Teaching the island to dance
PHUKET: Katherine’s Dance Studio delighted legions of beaming parents with ‘An Evening of the Arts for Children’ on Sunday, June 24.
Monday 2 July 2012, 08:46AM
Katherine’s Dance Studio delighted legions of beaming parents with ‘An Evening of the Arts for Children’ on Sunday, June 24.
The event, held at the Phuket Orchid Resort, is an annual occurrence that is always well attended and, as American-born Dance Studio owner Kathy Roche explains, always a little different.
“This year we had visiting dancer and Dervish spinner Ahmed. Every year I bring someone different, last year we had an Italian fellow. I always try to bring something new and something fun.”
Speaking of which, Phuket’s resident vampire opera singer Count Andrew Snape was also on hand throughout the performance to provide pianist musical accompaniment to some numbers.
“It’s good the kids have an opportunity of dancing and responding to live music,” says Katherine.
The performances covered a variety of genres, including jazz, hip-hop, and ballet.
Kathy opened Katherine Dance Studio in Phuket in 1997, which at that time was the first on the island.
She remembers that back then people laughed when she told them her plans, but she stuck with it and over time her studio gained in popularity.
She now offers classes at various schools and locations around Phuket.
Despite being ‘born and raised’ in the same West Philadelphia town as Hollywood star and rapper Will Smith, Kathy said that she enjoyed plenty of access to ballet classes as a child.
It’s a form she believes underpins dance, “It’s the basics, it’s grace and posture and balance.”
As such she believes that music and dance is incredibly important for every child, “Dance helps a child get to know and study their bodies, because it gives them a good idea of what their body can do.
“It gives a sense of posture and confidence and it’s good for discipline.”
