DANCE TROUPE READIES FOR BIG PERFORMANCES GIRLS, COACH `LIKE A FAMILY'.Byline: Daily News SIMI VALLEY Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. -- About two dozen girls Dozen Girls was a single by The Damned, released in 1982. After the experiment of "Lovely Money", it saw a return to slightly more familiar territory, but failed to chart. ages 6 to 13 have been hitting the retirement-home circuit, working up their high-energy dance routines for performances at the Ventura County Fair in August and at Simi Valley Days in September. Robbie Pittman, 23, of Simi Valley said she started The Dancin' Divas three years ago in her garage with four girls as an outlet for her own passion for dance and a desire to create a multiethnic mul·ti·eth·nic adj. Of, relating to, or including several ethnic groups. Adj. 1. multiethnic - involving several ethnic groups multi-ethnic dance group in her largely white community. Since then, the group has done free performances at retirement and nursing homes throughout the community and is looking forward to the chance to get up in front of some big crowds at the two upcoming events. ``I've been dancing since I was 2 years old, and when I got a full-time job, I decided to form a multiracial mul·ti·ra·cial adj. 1. Made up of, involving, or acting on behalf of various races: a multiracial society. 2. Having ancestors of several or various races. dance troupe to keep up with my passion,'' Pittman said. The girls are black, white and Asian, from different parts of the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and other countries. ``We're like a family, and I'm like their big sister,'' Pittman said. Karen Kilburg said her 13-year-old daughter, Kaytlynn, is one of the original members of the group, which she agreed is like a family. ``They all get along like they are sisters,'' Kilburg said. ``Most of them are white, but they come from all different cultural backgrounds. When they perform, you see other kids come up to the stage and dance, too.'' The people at the retirement homes sometimes dance as well, including one elderly lady who got up with her cane cane, walking stick cane, walking stick. Probably used first as a weapon, it gradually took on the symbolism of strength and power and eventually authority and social prestige. and did the splits. Team member Sarah Gilman said she loves to hear the applause. ``When I grow up, I want to be a dance teacher like my coach,'' she said. ``Everybody feels really close to her. You can make a lot of new friends.'' CAPTION(S): 4 photos Photo: (1) Young dancers practice their routine during a dance rehearsal re·hears·al n. The process of repeating information, such as a name or a list of words, in order to remember it. re·hearse  v. with The Dancin' Divas dance group at the Simi Valley Workout WorkoutInformal repayment or loan forgiveness arrangement between a borrower and creditors. workout 1. The process of a debtor's meeting a loan commitment by satisfying altered repayment terms. gym in Simi Valley on Friday night. (2 -- 4) Coach Robbie Pittman, front, teaches her girls a new step, right. Members of The Dancin' Divas troupe stretch, left, and practice their moves, above, during rehearsal at the Simi Valley Workout gym in Simi Valley on Friday night. The Dancin' Divas, ranging in age from 6 to 13, are rehearsing for upcoming performances at the Ventura County Fair and Simi Valley Days in September. Alex Collins/Special to the Daily News |
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