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Whether it’s classical music, pop, hip-hop, or any other genre, music has the ability to evoke strong emotions and connect with us on a deep, soulful level. In this article, we’ll explore ways in which music enhances the art of dance, why music is good for the soul, and how it can bring us joy, peace, and comfort in our lives. The Role of Music in Dance Dance and music move together in a partnership, each working together to create something beautiful. A dancer has to use many tools to identify with the music they’re dancing to in order to perform at their best. Here are many different ways a dancer may connect to their music, both in a technical way as well as from an emotional perspective. Music provides dancers with a positive emotional outlet that gives them permission to express themselves in a healthy and proactive way. Rhythm and tempo Music provides the foundation for the rhythm and tempo of a dance. The beat and tempo of the music dictate the timing and movement of the dancers, and the rhythm helps the dancers stay on track and remain in sync with each other. Different dance styles, such as hip-hop, jazz, and ballet, have distinct rhythms and tempos and music can greatly impact the feel of a performance. For example, a fast-paced hip-hop beat might be accompanied by high-energy, athletic movements, while a slow and fluid jazz number might feature more smooth, graceful movements. Mood and energy Music can greatly influence the mood and energy of a dance performance. A classical piece of music might inspire a dramatic, sweeping ballet performance, while a high-energy pop song can inspire lively, energetic jazz dance. Music can evoke strong emotions in both the dancers and the audience, creating a connection between the performers and their audience. The audience will never remember the steps in a dance but they will always remember how the dance made them feel. Expression and storytelling Music can also serve as a tool for dancers to express themselves and tell a story through movement. A well-chosen piece of music can provide inspiration for the choreography and help the dancers bring the story to life through movement. As dance is an emotive art form, finding a connection to a song through movement provides the audience and dancer the ability to relate and resonate with the song’s meaning. Dance is an art that is created through music. Why Music is Good for the Soul Music’s therapeutic effects have been recognized for centuries and continue to be a source of solace, inspiration, and joy for people of all ages and cultures. Whether it's the lyrics, melody, or rhythm, music has the power to touch our souls and have a profound impact on our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Here are some reasons why music is good for the soul. Emotional connection Music has the power to evoke deep emotions, from happiness and excitement to sadness and heartbreak. Whether it’s the lyrics of a song, the melody, or the rhythm, music can evoke memories, emotions, and experiences that are meaningful to us. The emotional connection we feel to music can be therapeutic and help us to process our feelings. Music helps us feel alive. Stress relief Music has been shown to have a calming effect on the body and mind. Listening to music may reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression, and can help us relax and unwind after a long day. Whether it’s classical music, meditation music, or simply a favorite song, music can provide a soothing escape from the stress of daily life. Music helps our nervous system calm down and brings us back to ourselves. Enhancing creativity Music can also enhance creativity and boost imagination. Research has shown that listening to music can increase productivity, creativity, and motivation, making it an ideal tool for artists, writers, and creatives of all kinds. Whether you’re composing your own music, dancing, or simply listening to music, it has the power to inspire and ignite the creative spirit within us. Building community Music has the ability to bring people together, fostering a sense of community and belonging. From live concerts and music festivals to local jam sessions, music can bring people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds together to share a common experience. The shared love of music can create a sense of unity and belonging, strengthening bonds and fostering a sense of community. Music is good for the soul with its ability to suggest strong emotions, provide stress relief, enhance creativity, and bring people together. Whether you’re listening to your favorite tunes, composing your own music, or dancing to the beat, music has the power to uplift, inspire, and connect with us on a deep, soulful level. Next time you feel like you need a little boost, turn on some music and let it work its magic on your soul! If you want your child to experience fun and learn valuable skills that will benefit them in the future, dance may just be the answer Enrolling them in dance classes is an excellent choice! At Soul Connexion, our talented teachers are dedicated to helping children not only learn to dance, but also to become part of a supportive community. Our focus is on promoting your child's emotional and social growth, so they can thrive in all aspects of life. We encourage creativity and our instructors will inspire your child to dance with confidence, passion, and excitement. Music is so good for the soul.

An important part of a child’s development is experiencing complex emotions such as stress and anxiety. As parents, we want to help our children find tools and resources to teach them healthy ways to handle these feelings. Finding inner calm, the ability to maintain calmness under pressure, can be an essential part of our toolbox as parents. When children find their inner calm, their ability to handle natural stresses becomes second nature. Children can learn to accept things as they are, respond in an emotionally mature way, and find success in management over their emotions. Here are a few benefits of why taking time to slow down and find calmness is essential for a child’s development: Emotional Stability Children who can find their inner calm can regulate their emotions, meaning they can manage stress and anxiety in a healthy way that bypasses feelings of overwhelm. Children can have control over their feelings and emotions, leading to emotional maturity and intelligence. Improved Focus and Concentration Inner calm allows kids to focus on the task at hand and improve their concentration. Especially important for children in school, inner calm can help them to learn and retain information better. Better Relationships Children are better able to communicate and interact with others in a positive way when they find their inner calm. Those who practice their ability to self-regulate can develop stronger relationships and fewer struggles with peers and family members. Physical Health Inner calm has an incredibly positive effect on physical wellness. Stress and anxiety can lead to creating physical symptoms in the body, and inner calm can help to alleviate these symptoms. Mental Health Just like physical health, inner calm can also have a positive effect on children’s mental health. Children who can find their inner calm are less likely to develop mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. Inner Calm Strategies Here are a few strategies that are helpful to make moments count: inner calm can strengthen your connection to your kids, increase their calmness, and help them develop their confidence: Setting Goals Create a growth mindset with your children by asking them to set a goal in the morning. When you drive your kids to school or get them ready for the day, asking them to set an intention for the day creates the potential for the rest of the day. Inviting your children to think about something they can work towards allows them to see what is possible. When this happens, their brain will look for more possibilities during the day that will help them to achieve the goal they have chosen for that day and adopt a growth mindset. Quiet Time Quiet time or “no-screen” time fosters creativity and children can see the benefit of this either for a full day or certain hours each day. Children will be encouraged to use their imaginations, embrace play, and be creative. Although in the age of technology, this can be a stretch for kids, it creates space for them to explore and play with each other and enjoy being kids. When kids are creative, they can find solutions to problems rather than just see roadblocks. It’s okay for children to be bored and not entertained all the time; this is what creates creativity! Open Communication Teach your children communication skills so they can increase their confidence. When you have meals together, have each person share one thing about their day and ask a question to another family member. Remaining engaged in conversation and practicing active listening models communication for children. When we are present, our connection to others is strengthened, which allows our self-esteem to increase. Breathing Techniques Practicing slow, even breaths can help decrease feelings of stress and anxiety. Breathing techniques can help children feel calm so they can self-regulate and be in control of their emotions. Children need to be shown how to take deep breaths and how counting to 3 can allow their bodies to relax and their minds to reset. Exercise Consider a yoga class! Kids’ yoga classes are amazing at incorporating all of these skills and use games and activities to teach them how to take full deep breaths and calm their minds and body. In kids’ yoga classes, they will tap into their imaginations and learn stretches, postures, and poses to bring them balance and harmony, which they can use every day, all while having fun. Yoga is a great opportunity to learn mindfulness and tap into calmness and is great for children and adults alike. Validation Emotions take no less than seven seconds to be processed through the body after the chemicals have been released. It’s important to validate emotions and feelings when they come; inviting children to take deep breaths when they are upset, anxious, or sad, allows them to process their emotions and validate their feelings. When children are validated, they gain confidence. Teaching children how to process emotions is key to being able to connect back to their calmness. When children can experience calmness, have a growth mindset, and be able to communicate, it allows them to take on the stress and challenges of any day. When we give our children life tools they can use at any time, it allows them to feel confident about who they are and what they can accomplish. At Soul Connexion, we aim to create a supportive and uplifting atmosphere that makes us a popular choice for families. Our non-intimating environment welcomes all to feel comfortable and shine like a star. We believe that movement nourishes the soul, and our individualized teaching methods build confidence and encourage goal-setting in our students.

Dance classes teach children skills for life. There are many benefits of dance including the development of social skills, learning respect and discipline, and the value of being a valuable member of a team. Children are never too young to start learning! If you are looking for a way to help your child learn important life skills, here are some skills that can be developed through dance classes. Discipline Dancing helps children develop self-discipline. Dance teaches children to be mindful of others and acknowledge authority by giving them a space to perform with good manners, great behavior, and self-control. In dance class, children are given the opportunity to learn how to manage new situations, make good decisions, and solve challenges. Discipline allows your child to handle difficulty and commit to everything they do. Teamwork Yes, dance is a team sport. In dance class, every dancer must follow the direction of the dance instructors, but also be aware of their teammates and work together as choreography is learned. Dancers listen to each other and follow directions. Dance is a sport that requires teamwork to achieve a common goal. Creativity Children are encouraged to engage in creativity when dancing. Dance is a space where they can act out their thoughts and express emotion and imagination. Creative children can think of new ideas and solve problems by thinking outside of the box. Exercising the use of creativity will increase their capacity for learning in other areas of life. Responsibility Dancing is about being responsible and hardworking. Dance can be learned and improved upon, but what sets a dancer apart from others is their hard work and dedication. Dancers who are responsible, know the importance of arriving on time and completing a proper warm-up before beginning their class or rehearsal. They understand the importance of commitment and regularly show up for all classes and rehearsals. Spatial Awareness The skill of spatial awareness is a key part of learning to dance. Spatial awareness is understanding the space around us. Dance teachers may use dots, shapes, or colours to guide children to stand in a specific space, so they can move and dance without bumping into another classmate. This teaches your child to be aware of their space and the personal “bubbles” of others. This is an important skill your child will use in school and on the playground when they interact with others. Listening Dancers use their listening skills in dance class. They need to pay careful attention to the dance instructor so they can learn the techniques and steps of each move. When dancers listen, they can stay on beat and enhance their musical talent. Good listening skills allow for children to succeed in school and create healthy communication with their peers, teachers and parents. Emotional When children experience challenges in their dance class, they will learn the skill of how to express themselves in a safe and healthy way. Dancers will also discover how to overcome their feelings and persevere. One of the greatest benefits of dance is to provide your child with the freedom to express and embrace their emotions with movements in a safe environment. The support dancers receive from their dance instructors will increase their self-esteem and confidence. Respect Respect for others is very important in a dance class setting. Dancers are taught to respect each other’s space, thoughts, and ideas, to listen to others, to take turns, to share and so much more. Dance provides a space where your child will feel comfortable, and gain confidence in themselves while respecting those around them. Are you looking for a great way for your child to have fun and develop important skills that will provide them with a great future? Dance classes are a fantastic option! At Soul Connexion, we have exceptional teachers that are trained to inspire your child not only how to dance, but how to be part of something much bigger! We believe in enhancing your child’s emotional and social development, so they can do well in all areas of their life. We inspire creativity and our teachers will motivate your child to dance with excitement, confidence, and passion.

Dance is known to be a fun and active way to stay fit, but have you ever thought about all of the other benefits? Dance increases strength, flexibility, balance, and rhythm. It can improve your memory and boost your energy! Dancing is not only beneficial to your physical and mental well-being; it is a useful tool for building self-confidence. Group dance classes can promote positive interaction among students as they learn dance choreography and routines. This learning environment helps provide students with an opportunity to build their social and teamwork skills and make new friends. When students learn new dance steps and sequences, they improve their motor coordination, cognitive stimulation, and memory, which are important life skills that can be incorporated in many other aspects of life. Dance Helps with Goals During a dance class, a child is provided an opportunity to learn something new and practice it until they master it. Children will develop confidence when they learn new tasks or skills. Confidence evolves from a sense of accomplishment when a goal has been mastered. Sense of Encouragement Teachers provide positive reinforcement, support, and encouragement to students throughout the class. When a child is encouraged to keep trying to do their best, they are being supported for success both in the classroom and beyond. Confident people don’t let the fear of failure get in their way, not just because they are sure they won’t fail but it is because they know how to take setbacks in stride. Individual Attention In a group dance class, every dancer is given positive feedback to help them reach their goals. Individual attention emphasizes each child’s importance and value. When a child has a sense of feeling known and seen by others they admire, it will lead to a sense of confidence. Discover Body Movements Dancers will discover their body’s ability to move in a variety of ways. Exploring movement will enhance coordination, flexibility, and balance as well as inspire curiosity in how they can move to the music. When a child feels more confident and has awareness of their body, their self-esteem and confidence in other areas will grow. Feeling of Acceptance When dancers are learning together in a dance class, they will have a common goal and show development at a similar rate which creates a supportive community. As dancers contribute to their class goals, their confidence will increase as they feel accepted and a valuable member of the team. Chance to Perform Dance classes provide children the opportunity to perform for an audience whether in a show, a competition, or in a class. Performing takes courage and confidence, but every time a child does perform, it gets easier for them, and their confidence excels. It has been shown that dancers who are involved in performing dances gain more self-confidence than those who do not. Try Something New Dance class is fun, which makes it a wonderful place to experience something new. As dance students begin to believe that new things are not always scary, they will feel more confident to branch out and try other new experiences as well. Opportunity for Self-Expression Dance class offers a safe space to self-express. Dance is an expressive art form that does not require words. When a child expresses who they are, what they think, and how they feel through structured body movements, they find mutual acceptance and respect. While some students find it difficult to verbally express thoughts and feelings, dance provides the space for them to share their emotions in an expressive form. Dancers may also overcome anxiety as they recognize their own potential and enhance their self-esteem. Have Fun With any form of physical activity, your body will release endorphins when you dance and help uplift your mood! Enjoying dance gives a sense of well-being and will in turn improve your confidence. Studies have proven that dance feels good both mentally and physically. Feeling better mentally increases a dancer’s inner peace and contributes to a feeling of wellness and confidence. Dancing has been shown to increase self-confidence and self-esteem by offering an expressive outlet and the chance to learn something new and fun! Other than developing self-discipline, confidence, and positive body image, dancing can provide a sense of accomplishment while also boosting concentration, memory, and focus. Dance is advantageous for mental wellness and physical fitness, making it great for the body, mind, and soul. At Soul Connexion we strive to be a positive and inspiring studio making us a popular choice for families. Experience a non-intimidating environment that encourages people to come as they are and feel like a star. We believe that movement is good for the soul. Our personal approach to instruction fosters self-confidence in our students and sets their goals in motion.

3 considerations when deciding on extracurricular activities Written by Cara Poppitt, Founder Soul Connexion In the current times, as we come out of COVID-19, we all want the very best for our children. It is sometimes hard to know how many extra activities we should do and how many is too much. As we all navigate the many demands in life, we need to remember what we want for our children long-term. I believe confidence is the best gift we can give our children, as confidence is directly related to the trajectory of their life. With confidence, children can take bigger risks, speak up for themselves, and stand up for what they believe in. With confidence, children go after their dreams. Without confidence, children play smaller, feel insecure and dream less. As a working mother of three young children with multiple demands, I always remember the intention of putting my children in different activities. I want my children to be confident, capable and successful in life. Extracurriculars are more than just the steps or skills they are learning from the activity, but they are teaching them skills for life they can take with them. Learning communication skills, teamwork, work ethic, and time management are important skills all adults need to be successful. When children are busy with activities, they are often more engaged in life and have better time management skills. They have focus and discipline that they can apply in school and in life. If we wonder how much is too much, my answer is always to pay attention to your children after they have their activities and sports. Are they uplifted and excited? Did they live in the moment and learn something new? If the answer is yes to at least two of these questions, keep supporting their activity. Sure, we could all plan to do fewer activities, so things are not as busy. But the flip side often leads to more screen time, more boredom and less fulfillment. Kids are usually bouncing with energy until it is bedtime, so until they run out of energy, consider keeping them enrolled in extracurriculars. It’s time to ensure children are engaged, stimulated, and having fun all while learning new skills that will help them be successful adults. Three simple considerations for registering for extracurricular activities: 1) Weighing out the pros and cons of activities is helpful when deciding what activities to sign up for. You can think about logistics, scheduling, and skill sets they will learn. Focus on the benefits your child will receive from participating. 2) Discussing what your child is interested in is a great starting point and decide if they like it before increasing the frequency is key. There are so many options available for recreational and competitive teams. 3) Asking your child what the best part of their class or session was and what they learned. This opens up conversation with your child and keeps things interesting. Pay attention to what they are saying when you ask them pointed questions rather than “how was your practice?” Children learn by playing, so it’s important to open up the opportunities for children to try it all whether it be at home with the family, outside with their friends, or by registering for a program with consistency and support. Children need to play and connect with others. It’s time to get our children back on track and provide them with opportunities that build skills for life. Take dance as an example, it is a sport that builds confidence, creativity, and character and provides a healthy outlet for children to move and connect with their bodies. Children learn discipline, teamwork, work ethic, and it serves as an emotional, physical, and mental release. If you are looking for an activity that is fun and physical that offers many skills for life, check out www.soulconnexion.ca for your son or daughter. The boys only hip-hop classes are high in demand as the boys learn coordination, balance, and body control that they can apply to all other sports. Their mission is to inspire growth and they offer classes for all ages and abilities.

"To find an activity or class that your child will love, ask them what their interests are, and show them short videos demonstrating the sport or activity." Are you debating enrolling your child in a class during these changing times and feel a bit-overwhelmed? I hear you. As a working mom of three young children, I understand the fears and hopes you have, and the daily demands placed on you. We all want to do our best and make decisions that will positively impact our children. When looking for the perfect class consider if your child needs a modo booster, the lie skills you want your child to develop, and their individual interests. If you are unsure, read along! If you are looking for a mood booster for your child, physical actively is definitely the answer. A strong connection exists between exercise, levels of happiness, and overall health. Every time a child is active, feel-good neurotransmitters are released, increasing the child's overall mood which will help them navigate life's daily challenges. Over time experiencing position emotions on a routine basis provides a child with a positive outlook in lie and helps build their confidence. If you are worried that your child will be too tired after school to participate, I promise you that structured and engaged sport will energize them and be the perfect finish to their day. As depression and anxiety rates continue to ruse amongst children, it's impossible to remember that meeting physical, social, and emotional needs are vital to a child's overall wellbeing. Children need to feel connected with other children. Developing routines and habits in children provides a mind and body connection early on that impacts their lives for future years. When children feel good in their bodies and have positive mindsets, their level of overall confidence also increases. I believe, as a parent, the greatest gift we can give our children is the gift of confidence. Providing an outlet for your child to be active, meet friends and experience an emotional release is the best gift you can give you child. Regardless of the sport, class, or activity you are considering, remembering children are benefiting from more than the actual class. They are learning life skills that go beyond the sport or activity. Classes teach children work ethic, commitment, time management, creativity, athleticism, sportsmanship and social skills. These life skills empower children to feel confident. Sports and activities provide children with the opportunity to have a positive, active and creative outlet and the space for you to engage with your child and talk about what they have learned. When dancing on a group sport such as dance classes or an individual activity such as private drum lessons, think about the beneficial skills your child could learn. A major benefit of group classes is the opportunity or children to connect with others, form friendships, and learn how to interact with peers. Classes provide children with a sense of normalcy during these ever-changing times. As parents, we know the importance of routine and consistency. Most children feel safe and secure when they know what to expect and thrive with a structured routine. Anticipating weekly extracurricular activities positively impacts their mindset and builds excitement. Children thrive when they participate in physical play, and benefit from movement, connection and fun in their daily routine. Getting your child off the screen and giving them the opportunity to be physically active and connect with other is always a win. To find an activity or class that your child will love, ask them what their interests are, and show them short videos demonstrating the sport or activity. Talk about options and try it at home if possible. These simple steps allow you to connect to your child's learning style and find out what they are interested in and what they are passionate about. Children learn by visual demonstrations (seeing), kinesthetic movement (doing) and auditory (listening). When determining the options available, talk to them about the class and ask them questions, show them what it looks like and do the activity with them, so you can make the best decision together. Inviting your child;'s input when picking a class makes them feel part of the decision-making process and gives them a sense of pride by using engaging conversation prompts such as 'tell me more' or 'what do you think?' will allow your child to feel empowered. Remember, kids love variety, so trying something new can be extra exciting. I encourage you to jump in and have some fun, as we could all use some added excitement these days! You may also experience a boost of personal energy and increased harmony in your home as your child's confidence soars. It's a win for everyone! Investing in you child's extracurricular activities is invaluable and will always pay off.

Like most parents, you may be rushing from place to place trying to maximize your time and fit everything into your day. Perhaps, as you pick one child up from their extracurricular activity, you plan what you are going to eat as you are driving home. Your mind is always on, and your list of responsibilities is never-ending as you do your best to remember school agendas, teacher meetings, work obligations and also try to schedule in a little self-care. This is normal! There are a few things you can try for yourself and introduce to your children to allow for more calm in your day. The truth is, you can do a lot more when you are calm, as it will allow for clarity. When I am mindful of things that take up a lot of my time, and what my priorities are, things shift and the impossible becomes possible. Children pick up on the energy we have, whether it’s positive or negative, so it’s worthwhile to give it a little attention and make some simple shifts that add up and help your children navigate their days better and with more calmness. When we teach children to have calm time, we teach them to allow their nervous system to relax. Instead of operating from our “flight or fight” sympathetic nervous system, we operate from the parasympathetic nervous system, allowing the mind and body to unwind. The stress hormone of oxytocin is reduced in the body and chemicals send a signal to the brain that it’s okay to settle. This is possible to tap into easily by taking full deep breaths in and out of the body. The more oxygen we have in the body, the more we can relax. This is why yoga does wonders for students of all ages as it focuses on breath work. Scientific studies have proven a mind-body connection exists and that strengthening the mind allows for huge progressions in all aspects of one's life. The one tool that I have found to keep me grounded is finding the calm in my crazy. Yoga helps me tap into this to find calmness. Calmness is when we can take deep breaths and are able to live in the present moment. I believe in fullness of life - that the quality of our relationships brings us joy, and it’s not always quantity of time. When I have mom guilt and feel bad for not spending enough time with my children, I remind myself that the quality and the memories are important and choose to focus on this truth. Here are a few strategies that are helpful to make moments count and strengthen the connection with your kids, increase their calmness and help them develop their confidence: Ask your children to set a goal in the morning to have a growth mindset. In the morning when you drive your kids to school or get them ready for the day, ask them to set a goal for the day. This gets them in a growth mindset easily. If goals are not on their radar, they are limiting their potential. Just the simple act of getting them to think about something they can work towards, allows them to see what is possible. When this happens, their brain will look for more possibilities during the day that will help them to achieve the goal they have chosen for that day and adopt a growth mindset. Scheduling in quiet time and no screen time to foster creativity. Schedule in quiet time and no screens on a full day or during certain hours each day. This will encourage them to use their imaginations, embrace play and be creative. This can be painful at times, but it creates space for them to explore and play with each other and enjoy being kids. When kids are creative, they can find solutions to problems rather than just see roadblocks. It’s okay for children to be bored and not entertained all of the time, as this is what creates creativity. Teach your children communication skills so they can increase their confidence. When you have meals together, have each person share one thing about their day and ask a question to another family member. This teaches children how to communicate. So many of us lack face-to-face, quality communication where we are fully engaged and listening. When we are present, our connection to others is strengthened, which allows our self-esteem to increase. Teach your child how to be calm so they can self-regulate. Introducing your child to breath work is very important, so they can regulate their emotions and have less breakdowns. Children need to be shown how to take deep breaths and how counting to 3 can allow their body to relax and their mind to reset. Consider a yoga class. Kids’ yoga classes are amazing at incorporating all of these skills and use games and activities to teach them how to take full deep breaths and calm their mind and body. In kids’ yoga classes, they will tap into their imaginations and learn stretches, postures and poses to bring them balance and harmony, which they can use every day, all while having fun. If you are new to yoga, there are many free yoga videos online you can access to see what it is all about to get excited to take a class. Yoga is a great opportunity to learn mindfulness and tap into calmness and is great for children and adults alike. These simple tips add up to bring in more calmness and connection to your day. It’s also important to validate emotions and feelings when they come. Introducing children to taking deep breaths when they are upset, anxious or sad allows them to process their emotions and validate their feelings. When children are validated, they gain confidence. Emotions take 7 seconds to be processed through the body after the chemicals have been released. Taking a few deep breaths allows us to process emotions instead of avoiding them. Teaching children how to process emotions is key to being able to connect back to their calmness. When children are able to experience calmness, have a growth mindset and be able to communicate, it allows them to take on the stress and challenges of any day. When we give our children life tools they can use at any time, it allows them to feel confident about who they are and what they can accomplish. Cara is a successful dancer, fitness instructor and yoga teacher and a member of the Alberta Fitness Leadership Association. Check out soulconnexion.ca for dance, yoga or fitness classes for you or your children as they have a variety of classes offered for all ages and abilities.