11-year-old Ivan promoting fitness through dance

Sunday, January 12, 2014
Ivan Glotzbach

With the start of a new year, fitness is on the minds of many, and kids keeping kids fit should be a part of that too.

Trying to encourage kids to reach their fitness and sports-related goals is 11-year-old Ivan Glotzbach.

Ivan began dancing in 2011 after his involvement in "Cheaper by the Dozen" at the Putnam County Playhouse, when the director Lita Sandy asked if he'd be interested in forming a hip hop group that would participate in the annual Clothe-a-Child fundraiser.

His involvement in dance and fitness has continued, and it has evolved into something beyond what he had ever imagined.

He and Sandy now go to various events around the community promoting kids' fitness with a Zumba tailored to a younger crowd, called Zumba Kids.

Ivan enjoys choosing music and choreographing routines that appeal to kids and teens and pays particular attention to making sure boys will feel comfortable doing the moves too.

He and Sandy have led an after school fitness program at Cloverdale Middle School and most recently spent Fitness Week at Cloverdale Elementary helping the kids jumpstart their day by getting their bodies moving to fun music and cool moves.

They've also led the SPARK kids in Zumba and participated in events such as National Night Out in Greencastle.

Though Ivan enjoys many sports (he is currently participating in the Greencastle Parks and Recreation Youth Basketball Program and travel soccer through PCYSA), he has found that dance has helped him with his coordination and also his ability to avoid injuries.

The strength and endurance he's gained from gymnastics and leading kids in fitness classes, has also proven beneficial on the field. In addition to sharing his love of dance, Ivan wants to show other kids involved in sports how dance can assist them in being better athletes.

Ivan and Sandy are now teaching a hip hop sports fitness class for boys at Dance Workshop in Cloverdale on Thursdays from 6-7 p.m., where boys learn hip hop moves, basic gymnastics, strength building and flexibility.

They have also begun hosting the same class at Dance Workshop in Greencastle from 4-5 p.m. Fridays.

Ivan will also be leading kids in a workout with hip hop moves to energetic music, on Fridays from 5-5:45 p.m., where he hopes to show kids that exercise can be fun. This coincides with adult Zumba in the next room, so parents can exercise while the children do.

No dance experience is necessary and kids are encouraged to go at their own pace. Kids will find that the more they participate, the better they get, resulting in an even better workout.

At both the sports fitness classes and the Zumba Kids, Ivan has enjoyed watching kids gain confidence when accomplishing things they didn't think they could.

Dance Workshop is also offering Saturday kids classes at Dance Workshop, with Ivan assisting Sandy when he can. They are offering a musical theater class for ages 4 and up from 9:30-10:15 a.m., a Hippity Hop class for ages 3-7 from 10:30-11 a.m. and a Zumba Kids from 11:15 a.m.-noon.

Various other classes, including all styles of dance, gymnastics, fitness, etc. are offered at Dance Workshop and information can be found on Facebook or at www.danceworkshop.co. (Note: just '.co' not '.com')

For more information, persons may contact Tara Gardner at 247-9259 or taragardner79@gmail.com and Lita Sandy at 720-9155 or bsandy@ccrtc.com.

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