Sunflower State Dance has become the first dance studio in the region to achieve Youth Protection Advocates in Dance certification. The certification marks its commitment to keeping kids happy, healthy and safe in dance. 

YPAD is the nation’s only dance certification program focusing on both safety and wellness for dance students. To earn the designation, studios must complete two training tracks. The first track centers on dance safety and educational best practices. It focuses on background checks, CPR and First Aid, abuse awareness and prevention, injury prevention and response, and safety and emergency preparedness. The second focuses on the wellness and development of youth dancers and covers social media, social media safety, today’s dance culture, developmentally appropriate artistry, body image, nutrition, disordered eating, bullying, and conflict resolution. Only studios that complete both tracks are eligible for certification.

“We are so excited to become a YPAD certified studio. After completing the program myself earlier this year, I knew I wanted all of the staff at Sunflower State Dance to become certified because the modules are so informative and really exemplifies what vision I have for our studio. At Sunflower State Dance we already had a strong passion for providing dance that was always age appropriate in choreography, music, and costuming, but YPAD helped make our beliefs even more concrete and gave us all more knowledge and empowerment to put behind those beliefs,” said studio owner Rachel Weitekamp.  “We want to help develop healthy, happy dancers with an environment that focuses on the well-being of kids. Of course, this also helps us contribute to a sustainable, safe future for dance overall.”

Sunflower State Dance was founded in 2015, after serving the community as Amanda’s Dance Academy for many years prior. Sunflower State Dance teaches dance to children from preschool all the way through high school. Sunflower State Dance has teachers passionate about sharing their love of dance through many different styles including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hiphop, and pointe.

YPAD was founded in Los Angeles in 2012 by hip hop professional Leslie Scott Zanovitch and her husband Joseph Zanovitch as a response to negative trends toward commodifying and exploiting youth and adults in performing arts. In 2014, industry professional Misty Lown became its visionary sponsor. YPAD leadership transitioned to Lown in 2019. The Zanovitches today continue to serve on YPAD’s advisory panel.

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