By Jamie Christensen

Oh, the angst of preteen, middle school years. Body parts growing at all different rates, chaotic hormonal surges, and the deep-seated need to fit in. Many people do not recall these years of development with fondness.

So, now as parents, navigating this period in time is an interesting twist. At this stage, parents are diving into how to let adolescents find their own way for individuality, resiliency, and resourcefulness. While at the same time, they want to provide enough structure and guidance to ensure their children will be respectful, responsible, contributing members of society. And then, there is the part about acceptance. Humans crave acceptance—and that is often painfully true in middle school.

“Middle school and beyond is the most difficult time to watch your child grow up and find ‘their place’ in school and society,” said Lisa Vatnsdal, mom to seventh grader Bennett. “You want your child to have good friends who accept them for who they are and are a positive influence on them.”

That’s where programs like The Sleepy Hollow Middle School Revue come in. Middle School Revue began in 2015 as a three-and-a-half-week program focused on the basics of acting and improvisation; dancing and singing. It is an educational experience without having the pressure of learning a full-length theater production. This year, 38 middle schoolers took part.

Middle School Revue now leads into the “Rising Stars” program Sleepy Hollow has offered for several years to allow students to gain experience on stage, and possibly prep them for joining the cast of a full musical in years to come.

Numerous times after rehearsals, first-time Sleepy Hollow participant Kaitlynn Christensen would describe her favorite part of participating.

“No one is ‘judgey,’” said Christensen. “In sports, everything is a competition. When you are doing theater and music, no one cares what you do. If you mess up, everyone just goes with it. In theater, they don’t make fun of differences. They embrace it.”

Bennett Vatnsdal, a second year Sleepy Hollow program participant, agreed. “You just get to be yourself, step outside of your box and have fun. No one looks at you funny or judges you if you decide to do something crazy or act super silly. We all just laugh together.”

This inclusive and supportive environment is a special piece, and focus, of the programs.

“It is important to instill the positive, ‘non-judging’ environment for kids to be themselves and express themselves in ways that everyone respects and listens to them,” explained Middle School Revue and Rising Stars Director Connie Stordalen. “The middle school years are so very important as they are really building those ‘confidence’ foundation blocks. It is important for kids to have the chance to try something different and do so in an environment that is not judgmental or competitive.”

Stordalen said that the skills and confidence learned when performing enhances everything people do in the future. The art of being able to think quickly on the spot, speak clearly, work together cooperatively, and carry yourself confidently helps in all aspects of life. But the enhanced self-esteem and friendships made in the meantime are priceless.

“I only knew two kids when I showed up on the first day, and there were a lot of eighth graders there,” said sixth grader Kaitlynn. “I was scared in the beginning. But in the end, I became friends with all of them and it has just been awesome.”

“I love knowing that Bennett is with kids who love the arts as much as he does and they are there to support him and laugh with him, as well as collaborate to allow everyone to be themselves while they explore and develop their talents,” said Lisa Vatnsdal.

Both Kaitlynn and Bennett plan to return to the Sleepy Hollow middle school stage.

“Yes, for sure! This has been a great experience for me,” said Bennett. “I hope we find more programs for me to be a part of, and I really want to be a part of the Sleepy Hollow musical within the next few years.”

The Sleepy Hollow creators and directors involved with programming know that the performing arts will not be the passion of every child, but even with limited participation the basic skills and acquired confidence are universal.

“My advice is to just try it!” said Stordalen. “You don’t know what your child might be best at. But in the meantime, they will be building lifelong skills that will make them confident, caring people. I’m guessing there are people who never tried singing, acting, or dancing because they were afraid of being judged or made fun of. How many stars have we missed because of this?  If a child is entering sixth, seventh, or eighth grade, this is an excellent chance to try something new.”

To learn more about Sleepy Hollow and its programs from kindergarten-aged students and up, visit www.shst.org.

Jamie Christensen is a full-time licensed real estate agent, a communications and marketing professional, wife, and mom. She proudly supported her daughter this summer as a performer in the Sleepy Hollow Middle School Revue.