She practices about five hours a day almost every day of the week . Bella attends the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School , which makes it easier to study and train . Between school and training , she still finds time to visit with her friends and enjoys playing with slime .
“ I can study whenever I want ,” Bella says . “ I can even go to school on Saturday , and I can take my school work when I travel .”
She practices with real arrows and some collateral damage has occurred , including smashed vases and broken windows . Bella now practices her archery outdoors but once accidentally shot an arrow into the neighbor ’ s house .
Although a resident of Greensburg , Bella trains at the Dance Extensions Performing Arts Center in Canonsburg . Co-owner Betsy Shuttleworth is her coach , and among other things has taught her the importance of stretching to avoid injuries . Often , Bella practices so hard that it hurts to walk afterward .
“ That ’ s just part of being an athlete ,” she says . “ They always say that if your muscles don ’ t hurt after a workout , that means you didn ’ t do it right .”
According to Shuttleworth , Bella is a uniquely determined and focused athlete . “ I ’ ve never seen anything like it ,” she says .
Shuttleworth praises Bella ’ s humility as well : “ She ’ s handled the fame like a champ , like she was meant to do it . She turns 10 shades of red when somebody recognizes her from TV .”
Bella also deals with criticism well . “ Bella has to be very mature to
handle all the stuff she ’ s handled ,” Shuttleworth says . “ She handles it very well for a young girl .”
Later this year , Bella will receive a bow that is customized to suit her body and will improve her accuracy . Shuttleworth also helps design new routines for Bella to perform . “ People copy it , so we have to step it up ,” she notes .
Bella ’ s mother , Krissy , never expected to have a daughter who wanted to become a circus performer . “ When I was pregnant with her , never in a million years did I think I would have a little girl who stands on her head and shoots arrows better than a man can with his hands ,” she muses . “ It ’ s all very surreal .”
However , Bella ’ s passion for contortion and foot archery is no longer as shocking as it once was , Krissy adds . “ Seeing a person holding a bow with her feet awes most people . I ’ m a little desensitized to it .” n
All the Right Moves
DEPAC brings all aspects of movement to students .
By Paul Glasser
Dance Extensions Performing Arts Center offers a focused and friendly approach to dance instruction .
Co-director and contortion instructor Betsy Shuttleworth says she often has to remind students to stay focused while training . However , she also knows that sometimes dancers need to take it easy , especially after a challenging competition .
“ Some students call me their second mom , but that doesn ’ t mean I let them get away with anything ,” Shuttleworth notes .
She has more than 25 years of experience as an instructor , and minored in dance at Point Park University . Dawn Bercini Churney is the other co-director and has been dancing since she was 14 . DEPAC also employs other experienced instructors , including a former tumbler from Cirque du Soleil .
Based in Canonsburg , DEPAC offers classes in jazz , ballet , tumbling and hip-hop , as well as other genres . About 100 students are enrolled at the studio ranging from beginners to experienced competitors .
Shuttleworth says the studio offers a very friendly atmosphere because the students never compete against each other .
“ We make sure the kids get along together and look out for each other ,” she explains . “ We want to be a good support for them , and I think that ’ s important in this day and age .”
Instead of competing against other students , dancers should try to improve themselves , Shuttleworth adds . “ Don ’ t worry about anybody else ,” she advises them . “ Just be better than yourself .”
Her years of experience as a contortion trainer also makes DEPAC unique . Having good core strength is the key to becoming a good contortionist . Stretching is also important in order to avoid injuries .
“ If you don ’ t have the muscles to compress it all together , you have no support for your spine ,” Shuttleworth says .
Ballet is a good starting point for anyone interested in becoming a contortionist because it teaches stage presence and poise .
Shuttleworth originally taught ballet , but felt like her classes were becoming stagnant and decided to learn more about becoming a contortionist . “ I wanted to go above and beyond what we were doing ,” she explains .
Eventually she earned the respect of her fellow contortion trainers . “ The most eye-opening moment was when a friend from Germany called me a contortion trainer for the first time ,” Shuttleworth says . “ It jolted my body .”
She would like to offer classes on partner acrobatics in the future . “ It ’ s good for kids who like the acrobatics of contortion but don ’ t want to be very flexible ,” she notes .
Shuttleworth also tries to find ways to make sure students who want to attend classes can do so even if their family doesn ’ t have a lot of financial resources . She grew up in a family without much money and her father paid for her classes by doing repairs on her instructor ’ s house .
“ Dance gave me a lot and kept me out of trouble ,” she says . “ If these kids are out on the street , what good is that ?”
If parents can ’ t afford to pay for classes , Shuttleworth will find chores for the student to perform around the studio . Other tools include payment plans and scholarships . “ I believe in paying it forward ,” she says .
A number of Shuttleworth ’ s students have found success , including Bella Gantt , who recently performed on the show “ Little Big Shots ” hosted by Steve Harvey on NBC .
“ Walking into that setting was pretty humbling ,” Shuttleworth says . “ I am grateful every day because it could all end tomorrow . That ’ s just the way it goes .”
For more information visit : danceextensionspac . com .
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