Hott included a mother/baby bonding movement class in the new Art From the Start program conducted in collaboration with Starting Points and Shenandoah Women's Center. "We could not have even considered this important class if we had not gotten the dance studio installed," she said. The program begins in February and mothers with babies can sign up for the program at either Starting Points or the Ice House.

"The impetus for dance classes as part of MAC's afterschool program is Jodey Eliseo," said Hott. "She is the caliber of professional dance teacher you would find in New York or San Francisco. To have her here and ready to teach is extraordinary."

Eliseo was a professional dancer for nearly 20 years before she began teaching. Her dance credits range from the Joeffrey Ballet in New York City to dancing on Broadway in "Cats." She also was a dancer with the American Dance Machine and Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus and did competition dancing in tango.

"When I had my child, I stopped dancing," said Eliseo. "I was in North Dakota and a chance meeting with Ted Neely, the star of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' put me on the path of teaching." Her career as a dance teacher included stints at several colleges including the University of Idaho and Shenandoah University in Winchester as well as extensive work in choreography. Regionally, Eliseo taught at Tari's Jo School of Dance in Martinsburg and Allegra School of Dance in Charles Town.

Since the dance program at the Ice House is in its beginning stages, Eliseo's afterschool classes focus on ballet fundamentals. "Without ballet nothing else matters," said Eliseo. "It is the foundation for all other dance except tap. Kids need this strong foundation." Trained by the originator of lyrical jazz dancing, Eliseo plans to teach jazz dancing to older students in the afterschool classes. "Broadway dancing is my great love," she said, "and that is all lyrical dance."

Eliseo is also available for coaching advanced dancers especially in preparation for competitions and dance school auditions. She taught dance intensives all over the United States and has gotten her students into every major dance school as well as the Kirov Ballet Company.

As the program grows at the Ice House, Eliseo is prepared to offer a wide range of other classes. "It is a long term process," she said. "Eventually advanced students would work with younger ones. We would do our own choreography and stage theatrical performances." she said. "I'm prepared to teach whatever students want and need from theater movement to general control over their bodies so they can have a presence and stand taller." Contact Eliseo and Dance Morgan County at 304-258-2426.

MAC is exploring dance for seniors as well.

Afterschool classes begin in late February; dance is scheduled for once a week.

Ballroom dancing for adults resumes at the Ice House on Friday, January 25 at 7:30pm. "I'm inviting everyone to a free dance party and will give a mini-salsa lesson," said Samantha Redston. "I want people to see how much fun it is." Redston's salsa classes are Wednesdays from 7:30 to 8:30pm, begin on January 30 and continue for four weeks. Contact Redston at 304-258-6424.

Pat Marggraf continues offering her popular belly dancing classes for both beginners and advanced students two nights a week. Contact Marggraf at 304-258-2989.

Afterschool dance classes are funded in part by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and West Virginia Commission on the Arts. Arts from the Start movement class is funded by a grant from Prevent Child Abuse WV and its funding partners, the WV Children’s Trust Fund, the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and the WV Department of Health and Human Resources. Scholarships are available for both of these programs.

For more information on dance at the Ice House call 304-258-2300 or check online at www.berkeleysprings.com.