Visions of Sugarplums

It might still be August, but visions of sugarplums are dancing in my head! 

It's official....

This is going to be a wonderful opportunity for all of the Ballet and Preschool students at the studio to participate in a treasured classic for the Holiday Season.  I have so many ideas and plans; not sure which ones we'll end up scrapping and what will make it into the show, but I do know we will make this the best Nutcracker yet!   I can't wait to get started.   Soloist and class roles will be announced and work will begin shortly after we return to classes in just over a week! Make sure to visit the Nutcracker Page on the Website once the date gets closer for all the details every student and parent will need to waltz through the season like a flower!

Why Do We Teach That?

I decided to break form and blow up my blog a little.  You know how they say things happen for a reason.  Well, I subscribe to that.  I got an early Happy Birthday message from someone whom I admire greatly and consider myself blessed to attribute much of my Jazz dance knowledge and training to, Mr. Tom Ralabate.  It's funny when your iPad Facebook pops little bubbles of faces up on your screen.  It's even funnier when you happened to just be sitting with their book in your lap shortly before.

Let me talk about this book for a moment.  I am a dork.  This is no Harry Potter or Twilight, or whatever you kiddos are reading these days.  It's better!  When I open this book, I am immediately reminded of why we do things the way we do at The Dance Company, and I am encouraged to stay the course.  Just the table of contents could scare away your average non-dancer...I can hear my husband now, "wow, a whole section on walks? How many ways can you walk?"  Well honey, enough to spend years educating a dancer, and this is just one example of what should be included in a comprehensive Jazz Dance education.  Jazz Dance is a truly American art form.  It has grown out of who we are as a people and a society.  Only by knowing where we came from, can we look forward and progress.  I love tricks and turns and awesome, "WOW did you see that" dance virtuosity as much as the next person.  These must be part of a driven dancer's repertoire.  All dancers should push their limits and try new things and want to be better, this is vital.  With this should be included a desire to know where the dance came from, and why it exits.  As a teacher, if I do not impart this knowledge, these art forms we love so much will cease to exits and be shared to their fullest beauty.  A generation of one dimensional dancers and choreographers will exits with no context of WHY we dance they way we do or how we can draw from the past to inform our futures as creative contributors to the dance community.  Or the World community for that matter.  And that folks, is ultimately why we do what we do at The Dance Company.  Thanks Mr. Tommy for the inspiration, knowledge,  book and the birthday wish!

Not Really Tulips, But Happy Tip Toe-ing

In anticipation for the start of the new dance year, the studio has been undergoing annual summer maintenance and improvements.  After one season adjusting to our new home, it finally feels time to settle in.  And, I like to find something to paint just about every summer.  There is something about broad stokes of color, paint fumes and visible progress that soothes my soul.  Especially when it is purple on the end of my magic wand!  Call me weird, you probably already knew anyway.  Enjoy your next pilgrimage down the hall to the restroom!  Hopefully you and your tootsies will enjoy the new digs!  Keep your eye out as we add more stuff to the walls too!

I am also really looking forward to getting back to Dance Work!  TDCs Elite Ensemble will begin choreography for their 2013-14 season repertoire over the next two weeks.  I am excited to welcome so many new members to the group and I know it's going to be an awesome year.  Rehearsals start tonight with some Hip Hop.  Big kids will get started on the Production number later this week.  It's gonna be a PaRtY, and hey, that never killed anybody, right?


Don't forget to invite your friends to the last formal Registration Open House tomorrow, the 20th, from 6-8:30pm.  Did you know we have a referral program? Tell your friends to mention your name when they register and you get an account credit!  Can't make it? Get all the info you need here! 

Back to School

Summer classes are over and now it's time to get back to school, and gear up for a new dance year! Remember young dancers, you must learn to balance your academic responsibilities with your extra-cirricular activities.  Careful attention to your time management and organizational skills now will serve you well all year long.   Make sure to establish good habits; getting plenty of sleep, eating a healthy diet  and staying on top of your assignments and projects.  The most successful dancers are often the most conscientious students as well!

While the students of The Dance Company are organizing their academic lives, TDC staff has been hard at work getting ready for our dancers to return.  There is much to be done, including setting the calendar of events and class goals for the year, deep cleaning the studio, organizing the costume closet and lots of other useful and decorative adjustments!! We can't wait for you to come back and dirty the joint up again!

Have you seen the highlight video of the National Dance Day party? Check it out here!

And have a great week back to school! Say hi to someone you don't know and make a new friend! Everyone can use another friend, right?