When Dominique Rosales was 14 years old, she saw a poster for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and her life was forever changed.

Rosales nabbed the poster and for the next few years she carried it with her everywhere she went, including the ballet classes she had begun a year earlier. She devoted her life to the dream of one day joining the company.

But it was not until four years later, when she was 18, that Rosales actually saw the company perform. Watching the show deepened her commitment, but there were two big obstacles.

First, she knew it would be difficult to be accepted into one of the most well-known dance companies in America. The other was that Rosales lived in Berlin, a long way from the company’s New York City base.

YMCA in Oswego plans dance, pilates and yoga

The Oswego YMCA offers a high-energy dance class called "Dance Fusion" on Monday and Wednesday mornings and Tuesday and Friday evenings. The class combines ballet, jazz, African and funk.

Boys can dance

If someone mentions that their 8-year-old is studying ballet, tap and jazz dancing, chances are the listener immediately gets the mental image of a girl in a pink tutu.Where, then, do great dancers like Mikhail Baryshnikov, Fred Astaire and Gregory Hines come from?Just ask Gabe Jackson.Jackson, a second-grader at Woodlawn Elementary, recently wrapped up performances as a mouse in Tulsa Ballet's production of "The Nutcracker" and has his eyes — and feet — set on becoming a professional dancer."I tried it out, it seemed fun and I liked it," Jackson said when asked how he got started dancing at age 3.In the years since, the 8-year-old has brought home some serious hardware from various dance competitions. A bookshelf in his room is full of trophies, plaques and other items of recognition.In addition to dance, Jackson also studies related disciplines like gymnastics and tumbling.Dance, his mother Cheryl Jackson said, "was the only thing we could sign him up for when he was 3."Gabe started walking at 9 months and by the age of 2 could walk a balance beam."He could keep a beat with songs, and I thought, 'Hmm, OK, I'll sign him up for dance,'" Cheryl Jackson said."He couldn't play (base)ball or soccer or anything at 3, and we needed a break."For the first couple of years, Cheryl and Gabe's father, Dennis Jackson, thought they were simply indulging a youngster's fleeting interest.Then came Gabe's first competition, in which he walked away with most outstanding dancer age 6 and under honors."That's when we decided maybe we weren't just proud parents — maybe he has a talent," Cheryl Jackson said."We figured as long as he's doing something he really enjoys, that's fine with us," Dennis Jackson said.Gabe studies various forms of dance twice a week at Ovations Dance Studio and also practices solo once a week.Gabe is one of just two boys in his dance classes and was one of four male mice in "The Nutcracker."Understandably, he hasn't yet figured out just how handy being one of few boys among many girls can be.Gabe said he puts up with the other girls in his class just enough to get through each lesson.When he's not on stage, Gabe can be found in the pursuits any boy his age would — Cub Scouts and video games in particular.Steven James 224-5185 Ext.200assteditor@sapulpadailyherald.com

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