The new Meander School of Movement in Freeland believes that dance is for everybody. They believe that creating, refining, and sharing dance contributes to the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of individuals and communities. They believe dance is a practice and not a product.
The school is committed to creating a comfortable space for new and experienced dancers to grow as artists and athletes. It is their hope to enrich and contribute to the longstanding beauty of movement as performance art through education, collaboration, and mentorship.
Beck Diamond and April Jane M. Herrild are the co-directors of the school.
Beck Diamond loves to dance and to choreograph. In her own words: “I need dancing.” Her vision for a dance studio has become a reality with the opening of the Meander Dance School of Movement in Freeland. It is a non-profit dance studio under the Whidbey Island Arts Council and is operating out of the Freeland Music Hub.
Beck notes: “Our mission with Meander is to create an inclusive, welcoming space where movement belongs to everybody. Beginners and experienced dancers, kids and adults - all are welcome! “
Beck was born in Michigan but moved to Kirkland in 2014. She earned a master’s degree in Cultural Studies from the University of Washington in Bothell, where she also minored in Dance. She and her husband moved to Whidbey Island in 2019 to be near his parents.
April Jane M Herrild received her undergraduate in Fine Arts from the University of Utah and Masters in Education at Western Washington University. She is also the current Theatre teacher at South Whidbey Highschool!
The Meander Dance Collective, a performing group, was created in 2021. There are currently 12 dancers, some of whom are professional and some not. Basically, the Dance Collective is designed for anyone who wants to dance. Beck adds: “Dance tells a story, and those who are watching dancers can relate to the story they see.”
The Meander School of Movement is open for all ages and for all levels of dance experience. April and Beck look forward to telling you about the school.
Classes began on September 8th, and registration is still open.
If you’d like to check out their schedule, follow along with their progress, and see what Meander Dance is all about, you can check out their website at https://meanderdancecollective.com or on Instagram at @meanderschoolofmovement.
