August 09
DanceStation News: August ‘09
Welcome back dancers! Whether you joined us for our summer sessions, or took the summer off, we hope you had a wonderful summer vacation. Just some friendly reminders to get the year going:
1. Registration/Open House.
Everyone needs to register for classes again this year! A $10 Registration Fee per family is due upon registration ($25 for new families). For your convenience, you may wish to include the $10 recital fee as well, although it is not due until November. You can register by mail or in person at the Open House. Open House is Friday, August 21st from 4-6:30 pm. Even if you register by mail you may want to come to Open House to pick up your recital pictures and DVD’s. Plus it’s a chance to visit with friends and get some punch and cookies too! If you are unable to attend the Open House or would like to register early, you may register by mail anytime between now and August 21st. The schedule, as always, is subject to change due to class sizes. Please send your check and the registration form/class list to:
DanceStation
220 West State St
O’Fallon, IL 62269
2. Desk/Phone help. This year Tirssa Schaefer, Heidi Jorgensen, Anna Husemann, and Stephanie Spradling will answer phones and help out at the front desk. Thanks girls!!! The girls will hold office hours Monday through Thursday 3:45-5:30 or 6pm in the fall. I will do my best to answer the phone whenever possible. If there is no answer, I am probably teaching. However, the machine is always on, and I will check the messages nightly. Phone calls for student absences are greatly appreciated, and I will try to return all questions and messages promptly. And as always, you can also ask me in person.
3. Recital fee. There is a recital fee of $10 per family due in November. You can include the recital fee with the registration fee at the beginning of the year if you so choose. The recital fee is just to help cover the cost of the hall. I make no money on this whatsoever.
4. Teachers. We are so blessed to have back the expertise of former director Lisbeth Brown. Her knowledge and kindness are immeasurable. Lis will continue teaching all levels of pointe and Cecchetti (ballet) as well as taking most of my classes while I am out with the new baby…more on that later. This year we welcome Loryl Breitenbach as our new modern teacher. Last year Loryl choreographed a piece in our SSDC show. She holds a BFA in Dance from Webster University, and actually danced with me while I was attending Webster. J She will also take be teaching preschool and teen jazz. Our returning tap teacher is Sonya Deorr. She brings a wealth of knowledge and lots of enthusiasm to the studio. She will be taking on all levels of tap this year. An Adult Tap class will also be offered this fall on Thursday evenings, call for more information. We also have a new preschool teacher, Michelle Baldwin. Michelle has years of experience teaching everything from ballet to jazz and tap and even broadway. She will be teaching her own preschool classes, as well as teen ballet, and helping out with my preschool class while I’m out. I will continue to teach all levels of ballet, pointe, jazz, broadway, Pre/K classes, etc.
5. The baby…As most of you know, I am having a baby this fall. I am planning on teaching for as long as possible until my due date - which is Sept. 30th. I plan to be home with the baby until Thanksgiving break—about 6 or 7 weeks depending on when the baby decides to arrive. J I have arranged to have Lisbeth Brown take all my ballet/pointe classes as well as Wed. evening SSDC rehearsals. Sarah Flatt will take 2 of my Cecchetti classes (she has taken her Cecchetti teachers exams through grade 5 and is currently working on 6), new teacher Michelle Baldwin will take my preschool class, and I have 2 teachers lined up for jazz classes on Thursdays. All of these teachers are incredibly talented and I trust them completely with my classes while I am away.
6. Classes begin this year on August 31st. Why so early? I am starting a week earlier to get in some extra time with the students before I leave and also so that I can have more time at home with the baby later. Because we are starting a week earlier, the studio will be taking a 3 - week winter break this year. However, we will still have the same amount of weeks in the semester.
7. Monthy newsletters: You can opt to receive the studio newsletters through email. Just print it clearly on your child’s registration form. We had some problems with incorrect addresses last year, so if you have a new email account or think I may have the wrong address – please include it again. I will still send home the newsletters with the students, but many times the papers have a way of disappearing before they make it back to you.
The newsletters will always be posted on the website. So if you lose one or forget a date you can always check the website. www.dancestation.biz
Contact Info: If need to talk to me personally while I am out - or any time for that matter - my home phone is 288 –7082. I screen all of my calls at home through the answering machine, so just leave me a message and I will call you back as soon as I can. Even better, you can email me at: edancestation@yahoo.com
That’s it! Tuition costs have remained the same, as well as State Street company dues. Class descriptions, dance attire, weather policies, etc. are included in the pamphlet and on the website. New pictures, including many from last year’s recital, are posted on our website. Recital pictures and DVD’s will be available at Open House.
A calendar will be sent home with the students the first week of classes.
Reminder classes begin Monday, Aug 31.
Can’t wait to see you all! Remember to call with any questions!!!
Thanks, Elizabeth Conway
