June 2012
Volume II, Issue X
KEYWORDS:
Yehhhhhhhhh! The Recital is just about here. I am expecting everyone to do an excellent job, so don’t let me down. We’re going into our final rehearsals of the whole program, and we are asking the best cooperation you can possibly give during this very busy time frame. Students are asked to be at the studio on each rehearsal day at 9:30 a.m., with the exception of the acrobatic classes. Their rehearsal is first because it encompasses many students from all of the dance classes, with the exception of the 9:00 babies. All announcements pertaining to the recital, schedules, and other pertinent information is included in this newsletter, so PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE NEWSLETTER. YOU WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR NOT KNOWING THIS INFORMATION IF YOU DO NOT READ IT. Parents, do not put unnecessary responsibilities on your children at this time, you need to use your parenting skills to help them get prepared by making sure they have all the required costumes and accessories needed for their dances. Don’t expect them to remember everything you forgot. Start early getting things together. Don’t send messages by the children, you need to ask them yourselves or call a teacher. The costumes are very pretty, so I expect to see a pretty recital. You should be getting your pictures by the time you get this newsletter. The photographer is delivering them on Saturday, June 2, 2012. Things are going well, so keep up the good work. June Neal Key
Executive Artistic Director
RECITAL REHEARSALS SCHEDULE
Saturday – June 2 – 9:30 Full day rehearsal (End 3:30 p.m.)- Lunch providedSaturday – June 9 – 9:30 Half day rehearsal (End 1:00 p.m.)
Saturday – June 16 – 9:00 Stage Rehearsal (End 1:00 p.m.)
Saturday – June 16 -6:00 Return to Music Hall for Performance
AWARDS PROGRAM
The awards program will be held on Sunday, June 10, 2012, at 3:00 p.m. at the Trinity A.M.E. Church at 2201 North Fifth Street (5th & Greeley), Kansas City, Kansas. All students should be present, because all students will receive an award. I encourage you to invite someone to come see them get their award. I am looking for three people with talent, singing, playing an instrument, praise dancing or reciting poetry to help complete our program. Let any teacher or office person know, if you want to be on the program. I know some of you have other talents. This will be a good time to show it. We would like to see what other talents you have. DVDs
DVD’s are not mandatory, but if you wish to purchase one, the price is $30.00. They come in two disks. We need at least 15 paid orders to get the contract. The videographer wants cash only. No checks accepted. Place your paid name on the list as soon as possible to get our quota. Orders can be placed up to the day of the recital. All orders will be turned over to the videographer at the end of the show. FEES
All dance fees should be kept current through July. PLEASE PAY ALL DANCE FEES THRU JUNE BEFORE THE RECITAL. If you do, you will not incur a late fee. However, any fees paid after the recital should include a $5.00 late fee. The delinquent lists that are posted include the June fees. If your name does not appear on the list, you only owe for the month of June. Please check the lists and pay all fees by June 16th at the stage rehearsal. We do not want to bookkeep for dance fees backstage during the recital, but we will continue taking DVD orders. ANYONE STILL OWING THE RECITAL FEE WILL NOT BE ABLOE TO PERFORM IN THE RECITAL WITHOUT PAYING IT. SCHOLARSHIP RAFFLE
Scholarship raffle tickets have been dispersed, and all students are responsible for 20 tickets. These tickets should be paid for in advance. Reports can be made on any other tickets you might have any time up to recital night. Tickets turned in without money will not be accepted. Please pay your $20.00 by June 9, 2012. This is the only project that replenishes the scholarship fund, so do your best. The raffle will be held the night of the recital. Must be present to win, and you can not collect for someone you sold a ticket to if they are not there. We pay to the name on the ticket. WORLD’S OF FUN OUTING
Our World’s of Fun outing is one week after the recital on Saturday, June 23, 2012. We will meet at the park at 10:00 a.m. where everyone will pick up their tickets at the ticket window. All tickets will be left in the student’s name, so make sure you get signed up on the right list. A list for the students, so we will know how many student tickets to purchase and a list for the one parent who will pay $15.00 for their ticket. Parents of our students will have to list their child’s name if they are going. If you do not list them, they will not get a ticket. There are two guest lists. A list for any child under 4 feet tall, and an adult list for everyone else. Please be sure you sign up on all the right lists. Any children under 2 years of age are free. If you have a large 2 year old, please bring some identification with you. Measure your children before you turn in their name. These are the ticket prices, which includes a meal: Adults - $32.00, Children - $26.00. The meal is the same as last year: Shredded BBQ Brisket Sandwiches, potato chips, an apple, ice cream and a drink. You can have seconds of any of these items until they are gone. Everyone had fun last year and I know everyone will have fun again this year. Get signed up. THE DEADLINE IS JUNE 9TH (OUR HALF DAY REHEARSAL). After this date, anyone wanting tickets will have to pay full price. FYI
THE LAST CLASS FOR THIS DANCE YEAR IS JULY 30TH. Please read and keep the attached announcements regarding the End-of-Year Schedule and “Things to Remember” for the recital.
KIDDIES KORNER
Yahzmine Jackson received a straight “A” record for every term during the entire school year as an Eighth Grade student at Hickman Mills Junior High School. CONGRATULATIONS, ON A JOB WELL DONE! JUNE BIRTHDAYS
Annika Garcia – 7 Trinity Smith-Branch
Meta Wells – 28
DANCE QUOTE
“Raising the Barre” – Curing your students of bad barre habits. A student should not cling to or lean on the barre to get through a combination. The shoulders and arms should not be tense and stiff. When the student gets to center, they will have trouble holding their turnout or sustaining a balance. The barre work is supposed to build a dancer’s foundation. When it is done properly, it strengthens muscles, promotes alignment and prepares the dancer for more advanced steps. These are some of the most common bad barre habits: Bad barre etiquette. When students want to play and swing on the barre, leaning on the barre and talking and laughing during barre exercises. Some older students might lean on the barre. Standing too close/too far from the barre: Sometimes students do not know the distance of where to stand, and have to be placed or told where to stand and where to put their hand on the barre. Tense arms and shoulders: If the student is not taught the correct placement of the hand on the barre it will affect their pirouettes, jumps and balance in adagio. If their barre arm is not relaxed, they leave it behind and the transition does not work correctly, and their shoulders and hips get out of alignment. Gripping the barre: When students lack core stability, they tend to use the barre like a crutch, clinging to it or leaning into it. Make sure students engage their stomach muscles and keep their weight over the balls of their feet. Have them test their balance by having them lift their hands off the barre in the middle of the combination, or touch the barre with one fingertip.
“If the students are relying on the barre to keep themselves upright, they’re not aligned correctly.” - Julie Diana, Pennsylvania Ballet