Oct 21, 2016

Photos and text by Algerina Perna, The Baltimore Sun

In a high-ceilinged room with mirrors, tall windows and orange walls, children clad in yellow leotards and slippered feet scamper across the floor imitating the dance instructor’s moves like fledgling birds following in their mother’s tracks. In another room, teenagers move definitively to the beat of Hip Hop with swift and sure gestures of each body part articulated into an orchestra of movement.

: Sharayna A. Christmas Rose, founder of Rayn Fall Dance Studio, is hugged by Zuri Richardson, 3, in the creative movement class. According to the Rayn Fall Dance Studio brochure, the class is, “specifically structured to bring the joy of music and movement to young children.” Christmas Rose founded RFDS in 2004 as one of the programs of Muse 360 Arts. The dance program’s mission is to, “provide people of diverse backgrounds with an opportunity to receive training in dance while receiving exposure in the allied arts.” Children from ages 3 to 22 participate in the classes in African, ballet, creative movement, Hip Hop, modern, pre-dance, tap and jazz dance. The Studio offers both a community program and a professional training program for ages 8-21.(Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Sharayna A. Christmas Rose, founder of Rayn Fall Dance Studio teaches students adagio in a combined levels ballet class. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Practicing tap dance moves are students from right: Arielle Jones, 5; Madison Morgan, 5; London Westlyn, 7; Chloe Lee, 7, and Nola Regan, 6. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Sheria Washington from Parkville ties the ballet slippers for her daughter, Drew Washington, 3, before the creative movement class. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Drew Washington, 3, stretches enthusiastically before taking the creative movement class. According to the Rayn Fall Dance Studio brochure, the class is, “specifically structured to bring the joy of music and movement to young children.” (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Falisha Massey demonstrates creative movement exercises for students. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Dance instructor Falisha Massey is surrounded by fledgling ballerinas. At left in glasses is Level IV student helper Naima Eggleston, 11. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Arielle Jones, 5, follows dance instructions in the pre-dance class. Students take classes at Rayn Fall Dance Studio (RFDS) located in the Eubie Blake National Jazz and Cultural Center. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: In the pre-dance class, Falisha Massey, left, teaches the basics of tap to students from left: Chloe Lee, 7; Nola Regan, 6; London Westlyn, 7; Madison Morgan, 5; Arielle Jones, 5, and Kyla Jones, 5. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Deborah Thompson, far right, holds her daughter Madison, 4, on her lap as she waits for her daughter’s creative movement class to begin. Next to her is Erin Massey with her daughter, Madison, 3, standing in front of her. Next to Massey on left is Nicole Lee. Seated at the end is Tiffany Bryant. Standing at left is ballet student and class helper Naima Eggleston, 11. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Creative Movement is the first dance class offered to beginning ballet students at Rayn Fall. According to the Rayn Fall Dance Studio brochure, the class is, “specifically structured to bring the joy of music and movement to young children.” (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: In the creative movement class for young children, Naima Eggleston, 11, a Level IV student, shows Brielle Williams how to curve her arms as though she’s holding a beach ball. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Deborah Thompson holds her daughter Madison, 4, on her lap as she waits for Madison’s creative movement class to begin. Standing in the doorway is dance instructor, Falisha Massey. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Dance instructor Falisha Massey, right, and Level IV student helper Naima Eggleston, 11, far left, instruct students in the creative movement class where shortly, they will float like butterflies. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Rayn Fall Dance Studio, founded by Sharayna A. Christmas Rose, center, offers two programs: a Community Dance Program (CDP) and a Professional Training Program (PTP). (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Sharayna A. Christmas Rose, founder of Rayn Fall Dance Studio (RFDS), helps a student with the proper turnout of her foot. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Sharayna A. Christmas Rose, founder of Rayn Fall Dance Studio (RFDS) teaches a ballet class. Students take classes at Rayn Fall Dance Studio (RFDS) located in the Eubie Blake National Jazz and Cultural Center. The dance program’s mission is to “provide people of diverse backgrounds with an opportunity to receive training in dance while receiving exposure in the allied arts.” (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Hip Hop teacher Tyone Pompey performs dance moves along with his students from left: Tiyonna Drummond-Kendall, 13; Hydeia Hale, 17, and Nevaeh Peaks, 13. Children from ages 3 to 22 participate in the classes in African, ballet, creative movement, Hip Hop, modern, pre-dance, tap and jazz dance. The Studio offers both a community program and a professional training program for ages 8-21. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Hip Hop teacher Tyone Pompey observes his Hip Hop class as students practice dance moves before a poster of American composer and Jazz legend James Hubert “Eubie” Blake. Children from ages 3 to 22 participate in the classes in African, ballet, creative movement, Hip Hop, modern, pre-dance, tap and jazz dance. The Studio offers both a community program and a professional training program for ages 8-21. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Hip Hop teacher Tyone Pompey demonstrates Hip Hop moves for his class as they practice next to a poster of American composer and Jazz legend James Hubert “Eubie” Blake. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Students take classes at Rayn Fall Dance Studio (RFDS) located in the Eubie Blake National Jazz and Cultural Center. Sharayna A. Christmas Rose founded RFDS in 2004, one of the programs of Muse 360 Arts. The dance program’s mission is to “provide people of diverse backgrounds with an opportunity to receive training in dance while receiving exposure in the allied arts.” Children from ages 3 to 22 participate in the classes in African, ballet, creative movement, Hip Hop, modern, pre-dance, tap and jazz dance. The Studio offers both a community program and a professional training program for ages 8-21. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Students learn tap-dancing steps. Students take classes at Rayn Fall Dance Studio (RFDS) located in the Eubie Blake National Jazz and Cultural Center. Sharayna A. Christmas Rose founded RFDS in 2004, one of the programs of Muse 360 Arts. The dance program’s mission is to “provide people of diverse backgrounds with an opportunity to receive training in dance while receiving exposure in the allied arts.” (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Leaving the Eubie Blake National Jazz and Cultural Center after Hip Hop class are from left: Tiyonna Drummond-Kendall, 13; Winter Gibbs, 16; Taliyah Matthews, 11; Hydeia Hale, 17, and Nevaeh Peaks, 13. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

Rayn Fall Dance Studio, located in the Eubie Blake National Jazz and Cultural Center, and founded by Sharayna A. Christmas Rose over 12 years ago, offers dance classes in African, ballet, creative movement, Hip Hop, modern, pre-dance, tap and jazz for ages 3 up to 22 years old. Having begun her ballet training at the Dance Theatre of Harlem at the age of 3, and danced professionally as a teenager, Christmas Rose wanted to provide dance opportunities to others. “I saw a need in Baltimore City to really provide young people with an opportunity to train at a high level,” she says. Christmas Rose believes the discipline of ballet and African dance can help shape one’s future. “It kind of takes you through the different steps that you need through your body and mind to apply that to the real world.”

Rayn Fall Studio has both a Community Dance Program and a Professional Training Program. Christmas Rose says, “I find that it’s extremely important for young people particularly in a city like Baltimore to have an opportunity to see themselves in a beautiful way.”

The joy of movement and music at Rayn Fall Dance Studio

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