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Helping young dancers improve their craft

Zoom image: “I really can't picture myself having a day or any time in my life without dance because I truly feel like a huge part of me would just be absent,” UB staff member and dance instructor Miranda Bosse says. “I really can't picture myself having a day or any time in my life without dance because I truly feel like a huge part of me would just be absent,” UB staff member and dance instructor Miranda Bosse says.

“I really can't picture myself having a day or any time in my life without dance because I truly feel like a huge part of me would just be absent,” UB staff member and dance instructor Miranda Bosse says.

Photos and text by MEREDITH FORREST KULWICKI

Published August 12, 2022

Editor's note: Summer Hours is a photo series focusing on UB staff members who use the longer days to pursue interesting hobbies, causes and other endeavors outside of their day jobs.

A Billie Eilish tune fills the room at the Lancaster Dance Center as teenage dancers execute choreography just taught to them earlier in the class. They giggle over their missteps when the music stops.

At the front of the room, instructor Miranda Bosse claps out the counts to keep the dancers in sync. Bosse, whose day job is as assistant director of graduate public health programs at the School of Public Health and Health Professions, studied dance at the same studio from the age of four and has been teaching since 2016.

Zoom image: Watching students make turns across the floor, Bosse keeps the beat by clapping her hands, and offers notes to dancers as needed. Watching students make turns across the floor, Bosse keeps the beat by clapping her hands, and offers notes to dancers as needed.

Watching students make turns across the floor, Bosse keeps the beat by clapping her hands, and offers notes to dancers as needed.

Zoom image: Bosse checks her choreography notes. The dancers in this class are focused on improving their skills. Bosse checks her choreography notes. The dancers in this class are focused on improving their skills.
Zoom image: Bosse brings a notebook with details of the choreography she plans to teach to her class. Bosse brings a notebook with details of the choreography she plans to teach to her class.
Zoom image: “Everything I teach them, when I'm walking through it, I'm like, 'oh surprise guys, when I do it with the music, it's going to be faster,' and now we joke about it because they know that's just how I am,” Bosse says. “Everything I teach them, when I'm walking through it, I'm like, 'oh surprise guys, when I do it with the music, it's going to be faster,' and now we joke about it because they know that's just how I am,” Bosse says.
Zoom image: “These are the students who want to be there to challenge themselves and work hard and push themselves in their technique and their strength,” Bosse says. “These are the students who want to be there to challenge themselves and work hard and push themselves in their technique and their strength,” Bosse says.

“These are the students who want to be there to challenge themselves and work hard and push themselves in their technique and their strength,” Bosse says.

“They know that I’m going to throw a lot at them. I expect a lot of them,” says Bosse. “I want them to feel that challenge and that motivation in themselves … you can’t be taught that; you have to just feel it for yourself.”

Bosse teaches an intensive, six-week summer program that focuses on technique, strength, stamina and flexibility. As opposed to the regular school year, these dancers are not working toward a recital, but instead have a specific interest in dance and improving their skills.

“These are the students who are really passionate about dance, and for most of them, it’s their release from the regular world,” Bosse explains.

According to Debby Kunttu, director of the Lancaster Dance Center, dancers create their own family through the time spent at the dance studio. They support each other through the challenges of dance and growing up, and “Miss Miranda” is a favorite.

“The kids love her. They just love her,” says Kunttu. “She likes to give them good guidance and a good example of life and how to live your life.”

Zoom image: Studio owner Debbie Kunttu (second from left) peeks in to watch the class. “The kids love her. They just love her,” she says about Bosse. Studio owner Debbie Kunttu (second from left) peeks in to watch the class. “The kids love her. They just love her,” she says about Bosse.

Studio owner Debbie Kunttu (second from left) peeks in to watch the class. “The kids love her. They just love her,” she says about Bosse.

Zoom image: The class tries a new move that many of them find challenging. Bosse encourages them to keep trying as they each start to get more comfortable. The class tries a new move that many of them find challenging. Bosse encourages them to keep trying as they each start to get more comfortable.
Zoom image: Bosse has been teaching at the studio since 2016, but began there as a student at the age of 4. Bosse has been teaching at the studio since 2016, but began there as a student at the age of 4.
Zoom image: Bosse works with a student during the class. She says each student goes through their own journey with their dance skills, and she loves seeing the moments when it all comes together for them. Bosse works with a student during the class. She says each student goes through their own journey with their dance skills, and she loves seeing the moments when it all comes together for them.
Zoom image: A segment of the three-hour class focuses on strengthening students’ turns. Bosse makes a face while demonstrating a turn technique. A segment of the three-hour class focuses on strengthening students’ turns. Bosse makes a face while demonstrating a turn technique.

A segment of the three-hour class focuses on strengthening students’ turns. Bosse makes a face while demonstrating a turn technique.

Kunttu watches some of the class from the doorway, laughing with the students as they try new moves. The studio is celebrating its 43rd year, and Kunttu is clearly proud of the community she has built, including nurturing Bosse from childhood dancer to faculty member.

“We haven’t let her go. And we don’t ever want to let her go,” Kunttu says with a smile.

In the summer, Bosse teaches about three hours a week; during the winter, it’s double that. She spends more time preparing for the classes and developing choreography.

“I love to dance. There’s no secret about that, but my passion is to be behind the scenes choreographing,” Bosse says. “Seeing them perform the choreography that I teach them and having them have that competence is really the most rewarding part for me.”

Zoom image: Bosse demonstrates a jump. Bosse demonstrates a jump.
Zoom image: Sometimes the class likes to turn off the main lights and use the LED strip lights, which gives the room a more theatrical feel. Sometimes the class likes to turn off the main lights and use the LED strip lights, which gives the room a more theatrical feel.
Zoom image: Bosse checks her notes while teaching new choreography to the class. Bosse checks her notes while teaching new choreography to the class.
Zoom image: “Seeing them perform the choreography that I teach them and having them have that competence is really the most rewarding part for me,” Bosse says. “Seeing them perform the choreography that I teach them and having them have that competence is really the most rewarding part for me,” Bosse says.

“Seeing them perform the choreography that I teach them and having them have that competence is really the most rewarding part for me,” Bosse says.

Bosse began teaching at the studio while she was still an undergraduate student in dance at UB. She now teaches hip hop and jazz. She says the kids have taught her to be adaptable and patient.

“The time that I’m there with those kids is some of the happiest hours of my life,” Bosse says. “I really can’t picture myself having a day or any time in my life without dance because I truly feel like a huge part of me would just be absent.”

Miranda Bosse has worked at the School of Public Health and Health Professions for about a year. She received a BA in dance, psychology and social sciences interdisciplinary in 2018 and an MPH and MSW, also from UB, in 2021.

Editor’s note: UBNow is looking for faculty and staff members who pursue interesting hobbies, causes and other endeavors outside of their day jobs. Contact University Communications photographer Meredith Forrest Kulwicki.