Students wow audience at recital

"Oh, those little ones were so cute!" "They were in time with the music!" "I can't believe my eyes!"

And so went the comments, all from smiling faces, as the curtain came down last Sunday afternoon on Three Sisters Dance Studio's first annual recital. An appreciative audience filled the front half of Sisters High School auditorium, as some 58 students showed off their accomplishments.

"We wanted to showcase the students talents, their hard work. Those girls have come in and dedicated their time after school, taken criticism, used it and turned it around to become great dancers," said Three Sisters owner/instructor Misty Grimm.

Grimm scheduled the recital early before the end of the school year so that it would not conflict with the full docket of activities that surrounds Memorial Day and the end of the school year.

"Now was a good time, as everybody is still in town," she said.

The dance school opened its doors only last December, and Grimm told The Nugget that she in some ways is not at all surprised that it has grown so quickly.

"I just think that Sisters needed it," she said. "A lot of people are driving to Bend, and I was worried about traffic and weather and all that."

Much of Grimm's stimulus behind opening the school is her desire to provide a place for both her own children and all children to dance.

"It gives the high schoolers a place to come, and they dance and do their thing, as well as giving the little girls an extra activity other than sports."

Tricia Johnson, whose daughter Natalie Schilpervort takes Grimm's hip-hop jazz class, likes the fact that the school is kid-friendly.

"It has songs and dance and movements that are for children. Often nowadays in dance schools, you see moves that are very adult and sensual in nature that little children do. But Grimm is committed to keeping it a kids' troupe," Johnson said. "That's the right thing for my little girl."

Currently, Grimm offers hip-hop jazz for both girls and boys, and these classes are her most popular. "'High School Musical' is just huge this year, so we did 'High School Musical.' Next year we'll probably start with Hannah Montana. They just love to come and learn the moves to things that they're into," said Grimm.

Two boys, Brandon Bachmeier and Samson Magnus, take hip-hop jazz, as well as tap.

"They are my only two boys and only two tap students," Grimm said. As tap is her favorite discipline, Grimm hopes to attract more and more of her students to tap.

Grimm also offers both beginning and advanced ballet, as well as a class for four-year-olds that she calls creative movement.

Regular dance classes will continue through the end of the school year with several workshops and dance camps planned for the summer. New students may enroll at any time. For more information, contact Grimm at 771-2508.