And inside the room, the “funky China men from funky Chinatown” are actually six young boys ranging in age from four to eight who are perfecting their dance steps in preparation for the Harriman school’s upcoming recital. This all-boys’ dance class, a rarity for any dance school, is Terpsichore’s first. Instructor Denise Carter is hoping the boys’ June recital appearance will cause parents to see and realize that dance class is not just for girls. “At the dance recital last year, we had a few boys perform in our opening, ‘Jock Jams,’ and that created a little bit of a buzz about getting a boys dance class together for this year,” she said. The premier class was launched last September, and Carter hopes enough interest will be generated to create two classes next fall: one for ages three to five; and a second for ages six and older. Carter acknowledged there is societal stereotyping about boys being involved in a dance program. “There is a stigma with boys in the performing arts,” she said. “That is a barrier we’re trying to get passed with these kids.” Watching her small class in action, one can see the boys have cleared passed that barricade. During a recent visit, the boys, in the midst of recital preparation, were clearly rowdier than the girls practicing in the nearby studio. True to their song’s lyrics, the boys — who will perform in karate costumes — were “chopping them up and they were chopping them down” as they darted around the room like human pinballs. But they were attentive to Carter’s directions, listening her commands and executing the steps demonstrated to them by her and dance assistant Nicole Michaels. “I needed to make it (the dance) similar to gym but with the dance elements mixed in, ” she said. “Then, I could still keep their interest and have them learn real dance steps at the same time. They have much more energy than girls and they’re different to keep focused. They’re more aggressive than what a girls’ class would be. But they’re having fun and they’re learning.” Carter strongly feels that dance can compete with any other boys’ sports. “It definitely helps with athleticism, with balance, coordination, flexibility, strength, endurance and stamina and even discipline,” she said. “And at a very young age, dance can help with motor skills.” Highland Mills resident Christine Coddington, who enrolled her three boys in the class, agreed with Carter’s assessment. “All those aspects are important,” she said. “It also shows them how to work together as a team….and being on a team… and to have some responsibility to others. Dance is analogous to a sport. Girls aren’t the only people who can do something like this.” Coddington, who considers herself and her husband to be forward-thinking parents, said she wanted her sons to have different experiences, and dance was one of them. “I want to broaden their horizons,” she said. “They know it’s (dance) not a bad thing. They’re not narrow-minded. And my husband is totally fine with this. He’s not opposed to it at all.” But Coddington admitted others aren’t as open-minded about boys participating in a dance class. “Sometimes, people are mean,” she said. “They look at you funny and say, ‘Oh, your sons are in dance?’ Most of the time, I just ignore it. I don’t let it get me upset.” As the lyrics attest, “from a feint into a slip, and kicking from the hip,” Sean Coddington, age seven, is one of those “cats” who was “fast as lightning.” “It’s fun,” Sean said, who thought it was a good idea for boys to know how to dance. “I like the dance steps and I like the tap dance and dancing on the mat. I think boys can dance better than girls.” However, despite the media hoopla with shows like “Dancing with the Stars,” don’t ask Sean to even consider dancing with a girl. “No,” he said emphatically. “I don’t like girls.” Carter is very pleased with her students’ progress. “I told them that this was new for all of us and we were going to take it in a direction that suited all of us,” she said. “I picked a song that was masculine in nature and created a karate aspect to the dance. They’re having fun.” Like Carter, Coddington can’t wait to see “everybody was kung-fu fighting” on recital day. “I’m looking forward to seeing how they react in front of a whole bunch of people,” said Coddington, knowing the recital’s venue — the Monroe-Woodbury High School auditorium — seats almost 1,100 people. “I’m excited.”