Spring concert important information

Notes from Julie:

SPRING CONCERT REHEARSAL

THURSDAY, MAY 17^TH at 4:30 PM

KING FINE ARTS CENTER

We will start with finale’ first and then start the show from the beginning and run all the way thru…I can’t give you an end time as it all depends on how smoothly things go…it will end when it ends. But since we’re starting with the finale’ you will be able to leave as soon as your final dance is completed. However, please don’t leave without checking in with your instructor first. 

Dress for this is dancewear, no costumes or makeup is needed for the run through.

NEW THIS YEAR: I’ll be passing out the participation/attendance certificates and individual awards during the dress rehearsal…immediately following the finale’ rehearsal instead of after the Performance. However all of the Most Improved Dancer and Dancer of the Year Awards will be announced at the conclusion of the performance on Friday.

SPRING CONCERT PERFORMANCE

FRIDAY, MAY 18^TH at 7 PM

KING FINE ARTS CENTER

 Ø  Tiny Tots, Kinderkids, and Kidz need to be there, in costume and makeup promptly at 6:30pm. Meet your instructor in the dressing room.

Ø  Juniors, Teens & Seniors be in the hallway behind the green rooms promptly at 5:45pm for warm-up – have your makeup and hair done prior to arriving at the King Fine Arts Center!

Ø  Please invite all your family and friends and don’t forget to let them know that there is no admission charge!­­

Ø  Please sit in the center front section of the theatre. We have a very small clientele and when a small audience is spread out in that theatre it really looks empty!

 NOTE: The Irish Dancers will be doing their performance at 6pm. It will last about 30 minutes and you may attend for free. Our show will start at 7:00pm and last approx 1 ½ hrs.

Important Reminder, Pictures and Performances!!

Important Reminder:

There will be NO classes the week of March 25-31.  Enjoy the Sunshine and Spring Break.  Come back next week refreshed and read y to finish the year strong!

Dance Pictures:

Cost:   $15.00 for first costume & $5.00 for each additional costume for the same dancer

Monday April 30               All G-Force Senior Groups & Senior Company Solos at 4:00pm

Tuesday May 1                 Jr. Company group dances & solos – starting at 4:00pm

                                         KinderKidz class – starting at 4:30pm

                                         Kidz class – starting at 5:00pm

Wednesday May 2           All Tiny Tots & Teens – starting at 5:00pm

All pictures come on a CD with a copyright release so you can print as many as you like.

Pictures must be paid for prior to the photo session. You will receive an order forms prior to the picture day. Please fill them out prior to arriving for the pictures… and you can either pre-pay Julie or pay for them the day of the pictures but ALL ORDERS MUST BE PAID FOR BEFORE PICTURES ARE TAKEN!

Make checks out to: Abrey Adams Photography (DO NOT make checks out to Julie’s Danceworks!) You can also pay by cash.

Dance Performances:

Performances:                  For: Tiny Tots, KinderKidz, Kidz, Teens, & Juniors

Thursday May 3^rd              Highland Estates 6:00pm               2050 Hiland Ave., Burley

                                             Warren House 7:00pm                   1301 Bennett Ave., Burley

                             A performance order will be given to you prior to the day of the show.

Very Insightful Article- Must Read

Below is an article written by Alexis Thebolt, a professional dancer and competition judge.  Julie received permission to post this because she felt it held great insight into the Dance Competition World from someone who has experienced it from both sides.

In The Spotlight

February 2012

Competing Made Me a Pro

Alexis Thebolt ~ Proffesional Dancer & Spotlight Judge

I am a competition dance kid. Most of the dancers I work with year after year are

competition kids as well. Put simply, dance competitions, like Spotlight Dance Cup, gave me the foundation I needed to become a professional dancer and thrive in this profession. I believe in the valuable opportunities competition dance provides for young performers and I will sing its praises for all to hear.

In sight of the recent dramatization of competition dance's typically healthy educational environment, I am inspired to share with you my love for this world. Without dance competition I would never have learned how to perform because I would not have stepped on a stage before an audience until I was in high school. By joining my studio's competition dance team, I experienced bright lights, stage management, and the basics of live performance from the age of seven. This exposure from such a young age has proven invaluable. I have since danced for 7,000 audience members up to five times in one day as a Radio City Rockette at the Music Hall in NYC and have learned to thrive on their presence rather than being frozen in the wings at the thought of letting my light shine. Not to mention realizing how many people behind the curtain it takes to make the pros look professional. As a judge, I encourage young dancers to fight the natural tendency to focus on the floor and let the audience hold you up with their applause. This is a skill every performer no matter their age or experience is always striving to master. I also love the Sportsmanship and Backstage awards given by Spotlight. Every performer should respect the stage management, their fellow performers, and the hundreds of people who sacrifice every day to make them so amazing.

My years of dance competition also taught me how to properly take constructive criticism. I am going to be honest. This skill continues to be a challenge for me. As a young dancer I hung on my judge's every word. I absorbed their opinions, thoughts, and suggestions like the little sponge I was. Although, based off years of personal and professional experience, I soon realized their critiques were objective, but never forgot the judges are the experts doing what they can in three minutes to make me a better dancer. It never mattered if I agreed or disagreed with them because I quickly realized we are ultimately on the same team with the same objective to take my dance to the next level. The judges had earned their spot at the desk and therefore my respect as a constructive teacher and leader in my dance evolution. This resonates with me today in the professional world. My director and dance captain have a vision. It is my job to make their dreams reality. If I do something that does not fit their vision I am given a correction. This "note" is not personal. It is simply what needs to be fixed regardless of what I think. The director and dance captain have earned the right to critique me and deserve my absolute respect as their performer.

I have watched the dramatic dance competition shows as I am sure you have. I find myself entertained yet slightly put off. At times, I think they provide valuable

lessons to the young performer like wearing black shoes with black tights or pushing one's self to learn a new dance quickly and perform it before an audience; but the yelling at children and their parents is unacceptable. Dance is supposed to be fun! Competition dance is no exception. As a judge and Spotlight as an organization, we are touring the country to have a great time and encourage dance education in a happy, healthy community along the way.

In the same vein, the harsh competitive edge of casting portrayed on the television show, although inappropriate for five year olds, is unfortunately quite realistic in the life of the professional. I have been to hundreds, if not thousands, of auditions and at only one did I receive a courtesy call when I was not cast after making it all the way through to being measured for costumes. What was it? Why was I not cast? My torso was too long. The company did not want to rebuild all the costumes to fit me so they went with another girl who looked just like me only shorter. There is typically no rhyme or reason why certain people are "cut" and others "kept" and ultimately cast. The sooner a young dancer realizes to be a professional, one not only needs fantastic talent but the thickest of thick skins and a little luck the better in my opinion. I personally think encouragement and positive reinforcement are more effective motivators than their opposites, but this philosophy is not necessarily the norm on Broadway or on set in L.A.

More than anything, a young dancer needs a strong support system behind them and a deep personal conviction within them self to make it as a performer in the professional dance world. My goal as a judge and Spotlight's as a family is to instill these traits and nourish a young performer's confidence. I felt similar building blocks set in me as a dance competitor and I hope the dancers I see and speak to feel the same. There is no better forum than competition dance to learn what needs to be accomplished to become a professional performer. I am living proof!

Added performance for Juniors

ATTENTION JUNIORS!!!

Additional Performance!

Monday March 5th at East Minico Junior High - drill show

You will be performing "All the Pretty Little Ponies" and "Speaking French". 

You need to arrive at East Minico at 6:00pm in costume and makeup - Show starts at 6:30pm

Admission charge is $2 for the audience.

Show order: #8 Ponies & #18 French

Nexus Dance Competition

Nexus Competition Boise

March 3, 2012

Caldwell High School - (MapQuest or Google the directions to the facility)

3401 S Indiana Ave

Caldwell, ID 83605

Below is a schedule of the event and some notes from Julie.  Please make note of the location and the time you are expected to arrive.  Thanks! 

Schedule of Events:

Nexus Dance often runs ahead of schedule. Please be prepared to dance 30 minutes prior to your scheduled performance time. Dancers who are unavailable to dance by their scheduled performance time may be subject to disqualification, or may perform for adjudication only.

Doors open at 8:45am…Senior Soloists: come with your hair and makeup done!!! There will barely be enough time to warm-up, get into costume & and run through your dance.

9:15                  Teen Solos – Nicole, Nikela, Liberty, Ellie (Shelby?)

10:30                Senior Solos – Shaelyne, Jenna, Sarah (Courtney?)

11:15                 Mini / Junior Solos

12:30                All Advanced Duo / Trios

1:15                   Solo & Duo / Trio Awards

Junior Company dancers…arrive at 12:15 with your hair and makeup done!!! We will warm-up, run thru your dances and get into costume.

2:15                  All Novice Competition Numbers – all Jr. Co. solos & group dances

3:15                  Novice Awards – ALL JUNIOR DANCERS ARE EXPECTED TO STAY FOR AWARDS!!! NO EXCEPTIONS!!!

3:45                 All Advanced Small Groups, Large Groups, & Lines – All Sr. Co. dances

7:15                  Final Awards – ALL SENIOR DANCERS ARE EXPECTED TO STAY FOR AWARDS!!! NO EXCEPTIONS!!!

STUDENTS…FYI…

*Don’t forget to wear your company sweatshirts. You are required by Nexus to have on a cover-up whenever you are in the audience.

*You will not be allowed to leave the facility between solo awards and group competition for lunch…you will need to have your parent bring something to the facility. You will have a few minutes to eat immediately following the solo awards.

*ALSO…do not leave the dressing room without permission from Julie…it makes me cranky when I have to come and find you.

NOTE TO THE PARENTS. The one thing that will make me cranky and stressed is if your child is late in arriving at the facility. It’s not a good way to start the day. Please make sure you allow enough travel time, taking into consideration road construction, weather conditions, etc.

ALSO…be loud and proud when they dance…our enthusiasm vastly contributes to their confidence onstage. Don’t call out individual names but be aggressive in your cheering for them. I’m looking forward to a great competition!

Julie

Important Dates for Senior and Junior Companies

Competition time is here again!!!

Here are some important dates to get on your calendar.  Your presence at all competitions is MANDITORY, and no excuses will be accepted!!!

Senior company:

Saturday, Feb 18^th- Mini Cassia Scholarship Showcase, Minico High School- 2PM

Monday, Feb 20^th- Presidents Day…Class WILL BE HELD

Fri-Sat March 2^nd & 3^rd-Nexus Dance Competition, Boise

Fri-Sat April 20^th & 21^st –Spotlight Dance Cup, Nampa

Fri-Sat April 27^th & 28^th-Dance Unlimited, Burley

Thursday, May 17^th -Spring Concert dress rehearsal

Friday, May 18^th –Spring Concert

Junior company:

Saturday, Feb 18^th- Mini Cassia Scholarship Showcase, Minico High School- 2PM

Fri-Sat March 2^nd & 3^rd-Nexus Dance Competition, Boise

Fri-Sat April 20^th & 21^st –Idaho Dance Fest, Pocatello

Fri-Sat April 27^th & 28^th-Dance Unlimited, Burley

Thursday, May 17^th -Spring Concert dress rehearsal

Friday, May 18^th –Spring Concert

Julie is trying to pick up another competition in Idaho Falls/Pocatello or Seniors and Juniors, but has not firmed things up yet.  Stay tuned for more info on this.

Senior Center Dances Tonight!

TODAY!!!

December 7th (Wednesday)


Performance at Highland Estates, 2050Hiland Ave., Burley 6:00pm
Dancers need to arrive, ready to go, at 5:40pm – as soon as the show is done at Highland Estates we will go directly to the next performance
Performance at The Warren House, 1301 Bennet Ave., Burley 7:00pm



There will be no class for Tiny Tots or Kidz due to the performances