​Why I volunteer?
 
Three years ago, I was asked to volunteer during one of the three recital performances. Not sure what I was getting into, I tentatively agreed.  Today, I’m one of the first people to sign up for the volunteer list.  In fact, if I only had one night available, I would probably pick volunteering back stage over seeing the performance.
 
Here’s why:
 
Watching the recital from the front of the stage is spectacular!  You are able to see how all of the performers come together, their bright smiles and at times their tentative steps. But there is so much more to the story of the performance: a story that can only be gleamed from backstage.
 
When you volunteer, you get an insider view of the energy of the dancers. You are able to see their anticipation, hear their eager chatter as they wait, and celebrate their love of dance.
 
During the evening, I am able to get a glimpse on how the magic of the performance comes together. This includes the hustle and bustle of getting dancers ready for a quick change to the nervous energy as they wait for that call on stage.
 
If I didn’t volunteer, I would have missed:
·         Seeing how a class came together to help calm one of their dancer’s nervousness
·         The role models the older dancers have become as they guide the dancers towards the stage
·         the delight that a four year has as they leave kiss marks on a piece of paper
·         being able to hug your child both immediately before and after their dance
·         how all of the hard work beautifully comes together
 
The team of volunteers all work together to ensure that each dancer is confident and ready to get on stage. From double checking their head band is secure to ensuring they have on the right pair of shoes. Yes, there are moments where we gently suggest a quieter activity or give a kind word to a child that is worried. But in all, this is the experience that makes it all happen.
 
As an added bonus, volunteers are able to support their child and classmates before, during and after the performance. It is wonderful to see your child on the stage. I love the beauty of the entire performance, but the true magic happens back stage.
 
Volunteering allows you to be an integral part of your child’s recital experience.  I encourage you to share the joy of dancing with your child and sign up to volunteer.

​It’s the Final Countdown:
 
The importance of attending rehearsal
 
Each week brings us that much closer to the big day. The day where your son or daughter gets to share their love of dance with friends and family. As we get closer to the big day, rehearsals become that much more critical. We have spent months focused on establishing the foundations, now is the time to refine them!
 
Why we Rehearse?
 
Learning a dance is much more than memorizing a series of steps. It’s about becoming comfortable with the music, working together as a team, and putting it all together. The end result-the magical performance of the recital!  
 
Building Blocks
 
A dance is a beautiful series of movements all that eventually emerge into one elegant piece.  However; your dancer does not learn a 3-minute dance in one class.
Instead it is taught in small increments. Each portion of the dance sets the foundation for the next section. The first time a dancer learns the new section, they are guided through every detail. They learn the steps, the music, the position of their hands and even the tilt of their heads. When your child misses a class, they are playing catch up, instead of being able to refine the details. This can be stressful. Regular attendance helps build the foundation, so your child is ready for the recital.
 
Boosts Confidence
Rehearsal gives your child the opportunity to practice their numbers. It is only when a dancer knows the steps, that she can pay attention to the smaller details. We want our audience to see not only the beauty in the dancers feet but also how their smile shines on stage. This can only come when your child feels confident with the number. Practice naturally breeds this confidence.
 
Working with a Team
Dance class builds friendship, creates bonds and encourages children to work together. Your child is not alone on the stage: they are working hard with a group of dancers. Each of the dancers are here to support each other. When children have frequent absences, they directly impact the team. The other students notice the gap in the line, or the absent partner, which may impact how they dance.  When the whole team rehearses together both your child and the other students’ benefit.
 
Our dance teachers spend time planning out the program to take the dance to the next level. It could be coaching your child on the placement of their hands, or ensuring that cartwheels are done safely in acro number. Dance classes are designed to be enjoyed! We want to foster that love of dance for each and every child. Rehearsals are the key to building foundations, instilling confidence and cultivating long lasting friendships!
 

Parents and caregivers are a vital part of the dance studio relationship. It is this key relationship that ensures your child’s success in dance. In order to do this, parents, children and dance teachers need to not only communicate with each other but feel comfortable doing so. At Dance Incorporated, I strive to maintain an open dialogue with parents and children alike. With 300 students coming in and out, seven days of the week, the studio can feel quite busy. My hope is that parents and child know that they are a vital part of our team! To help begin the conversation, I use a variety of tools to share the news of Dance Incorporated.
 
Reaching out:
 
The studio uses email, website, and text message alerts as the main forms of communication with both parents and students. When it comes to providing detailed information and dance studio regulations, I have chosen to send out email newsletters. These newsletters are a great way to let my clients know a lot of information in an easy to read format. In addition, to being sent to the emails on file, the newsletter will be posted on our website and our studio bulletin board.
 
Information at your Fingertips
 
There are times where information needs to be sent in an instant, like inclement weather closures or payment deadlines. For these occasions, Dance Incorporated has added a cell phone application. This is a one- way alert system, and no cell numbers will be given out at anytime. This instant message system has provided peace of mind for parents on the go, allowing them to know at an instant if class has been cancelled or to have recital information at their fingertips.
 
To join this alert reminder please do the following:

1. Add a contact to your cell phone called DANCE INC ALERT with the phone number (705)990-0109.
2. Once you have added this contact text @danceinc to this number.
3. You will automatically be added to the group.
    
   Share your Story:
    
   Sometimes it’s just nice to share about the day to day of the studio, from watching your child practice cartwheels to inspirational quotes about dance.  Our Facebook group has become an extension of our dance studio, sharing stories and images of our dancers with the Dance Incorporated community. I encourage parents and students to join our Facebook group and share their dancing stories and images. For those that don’t want to post online, I hope that you will still take the opportunity to browse the images and stories of your fellow Dance Incorporated community.
    

How to Connect with your Dance Teacher:
Our teachers love working with your children and look forward to sharing their progress with you. If you have a question or concern, we encourage you to call or email the studio. We know it’s difficult to catch us when we are teaching your children, but please know that we enjoy connecting with you.
 
We want to ensure that both adults and children know what’s going on at Dance Incorporated. So please reach out, read our newsletters, browse Facebook and let us know your thoughts about Dance Incorporated. We see each and every one of you as a vital part of our family, so please keep in touch.

Why Structure is an Essential Part of my Classes?

  That first experience in the dance studio for both parents and children can be overwhelming. The children come in curious, eager and perhaps a bit uncertain on what to expect, while, parents may be wondering if their child is ready and will this be a positive, learning experience for them?

  Research has shown that the best way to provide comfort for children while also creating an optimal environment for learning is through a structured classroom. At Dance Incorporated, we ensure that each and every one of our classes provides this sense of comfort, allowing children to naturally grow and thrive.  

So what is a preschool dance class like?

A preschool classroom is a wonderful opportunity for the 3-4 year old to appreciate the love of dance. It allows them to learn about the rhythms of music, new ways to move their body whether they are dancing like a butterfly or marching like a soldier, and simply embrace the joy of music. Creative exploration is an essential facet of our preschool classroom to both learn new techniques and tap into their growing imagination. As the weeks progress, they will adopt new terminology and techniques beginning with the fact that happy toes are also called a tendue while sad toes are known as a flexed foot. Overall, it is a fun, learning experience where their self-esteem and confidence will flourish.

  It is perhaps their first time away from parents or unstructured play. Yes, our dance classes, even for our preschoolers are structured. Young children, in particular, thrive in having routines and clear expectations. When they walk into the classroom, the children learn that this is the time for them to dance.

 

By providing simple guidelines, like no running in the classroom, we ensure your child is safe. However; safety is not the only value that structure provides. This environment helps increase attention span, learn about turn taking, and how to follow an instructor’s lead.

 

Over time, the children begin to anticipate the next part of the class and prepare for it. This calm environment creates a wonderful opportunity to focus on learning developmental skills from how to point and flex their foot to co-ordinating movements. Our teachers watch their development, slowly adding more challenging movements to advance their learning. Over time, the children learn how to bend their knees in a beautiful plié, leap off the floor as they sauté and progress to more complicated movements like skipping. Don’t worry, the steps do get harder. However; for a three year old the multiple steps involved in skipping is challenging.  Music becomes the third teacher as the children learn how to match their movement with the rhythms of songs.

 

Through the loving, care and attention of our dance instructors, the children will continue to grow and thrive. Their self-esteem will flourish, and the dance classes will be full of smiles, songs and the joy of movement.  I truly believe that it is that magic combination of our talented teachers and the structured classroom that helps fosters that life long love for dance.