CHOREOGRAPHY WORKSHOP 21st & 22nd FEBRUARY

CHOREOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

Welcome to our Performance Teams in 2015.  We really hope that you are going to embrace and enjoy the spirit of working as a team and developing your performance and technical skills with us this year.  We are very excited to get started on the routines and more excited to start building a rapport with our beautiful teams of kids. 

Saturday, 21^st February 15

3.00- 4.00pm    10 years Lyrical

4.00-5.30pm     14 years Lyrical

Sunday, 22^nd February 15

10.00am- 11.30pm  12 years Jazz  

11.30am- 12.30pm  10 years  Jazz /       14 years Contemporary

12.30-1.00 LUNCH  

1.00-2.30  14 years Jazz    / 12 years Lyrical

2.30- 4.00pm Senior Jazz

·      Please note that we will discuss with senior dancers a time to develop their contemporary routine as we need all in attendance for formations etc  

·       COSTUME MEASUREMENT WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY, MARCH 5^th & FRIDAY, MARCH 6^th 4-7pm at the studio.  A $30 deposit will be required for each costume.  A detailed list of routines and costumes required will be sent home closer to the date. 

FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER

Dear Families,

Welcome to Stepping Out Dance Factory.  We hope that you are enjoying your first weeks with us.  Please ensure that you have completed your online registration or brought in your enrolment form to Gail in the office to ensure that your enrolment with us has been finalized.

We love everyone’s enthusiasm and are thrilled to be welcoming so many new families to Stepping Out.  Here are some important dates that are already finalized for the year and we ask that you take note of these in your diary.  It’s going to be a big and wonderful year at Stepping Out.

IMPORTANT DATES COMING UP & CONCERT 2015 DATES. FOR ALL THE BUSY MUMS & DADS WHO LIKE TO BE SUPER ORGANISED, HERE ARE SOME DATES FOR YOUR DIARY.

* Saturday 21st/ 22nd Feb- Performance Team Choreography

* Costume Measurements for Eisteddfod ( first week of March. Dates supplied to Performance Students in class)

* Gulgong Eisteddfod Entries close 13th March

* Dubbo Eisteddfod entries close 20th March

* Gulgong Eisteddfod, Sunday 3rd May- GROUPS

* Dubbo Eisteddfod, 13th & 14th June- GROUPS ( proposed)

* Week 10, Term 3, Concert Measurement Days

* Sunday, 15th November Stage Rehearsals DRTCC ( all students)

* Thursday, 10th & Friday, 11th Dec Dress rehearsals DRTCC

* Saturday, 12th & 13th Dec CONCERT ( exact times and organisation will be supplied closer to events.)

We will add Important Dates as they are made available to us.

UNIFORM Though we don’t have strict uniform policies we do ask that our students take pride in their appearance and come dressed looking and feeling like a dancer.  Our website has a comprehensive uniform guide and Gail in the office is able to help you with any orders you may need for shoes or attire.  We have been absolutely delighted at how our gorgeous students have presented for class and we ask that you keep up the good work.  Please ensure hair is tied back from face.  We would like everyone to have correct shoes by mid term as it is essential to the development of correct technique and adherence to safe dance practices.  We would also ask that all students bring a water bottle to class to stay hydrated. 

MONDAY JUNIOR BALLET & JAZZ  Wow! What a full house we enjoyed in our Primary Ballet and 6-8 years Jazz classes on Monday?! These classes will be now using teacher assistants but we would also like to take this opportunity to inform you that we will also be offering these classes on a Thursday afternoon with Miss Georgie at the exact same times.  If these times are convenient we would love to see you there.  We are also offering additional Ballet technique classes on Thursday nights in Intermediate Foundation and Intermediate, which we highly recommend for our ballet students.

ANGELINA BALLERINA & LITTLE STARS  Stepping Out has a very large preschool department and offers 8 different classes for our little stars with big dreams.  We are so passionate about teaching little people and have thoroughly enjoyed our first precious meetings with them.  We have posted a blog post on our website www.steppingoutdance.com.au under Dubbo News about what to expect when starting dance classes that may be useful to many parents settling their child into this exciting journey. 

ADULT JAZZ Why should the kids have all the fun?  Follow the call of the disco ball and come and join in Miss Emma’s funky Jazz Class on a Tuesday night between 7.15pm and 8.15pm.  It really is the ultimate work out plus you get to have a lot of fun and share some laughter and positive energy with a great bunch of people. 

WEDNESDAY PERFORMANCE CLASSES Thank you to all of our beautiful Performance students and families for your patience last week as we organized the ages and styles required for Performance classes.  Our new timetable is as follows;

3.45-4.30 Drama
4.30- 5.30pm 10 years & U Performance( all styles)
5.15-6.00 pm BOYS CLASS
5.30 -6.15 12 years Jazz Performance
6.15- 7.00 pm 12 years Mod Performance / 14 years Jazz Performance
7.00-7.45 14 years Mod Performance / Senior Jazz Performance 7.45 -8.30 pm Senior Mod Performance 
These times will be effective from 18^th February.  A separate note will be sent home with times for our Choreography Workshop this weekend 21^st & 22^nd February.  WE ARE SO EXCITED TO EMBARK ON THIS WITH YOU.  A lovely team spirit is already developing between our students which I know we will extend to our fellow competitors throughout Eisteddfod season.

PRIVATE LESSONS Private lessons are available with Miss Georgie, Miss Emma & Miss Rikki.  Vacancies are limited so please send requests to our FB page inbox or rikki@steppingoutdance.com.au.  Classes are charged at $25 a half hour and payable to your teacher at the time of the lesson.  Please be aware that it is soloists responsibility to enter their routines for any eisteddfods they wish to enter. 

Thank you once again for choosing Stepping Out Dance Factory in 2015.  For all the latest news ,pictures and fun events at Stepping Out please like our Facebook page and follow us on instagram @steppingoutdancefactory.

HAPPY DANCING!

The Team at Stepping Out Dance Factory

STARTING DANCE CLASSES- What to Expect?

We have just enjoyed our first class of the year and over the coming week will be welcoming many new faces to our studio.  This period is sure to prove to be a busy but extremely rewarding one.  Stepping Out is home to a huge amount of little people and we cherish the opportunity to introduce your little ones to the many joys and rewards of dance education.  WE know that this is just as exciting and nerve wracking for parents as it is for our tiny dancers so I thought it was important that we all reflect on what this first big step might mean for our tiniest students.

Today's class was a perfect example of the many little glorious temperaments that make up a typical early years dance class.  We had our shy ones, we had the usually reserved ones who surprised their parents ( and themselves I am sure!), the super confident ones, the seasoned professionals ( third year of dance class anyone?!), the anxious ones, the overwhelmed ones and the ones who felt that their own choreography was probably the most fabulous, especially performed in front of that huge mirror and the silly teacher up front was just a distraction.  ALL of these unique little beings contribute something very special to our class dynamic.  I am in the very enviable position of having experienced many first dance classes and to this day, I remain in awe of what those first steps represent not only over the course of a year but in the bigger scheme of their life and how they will approach the myriad of learning opportunities presented to them over their lifetime.

We have been thrilled to hear news of mass excitement, sensations of butterflies and mad enthusiasm as we all await our first dance classes for the year.  For some of our students they will fling themselves through the door with confidence and ease but for some of our dancers, especially our beginners and our tiny ones.......they might feel more like clinging to their parents or nervous as to what their class will entail, who will be their friend and will they know what to do.  As a three year old, I was the very SHY one.  I clung to my Mum's leg.  I thank my parents every day that they persisted and realised I was just waiting for the opportunity to let myself open to the spell binding and magical world that is dance.

Your teachers are all excited and nervous too.  Stepping Out is also home to an energetic and dynamic bunch of committed teachers who know that along with the joys of being a dance teacher comes a lot of hard work.  Our biggest concern is YOU, our students.  We strive to create a beautiful and supportive environment where everyone feels welcome.  You are all very important to us and we have loved the opportunities to talk to your families, meet new little faces and hear about your goals for the year.  We want to dance alongside you.  We want you to have a haven for your creativity and self expression and most importantly of all, we want you to walk out our doors with confidence, self belief and a huge smile.  Energy is contagious.  We want to surround you with positivity and possibilities.

Parents, especially parents of little people, do know that for some children it will take a few weeks to feel completely at ease in a new learning environment.  It is overwhelming to suddenly leave the security of Mum or Dad, your normal routine and suddenly be in the spotlight in dance class with lots of new faces.  KNOW that it is very normal for your usually very gregarious child to suddenly turn very shy or the child who was up dressed in their tutu by 6am to suddenly be frozen and glued to your hand refusing to budge.  SO, if they just want to watch for a bit or there is tears, it's Ok, in fact it's more than OK, they are still learning and absorbing and bit by bit taking those first tentative steps out into the big world and next time it will be a little easier and a little less daunting.  As teachers, we have had the wealth of experience and the joy of many years helping our little dancers find their wings so we won't bat an eye.  We won't question whether your child is ready or label you a pushy parent.  WE trust and know that each child starts to engage at their own unique time.  It may be immediately or it may be the second or third week of class.  This is all very normal and encouraged.  I, for one am very glad that my parents persevered with my initial efforts as a fledging ballerina.

WHY DO WE USE MONITORS?

As mums ourselves, we understand and respect the enormous trust you place in us in the tuition of your children.  We are really proud of our dance curriculum and really want to show you that you have made the right decision in entrusting your child to us.  We do believe it is important that parents are able to witness the content of the class, our teaching philosophies and the knowledge of your teacher.  We know that the most enriching learning opportunities will arise when we have the full attention of your child and are allowed the opportunity to develop a rapport with them and within the dynamics of the class.  Children can be easily hampered by distractions and focus and discipline are important traits of any enthusiastic and engaged learners.  In 2014, we decided to place cameras in our teaching studios to ensure that we could enjoy the best of both worlds.  We have a monitor in our foyer that provides a window into your child's dance class without any of the distractions or differing temperaments that emerge when children have parents or siblings in the class observing them.

You are very welcome to wait in our foyer and be enthralled and entertained by your child's progress or theatrics but we are just as happy if you drop and go.  Trust that our goal is to have your child feel alive and energised within their own body and that we have the best interests of your child and the class at stake.  Even if a little one is teary, please allow us the opportunity to calm them.  Sometimes this special performance is just reserved for Mum or Dad.  If we can't settle a child after a short period, we will send for you.  OUR GOAL IS HAPPY CHILDREN.  Most times. it is less than five minutes and your child is skipping about and any anxiety is quickly forgotten.  If we believe that a child is not coping within the class, we will take your little one to you.  I know I was super proud today to see so many of our last year's Angelina's taking new little hands and guiding them through the class.  Please allow us the opportunity to get to know what works best for your child.

FOR OUR CONTINUING STUDENTS, it's ok to be a little nervous or hesitant too.  You've been out of routine and had a long break but your body will remember.  We look forward to getting sore with you and helping you to soar this year.
Together, with the support of parents, we will have happy classes of happy students progressing at their own unique rate in no time.  HAPPY DANCING EVERYONE.  We are looking forward to all the wonderful emotions the first few weeks will stir.
See you in class.