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 29th from 3:30-6:30 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 29th. 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

1. Desk/Phone help. This year Tirssa Schaefer, Kathryn Krev, Heidi Jorgensen, and Monica Woods will answer phones and help out at the front desk. Thanks girls!!! The girls will hold office hours Monday through Thursday 4-6pm 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.

2. 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.

3. 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 tap for our younger students. This year we welcome Lindsey Silman as our new modern teacher. Last year Lindsey choreographed an exciting modern piece on our advanced students for the SSDC winter concert. She holds a BFA in Dance from Webster University. Our new and returning (after a brief hiatus) tap teacher is Sonya Deor. She brings a wealth of knowledge and lots of enthusiasm to the studio. Welcome back Sonya! We missed you. Lindsey and Sonya will be teaching Pre/K classes as well. Adult Tap and Adult Ballet classes will also be offered this fall, call for more information. I will continue to teach all levels of ballet, pointe, jazz, broadway, Pre/K classes, etc.

4. DanceStation picture calendar: Due to popular demand, we are in the process of developing another studio picture calendar this year, with proceeds going to our student company State Street Dance Company. The calendar runs Sept – Aug and includes pictures of DanceStation classes as well as SSDC company members. There will be order forms available at Open House and when classes start on September 8th.

5. Monthy newsletters: This year you can opt to receive the studio newsletters through your email. Just print it clearly on your child’s registration form. 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.

New Contact Info: If you ever need something and can’t reach me at the studio, my new home phone is 288 -7082 or you can email me at: edancestation@yahoo.com

That’s it! I’ve updated the studio pamphlet and our website too! 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: www.dancestation.biz. 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, Sept. 8.

Can’t wait to see you all! Remember to call with any questions!!! Thanks, Elizabeth Conway

Tom Schwarz and Steve Griffin! Congratulations!

And Congratulations on a wonderful recital everyone!

Pictures to be posted later this summer!!!

Announcements/Reminders: Lots and lots of information—PLEASE READ ON!!! I have a new email address to use if you need to get in touch with me. It is… Edancestation@yahoo.com.

1. Picture Day is Mon. June 2th. Pictures are taken by Photographique here at the studio and payments should be made directly to Photographique that day. We would appreciate it very much if you would show up for the group pictures, even if you choose not to buy any. The daytime picture schedule will be posted by the door in the waiting room later in May.

2. State Street Dance Company Auditions for next year will be held in May.
   Why?…because we will be starting a few pieces at the end of the summer before regular classes begin. Students in Ballet II and older, with minimum 3 years dance experience (or permission of the director), are all eligible to audition. Generally the younger students perform in 2-3 pieces, and the older students in 5 or more. Junior and Senior company members will rehearse the week of August 25-28 in the evening. Auditions are from 5:00-6:15 PM on May 16th; students should wear pink tights and a black leotard and have their hair in a bun. The audition will consist of a ballet and jazz.

3. Dress Rehearsal is on Friday June 6th at McKendree College. Maps are available. Rehearsal for The Ugly Duckling performance is from 10am-2pm, and the Cinderella rehearsal begins at 3pm. We hope to be done by 7pm.

Recital Day is June 7th at McKendree College. Showtimes are: The Ugly Duckling 2:30 PM Cinderella 7:00 PM

1. Tickets will be on sale at the front desk on May 27th. Adult tickets are $8 and children (under 12) are $5. If you have a child or children in both shows you will receive one free ticket per family to the 2nd show.

2. Parents/guardians will need to pay for the 5th/June installment before you purchase your recital tickets. Once the recital is over, families take vacations and it can be difficult to track down missing payments. Most common June question: Why are you paying for a full month? Because tuition is calculated by the semester and then broken down into five equal payments for your convenience.

3. Sign up sheets for recital DVD’s and flowers will be in the waiting room. The cost of each DVD is $20. You must prepay to have a DVD ordered for you.

more info on the back….!!!!

1. Sign up sheets for our summer sessions are also in the waiting room. We have some fun classes and guest teachers this summer. Please sign up by the end of May.

2. There is no class on Monday, May 26, for Memorial Day. The last day of regular class is Monday, June 2nd.

Full cast rehearsals The last few days of the semester are reserved for extra rehearsal times here at the studio. Your child will be needed outside of their regular scheduled class time. Please try your hardest to attend!!!

Mon. June 2nd = pictures and regular classes, 6:30-9pm Cinderella run through
(Adv. Ballet and Ballet IV only)

Tues. June 3rd = Ugly Duckling Dress Rehearsal 4:30-6:30pm, and SSDC rehearsal 7-8

Wed. June 4th = B-way Jr and Int 4:30-5:30pm, Cinderella Dress Rehearsal 6-8pm,
Adv B-way 8-9:30 pm

Thur. June 5th = Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 4:30-6pm Dress Rehearsal, and 6:30-9pm Jazz/Tap/Modern/B-way evening show Dress Rehearsal

please make good use of street parking during the large rehearsals

1. Last but not least…on Sat, May 31, there will be make-up classes from those pesky snow ice/storms a few months ago. All students in the following classes must attend!
   10-11:30 Modern I, II, III
   10-11 am = flowers, skunks, rainstorm
   11-12 pm = Thur tap/jazz Beginning, I, and II
   12-1 pm = young swans, ducks, pre-pointe and pointe I/II (Cinderella street scene)
   1-2 pm = Ballet III (farm animal dances)
   2-3 pm = Jazz III, IV, and V
   3-4:30 pm = Adv B-way
   

We will also be hosting an SSDC sidewalk sale, outside DanceStation, on that Sat. (May 31st ) from 8 am-12 pm. Come and check out all of the cool items going for sale!

Costume instructions will be passed out when the costumes arrive later in May.

Have a wonderful month, see you at the recital!!! Thanks, Elizabeth

2 week Summer Dance Camp/Intensives 2008

June 23 – July 3 and July 28 - August 7

Experience the fun and excitement of a professional
dance camp without leaving town!


Each class will meet twice a week for 2 weeks.
Offering classes in:

Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, Tap,
Pre/K (3-6yrs), Beginners 6-8 yrs and 9-12 yrs,
Beginning Teens, Broadway, Kaleidoscope, Conditioning,
Choreography, Contact Improv, and Teen Ballroom!!!

Summer Dance 2 Week camp/intensives 2007
(Per session)

1 class (meets a total of 4 times) $40
2 classes for $70
3 classes for $100
4 classes for $130
5 classes for $160
6th and/or 7th class free!


Please call DanceStation for exact times and dates, 632-1217.

First of all, I would like to congratulate all of our Cecchetti dancers on another successful exam session! We had dancers taking grades 1-7 this year, and everyone did beautifully. Congrats!! I’d also like to invite you to come and watch 8 of our young dancers in a production of The Velveteen Rabbit at McKendree College April 18th and 19th. The girls were chosen by audition to perform alongside the professional company ODC, from San Francisco. It’s a huge honor for the girls and our studio, but I hear tickets are going fast. So call the box office at McKendree soon if you want to go.

Snow Days. We’ve had a lot this year. Wendy’s Mon. tap/jazz classes will have their first make-up day on Monday, March 24. Those classes will meet at their normal times. We will make most of the Tuesday ballet classes and Thursday jazz/tap/modern classes up in May or early June (as it gets closer to recital time when we could really use the extra rehearsals). Advanced Ballet and Pointe, Ballet IV, and Ballet III will have many extra rehearsals throughout the next few months. Those rehearsals should more than make up for any missed classes last month.

A Costume deposit of $45 was due in February, and the remaining balance owed will be mailed to your home in late March/early April. We try very hard to be creative and keep costume prices down, especially for the girls involved in multiple classes.

Broadway workshops. We will offer two Broadway workshops once again this year. They will run for 8 weeks each, starting in April. Students enrolled in the Ballet IV class (Mon 6:30-8) will have the option to take the Intermediate Broadway class offered on Wednesday nights from 7-8pm. We will be dancing to “One Night Only” from the musical Dreamgirls. Students enrolled in Ballet III (Mon 5:15-6:30), Teen Ballet (Thur 8-9), Ballet II (Tues 7-8), and Ballet I (Tues 6-7) are invited to take the Junior Broadway class on Wednesdays from 5-6pm. We will be dancing to a medley of songs from the musical Jersey Boys. The fee for either workshop is $70 ($60 for the 8 week class and a $10 costume rental). Both Broadway classes run for 8 weeks beginning April 9 - May 28. There is a sign up sheet available in the waiting room for both classes. The $70 dollar fee for the workshop is due by April 9th (the first class).

Students, your hair and attire have gotten out of control! Please secure your hair neatly and tightly to your head so you don’t play with it all class; And now that the weather is warming up, get rid of your extra apparel!!!

REMINDER: Dress rehearsal and recital dates for Ugly Duckling and Cinderella are June 6th and June 7th.

Spring Break is Tues March 18-Mon March 24. NO CLASSES! (Except Wendy’s make-up classes)

The staff at DanceStation wishes you a warm and relaxing Spring Break!!!

The teachers and staff at DanceStation hope that 2008 brings you all peace, health, and happiness! Just a reminder that our weather policy is… if O’Fallon School District 90 closes for weather reasons, there are no classes at DanceStation. Call the studio and check the message on the machine if you are ever unsure.

2nd semester begins January 28. For those who pay tuition by the semester instead of the 5 equal installments, 2nd semester tuition is due the first week in February. Monthly tuition is also due the first week of every month. Reminder postcards go out after the 15th if no tuition has been received.

A few things to remember in the coming months…

SSDC Winter Concert: (our student company concert) is Saturday, January 19th! Everyone is invited to come and support our student company! All of the money raised goes to the State Street Dance Company fund for costumes, guest choreographers, and student scholarships. We have 8 different choreographers showcasing pieces this year! Tickets are $10 (children under 3 are free) and can be purchased at the front desk or from any SSDC company member. We hope to see you there.

DanceStation does not take off for most Monday holidays. We will have class on Jan. 21 (MLK Day) and Feb. 18 (Presidents’ Day).

The $45 costume deposit is due in February along with tuition. If for any reason your child cannot attend the recital this year I need to know ASAP. Dress rehearsal and recital dates are Friday, June 6th and Saturday, June 7th (at McKendree College). We will be measuring for costumes in the coming weeks and if I do not hear from you, a costume(s) will be ordered for your child. Once the costumes are ordered, there are no refunds. The costume balance is due in April. A statement will be mailed home to each family.

Cecchetti Exams: will be February 29, March 1 and 2. Students taking exams please check your calendars. If you have a conflict for any of those days, please let us know that now before we finalize the schedule. Our Cecchetti Theory/Pizza Party is Friday, February 22 from 4pm-6pm. All students taking exams are invited. Exam fees are as follows: Grade 1 is $45, Grade 2 is $45, Grade 3 is $55, Grade 4 is $65, Grade 5 is $75, Grade 6 is $85, and Grade 7 is $95. DanceStation makes no money on exam fees.

Cecchetti Workshops: Saturday, February 9th and Sunday February, 10th at Rena’s Dance Unlimited in Edwardsville. A flyer will be sent home with each student with times and directions at a later date. Thanks! Elizabeth

Parents remind your children to wait for you indoors. Just trying to keep everyone safe!

Christmas/Winter Break: No classes Fri. Dec 21 – Sat. Jan.5 (except for 2 SSDC rehearsals and a few Cecchetti 7 classes)

Weather Policy: If the schools in O’Fallon District 90 close due to poor weather conditions, dance classes are cancelled as well. If bad weather develops in the afternoon/evening while students are in school, I will leave a message on the machine if classes are cancelled. Please call and check the recording on the machine if you are ever unsure!!!

Mark your calendar! The winter company concert is Saturday, Jan. 19th at McKendree College. The girls are very proud of their dances, and we would love to see you there.

Please have a safe and wonderful break! Happy Holidays from the teachers and staff at DanceStation!!!!

Reminders:

Tuition: Parents/Guardians please try to get your monthly tuition in by the first week of each month. Reminder postcards are sent out after the 10th of the month.

Attire and hair: A solid color leotard, pink tights, and hair secured neatly in a bun, are required for all students in Ballet I and up.

Happy Halloween: There are no classes on Wednesday, October 31. Make-up classes are available if you so choose.

DanceStation tanks are in and ready to be picked up at the front desk. The cost is $18 per tank. Also, if you wanted to order a DanceStation calendar or recital DVD from last year, but missed your chance, we have a few available at the front desk. Calendars are $15 and DVD’s are $18 each.

Recital fee of $10 (per family) is due in November.

Watch week/Parent Observation begins November 12-17. Parents/relatives are invited in to watch each class! Please remember to turn off your cell phones and keep small children well supervised. We do have class on Veteran’s Day, as well as most Monday holidays. Check your September Newsletter for the studio yearly calendar when in doubt.

Cecchetti Weekend hosted by DanceStation is November 17th and 18th. Saturday, Nov. 17th Grade 4 4:30-6 pm Sunday, Nov. 18th Grade 3/5 10-11:30 am Grade 2 12:30-1:30 pm Grade 1 1:30-2:30 pm

State Street Dance Company. Rehearsals are under way and the girls are looking forward to their winter performance on January 19th. A SSDC weekly fruits/snacks basket has been introduced to our students at DanceStation thanks to Mrs. Heidi Shepherd. A variety of snacks are available for $1 each, and all proceeds go into the SSDC fund for costumes and scholarships. Also, SSDC member Kathryn Krev has taken it upon herself to sell candy bars at her school during lunch as a fundraiser for SSDC.

Thanksgiving/Fall Break is November 19-25. Happy Thanksgiving from all of the teachers and staff at DanceStation!

Thanks! Elizabeth

Welcome back dancers and hello to new students! Most of you by now have seen some of the new decor. Thank you to all of my painters who helped create such a cool dressing room over the summer for the girls. Much appreciated!

Pictures and DVD’s are in! You may pick them up in the office/waiting room at your convenience. Please make sure you pay for your DVD’s before you take one.

DanceStation Tank-tops. A group order will be placed by next Friday (September, 14), so order soon if you would like one.

Reminder: September is evaluation time. We will be making sure everyone has been placed in the best class for her/his abilities. For the most part the schedule is set now, but some rearranging was necessary already. Thank you in advance for your patience.

State Street Dance Company is selling DanceStation picture calendars. You can order one from any SSDC member or use the sign-up sheet in the waiting room. Calendars are $15 and will be available around the 3rd week of September.

Students are expected to follow the dress code (ask for a brochure if you don’t have one). Older students please set a good example in this respect. Yes, I mean your hair too. All students in ballet classes (DR I and up) are asked to wear their hair in a bun or secured neatly to the head.

Listed on the website is DanceStation’s yearly calendar. There are a few dates needing to be filled in, but most of them are there. I know many of you plan your vacations around the recital, so mark your calendars now! June 6 is dress rehearsal and June 7 is the recital at McKendree College. The calendar and the monthly newsletters will also be posted on our website, www.dancestation.biz.

We have some interest for a daytime preschool class; if you know anyone interested please have them call the studio.

Have a great year!!! Thank you from all of our staff—Elizabeth Conway, Lisbeth Brown, Dianna Chadwick-Andrews, Wendy Ballard, and desk help—Andrea Roberts, Melissa Cheston, and Tirssa Schaefer.