The King Frost Parade is a parade that goes through the town of Hamburg every year in celebration of the coming winter. This year the parade will be on October 25 starting at 7:00 and going until around 9:00 or 10:00. Many local businesses and organizations participate in the parade, and one of those businesses is Culture Shock Performing Arts Center.
CSPAC has been a dance studio in Hamburg since 2001 and was originally run by Anita Doucette and is now run by her daughter, Trina Ziats. They offer many types of classes, such as the traditional ballet, acro, hiphop, jazz, tap, and contemporary, as well as Irish step, and what they are most known for, their polynesian style. Classes are offered from preschool age all the way up to adults.
The studio has participated in the parade for many years and dance, as well as pass out candy. This year, they were in the second division of the parade and danced to “This is Halloween” from The Nightmare Before Christmas. All students were welcome to join, with some helping to pass out candy and others doing the dance routine. Those dancing in the routine went from as young as elementary school age to high school students. The older students got to have special moments in the routine to showcase their higher level dancing. Emma Dries, who is a junior at Pottsville Area High School, danced in the parade. She states, “This is only my second year dancing at CSPAC and it was my first ever year dancing in the parade and I loved it. It was great practice for the parade the studio is taking part in at Disney in December and was a great way for all of the students to connect and get to know each other, especially the ones at different age levels.” The parade helped the studio connect with the community, as well as each other. “Most of the younger dancers just know me as their student teacher, Miss Emma, but now they really got to know me, and the same goes for all of the other students as well.” Emma says.
The parade was a success for Culture Shock this year and allowed the studio to grow closer with each other, as well as the community supporting and surrounding them. Students and staff are already anticipating next year and can not wait to share their ideas and talents with the community once again.
