Ready to take the Stage

It’s time to get ready to compete, so now what? We know the temptation is there to run your dance over and over again before you go on stage. I have just one word for you - DON’T. Preparing to perform requires much more than just running your dance. Your body is your facility and you need to allow it time to do its job. So here's a “mind your ps and qs list” - but it’s mostly just ps - Practice Performance Preparation.

The day of a competition, you should ensure you had a good night’s sleep. Eat food that nourishes you and gives you energy but is not too heavy. Drink plenty of water to be hydrated. When you arrive at a competition, hair and make-up should be done in advance so that you can focus on preparing your body. No last minute make-up touch ups are more important than giving your body what it needs to perform for you. 

When warming up your brain and body, we recommend following these five steps.

• Calisthenics - you need to get blood and oxygen flowing to your body before anything else. Start with movement to increase your heart rate and wake your body up. Some examples are jumping jacks, running, or burpees.

• Technical Foundations - next, remind your body of your core technique. This is the foundation of your training. Walk yourself through a plié sequence, tendu sequence, foot articulations, or other core technique that applies to your dance style. Be sure you are focused on correct placement and use of breath.

• Stretching - only after your body is warm should you begin stretching. Start with active stretching through lunges, side stretches, etc. Progress into deeper stretching based on your needs for your dance. Consider your hamstrings, hip flexors, and back. Ask yourself what your body needs to accomplish the movement you are asking of it.

• Core - Your body is supported through your core in all movements and you need to remind your core to activate and work for you. Go through a series of abdominal work such as crunches or planks and focus on engaging your abs for support. Then stand and work through balances and find your center.

• Run Through - Finally, do a run through of your dance. You will not have space for a full out run through, so you will need to mark through. Marking means to use your upper body full out and lower body as possible but without fully traveling or taking full jumps, leaps, etcetera. Do not just run your dance small or sloppy, that is not helping you prepare. Make sure you are on correct timing. Try any part of your dance full out that you need to - any certain extensions, skills or tricks that need extra focus. Ask yourself, does my body feel ready? Have I given my body what it needs? If not, go back through the steps again and dive deeper into any part that needs more attention.

After you have fully embraced your body warm-up, it’s time to head backstage. Here are a few tips to consider. 

Love your friends, from a distance. Give friends and family hugs and separate in advance. You need time to focus and prepare and to center yourself. Separate from others and focus in on yourself and your teacher.

Your phone is not your friend. A phone has too many distractions. Be present in the space. If you use your phone for music, try silencing notifications or download your music and keep your phone on airplane mode.

Not too early, not too late. You want to give yourself time to be backstage checked in and ready in the wings, but if you are too early, it just gives you extra time to wait and lose all of your warm up. If you wait too long, you are rushed and scattered. We recommend five dances in advance to head into the backstage area.

Why watch others? While we support all of our fellow dancers, just before you walk on to the stage is not the time to be watching others. This is your time and only about you doing your best. If you see a dancer nail their routine, it can feel intimidating to follow them. If you see a dancer make a mistake, it can shake your confidence. Focus on your own process and refrain from watching the people before you.

Affirmations, not corrections. Think of how you talk to yourself before you go on. Instead of thinking about critiques or problem areas from a perspective of what not to do - visualize yourself doing it correctly. I will be centered, I will be strong, I will breathe, I will listen to my music -- as opposed to negative comments like - don't go too fast, don't fall out of your turn, don't forget to breathe, etc.

Embrace the process not the product. Regardless of whether you perform the best it has ever been, or it’s a big hot mess - you still did it! Your value is not defined in two minutes of stage time. The work, the dedication, the energy and the love that you have for dance is what we are there to celebrate. Don’t let that be tarnished in any way - love yourself and allow others to love on you for who you are and the process you went through to make that moment on stage happen. We are proud of you.

Smizing through the pandemic

For nearly two years, we have been dancing through life behind a veil of cloth. While mask mandates swept the nation, the dance industry adjusted to teaching our art under new guidelines. As a dance studio owner, I felt the pain from my students when classes were transitioned to online learning only. Given the alternative, dancing in a mask was a small sacrifice in order to stay moving and creating art. And the energy in the air was palpable when they were finally allowed back into the studio. And I felt their ear to ear grins - even though they were covered up. And now here we are, going into another season of training dancers - performers - without being able to see their faces. As a teacher, I wondered if they were receiving the training needed to emotionally connect to an audience. When these masks come off, will they be ready?

With these questions swirling in my head, as I know they are for many other teachers, I have decided to do what dancers do best - pivot! My old standby methods of teaching performance were not going to work while wearing masks. But there are opportunities to be found in every challenge, and I have developed new ways to integrate performance skills in to my curriculum. These exercises address teaching expression on stage in a way that still honors our current guidelines and the needs of our students.

Young dancers

Exercise 1: Sit in front of them with my mask on. Ask them to give me a thumbs up when I’m smiling and a thumbs down when I’m frowning.

Exercise 2: As part of their obstacle course portion of class, one of their stations is to stand in front of the mirror and smile at themselves.

Learning Goal: These exercises help them to recognize facial expressions, even from behind the mask. This can translate to them understanding that they need to smile while performing even under their masks because we can tell!

Elementary School Aged

Exercise 1: Have them sit facing the mirror. Give them an emotion and have them make the corresponding facial expression at themselves in the mirror. Emotions should be simple and clear such as happy, sad, angry, scared, surprised.

Exercise 2: Have them sit across from a partner. Ask them to make a facial expression and have their partner guess what emotion they are portraying.

Learning Goal: This helps performers express their emotions through their faces and recognize that emotional quality in another person. This also allows them to shape their faces and see the result and what areas of their face the mask is covering, while using the areas that are visible.

Teen dancers

Exercise 1: Assign them an emotion to express through their face and their bodies. Emotions can be more complex such as frustrated, worried, excited, nervous, joyous. Allow them time to improv (create their own movement) representing this emotion. You can also call out a new emotion every 30 seconds and have them change emotions. I recommend using instrumental music or silence for this exercise.

Exercise 2: Assign a partner to each dancer and have them watch their partner move and attempt to determine which emotion they are displaying. Then have them discuss with their partner. Was the emotional portrayal clear? Did the movement style reach their eyes? How did the mask make it more difficult to connect to the emotion? What are ways to emotionally connect even with your face covered?

Learning Goal: Our older performers are capable of expressing more complexity in their emotional performance and should be able to blend their movement style and facial expressions to connect to an audience. Receiving honest feedback from peers about what aspects of their performance is connecting emotionally is extremely valuable.

We all anxiously await the day where we can spread those smiles wide and see the joy on each other’s faces. Until that time though, performance is still an essential element of training for every performing artist - so embrace those masks, and just keep smizing through!

The Best Gift of All

This Christmas, I received the most perfect present I could have asked for. I am a mom of four. The oldest is twenty four and the youngest is ten. This age span means that I have simultaneously done diapers and PSAT prep and have been both the youngest mom and the oldest mom in any given room. If there is anything I have learned, it is that no part of parenting is easy. Whenever you think you’re through the hardest part, buckle up, the next phase is coming.

My twenty-four year old son has done everything you might anticipate a young adult to do. He has gone to college, lived in the dorms, left the state, lived in an apartment, worked a full time job, succeeded, failed, learned, grew, and recently he came home. He has lived a whole life separately from us, and a whole life intertwined with us, and is now figuring out where he wants the lines to be between self and family, individual and whole. What an amazing journey to witness.

Our society teaches that success in our culture is independence. We are one of the few countries where living separately from your family is seen as a mark of aptitude and a record number of our elderly live in institutions rather than homes. We are surrounded by jokes, memes, and off handed comments about the stereotypical kid living in their parents’ basement as a hallmark of failure. So how do we embrace the idea of a family who actually thrives on staying connected? I have seen first hand the impact that being closely connected to family has had on my own son. He is a markedly better man by maintaining that connection to people who ground and support him.

This Christmas, my little boy turned grown up came down the stairs on Christmas morning in pajama pants with bright eyes just like he has for the past two decades. He sat wrapped in a blanket and opened presents with delight and reminded me that he is still my baby. And then, he carefully handed out gifts to each member of the family. Gifts that he had thought about, shopped for, hand picked, and paid for with money he earned by working hard. And each one was perfection. They were exactly what each person would have wanted and obviously took time, effort, and love. This was not a hastily wrapped gift card from a careless teen, these were heartfelt gifts of appreciation from a mature and loving man. He took his independence and financial success, and used it to connect to people he loves. And in that instant, I knew that I had done my job. I have raised a man who can stand on his own two feet, but plant himself firmly next to his family. He can open his arms wide to the world, while still wrapping them around the people who matter the most. There is no better gift.

A Fish Worth Waiting For

Owning a dance studio is tricky. Parenting a teenager is tricky. Parenting a teenager who dances at the studio you own is nearly impossible. I wear a lot of hats at the studio - director, choreographer, costume designer, music editor, cheerleader, janitor...the list goes on. Most of the time, I can switch them out at a moment’s notice, but the balance between the mom hat and the dance teacher hat takes some juggling that I have not yet mastered.

“Seriously, WALK OUT THE DOOR,” was the exacerbated order coming from my husband as I stood, in full labor with my daughter, and continued to make last minute adjustments to my dancers, holding a pillow to my contracting stomach. He finally drug me away to the hospital to refocus on the gift of life over the gift of dance. But it didn’t last long, because I drove from the hospital with my bundle of joy directly to a dance competition. In other words, my daughter was literally born into the dance life.

As a daughter of a dance teacher, my little girl started class at age two and has been dancing ever since. She has graced the stage hundreds of time and progressed from a shy toddler to an artistic teenager. She has inherited my love for music and movement and is gifted in ways that I never was. However, through all of this, she has never been the “star” student. She will never be the dancer in the front center, as she is far more comfortable in the back row stage left corner. Despite the fact that she has talent for days, her confidence is lacking, and she would prefer a humble role in the chorus over a featured lead any day.

Each summer, our studio hosts a week long intensive. Each day of the intensive, teachers are asked to choose a “stand out” student who grabs their attention in class. Standing out, or grabbing attention, would be the exact opposite of what my daughter strives for. Her powers of blending in are unparalleled. As a mom, I certainly could have made sure that my daughter was given more attention. I have the power to put her in the front of the line, give her the lead role, or ask teachers to pay her special attention. I never have, and never will. My mom taught me that anything worth having is worth working for, and you are not owed anything. So year after year has gone by with my daughter remaining comfortably below the radar and doing an excellent job of not standing out. 

Flash forward to today, when I walked into the family room to see a discarded box with the remains of a school of swedish fish. This sweet treat is a favorite of my son, so I naturally assumed he had tossed it there. Before I could manage to chastise him about picking up his trash, my daughter casually mentioned that they were hers. “Where did you get the Swedish Fish?” I questioned. To which she replied that she earned them because she was a “Stand Out” dancer today at the intensive. This is the first time in all the years she has attended that she was ever called up as a stand out. At age sixteen, my amazing daughter finally got noticed, and she did it herself. There may have been a million opportunities for me to push her into the spotlight, but none of them would have felt as bright as watching her step into it for herself. And as for her, I bet that little candy fish never tasted as sweet as it did today.

Carrying Fairies

Last week, I opened my new studio location. It was a labor of love, and after twenty years of teaching dance, who knew that I had lessons to learn? First of all, when it comes to construction, double the timeline and the budget. Second of all, it will not be perfect.

I am a confessed perfectionist. My whole life, I have heard people say that things are “good enough,” when I was looking squarely at the thing that was not nearly good enough. Whether learned or inherited, my need to go above and beyond is come by honestly and it has served me well. I have been a straight A student, a top scoring dancer, a successful business woman, and I have worn my superwoman cape proudly and flown my overachiever flag high.

This past week, when it was time to open our new studio, things were not “good enough.” 48 hours before our first class, the texture was drying on bare drywall, the underlayment held no floors, and there was not a toilet to use, unless you count the unmowed lawn in the back. My family and I, along with some amazing friends and studio families, went to work. We spent 15 hour days painting, moving, cleaning, fixing, and creating. And by Monday morning, it still was not “good enough.” I cried all morning about how to open in a space that didn’t meet my own exacting standards.

Our first camp of the summer was Fairy Garden Camp. I am known for my magical camp creations, and I was determined that this would be no different. At midnight, after a full day of work, I began decorating. We moved in mushrooms and picket fences, lily pads and fairy wings, and I did my best to believe that it was “good enough.” A dear friend told me, “your dancers don’t come for your decorations, they come for YOU. Put on a smile, and that’s all you need.” I took her words to heart and plastered on my biggest smile to greet dancers in my less than perfect space.

The workers were there Monday morning to finish laying floors, which meant that we had no access to the lobby, and the only route to the bathroom was walking around the outside of the building. Cue fifteen little fairies in ballet slippers, who instantly had to go potty every five minutes. The majority of my morning was spent scooping up fairy princesses and carrying them on the outside path through construction rubble to visit the restroom. Not my idea of perfect. But guess what? In those imperfect moments, magic happened. I giggled and told stories and heard about their favorite parts of dance class. I got to slow down and help wash little hands, and fluff tutus, and straighten fairy wings. And it was the best part of my week.

Was it perfect? Absolutely not. But did it teach me what I needed to learn? It certainly did. I gave myself the grace to love my studio space, and to love myself, even if neither of us were perfect that day. And to realize that sometimes magic can happen in the messiness. So the next time I hear that inner voice tell me that it’s not good enough, I may just take a deep breath, scoop up a fairy, and enjoy the imperfection.

A big step toward a big dream

Rendering of the new ATD lobby space.

This is a hard announcement to make, but also one that will lead to amazing new things for our company. As most of you know, my mom and I founded All That! Dance Company and Upstart Crow Studios together in 1999 and worked side by side for nearly twenty years to provide performing arts programming to our local community. A mother/daughter partnership is a unique bond and every child we worked with became part of our extended family. We moved in to the current Eugene studio location over a decade ago and every surface in this building has been changed, touched, painted, and molded into a place where our vision could take root. I feel my mom in every project, every wall, every empty space, and as a result, moving on seems a daunting task.

My mom and I had been talking for several years about the next dream for the future. The building we have been in is outdated, the landlord was not interested in making upgrades, the space is a bit of a maze, and there had been some ongoing safety concerns in the neighborhood. Several years ago we began working with a commercial real estate agent to find a new space that would move forward with us in to the next phase of our dream. All that came to a crashing halt when my mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The next three years became about surgeries, chemo treatments, hospital stays, and eventually the painful process of losing my best friend, my business partner, my mom. In the wake of this, all I wanted to do was hold still. Life felt like it was quaking under my feet and I wanted to regain composure and find balance in the program we had created together. Unfortunately, that was not to be.

With the death of my mom, the direction of Upstart Crow Studios was out of her hands and mine. The organization made a decision that they no longer wanted to partner with me and I was asked to leave the building. This felt like another huge loss as Upstart Crow has been a huge part of not just my life, but of my entire family’s lives. From my husband serving on the board for over a decade, to my sister doing graphic design and social media work, my brother doing IT work, my aunt coordinating screen printing, my children all volunteering countless hours...this was a labor of love and a true family affair. It is hard to announce that neither I, nor any of my family, is affiliated in any way with Upstart Crow. This is a huge loss to our family, but we know that the legacy our mom leaves behind is not contained in one building, or by one program. Anyone who ever met my mom knows that she was a force to be reckoned with and that she spread unconditional love, support, and artistry to everyone who had the pleasure of meeting her. That will most certainly live on.

The end result of this difficult path is that Josh and I have made a huge leap of faith by purchasing a commercial property that will become the new home of All That! Dance Company. We closed on the property this past Friday. While we had hoped to have more time to make this transition, we know that our amazing families will jump on board and that this move will lead toward the next phase of not just incredible arts opportunities for our kids, but the continued bonds of community as well. We will be quickly renovating the existing 4,000 SF structure on the property to open July 8th for our summer programming. We will have three studios, all ground level, along with increased parking. The new space is located at 687 River Avenue, which is less than 5 miles from our current space, and also right off the Beltline exit. While we are excited for this first phase, it is just a quick stop on the path to our larger goal. Our long term plan includes doubling the size of the building to expand to a nearly 10,000 SF building that will house five state of the art dance studios. This will allow us to expand our offerings and continue the level of excellence you’ve come to expect from ATD.

Here are a few things we are super excited about with the new space:

• Increased parking. No more battling for parking spots. Our new parking lot will have ample parking for parents.

• Safety. We unfortunately dealt with a lot of the transient population in the Whiteaker area which led to multiple police calls to remove people from the property and a couple of instances of unwanted people on site in the building. Our new property is set back from the street, secure, and not in an area where we have to worry about this problem.

• Access. Our new studio will sit just off of the freeway exit, so no more battling downtown traffic, or the train!

• Expansion. The new site allows for expansion. We will move in with the same amount of studio space we currently enjoy and then be able to expand to nearly double the space which allows us to plan for the future.

• Autonomy. This past year of sharing space has been difficult and we have had to move or cancel many events due to the space not being available. We will now have the ability to schedule all of our space to fit our needs and what is best for our students.

• Viewing Space. With our new design plan, our studios will be upgraded to include viewing options in every studio, as well as a fabulous open design plan.

We are currently working with the City of Eugene, which has been its own challenge, in terms of providing site plans, submitting for permits, etcetera to get the work done. While we would like to move this forward as soon as possible, the wheels of change turn slower at the city, so we are at their mercy in terms of getting everything approved in order to start our renovation plan. We honestly can’t wait though to watch the next twenty years of ATD as we grow into this new space. Thank you so much for all of your love and support of your dancers, and us. We couldn’t do it without you.

Practice to Lose

As a dance teacher, I spend a lot of my time encouraging kids to practice. Practice makes perfect. Practice makes progress. Practice like you perform. We have all kinds of sayings to encourage our dancers to work hard and practice their craft. Why do we ask them to practice? Because we want them to do well, to be prepared, to be successful, to “win.” But here’s the thing, in any given circumstance, that child may or may not come out on top.

If practice is the best preparation, then why don’t we have our children practice losing? I know, I know, that sounds crazy to our success driven society, but the truth of the matter is, that your child is going to face disappointment. While we are so busy preparing them to do their best and to win, I hear very little discussion about losing. In fact, it seems that many parents try to avoid the experiences of loss or disappointment for their child at all costs. I would suggest that we do the opposite. I encourage you to put your child in to situations where they can practice losing, and still be okay.

At any given dance competition, I may have ten dancers competing for the same top spot. Simple mathematics tells you that one may win, and the other nine will “lose.” And that is not even taking in to consideration all of the other dancers from other studios in attendance. So I’m going to let you in on my dirty little secret, I actually love it when my dancers lose. Here are the amazing things that happen when a child does not come out on top.

1. It tests whether they are dancing because they love it, or whether they are dancing to earn a trophy. I want my dancers to love dance, regardless of their placement.

2. It allows them to face disappointment in a controlled way that does not disrupt their safety or life trajectory.

3. They are able (hopefully) to gracefully congratulate those who placed better than them and learn to genuinely appreciate the success of others.

4. They learn that while disappointing, an unsuccessful outcome does not define their experience.

5. They come back to the studio eager to train and improve upon their skills. In short, it makes them “hungry” - and that’s the best kind of dancer to train.

Admittedly, I am not a huge fan of dance competitions in general, however there is one aspect that I do find very valuable, and that is to teach life skills. I would much rather see a child experience disappointment for the first at ten around a dance trophy than at twenty around a job placement. If they learn at a young age that disappointment is part of the process and does not define the journey, they are much more capable of handling setbacks in their adult life. That resilience is worth far more than any trophy they could receive. So I say, bring on the losses! Let our kids soak them up, learn that life goes on, and love what they do regardless of the outcome - that is the true win!

Less Influence, More Love

I have been a dance educator for over twenty years and have seen the times a changing and life ebb and flow. Each generation has their own views on the next and there are always areas to be appreciated and others to be maligned. Such is life. I will say that I am so glad that I grew up when I did and I would never want to be a teenager in today’s current world.

As a teen, we are so hard on ourselves. Fitting in is paramount and the mold is hard casted. Look at any photo of the 80s and you tell me how we were all convinced to tease our bangs that high and kill untold numbers of braincells via Aquanet fumes. We wanted to fit in. Today’s teens are no different. However, in our day (yes, I really did just sound that old) the influence of our peers was finite. It existed within the confines of school classrooms, cafeterias, football fields, and the occasional phone call at the kitchen counter with the egg timer counting down your minutes of contact. Beyond those constraints, our world was influenced primarily by our parents, our church, our community, our neighbors, our teachers, our extended family. Each of these places housed a wealth of experience, knowledge, and wisdom that led us in the right direction and balanced the impetuous nature of our friends.

No adult with a fully formed frontal lobe would allow a teen to determine their nutritional habits or fashion choices, let alone the direction of their life. However, our teens are swimming in a sea of peer influence that is far beyond what we ever faced. With the advent of social media, teens now have 24-7 access to information. Some of that is fabulous and enriching. However, along with that information, comes an avalanche of expectations and pressure. We can all remember the feeling of having to put on the best face for high school. Whether that was the right outfit, right hairstyle, right group to be in, right sport to play, right grades to get - there were expectations to be met that were driven by an invisible life force that is teen social pressure. That pressure is now streaming to our children through the palm of their hands in a constant feed.

An increasing number of my students are struggling with stress and anxiety in what feels like record numbers. These teens need a soft place. While many of them have amazing connections with friends, I strongly believe that teens need a place away from peer influence — a place to connect to their own thoughts, their own beliefs, their own values. As parents, we need to be that place.

Put down the phone. Ignore the text. Turn off the TV. Build back the walls we used to have to separate our children from the outside world when they were home. Let them escape the pressure and the expectations long enough to breathe. Allow them to be surrounded by people who love them unconditionally, and see their authentic selves. Your teens will never have a shortage of outside influence; it is readily available twenty four hours a day. What they need is less influence, and more love. Wrap them up in you, even when they protest. The phone will still be there tomorrow. Technology may be infinite, but your time with them is fleeting.

Just Trust: A Parent's Guide to getting back on the bleachers

I have taught dance to young children for over two decades. Through that time, I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly, with an insider’s look at parenting trends through the years. The great news is, the end goal for parents is still the same - to have healthy, kind, well-adjusted children. I am fortunate to work with amazing families who truly support their child’s passion. I have seen a shift, however, in the way that parents express that support -- moving from bleacher cheerleaders to sideline coaches. Now this is certainly a generalization because no two parents are made alike, but in general, I have seen a huge shift in a parent’s need to “get in the game” along with their child. Never before have I had parents give so much input on what class their child should be in, what costume they should wear, which song they should dance to...the list goes on.

Now you can peek at any dance teacher facebook group to see the long list of complaints about how annoying it is to have our expertise questioned by parents. However, I tend to wake up on the brightside every morning and lean over to drink from a glass half full, so you aren’t going to see me jump on the bandwagon of bemoaning our fate as underappreciated dance teachers. The fact of the matter is, parents want to be involved because they love what their child is doing. They are excited about it, and they want to feel their opinion matters. All of these are good things! I do, however, wish that parents would give themselves a break every once in a while.

I’m a mom of four and boy do I feel like I’m expected to wear a lot of hats. I should be an organic chef, an expert on healing oils, a master party-planner - and that’s all in addition to my daily tasks of chauffeur, nurse, and chief bottle washer. Seriously people, it’s exhausting! And now, to top it off, I should be an expert on every activity my child picks up. Apparently, in order to be an involved parent, I should tell their piano teacher whether they should play Mozart or Bach, coach the perfect spiral on their football toss, and ponder the most pleasing shade of pink on their watercolor art -- no thank you! To be honest, my mom didn’t even know what song I was dancing to until she showed up at my recital and would have never dreamed of commenting on any part of my dance training. It was outside of her reach, and that was okay.

So here is my plea to parents on behalf of your child’s teachers, and on behalf of us moms out here just barely hanging on - you don’t have to be all things to all people. Choose teachers for your child who you respect for their knowledge and for their values. Then step back and trust them to do the work. Trust that if your child doesn’t advance to the next level that they will still be learning. Trust that if your child isn’t first chair in the orchestra that they are strong enough to handle setbacks. Trust that if someone else gets chosen for the lead in the school play that your child may have more fun in the chorus. Just trust.

So let’s make a pact to expect a little less of each other and ourselves. It’s okay to let teachers and coaches do their jobs and to reclaim your title as chief cheerleader. I’ll take a seat on the bleachers right there beside you. And if you feel the need to bring the organic snacks and bedazzle the signs, that’s okay. I’ll be the mom holding the cheetos I dug out from the bottom of my purse. I won’t judge if you don’t.

Listen Up Buttercup!

This one is for all my dance teacher friends out there. It's that time of year again....heading in to a new dance season! And if you teach little ones, then you know that keeping your class focused is about as easy as herding cats! But lucky for you, I've got a few tricks of the trade to keep your dancer's focus where it should be - on you! We use a lot of techniques in class to keep our dancers busy, but my favorite way to get their attention is a fun call and response. Kids eat this up and love to answer back. So, here you go - pick your favorite or switch it up all year long. And if you have any other great ones to add to my list, let me know. 

Holy moly - GUACAMOLE

Shark Bait - OOH HA HA

Alright STOP - COLLABORATE & LISTEN

Crew? - AYE, AYE CAPTAIN

Peanut butter - JELLY TIME

Winner winner - CHICKEN DINNER

To Infinity - AND BEYOND!

Mac N Cheese - EVERYBODY FREEZE

Red Robin - MMMMMMM

Easy Peasy - LEMON SQUEEZY

Du na na na (sing the Batman theme song) - BATMAN!

Scooby Dooby Doo - WHERE ARE YOU?

So there you go, loads of fun ways to call out to your dancers and get them engaged in your class - and to think you're pretty fun too. Happy dancing everyone!

Catching Teardrops

I was six years old. My mother’s footsteps echoed in the elementary school corridor as she sprinted to my classroom, summoned by a call from my teacher. She rushed to my side only to find that the floodgates to my uncontrollable sobbing had been opened because my desk was messy. I have always been a crier.

Through the years, my mom has rushed to my side on countless occasions and no matter how mundane the circumstance, her touch, her concern, and her ability to calm the floods has remained steady. I can still feel the cool touch of the back of her hand wiping away the tears from scraped knees, to teenage break ups, to the birth of my children. The highs and lows of my life have all been seen through tear-stained eyes. Now her tactics through the years were varied, from warm hugs, to a stoic, “you are a Duncan,” (i.e. toughen up), to my personal favorite mantra that she would ask me to recite to myself, “I can do hard things.” But she was there for every step and caught every tear.

Three years ago, my mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Having already survived breast cancer, her mission was clear. She is the daughter of a marine and going to battle was the only option. And so it began. Years of surgeries, procedures, chemotherapy, countless hospitalizations, and a fierce determination that she would survive. Through it all, I held her hand, drove her to each appointment, learned the path to 7th floor oncology by heart, and watched as my mom handled adversity in her own way - with nary a tear. Crying had never been my mom’s way. She was always loving, but also tough, and not one to sob over a Hallmark commercial - apparently, the waterworks genes were all saved for me. But one night, in the dark of the hospital room, I went to lay next to her in the bed. She had become so thin that I could easily slide in beside her, carefully avoiding tubes and wires. I rested my cheek on hers and sobbed silently trying not to wake her. When I looked up, her eyes were open and a single tear slid down her cheek. I reached up and gently caught it on the back of my hand.

Through the next several months, I saw more tears. Tears of pain, tears of regret, and tears of sorrow slip from my mom’s eyes. I tried my best to catch every one. And I cried buckets. I filled rivers of tears and they haven’t stopped flowing. Some days it feels as though they never will. So each time I feel them coming, I quickly wipe my eyes, take deep breaths, tell myself “I am a Duncan,” and repeat my daily mantra, “I can do hard things.” Because doing life without my mom is the hardest thing that I have ever done. And I would give anything for her to be here to catch one more teardrop.

Note: This season I choreographed a piece embodying this story entitled "Catching Teardrops." It was beautifully danced by Miss Emily Singer. Video below for those who are interested. Dedicated in loving memory to Eularee Duncan Smith. Gone but never forgotten.

Ten Steps to Be Ready for the New Dance Season

Choose Your Classes. Review the recommendations your teachers have made for you. They know you best, so take their advice to heart. Be sure you have technique classes first as your foundation. Then, include classes that you truly love and feel confident in. Finally, consider a class that is in a style you haven’t tried or might be outside of your comfort zone. Register now as classes fill and we want to see you in your favorite class!

Balance Your Schedule. Consider your schedule for life as well as dance. Be sure you have enough time for schoolwork, for friends, and for family. Dance should be one aspect of your life, but allow time for other interests as well.

Inventory Your Dancewear. Pull out last year’s dance clothes and take a look. Donate leotards that no longer fit and throw out tights with rips or stains. Get an accurate look at what you actually have for the season. Label EVERYTHING with your name inside so that we can get lost items back to you. Here are a few dance essentials you’ll want to have for the year:

1. Black camisole leotard
2. Nude underleo
3. Black dance shorts
4. Tights
5. Correct dance shoes for each style

Check the Dress Code. Each class has a specific dresscode and the required shoes are what you need to get the most out of class. They will also be the same shoes used for performances and it is important to practice in what you will perform in. You’ll want to order your shoes early in case there are any fitting issues, so get orders in now. Click here to check out our online store.

Water bottle. You’ll want a water bottle for class that you can refill at home, is large enough to last through class time, and that you can easily label with your name. Food and drink are not allowed in the dance studio, but waterbottles are encouraged.

Stock up on hair supplies. Long hair must be secured from your face for dance class. Hair is a distraction and you want it to be out of the way so that you can focus in class. Purchase heavy strength rubberbands for class and keep extras in your dance bag. You should also have bobbypins and hairnets on hand for the season. Now is a great time to stock up.

Invite a friend. Dance is even better when it is shared. Our studio has a referral program that let’s you get paid to invite friends to dance - it’s a win-win! But most of all, sharing something you love with other people can make it even more fun. Don’t be afraid to let people know that you dance and see if they’d like to try a class with you. You never know who might be interested and just need a little extra boost of confidence that you can offer.

Mark Your Calendar. Dance is a ten month season and there are so many exciting performances and events. Be sure to mark your calendar now so that you know the commitments coming up. Your group relies on you and it’s important to take that seriously by tracking all extra rehearsals and shows.

Get To Know Your Teacher. You can check out the website before class to see who you will be working with. Every teacher has something valuable to offer and while a new teacher may be intimidating, go in to class with an open mind. A new teacher may just turn in to your favorite teacher! Check out the teacher’s bios on the ATD teacher page to learn a little about them.

Spread Some Sparkle! Dance is all about high energy, enthusiastic FUN! Come in to class with positive energy and ready to learn. Have a mindset that this is going to be the best season ever and infect those around you with your sparkle. We love dancing and can’t wait to love it even more with you!

Suck It Up Cupcake

I’m the mother of four amazing kiddos, ranging in age from eight to twenty-two. So that means that I have done it all -- from diapers to college applications, braiding doll hair to setting up dorm rooms. No part of it was easy – ever. At each stage of parenting, you fool yourself in to thinking the next part is going to be easier. I believe this is necessary for self-preservation. But coming from someone who is simultaneously on the other side, and still in the weeds, there is no easy path.

There has been a new trend in parenting though that has given me pause as an educator. I tried to find a beautifully articulated phrase, but gave up, so I’ll just say this – we have forgotten to teach our kids to suck it up. Now I say we, because I admit to my own shortcomings here as well. My mother would scoff at the lack of chores my children have and the fact that I still clean their rooms for them. But, in my defense, I have for the most part pulled it together and have been the recipient of many rolled eyes, slammed doors, and stomped feet – in my book, that means I’m winning.

As a dance teacher, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a parent tell me that little Suzy has decided that she doesn’t want to do dance anymore or Mary Jane is tired after school so they need to give her a break. Now don’t get me wrong, I do not agree with forcing your child to go to dance class. For my sake and theirs, I want to teach children who are as excited to come to class as I am to teach them. However, I’m talking more about the kids who don’t feel like dancing that day, or the teen who wants more time to socialize and can't be bothered to show up to practice. I’m sorry, but if I let my kids do nothing every time they said they didn’t feel like it, nothing would get done – period.

And believe me, I get it. My youngest can whine with the best of them, and she makes the walk from the lobby to the studio rival crossing the Sahara with her dragging feet. She is often “too tired” to go to class. But I make her go anyway (cue the wicked witch of the west music). Yes, it’s true, I force her to do something she doesn’t want to do at that exact moment. I also make her eat vegetables and brush her rat’s nest of hair if you want to add to my crimes against childhood. And guess what, ten minutes in to the class that she didn’t want to go to, she is absolutely great. Smiling, well-behaved, and participating. She saves all her sass and drama for me. And she comes out of class flushed, sweaty, and giggling. And that’s a win!

As a business owner, I hear time and time again how this generation has no work ethic and no follow through. Now personally, I have met some of the most dedicated, outstanding young men and women, who represent their generation with nothing but the highest standards. But maybe that’s because they didn’t sit out of dance class! As adults, there is a daily laundry list of tasks that we have to do just because they need to get done. In my humble opinion (sorry mom), our children should have a much shorter list. However, that doesn’t mean that we can’t take opportunities to show them how to live responsibly. If you make a commitment to a team, you show up. If you decide to invest in a sport or activity, you see it through. If you aren’t “feeling it” that day, guess what? I wasn’t “feeling it” when I had to scrub the dirty toilet this morning, yet somehow you peed in a clean bowl. Come on parents, we can do this!  I have way too many students who decide to give up when the going gets tough. These are smart, talented, bright students who just need a little push in the right direction. So, let’s get moving - I’m right there behind you to add a little shove if needed. We owe it to these kids to expect more and trust me, they can deliver.

So, the next time your kiddo is too tired, bored, sick, busy, (insert the excuse of the day here)….to do what you know is the right thing to do – repeat after me…”suck it up, cupcake" - and just keep on dancing!

My Courtney Volta Moment

In the afterglow of the Nutcracker, as I stood in a lobby filled with bouncing dancers and loving parents, I felt the grasp of a dancer’s hand on my arm. Turning towards her, I recognized the teary eyes of pride as she said to me, “I just had my Courtney Volta moment.” I chuckled and gave her a hug as I instantly knew just what she meant. For those of you who might not be as “in the know” – let’s travel backwards a bit.

My studio is in its final year as a teenager. That means that some of our first baby dancers are now full fledged adults with lives, careers, families…lordy, we’re feeling old! And the legacy they have created over nearly two decades is certainly one to be proud of.

One of my earliest dancers was the bubbly Miss Courtney. This little lady lit up a stage as soon as she stepped foot on it and continued to set the bar high as she danced her way through her teen years. She graced many stages, won many awards, and starred in many productions. However, I would like to think she earned her spot as a respected mentor in the simpler moments at the studio. Her bright smile welcomed little dancers to class as she assisted in our baby ballet programs. She was actively involved in not only the studio, but in her school, and greater community. Her ability to shine on stage while also shining her light on others was noticed by many younger dancers in our studio. The “next generation” of students certainly looked up to her and many dancers wanted to be just like Miss Courtney.

Flash forward to my Nutcracker lobby moment. The dancer who approached me has grown up in our studio as well. Now sixteen, Makayla had just graced the stage in a gorgeous lead role in the Nutcracker. This girl is unparalleled in her sweet nature, love of all dancers around her, and ability to sparkle on stage. Makayla had grown up adoringly watching Courtney on stage and following close behind in her graceful footsteps. Just after the performance, she was stopped by the mom of a new tiny dancer and told, “my daughter just adores you. She loves watching you on stage and wants to dance just like you someday.”

This is the gift that dance brings. There is no amount of time, no trophy, no price tag that can parallel the moment when you realize that you have profoundly touched someone else. This is what art can create - bonds that lift up others and inspire them to be better versions of themselves. To aim higher, reach further, and to think more of themselves. This is just one small example of what I see every day. The dancers who step across our dance floor do not move on after they graduate. They leave a piece of themselves at the studio that is bestowed on to the next generation of eager dancers. There is no greater gift.

So here is to all of our dancers, from tiny tots to teens - may you lead, may you guide, may you inspire. May you each have your “Courtney Volta Moment.”

Getting the Littles In Line

So part of my job as a choreographer to the masses is to convince dozens of preschoolers to stand in straight lines and do the same moves at the same time. So, let's get real. Sometimes, I am successful, and other days it feels a whole lot like herding cats. I will confess though, I have been called the preschool whisperer more than once and no one can coax a tiny dancer in to line like I can. So, for all of you brave cat herders out there, I've decided to share a few of my trade secrets. These are a few of the tricks up my sleeve for creating a clean performance piece for my youngest dancers.

• Run choreography at least three times per class, but not in a row! Little ones do not have the patience to repeat a dance several times. Run their choreography once at the beginning just after warm up, once just after water break, and once at the very end of class.
• Break the dance in to thirty second cleans. Go through 30 seconds at a time without music, talking through it with words and stopping to ask questions - "are your feet kissing together?" - "Where are your arms?"  etc. 
• Take pretend photographs of your dancers. Make a sound like you are taking their picture and have them freeze where they are to see if they are all in the same place at the same time. Make a big deal of this, pull out your huge invisible camera and "CU-LICK" really loud to get them to freeze. Make a huge fuss over the dancers who have their arm and feet placement correct in the imaginary photo. I've used the Ipad and taken real photos before, but this can be a distraction, and honestly, my pretend photos turn out way better!
• Play 'find your spot." Ask your students to dance around the room, then on your cue, they should try to find their beginning position for the dance as quickly as they can. Even more fun is turning your back towards them and counting down backwards from ten, when you reach 1, turn around to be "surprised" by the fact they have all found their spots.
• Audience vs. performer. Have your dancers take turns in each role. First talk about what each role does. An audience watches, claps, etc. A dancer has lots of energy, uses facial expressions, etc. Make a huge deal over each role and make sure the "dancers" have tons of energy and performance while the "audience" cheers their little heads off to encourage them.
• Facial Expressions. Have all of your dancers sit in front of the mirror and ask them to show you different faces - sad, happy, mad, scared, surprised, etc. Then have them face each other in pairs and have them try different emotions and their partner mimics their face. Then talk about how we want to be happy when we perform because we want our audience to be happy too. Our faces tell our audience how to feel the same way your face told your partner how to feel.
• Use emotions with movement. Ask your little dancers to perform different parts of your choreography while being happy - for example, do happy skips, happy pliés, etc. Happy or excited are the emotions I've had the most success with in young ages to encourage high energy and performance quality.
• Give compliments. Yell out praise for what you want to see - even if they aren't doing it! For example, call out "I love your strong arms," - even if they all have wet spaghetti noodle for arms. It helps encourage them to start emulating your words with their movements. "Wow! Look at those hands on hips!" - and suddenly their hands will magically be on their hips.

Just to clarify, I would certainly never use this whole list in one class. I rotate my magic tricks and often take cues from the dancers on what kind of class we are having to determine which technique will be the most effective. All of these have worked wonders for my little future stars, but if all else fails, I'm not above bribing with candy. More than anything though, your students want to please you, so with a firm voice, high hopes, and a little bit of stage magic, I'm confident our tiny dancers will make us proud. Happy dancing!
 

The Dos and Don'ts of the Dance Floor

Dancers want to be successful in class. We want the same thing! From a young age, dancers should embrace studio etiquette in order to have the best possible class experience. Here are a few tips to make sure your dancer is getting the most out of their classes.

Timing is everything. Dancers should arrive shortly before their class with enough time to get shoes on, personal items put away and ready to dance. For younger children, arriving too early can use up their patience before class begins. For older dancers, they should have time to prepare their bodies for whatever class they are entering.

Dress for success. Come dressed for the style that you are dancing in. We have a dresscode for each style. When you are in dresscode, it sets a standard for how you are seen in class. It also allows you to dance to your full potential. Non dance shoes, food, and drinks (other than water) are never allowed on a dance floor. Respect your dance space.

Eyes and ears open, mouth closed. Make eye contact with your teacher to show that you are listening. When corrections are given to other dancers, embrace those as your own. You should always be learning. Unless you are directly asked a question, the only voice that should be heard in class is your teacher’s. Side chatter wastes valuable class time and prevents you from taking in information. Move your body, not your lips!

Bodies speak loudly. As dancers, we know that bodies are powerful storytellers. Your body language tells people around you what you are thinking. If you have your arms crossed, are staring off blankly, or are sinking in to your hip, you immediately look disinterested in class and your teacher may not invest more time in you. Stand up tall, relax your arms, open your eyes and put a smile on your face. If you are invested in the class, your instructor will invest more in to you.

Balance the space. When it’s time to dance, spread out in the space and find a window where you can be seen. Make sure you are not too close or too far from the dancer next to you. When going to the ballet barre, ensure you can raise your leg without kicking the person next to you. When waiting in line for across the floor progressions, see if there are a balanced number of dancers in each line and find the spot where you can fill in.

Find a new spot in the room. Every dancer has a place where they tend to feel comfortable dancing, but challenge yourself to find a new place. You should not always push to be front and center in the room – this can be perceived as egotistical. On the other hand, don’t always bury yourself in the back corner either – this can be perceived as a lack of confidence. Embrace each space in the room and when you are called out on to the dance floor, find new places to dance.

To question or not to question? There is a time and place for questions in class, and we want you to be engaged and ask for clarifications. However, before you ask a question, ask yourself the following – 1. Is it relevant? 2. Have I tried to solve the problem myself? 3. Have I given my teacher time to address everything they want to say about the movement? Take time to dance it first before jumping straight in to a question. Also, by listening to what your teacher says, you will often hear the answer before needing to ask it.

Learn to follow. If there are dancers who are in class who are older, more experienced, or have been in class longer – they have earned a spot in the front of warm ups, leading lines across the floor, etcetera. Take a step back and let them lead. You will have your turn in that leadership role as well. If you are in the leader position, take that seriously and be someone worth following.

Dance with integrity. We are all fortunate to be a part of this beautiful dance life. When you enter the space, leave the worries of the day behind and enter the dance space with an open mind and heart. Share your passion with those around you and bring a positive attitude in to every dance class you attend. You will only get out of it what you put in.

Following these guidelines will ensure that you, or your dancer, are getting the most out of class! We can't wait to see you on the dance floor (in dresscode, with great body language, while balancing the space....)

Toddlers to Teens: Tips for A Transitioning Teacher

Many dance teachers are teaching multiple age groups and sometimes even directly back to back from toddlers through teens. Here are a few quick ideas to transition your focus and give every age just what they need from you.

Change your tone of voice:

While a bright imaginative voice can be perfect for little ones, it can sound condescending to older dancers. Be aware of the tone of your voice and how you are speaking to your dancers to ease between age groups seamlessly. What is a "tummy" to preschoolers may become "lower abdominal muscles" to your high schoolers.

Change your music:

Be sure you are aware of your age group and select your playlists accordingly. Theme, tempo, and rhythm patterns should all be considered when selecting age appropriate music. Even the same style of dance should have different music lists based on age.

Change your expectations:

Every level of class should maintain a calm learning environment where they are progressing their skills. However, the expectations of what a four year old can handle, versus an eight year old are different. A quick rule of thumb is the number of years of age is the number of minutes a dancer will focus on one task. So, a five year old can spend about five minutes focused on one task before it's time to switch it up. This length of focus increases as the dancers get older. Consider carefully what age you are teaching and keep expectations high yet realistic.

Change your choreography:

For younger dancers, movements should be on the whole or half note pattern and repeat several times. Also considering repeating the movement to both sides of the body for your youngest students. As dancers progress, begin to syncopate rhythm patterns, layer movements, add more complex weight and directional changes, and increase technical difficulty. No matter what level you are teaching, leave the practice for the studio and only include skills your dancers are comfortable with in their choreography. We don't showcase what our students can't quite do yet - we celebrate what they have achieved.

Change your perspective:

Every age is something to celebrate. Watching a toddler twirl across the dance floor with joy can feed your soul. In the same way, guiding that senior dancer in to developing their own style and artistry is life-changing. Embrace every moment of your journey with your dancers. Before you know it, that two year old will be standing in the senior classroom, so don't blink! Enjoy each step in this dance we call life.

Dance Mom in the Making

Are you ready to be a rockstar dance mom? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Here are a few quick things a newbie dance mom can do to pretend like you’re a pro already.

Get your terms down.

Leotard: That’s what goes on your dancer’s body – like a swimsuit. And just like a swimsuit, dancers don’t actually wear undies under their leotards – but we don't want to scare you off, so the undergarments lesson can wait for another day!

Tights: These go on your dancer’s legs – like pantyhose (does anyone wear those anymore?). And they go underneath their leotard.

Bun: That’s what goes in your dancer’s hair, not just on their hamburger patty.

Slack: What every dance mom should give themselves when your dancer refuses to have any of the above on their body and comes to class in their pjs instead.

Label Everything.

Your dancer’s ballet slipper will run away from home – and join the one missing sock from every pair that they own. The problem is, it looks like every other tiny adorable ballet slipper from the dozens of other dancers. Please put their name inside their shoe (not on the outside or the bottom of the shoe) so we can help it get back home safely! While you’re at it, label their waterbottle, jacket, and anything else you can slap a sharpie in to!

Let them see your eyes, not your iphone!

We know you want to capture moments of your little one dancing – and we want that too. Take lots of photos before and after class. But during dance class, if your child is dancing for you, put the phone down and look them in the eyes. Clap, cheer and smile. Dance is a performance art and meant to be appreciated by a live audience, not just for filming. Live in the moment with your little one.

Praise the Process.

Remember to give your new dancer lots of love and encouragement. Being a dancer is hard work and takes a lot of bravery to try new things. The best thing you can tell your dancer is “I love watching you dance.” Leave the “point your toes” corrections to the professionals!

Reality is not real life.

In real life, dance moms are supportive, kind, loving, and treat their dance friends like family. If you’ve seen any other “reality” than this, you’ve been misinformed. If you need a bobbypin or a Starbucks run, we've got your back! Some of my very best friends were found on the dance floor – we hope you feel the same.

Welcome to your new official Dance Mom Status. We’re glad you’re here!

How to Blow Us Away on Audition Day

It’s that time of year! During the summer, we hold auditions for our annual Nutcracker production. We also audition for our company placement for the following season. For those of you new to the audition process, here are some tips to help you be your best self in auditions.

Dress for Success: Know what the expectations are for attire. At my studio, female dancers know that to win me over, they should wear a solid colored leotard, tights, dance shoes, and a clean bun. Tights should be free from rips, stains or holes. Leotard should be well-fitted so that you aren’t concerned about straps slipping off. Undergarments should not show underneath your leotard – no bra straps, etcetera. Male dancers should come in form fitting dance attire, preferably in all black, with appropriate dance shoes for the role they are auditioning for.

Come Prepared: Know in advance what you are asked to present. For our Nutcracker auditions, dancers are asked to have a 90 second piece of choreography to present. Practice well in advance and match the style of choreography that you use to the style of the role you would like to be considered for. Don't show us skills you haven't perfected yet. Clean, simple technique that showcases your strengths is the best choice.

Introduce Yourself: When you enter your audition, you should give your name, age, and role you would like to be considered for. An example of a great introduction is: “Hi, my name is Jillian Jones, I am sixteen years old, and I would like to be considered for Black Licorice or any other available role.” Be sure to smile, make eye contact with your evaluators and say thank you at the end of your audition.

No Excuses: If you are having a bad day, feeling under the weather, or didn’t get a chance to review – DON’T announce it! Otherwise, our first impression is being put on notice that you aren't prepared. Chin up, do your best, and if it doesn’t go well, you’ll have learned lessons for next time.

Make Music Easy: Bring your music on a device that can easily plug in to a sound system. Turn your passcode OFF, so your device does not get locked. Remove your case (most cases prevent a tight connection with an auxiliary cord). Download your music on to your device. Do not use YouTube or anything reliant upon wifi connection.

Adjust your Expectations: We should all have goals in mind and work hard to achieve them. However, you also need to make sure your expectations are realistic. You should go in to auditions excited about the opportunity to audition, but understanding that there are many dancers and parts are limited. This should not discourage you from auditioning, but remember to embrace the experience whether you are cast or not.

Handle it with Humility: If you are cast in the role you wanted – hooray! It’s important to celebrate your success – you worked hard for it. Remember though, there are other dancers who wanted that part who did not get it. Be mindful of their feelings as well and be careful not to brag or make others feel bad. If you didn’t get the role that you wanted, you may start to wonder what you did wrong. The answer is, probably nothing! You might be tempted to compare yourself to the dancer who was cast, but nothing good can come of this. There are a hundred reasons why that dancer may have been chosen over you and honestly, none of them are going to make you feel any better. Take time to be disappointed, then dust yourself off and get back in to the studio. Remember that you dance because you love it, and that is the biggest reward.

What we hope happens on recital weekend

There are so many things that will happen during dance recital weekend. Some will be expected, and some will catch you by surprise. They are all part of this wonderful journey we call DANCE! As your teachers, here are a few things we hope happen for you on show day.

We hope you make a mistake. Mistakes happen and if you miss a step on stage and keep dancing, that is a huge accomplishment. It helps teach you that when a mistake in life happens, you hold your head high and keep moving.

We hope you look up to someone. The dance studio is filled with incredible role models. The dancer who is older than you, who has the skills you wish you had, worked hard for that position. We hope you look up to them and that you are inspired to emulate their passion, dedication, and work ethic.

We hope you are humbled. There will always be people who are “better” than you at anything you pursue in life. You are not perfect. That’s okay. We hope you never feel like the "best" - because once you do, you may lose the fire to become better. There is always something to learn and we hope you are reminded of this at least once this weekend.

We hope you are praised. You have worked hard. You are worthy of praise. We hope your friends, family, teachers, and classmates congratulate you – not just for your performance, but for the work you put in to make it to performance day.

We hope you have learned. We hope that the lessons you learned throughout this season come to life on the dance floor. We know that dance lasts longer than any other sport – it’s not a season, it’s a lifestyle. We know that what you learn in dance class far surpasses one final show. We hope those lessons continue to shape you long after the curtain closes.

We hope you are inspired. You are fortunate to be a part of this beautiful gift that we call dance. You are surrounded by music, by movement, by passion, and by artistry. We hope you embrace every moment and that you are inspired to dream big.

Good luck, break a leg, merde! Let the curtain rise, for you are ready.