The Ceres Community Center is more than a facility.
Located downtown at 2701 Fourth Street, the neighborhood hub offers a variety of programs year-round for people of all ages.
“The array of things we are able to put on is amazing,” said Jessica Pulliam, recreation supervisor for the city of Ceres. “We always try to go above and beyond.”
The Ceres Recreation Department always has a robust enrollment for its youth and early childhood dance classes.
“Children like to dance, have fun and learn new things,” Pulliam stated.
A total of 124 girls and boys, aged 2-17, signed up for the current session of dance classes.
Classes offered include Contemporary, Jr. Ballet I-III, Jr. Hip-Hop, Jr. Jazz, Teen Hip-Hop, Ballet: Baby & Me, Dance Basics, Pre-Ballet and Pre-Dance.
Most of the classes are held, from 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., on Saturdays.
Cost is $75 per class.
The 12-week dance program culminates with a recital on the last day.
The current session runs through Aug. 9.
Classes are staged inside the second-floor dance studio.
Under owner Charlotte Ewing’s guidance, Steps Dance Art Center has been teaching classes with the Ceres Recreation Department since 1999.
Steps instructors are certified by Dance Masters of America and continuously update their training.
“She (Ewing) provides good services,” Pulliam said.
Nora Knittel and Emily Abreu also help teach dance at the Ceres Community Center.
Knittel, 18, leads three classes, including two Hip-Hop and one Jazz.
She’s a former Steps Dance Art Center student.
She’s been dancing since the age of four.
“I’ve had a really good experience teaching at the Ceres Community Center,” Knittel said. “I started teaching here when I was a junior in high school. I have a really big passion for dance. It’s nice seeing the younger ones find their passion for dance, and learn and grow. As a dancer myself, I’m learning with them as well.”
The Fraser sisters, Sadie (11), Jocelyn (9), Zélie (8) and Hope (5), have been taking dance classes through the Ceres Recreation Department for a combined 24 years.
Jocelyn, Zélie and Hope all started dancing at the age of two.
Sadie was three years old when she took up dance.
“Every season, I ask them what they want to do,” mother Heather Fraser said. “It’s a routine. We love it. There’s variety. The teaching here is very professional. The choreography is great.”
“I love dancing,” Zélie stated. “I want to be as good as my teachers someday.”
“I like it,” Hope said. “And it’s fun.”
“I’ve seen so much growth in all of her (Heather’s) girls,” Knittel added.
Arie Shugart, 8, has taken dance and baking classes, and swim lessons through the city of Ceres’ Recreation Department.
“We found out about dance online two years ago,” mother Whitney Shugart said. “We wanted to get him involved in something. He absolutely loves it. We’ve definitely seen an improvement from the first day he started. It’s helped him with his social skills in general. He’s becoming a little more outgoing.”
Arie is currently enrolled in three dance classes, including Ballet I, Jazz and Hip-Hop.
His schedule is very busy on Saturdays.
“It’s back to back to back classes,” Whitney said.
“We asked him if he wanted to try something else,” she added. “It’s been his choice the whole time. It’s definitely something he’s going to continue.”
Knittel is Shugart’s Jazz and Hip-Hop instructor.
“Nora is awesome,” Whitney said.
The Brandenburg brothers, Seth (11) and Ren (9), are relative newcomers to dance.
Ren, 9, is a second-year participant.
Seth, 11, is a first-year student.
“I have more kids who took lessons when they were younger,” mother Jennifer Brandenburg said. “We’ve always enjoyed it. It’s reasonably-priced. The recitals are always well put together and fun.”
