Monroe in pictures: River Raisin Dance Academy's Princess Ballet Class
John McTaggart, The Monroe News
·1 min read
MONROE — In an effort to showcase the people, places and events that make this city, this county, this community so wonderful and unique, we're creating a regular Friday edition feature — Monroe in Pictures.
Every Friday you'll find images from throughout the community, captured by staff photographer, Tom Hawley, that show off the extra-ordinary happenings in and around Monroe.
This week, Hawley visited the River Raisin Dance Academy's Princess Ballet Class to capture some heart-warming images of Monroe royalty. The young dancers worked on a variety of ballet steps and the advanced students helped the dancers, dressed as princesses such as Cinderella, Belle, Moana, Sleeping Beauty, Tiana, and Aurora. A favorite Disney character that is not a princess, Tinkerbell, also has made appearances. Isabelle Arnold has been teaching class since 2015, and will be teaching another princess class August 6-8. The dresses were handmade by Dyanne Morehouse, who has been creating them since the class started in 2007.
Camille Stewart, 5 and her sister Vivien, 4, skip and high leg movements with advance dancer Asrah Kelly dressed as "Princess Tiana" from "The Princess and the Frog" at princess ballet class held at the River Raisin Dance Academy in Monroe.
Princess Blakely West, 4, skips as she takes part in the princess ballet class held at the River Raisin Dance Academy in Monroe.
Alayna Speight, 4, and her brother Aiden, 3, attempt the passe position in ballet as they watch their dance teacher Isabelle Arnold in the princess ballet class. The "passe" position is an auxiliary movement is where the foot of the working leg passes the knee of the supporting leg from one position to another.
River Raisin Dance Academy dance teacher Isabelle Arnold with the help of dancer Maggie Cornett, 12, (left) have the young dancers along the mirrors listen and speak back to their teacher Arnold. This exercise is that I want the dancers to say back what I am saying to them.
River Raisin Dance Academy advance dancers Isabella England as "Princess Aurora" in Sleeping Beauty and Asrah Kelly dressed as "Princess Tiana" from "The Princess and the Frog" pose with princess dancer Camille Stewart, 5, sitting in the royal chair at the River Raisin Dance Academy in Monroe. Camille Stewart the granddaughter of Dyanne Morehouse wore a "Princess Tiana" dress as well which her grandmother made all the princess dresses.
