OCTOBER NEWSLETTER

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OCT 14-16: (WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY) *NO CLASSES FOR FALL BREAK!*

 COVID-19 UPDATE

The health of our staff, students, and families has always been our highest priority.  Expressions Dance & Preschool follows the Safer Studio guidelines, which prioritize a hierarchy of safety and wellness measures.  They include, but are not limited to, wellness checks, amplified and frequent hand hygiene, enhanced environmental services, minimizing mixing and mingling via physical distancing practices, curricular and facility adjustments, and continuous parent communication.  As a reminder as we are going into regular cold and flu season, it is important that we continue our combined efforts to follow these guidelines.  Please continue to monitor your children and do not send them to class if they have a fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose, etc.  Thank you so much for everyone’s enhanced awareness and efforts in keeping our dancers healthy!

CHRISTMAS CHARITY PROJECT

Although we are not going to be performing in our annual Dance for Life Benefit Concert, we are still going to be collecting PJ's to donate to those in need of a comfy new pair of jammies this holiday.  Get your dancer involved by watching for PJ's at a good price.  All the proceeds and PJ/books collected will be donated right here in Utah. More information to come!

JUNE RECITAL-JUNE 19, 2021

A big part of dance training includes learning through performance! ​Our June Recital offers our students a professionally directed performance that allows them to present to their families and friends the results of a year’s hard work, dedication, and progress. Watch a video about recital.

The Dance Handbook includes all performance details. All families need to submit recital consent forms in order to participate in recital by Dec 15th.  There are two ways to participate in the recital:  Fill out the online recital consent form HERE.

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FOR PARENTS OF PRESCHOOL DANCERS

We are excited to have a new section each month just for preschool dancers!  We love the month of October…This month our theme is “Itsy Bitsy Spider!”  We will be making an alphabet brew in our classes this month!  The last week of October we will be celebrating Halloween in class by wearing our costumes to dance!  We encourage you to get involved and have them practice their skills at home!  This month we are focusing on:  running, rolling our wrists, heel digs, grand battement, scared face, doughnuts and our scary faces! 

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FOR PARENTS OF SCHOOL AGED TUMBLING/ACRO STUDENTS

October Stretch of the Month- Shoulders  |  Strength Challenge- Plank

We are so excited this year to have a “stretch of the month” and a “strength challenge” in our acro/tumbling classes! Encourage your child to work on these skills at home to help them improve even faster! Be more involved by printing off the at home practice tracker HERE.

FOLLOW US!

Like “Expressions Dance” on Facebook and Instagram to receive reminders and great info!  It is an easy way to stay up to date on upcoming events and see all the fun things our dancers are doing!

ONLINE PARENT PORTAL

  • The account you created online can be updated at any time. Log in on the website to update contact and billing information, register for new classes, and make payments. You can also reset your password any time. 

  • All studio event details are posted on the “newsletters” page that is on the parent portal page of the website.  Please notify us if you aren’t getting our newsletters by email. 

ONLINE WAIVER

Accept the online participation waiver by your first class by logging into the parent portal if you haven't already. If you've never logged in before, use your email address and select "forgot my password" to access your account. When you log in for the first time this season, it will ask you to accept the waiver. If it takes you straight into your upcoming classes you've already accepted and are good to go!  ACCEPT THE WAIVER

 STARS CLASS UNIFORMS/DRESS CODE

STARS classes have a uniform and required dress code. This helps to create a more disciplined atmosphere, which allows for faster progress. Please make sure your dancer is attending class each week in the following attire:

  • Burgundy leotard

  • Pink tights

  • Pink ballet shoes

  • Hair in a clean, tight bun. Our bun tutorial can be found HERE. 

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HOW TO ENROLL IN A VIRTUAL CLASS WHEN YOU NEED TO STAY HOME

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We are excited to offer our students a chance to join us from their home stage for a LIVE online class in a format that will allow students to get direct feedback from instructors! We are so glad we can continue learning together in an interactive setting. 

We will be streaming our classes on Zoom! It's easy! Clear out space at home to allow for movement, have your device set up, access the Zoom link provided in your upcoming classes on the Parent Portal and we'll do the rest! 

WATCH THIS VIDEO: HOW TO ENROLL IN A VIRTUAL CLASS WHEN YOU NEED TO STAY HOME

HOW TO GET REGISTERED TO ATTEND A VIRTUAL CLASS:

  1. Login to the parent portal, first time logging in?  No problem, select "forgot my password" to finish setting up your account. 

  2. Click the drop down navigation in top left corner, select “request a trial/drop-in class.” 

  3. Select the virtual season for your program (dance, preschool, or company)

  4. Select the class and choose the date you'll need to attend at home

  5. REPEAT if you're in multiple classes 

WHAT STUDENTS NEED:

  1. Download the Zoom app on a tablet or computer that allows for video and audio.

    1. Tablet- Download Zoom from App Store or Google Play  

    2. Computer- Click on your class access link in the parent portal and then click "launch zoom" (If this is your first time using Zoom, you'll be prompted to download a small executable file.)

  2. Space to dance- large enough to move around a little, but not much is required.

  3. An open mind! This is a new experience for all involved! Let’s encourage our students to look for the positives and opportunities for growth.

HOW TO JOIN YOUR CLASS:

  1. Make sure you have an internet connection and are using a device that allows for both video and audio.

  2. Login into the parent portal, first time logging in?  No problem, select forgot my password to finish setting up your account. 

  3. Scroll down to "upcoming classes" and select the hyperlink under location. Then click "launch zoom" (If this is your first time using Zoom, you'll be prompted to download a small executable file).​

  4. When joining us check that your CAMERA IS ON and your MICROPHONE IS MUTED. Having multiple mics open created feedback noise making it hard to hear instruction.

  5. When the class is over, click "Leave" in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. Then click "Leave Meeting" and you’ll exit out of the classroom. 

HELPFUL TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL CLASS:

  1. Three minutes before your scheduled class, click the link and join the group. Arriving early will give you time to troubleshoot any issues you may come across.

  2. Please keep your video-enabled so your teacher can interact with you.

  3. Clear the space you are dancing in. Remove any household items, obstacles or hazards that could potentially harm you or those around you. Avoid slippery surfaces.

  4. Wear your dance clothing!

TROUBLESHOOTING:

  1. Can't see yourself? Make sure you enable your video by clicking the video icon so there is no slash through it.

  2. If your technology isn’t working, try closing all media players because they can interfere (iTunes, GooglePlay, etc) and then restart your computer.

  3. Calls often get dropped but don’t worry- just click on the same link and rejoin.

We can't wait to see you and experience this new way of learning!  Your continued dedication to our mission to provide your child with invaluable life skills through dance ensures we can continue doing the work we do. 

If you have any questions, please reach out. We are here and ready to help!

Best, 

Ms. Amy

The Benefits of Competition - Commitment  

Making a commitment and sticking to it is a lesson that seems pretty easy to learn, but isn’t always so.  It can be a challenge—especially for young dancers—to navigate a big responsibility like that!  One of the most valuable life lessons our performing company dancers learn at Expressions Dance is following through on their commitments. 

From the start, joining the company team isn’t something a dancer does on a whim.  There are auditions to prepare for and schedules to align.  There are team policies to consider and extra expenses to budget.  In fact, at Expressions Dance, we understand that participation isn’t a choice made only by the dancer; it’s a family decision. 

 

We know that our company team requires an extensive commitment.  But we also know that the long-term benefits our dancers will experience from this commitment will far outweigh any temporary conflicts that may pop up during the season!  Below we outline the most important advantages to our performing company students when it comes to honing this essential skill:

 

Agreeing to a commitment teaches future-thinking

With a performing company agreement, dancers are looking ahead to an entire season and asking themselves, “Am I willing to give 100% effort all year to follow through on this commitment?”  Most pre-teens and teens make decisions based on how they feel right now, which is normal in adolescence.  Making a decision based on thinking ahead is a skill that needs sharpening.  Through their passion for dance and agreement to the company team, our dancers are learning how to consider the future in their choices.

 

Following through on a commitment sometimes requires sacrifices

Though it can be an uncomfortable lesson to learn, sometimes making a commitment to the team means that it overrides other opportunities like parties, travel, or school social events.  Our students may find themselves feeling tested by their team commitment—and that’s OK.  We understand that it will happen and have built our attendance policies with it in mind.  It’s not easy, but standing by their commitment teaches our dancers to act with integrity.

 

Abiding by a commitment shows reliability as a team member

As a team, our company students form close bonds and learn to depend on each other … sometimes emotionally and physically, depending on the choreography!  Becoming a reliable teammate shows each team member that they respect each other and value each person’s contributions to the group.  They share in this commitment together and learn to appreciate the effort everyone makes to achieve success.

 

We hope you’ll discuss with your Expressions Dance performing company dancer all the positive ways they are growing from following through on their commitments.  We’re grateful that they’ve chosen dance to be one of their top priorities!

The Summer Stride

Summer is just around the corner and here at Expressions Dance, we are putting the finishing touches on all our fantastic summer program offerings!  

With the current dance season winding down and the new season ramping up, you might have been wondering lately if summer dance classes are right for your child.  From our experience, every student has the potential to hit their “summer stride” … in other words, they all have the ability to keep their learning power going in the summer, without losing any momentum!

We believe there is a unique benefit for each and every student who dances with us in the summer, whether it’s during a weekly class, a dance camp, or an intensive workshop.  Read on to see which advantages might be in store for your child!

 

Making Progress

Because dance is built on muscle memory, summer study can help your child fine-tune their movement vocabulary and technique, allowing them to improve their skills, grow stronger, and be better prepared to take on new material.

 

Being Consistent

Young children do well with stability in their routine, so maintaining that normalcy with summer dance can give them (and you!) peace of mind, even as the rest of your summer plans may vary.

 

Getting Motivated

After the recital, we find that some students are eager to try a new dance style (usually something they were inspired by!) to see how they like it.  Summer is THE perfect time to test out those new interests, without a long commitment.

 

Gaining Confidence

Our summer programs, with their blend of both structure and fun, can give your child the boost they need to jump into fall classes feeling good about themselves.  There’s nothing quite like the personal development that can be built in the summer!

 

It’s part of our mission to ensure that your child is learning how to balance their hard work with time off, and the summer offers the best of both worlds.  We encourage all of our students to make time for rest and relaxation, and also make time to keep their bodies strong and minds engaged.  This balance is what the true summer stride is all about!

 

There’s something for everyone here this summer at Expressions Dance.  We’re happy to help you customize the right schedule for your family or make a special recommendation for your child … just ask!