The Stories We Hold On To: CSDA 2023/24 Season in Review

In April 2024, the Center Street Dance Academy concluded its seventh season, with more than 90 students featured in two sold-out performances. CSDA as a program has steadily grown over the years, beginning in 2016 with two teachers and about a dozen students. Since then, we have grown into a program with two studio spaces, seven teaching staff, two administrators, and 20+ classes. Praise God!

A program can have all kinds of data and stats to support how well it is going, but it is often the collection of unseen decisions, sacrifices, prayers, and steps of faith that make up its true identity and impact.

In the aftermath of the recital performance, when everyone has summoned all their energy and sent it surging into playing their part - from performer to supporting cast of characters - stories begin to drift to the surface. These are the stories we administrators, teachers, and parents hold on to. They are the ones that let us know - something good has happened here!

Corban Bartlett, 11 years old, never took a dance class before he joined CSDA this year. He has always been athletic, showing up for basketball, soccer, and baseball, but dance wasn’t on his radar until a few of his friends and his family encouraged him to try something new, stepping out of his comfort zone. Despite tears even in the very minutes before his first performance, he overcame and as a result, had an experience that he loved.

Esme Arroyo, 5, has always been shy. Signing her up for dance was a faith-filled move from her parents, who weren’t certain how she would do in the dance classroom setting, not to mention on the stage. The work put in not just by Esme and her dance instructor, but also by her preschool teachers, childcare workers, and family members, paid off big time when she boldly lit up the stage and hit every step with a smile.

Ezrah Aaseby, 16, has danced with CSDA from its very beginning. She has always been a talented dancer, but in recent years, she has developed the grit and perseverance characteristic of someone striving to go beyond expectations; looking for ways to challenge and develop herself both within and outside the classroom setting. Ezrah did not just take two classes; she also taught two classes AND choreographed a duet for herself and another dancer.

Behind these stories of dancers are stories of their teachers. For every dancer that goes home to talk to their mom or dad about how their dance class went, there’s a teacher that is walking away from class wondering how they can challenge that student who seems bored; infuse with confidence their most tentative dancer, inspire attention to detail and extract all that each dancer is truly capable of. Our staff is so uniquely invested in their students; their care extends far beyond the transfer of information, and into the development of each student’s very heart and soul.

Last, but never least, are the stories that come to life on stage; stories that begin in faith-filled creative moments and prayers, and are collaboratively brought to life. Aptly put by parent Grace Aaseby: “I am humbled by the Lord’s gift of the arts to help us through things as crushing as grief and loss. It’s a part of ashes to beauty.”

This year, that raw and vulnerable exploration of grief and loss portrayed in "London is Lonely" and “Better Days” gave way to light, life, and moments of laughter as we revisited youthful stories and familiar figures of the Cat in the Hat and the Grinch in "Seussical," or made a passionately charged search for justice through the streets of New York in "Newsies." A poignant and relevant communication about bullying and the kind of friendship that overcomes it in "Chances" made way for the celebration of unapologetic girl-power-packed choreography in "Barbie" and "Never Gonna Not Dance Again."

No one simply fell into the creation of these pieces of art; their victories were hard-won by instructors, choreographers, dancers, administrators, lights and sound designers - and never least, moms and dads.

As we let the dust settle and each hardworking participant takes a rest, we reflect with gratitude on a season marked by creativity and courage. Thank you to all who believe in this program and continue to support it year by year! We are thankful and blessed to minister to our community and the greater Nashville community through the arts.