Cypress, CA Overcast Overcast: 59 °F Miss Ginger’s dancers celebrate 34 years at the Cypress Community Festival

Miss Ginger’s Dancers will take the stage for the 34^th year in a row at the Cypress Community Festival.
This group is comprised of dance teacher Ginger Anderson’s students from her Cypress Community Center classes. Though Anderson’s classes teach styles of dance typical of a regular studio, like jazz, ballet, and hip hop, what sets her classes apart from studio classes is the broad age range of her students.
“Our dancers range in age from three to 87,” Anderson said.  “It’s been my experience in my years that
studios teach dancers how to dance so you come to them and you already have some talent. I think everyone should get to dance.”
In her 35 years as a dance instructor, Anderson estimates that she has had more than 25,000 students of varying ages. However, though some of these students perform for a living as professional ballerinas, opera singers, or Rockettes, entering the industry is not Anderson’s goal for her students.
“My [dancers]  grow up and they are real people. They are not necessarily destined for the dance world…I don’t encourage them for that,” Anderson said. “I encourage them to have dance in their lives because it’s a wonderful thing to have and I don’t encourage them to be professional dancers. I encourage them to go to college and get a degree in something they enjoy and actually make themselves a decent living.”
Anderson’s dancers have become a traditional spectacle at the Cypress Community Festival and will kick off the festivities with a two-hour performance. Through performance opportunities at public venues like this, she hopes that her students will become more self-confident and comfortable in front of crowds.
“My whole purpose is I’m not necessarily making you a dancer; if you choose to pursue that, you may,” Anderson said. “My biggest reward is if I’ve taught you how to be in front of people and not be afraid.”
Miss Ginger’s Dancers will perform at the Main Stage at the festival on Saturday at 9:15 a.m.