NJ studio brings joy of movement to young dancers

Enthralled with dance, a 14-year-old girl adopted a new first name, Dancette, and a lifetime love was cemented.

- By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews

After a successful dance competition

In 2007, when Dancette Pratts' longtime teacher and mentor, Bette White Fernandez (who passed away earlier this year), decided to retire after 54 years, she turned over her dance studio to Pratts, who had begun teaching dance at the precocious age of eight.

It had always been a place where dancers of all ages came, and today, Inspirational Dance Studio in Maplewood, New Jersey, is a space where all are welcome to come, learn, and celebrate the art of movement while finding community. While diverse students were always welcome, under Pratts' leadership the number of students of color grew exponentially, particularly as students started performing in local shows. A variety of dance styles are taught, from contemporary to ballet, jazz, tap, African, hip hop, Latin, and breakdancing.