Children Learn About Fitness Through Dance

http://youtu.be/zKbEYunu-Es

(LAS CRUCES) -- Obesity among young people continues to be a growing problem around the country…and now a local group is working with young girls and promoting health and fitness.  

Based on the fictional character Angelina Ballerina, young girls in Las Cruces are getting the chance to express themselves through dance.  

“So my little girls come in here and they want to dance, and they want to shine and they want to perform and so all of a sudden they kind of relate to this character of Angelina Ballerina and so I think that brings it to life to them and its just fun,” said instructor Rose Palacio.

The girls not only learn about ballet, but dance away with information they can use at home and later in life.

“And up to basic nutrition they talked about the important of water, eating healthy snacks, about eating breakfast, building strong muscles,” she said.

Melanie Russell of Las Cruces says she found the right program for her daughter and is quickly seeing a difference.

“Before she was sitting in the back of the class, crying and coming in and out and wanting mommy all the time and now she’s completely the opposite.  She’s like yeah let’s go to dance.  I’ll do my best and she goes in there and actually does her best,” she said.

The program at the academy of music and dance in Las Cruces is one of the first studios in the country to offer Angelina Ballerina dance classes for three to six year old children.  Instructors say the program keeps children active and improves their social skills.

“She has a tendency to sit down and watch more than two hours of television that want to move from the television so the interaction with other kids is very important to keep her moving and have motivation to do other things,” she said.