UPDATE: Inspirational Dance--or I.Dance--of Maplewood's Bette White Dance Center was scheduled to perform its "Holiday Jam" tonight at SOPAC at 6:15. Due to the weather forecast, the performance has been rescheduled for Saturday, January 9.

When Dancette Pratts was a little girl, she studied dance with Ms. Bette White.

Ms. White, a former Rockette, ran the Bette White Dance Center for more than 50 years. Ms. White and her dance center on Springfield Avenue are such Maplewood institutions that plans to seize the property and develop it for the new police station and municipal court were scuttled after popular protest earlier this decade.

Since August 2007, Dancette Pratts has been following in the footsteps of her teacher and choreographer in more ways than one: Pratts now operates the Dance Center as Inspirational Dance (although the Bette White awning still adorns the building). Pratt offers instruction in ballet, hip hop, salsa, tap, breakin' and more.

She also manages the award-winning Inspirational Dance (or I.Dance) competition/company team that trains at the dance center and has been performing around New Jersey at venues such as the PNC Arts Center, the Iselin Festival and the BET Festival.