By Stephen Smoot
“To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful,” was once shared by Agnes De Mille, a dancer and choreographer whose uncle was the famous director Cecil B. De Mille.
She added that dance “is power, it is glory on Earth and it is yours for the taking.”
Wrapped up in that statement, one not only finds the beauty of the art form, but also the mindset that flowers and flourishes in the artist as she develops confidence and strength of character
Teaching the dancer, not just how to dance, serves as the core mission of Ingra and Company Dance on Pike Street in Downtown Shinnston.
Ingra Pratt, as she describes it, was always a dancer. “My Mother got me into it when I was very small,” she explained, adding that “I always loved it, It’s part of who I am.”
Shinnston, and West Virginia as a whole, traditionally offer a lot of youth activities on a rather narrow bandwidth. Pratt explained that “there are a lot of things for boys, a lot of sports, a lot of Little League,” but she searched for opportunities to share her childhood passion for dance with her daughter.
With little in the area a decade ago, Pratt decided that if the area had no opportunities for young ladies interested in dance, that she would create one. “I opened up at the end of August 10 years ago,” she explained. That was in 2015, making this coming year the 10th anniversary of the company.
Artistic dance requires precision and control of both mind and body. To help to develop the proper mindset, Pratt places a strong emphasis on discipline and abiding by rules. These include an absence policy, dress code, and other requirements that would not be unusual on an athletic team or other youth competitive environment.
She explains that rules can be “hard to enforce,” but necessary to preserve discipline and order and keep the focus on the art. “They do like it and they do need it,” even if they sometimes rebel a little, Pratt stated. The dedication that includes abiding by the rules is not lost on Pratt, who went on to say “for my girls to choose to follow them means a lot to me because they don’t have to be here.”
Discipline, however, also has to have its individual aspect. Pratt said that the secret to getting the best results comes from “knowing where to push and where to stop.”
In many cases when the girls first start with the dance company, shyness and lack of confidence has held them back. Pratt explained that many start very reserved in demeanor, “but after the first year, they have no problems.”
“The number one problem that people have is public speaking. For a lot of people, it’s a huge thing.” Those in the performing arts, like dance, however, grow accustomed to the stage and used to the attention of an audience. This helps to shape confidence to go with the character and discipline learned in classes and practices.
Then, as she says “you’re not afraid to get up there and get in front of people.” It will help to develop confidence in the future for public speaking or even job interviews.
Helping people face their fears and anxieties, however, goes hand in hand with the fact that, as she explains “I always want the studio to be a safe place for them, no matter how old they are. They can be who they are and be safe and comfortable there.”
Classes commence yearly on Oct 1 with each student placed in a category that challenges their skills without overwhelming them. The company travels to events to perform, recently taking 34 students and parents to a dance event at Disneyworld. The group performed in parades and showcases, including the Animal Kingdom. At one point, 800 dancers joined efforts and performed to the same choreography.
“It was crazy!” Pratt exclaimed, then said “It was nice, though!”
The dance company has grown into a community fixture, adding vitality to downtown, giving young people an opportunity to learn the arts, and providing Shinnston yet another business in which it can take pride.