[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 167 (Thursday, November 21, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1750]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN HONOR OF THE SALINAS SCHOOL OF DANCE

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                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 21, 2013

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Salinas School of 
Dance, which is celebrating its seventy-fifth year of excellence in 
dance instruction in Salinas, California.
  The Salinas School of Dance was founded in 1938 by professional 
dancer Mr. Ramon Renov, who brought his world class dance experience to 
the small farming town of Salinas. He performed in the esteemed Ballets 
Russes de Monte Carlo in Europe and the United States. Mr. Renov 
retired in 1980 and bestowed ownership to Lisa Eisemann. She has 
continued a reputation of excellence, maintaining high standards in 
curriculum and teaching, and constant upgrades to make the studio the 
heart of the City of Salinas. Ms. Eisemann continues to teach Russian 
Vaganova style ballet to students of all ages.
  The Salinas School of Dance studio is now home to two structured 
companies; the Salinas Valley Civic Ballet Company and the Spirit of 
Salinas Irish Dancers. Ballet, tap, jazz, Irish dance and Tappin' Dad 
classes are taught five days a week. The Spirit of the Irish Dancers is 
a high performance group that has performed at many local and 
international events. Two years ago, they performed for the Lord Mayor 
of Drogheda, Ireland who invited them to visit Ireland and told the 
Mayor of Salinas that the dance group's skills supersede that of his 
own country's Irish Dancers.
  Every child is welcome to learn and dance at the Salinas School of 
Dance. Currently, they have children with serious learning disabilities 
and one young man that has a prosthetic leg and one arm. His parents 
recently commented that being in ballet has given him confidence that 
nothing else has provided. He is ten years old and it's his second year 
at the studio. It is because of Ms. Eisemann's ability to connect with 
the community and her leadership skills that many of its dance classes 
remain full year round throughout Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz 
Counties.
  For seventy-five years, the Salinas School of Dance has been a 
positive fixture in the community. With structure, personal 
responsibility, respect, and commitment forming the foundation of the 
dance program, it is no wonder that the Salinas School of Dance has 
endured and become one of the oldest businesses in Salinas.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Salinas School of Dance on its 
seventy-five years of excellence and wish you many more years of 
continued success.

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