Hello Joy of Dancers and families,

Recital 2019 Handbook

Recital

April means that recital is just over 2 months away! We know everyone is getting excited. So are we! Posted above is the link to our Recital Handbook. All information can be found on the “Recital” tab of our website!

Recital is June 8th and 9th with a full tech/dress rehearsal (full hair and makeup) the Tuesday (6/4) and Wednesday (6/5) before. 

All of the information below can be found in the handbook, but we wanted to pull out some things to note now in case it takes a few days to get to reading the Recital Handbook

Volunteers Opportunities

We have a sign-up sheet for backstage mom help (sorry dads, but there will be girls changing backstage!). Most of the younger kids will need two moms per class. Backstage moms will be able to sit in the audience to watch their dancer(s) perform and then meet them backstage afterward. They will not need to buy a ticket to the show. Backstage moms are the glue that holds the show together and running smoothly! We appreciate all those who sign up to help. Please see section 11 of the handbook for more information on this and other volunteer opportunities. If you are interested, please email us at [email protected]!

Recital Video

Videotaping is welcome during dress rehearsal only.  Just as in a professional Theatre production, videotaping during a performance is not allowed, both as a courtesy to other members of the audience as well as the dancers.  Our dancers do not want to look out into the audience and see screens instead of their loved ones’ faces, nor do audience members want their view to be blocked by the bright screens of cameras, iPhones, iPads, etc. It can also be distracting and dangerous to the dancers, not to mention watching through a screen will inhibit your experience of the performance. Dance is meant to be enjoyed live!

New this year, we will be offering a high-quality digital download of the recital! The fee for this was included in our Annual Membership. If you opted of of the membership, your account has already been charged for the download. You will be able to put the download onto a USB drive, burn a copy to a DVD, or send a link, so your family and friends will be able to enjoy the Recital even if they are not able to physically be there.  Physical copies of the Recital will also be available for purchase.  The cost to purchase one performance is $22 (in addition to the $8 fee) and $5 each to add additional shows.

Now you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!

Program Ads and Shout-outs

Advertising space for the program is available for purchase! If you have a business and wish to advertise, we will have the information for that out soon. Shout Out space will also be available for personal messages to your dancer or friend for $10. Dancers love seeing a fun positive message with their name on it before their big performance!  Please hand in all ads and shout-outs by Wednesday, May 1st.

 

Picture Day
Picture day is May 18th, so mark your calendars! There will be times set aside throughout the day for each dance in recital. Younger dancers will be photographed in the morning and older dancers in the afternoon with some of our oldest dancers attending on Friday night. Dancers are requested to attend Picture Day even if you are not planning on purchasing a picture for that class. The ones who are purchasing want to remember all their friends who danced with them that year!

Dancers should arrive at the studio at least 15 minutes prior to their scheduled time in full hair and stage makeup, but change at the studio. Please do not wear your costumes outside! If you are late for your time, you will miss being in the group photo but can take an individual photo. 

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED RECITAL QUESTIONS

All of this information can be found in the Recital Handbook, but we gathered the most frequently asked questions below for you in one place.

Why do we pay extra tuition in May?

* Tuition is a yearly amount broken into 9.5 installments for your convenience. The last installment is 1.5 in order for accounts to be up-to-date before tickets go on sale in late May.

Why do we have to pay for recital tickets?

* There are a lot of expenses associated with putting on a recital, such as the auditorium and music room rental, scenery and props, overtime custodial fees, insurance, program printing and more.  Without charging admission to the show, the studio would not be able to put on an end of year show to showcase all the amazing things our dancers have learned throughout the year.

Why are the dancers required to wear make-up on stage?

* Dancers wear makeup on stage to enhance their facial features, which can be washed out under the harsh stage lights. Makeup makes their fantastic facial expressions!

Why are only backstage volunteers allowed backstage?

* It is for the safety of the dancers. It would be too difficult to track whether each child is going home with the proper adult if everyone’s parents were backstage.

Can I videotape my child on stage?

* Videotaping is welcome during dress rehearsal only.  Just as in a professional Theatre production, videotaping during a performance is not allowed, both as a courtesy to other members of the audience as well as the dancers.  Audience members do not want their view to be blocked by the bright screens of cameras, iPhones, iPads, etc nor do your dancers want to look out into the audience.  This year the $8 DVD fee covers a digital version of Recital sent to you roughly 6-8 weeks following Recital. This way you can sit back, relax and enjoy the show!

Can I take photos of my child on stage?

* We ask that audience members do not use devices with bright screens to take pictures while the dancer is on stage.  If you have a camera, both the flash and the screen must be turned off.  Flash photography can be very harmful to our dancers!

Does my child have to stay for the entire show?

* Yes, all dancers return to the stage for a final bow. Children will be released to their parents at the end of the show. Backstage moms will have activities to keep them occupied, but packing books and games will help backstage.  The recital will also be playing on a screen for them to watch.  Besides, ALL of the dancers have worked very hard and equally deserve to have a full audience to watch their performances!

What do I do if my children are in different shows?

* We try as much as possible to get siblings in the same show, however, it is not always possible.  Dancers who have a sibling performing in a different show can get a special ticket code for a free ticket to their sibling’s show.  If this applies to your family, you will need to email us by May 5th and let us know what show each sibling will be attending.  We will email your code out before tickets go on sale.

If I volunteer backstage, will I still see my child dance?

* Yes! Volunteers help dancers get ready in the dressing rooms and then escort the class to the backstage area a few numbers before their dance.  One the class is released to the backstage area, you can then go to the audience to watch them on stage.  After they exit the stage, volunteers return to the backstage area to escort them back to their dressing area.

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Happy April Joy of Dancers!

 

I hope you all have been enjoying warmer weather now.  Fingers crossed it stays!

We have some fun and exciting events happening this month!  We are also looking ahead to some events and happenings coming up soon.

Spring Break

The studio will be closed from April 21st- April 27th for Spring Break.  Classes will resume Saturday, April 28th.

Recital Details Coming Soon!

In order to accommodate seating for all our friends and families for the Sunday show, we will be now be holding two shows on Sunday.  As of now, you can expect both shows to be the same, therefore blocking off the entire day.

Within the next week or so, there will be a lot of Recital details coming your way (including show times).  It is a lot of information to read through, but don’t feel overwhelmed!  Not all of it relates to every dancer and it is clearly labeled for you to follow.  Everything Recital related will also be posted to the Recital tab on the website.  I recommend putting all dates in your calendar/planner as soon as it is released.  This way you won’t miss anything!

 

Slider_ Confidence ClassAll new – Confidence Workshop Classes!

Confidence: a feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities.

Join us to celebrate yourself and leave feeling great! Miss Kelsey will start the class off with a quick warm-up, some fun across the floor, then a sassy combo to top it off.

Ages 8-12: Saturday, April 14th 12:35 pm-1:20 pm

Ages 13 through Adult: Monday, April 16th 8:00 pm-8:45 pm

*Cost: $15 or $13 cash or check

To register, sign into your online portal. Once in the portal, go to the “Event Registration” tab. Select “Event Calendar” to open the calendar, and from there select the event of your choice! 

*If you wish to pay by cash/check, please be sure to note so in your registration and submit payment within one week.  If not noted otherwise at the time of registration, the card on file will be charged within 24-48 hours.

Facebook_Ad__Parent_s_Night_OutWe will be hosting another Parents’ Night Out Saturday, April 14th!

Dancers ages 3 and up are invited to join us for a fun evening of crafts, dancing, games, movies and more!  Older dancers can use this time to practice Recital dances and work on technique.  Siblings of dancers are welcome to attend as well!  Please note, all children attending must be potty trained.

We will have snacks available, but dancers should eat dinner before arriving.  If you wish to bring your own snacks/drinks/cups, please label everything with the dancer’s name and leave any peanut/tree nut products at home.

When: Saturday, April 14th

Drop off: 5:50pm-6:00pm.  Please do not arrive before 5:50 pm as we will need to make sure everything is ready for our evening of fun.

Pick up: 9:30 pm-9:45 pm
 Younger dancers are welcome to be picked up earlier if needed.  There will be a $10 late pickup fee for any parents arriving past 9:45 pm.

*Cost: $22 charged to the card on file or $20 if paid by cash/check. $15 card or $12 cash/check respectively for each additional sibling.  

*If you wish to pay by cash/check, please be sure to note so in your registration and submit payment within one week.  If not noted otherwise at the time of registration, the card on file will be charged within 24-48 hours.

Register: To register, sign into your online portal. Once in the portal, go to the “Event Registration” tab. Select “Event Calendar” to open the calendar, and from there select the event of your choice!  If you have a non-dancer sibling attending, please make a note of that when registering and we will save him/her a spot for the night. You will also need to hand in a permission slip for your non-dancer that will be emailed out to you after registration.

 

Share Week and Practice Videos

The last week of classes before the break is a fun week at the studio!  We take the time to share dances with our parents and with the other classes being held at the same time.  This helps the dancers get used to having an audience and to get excited about the progress they’ve made so far with their Recital pieces.  All teachers also videotape dances this week in order to send out videos for practicing over break and beyond.  This means parents can sit back and enjoy the performances the dancers are putting on for them!

 

May/June Tuition

Just a reminder that yearly tuition is calculated per the average number of weeks in the year then divided into 9.5 payments.  This makes paying monthly easier than calculating a different amount each month as “one month” isn’t always 4 weeks of classes. To ensure all accounts are up to date before recital tickets go on sale, the last payment is combined into 1 and 1/2 payments due on May 1st.  All accounts must be paid in full by May 20th in order to purchase recital tickets.

 

Slider_ DaddySweetheart Daughter Dance (1)

Daddy/Sweetheart Daughter Dance

This year we are doing something BIG!  Dads/Sweethearts will dance WITH their daughters on stage at Recital!

We will be meeting a couple times starting in May to prepare for our on-stage performance at Recital.  Practices will be with Miss Nicole and will run approx. 90 minutes long.  Each show date will also have an on-stage rehearsal 35 minutes before the start of their show.  We need dads and daughters to commit to each practice time in order for this to be the best dad dance yet!

Ages: Dancers must be ages 5 and up

Cost: $50/family to include t-shirts
for dad & daughter

Rehearsal Dates/Times:

Shows 1 & 2 Performers

Sunday, May 6th 10:00 am

Show 3 & 4 Performers

Sunday, May 6th 11:30 am

Show 1 Performers

Sunday, May 20th 10:00 am

Show 2 Performers

Sunday, May 20th 11:30

Show 3 Performers

Sunday, June 3rd 10:00 am

Show 4 Performers

Sunday, June 3rd 11:30 am

Facebook Ad_ Summer Dance Registration

Summer Dance Registration starts April 15th!

Can’t go 3 months without dance?  Neither can we!  Registration for 6-week Summer Dance program opens April 15th through our website.  Taking summer classes is a great way to keep in shape, advance your training, try a new style, meet new friends and see familiar faces!

 

We are offering new classes this summer for beginners through advanced dancers for ages 18 months to Adult in the following disciplines- Princess Ballerinas (3&4), Day at the Beach (3&4), At The Zoo Ballet/Tap (5-7), Circus Jazz (5-7), Hip Hop Grooves, Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Musical Theatre, Pointe, and Adult classes in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern and Hip Hop.

 

Facebook Ad_ Trolls CampTuition for our summer classes is based on a 5-week rate in order to accommodate traveling families and there is no registration fee for Summer Dance.  Tuition is due upon registration in order to hold your spot in the class, though you may choose to pay a non-refundable $25 deposit to hold your spot instead.  Please indicate in the comments section if this is your choice.  If no comment is left, you will be charged the full tuition amount at the time of registration.  If you choose to pay the deposit only at the time of registration, the tuition remainder will be due two weeks prior to the start of class (by June 24th).

We hope to see many of your smiling faces during the 6-week dance program or in our week-long Trolls Camp!

 

Registration for the 2018-2019 dance year

Since many of our classes fill up quickly, we are offering 2-day priority registration for current Joy of Dance students starting May 8th and opening it up to the public starting May 10th. A rough schedule will be posted to the website by May 2nd.  Changes in the schedule are unlikely to occur but are possible from now until August 1st.  After August 1st the schedule will remain permanent, contingent only upon class registrations.  Annual registration is $25 per student before July 1st ($50 max per family) and $35 after July 1st ($70 max per family).

Class Placements

Class placements are done online, right through your customer portal!  Once all class placements have been entered into our system, you will be able to view them under a skills tab when logging in to your account.  This will make the process much simpler for everyone to figure out which level to place your dancer in.  Our teachers have made recommendations for levels for dancer’s current classes and also sometimes for new classes we think they may enjoy.  These are only suggestions – if a dancer would like to try a different style than recommended then he or she is more than welcome to!  Recommendations will be completed on or before May 2nd.  Please wait until after viewing your dancer’s recommendations before emailing with any registration questions for the 2018-2019 dance year.

Class placements do roughly follow the age of the dancer, but experience and other factors do affect placements as well.  All of our teachers have put a lot of thought into the best placements for our students to grow the best.  Please discourage any negative discussions you may hear from your dancers about where other dancers have been placed.  There is no place for such negativity at Joy of Dance!  There are a lot of factors that go into class placements, and our teachers have years of training and education to determine the best placements for all our dancers.  As our dancers are constantly changing and growing, we are also constantly reassessing our dancers, and therefore will let you know if recommendations change by the end of the year.  Thank you for your help and understanding on this matter!

2018-2019 Dance Year Registration and Tuition Policies

All registration fees and any outstanding account balances must be paid in full at time of registration to hold your spot in the class.  A credit card is required for registration and to keep on file.  This policy allows us to spend more time with our students and less time writing e-mails.  You may still choose to pay monthly tuition with cash or check by choosing the Do Not Bill-backup card under the e-payment schedule and your card will only be charged the registration fee(s).  Any cash or check payments not received by the 20th of the month will get charged to your card.  Any accounts not up to date on the 10th of the month will have a late fee applied to their account.

 

 

Happy Spring!

Miss Lindsey

03 - 4leavecloverDanceHello, Joy of Dancers!

I hope all our dancers are enjoying vacation, while also getting in a lot of practicing! The link for practicing videos is below.  Any videos with a .mov at the end were taken with iPhones.  If you have an android, you will need to download an app on your phone that will play QuickTime movies.  You can also try viewing them on your computer.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rgdae4o7kurgjq3/AACSrTwkFRrIYdWdmGJRMD-_a?dl=0

Parents’ Night Out! March 16th.

This month we will be hosting Parents’ Night Out! Dancer’s ages 3 and up are invited to join us for a fun evening of crafts, dancing, games, movies and more!  Older dancers can use this time to practice Recital dances and work on technique.  Siblings of dancers are welcome to attend as well!  Please note, all children attending must be potty trained.

We will have snacks available, but dancers should eat dinner before arriving.  If you wish to bring your own snacks/drinks/cups, please label everything with the dancer’s name and leave any peanut/tree nut products at home.

When: March 16th

Drop off: 6:00pm-6:15pm.  Please do not arrive before 6:00 pm as we will need to clear the waiting room from the earlier classes before you arrive.

Pick up: 9:45 pm-10:00pm.  Younger dancers are welcome to be picked up earlier if needed.  There will be a $10 late pickup fee for any parents arriving past 10:05 pm.

Cost: $22 charged to the card on file or $20 if paid by cash/check. $15 card or $12 cash/check respectively for each additional sibling. Dancers in Lyrical or Workshop 1 on Fridays may stay after their class is finished for $12. 

*If you wish to pay by cash/check, please be sure to note so in your registration and submit payment within one week.  If not noted otherwise at the time of registration, the card on file will be charged within 24-48 hours.

Register: Online through your portal.  If you have a non-dancer sibling attending, please make a note of that when registering and we will save him/her a spot for the night. You will also need to hand in a permission slip for your non-dancer that will be emailed out to you after registration.

 

FREE Woman’s Self Defense & Empowerment Seminar- Hosted at Joy of Dance by Jin Mu Hapkido on March 31st from 11:15-12:30.

Just us for this multifaceted workshop featuring multiple tools to stay safe in this crazy world and to use your voice as a deterrent.  We will learn hands-on practices, hear from a local police officer and finish with several confidence building exercises.  Space is limited to 25 participants ages 12 and up, so sign up today!

To register, please email Todd Miller at [email protected]

UNH Dance Company

The UNH Dance Company show is performing at the Johnson Theatre in Durham from March 28th-March 31st.  This is always a fabulous production with amazing dancers.  Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for Seniors and $8 for youth(17 and under) in case you are interested in attending!

Joy of Dance Social Media Bingo contest!

All this month we are doing a Social Media Bingo Contest! The contest will be posted today, March 1st at 3:00 pm.  Play along for your chance to win a JoD pop socket or even a custom water bottle! How to play along is posted on the bottom of the Bingo sheet.  Don’t forget to make your post public so we can keep track of your squares.  Happy Posting!

Barre Fitness class- New session registration soon!

Since everyone is having a blast with the barre fitness class with Miss Kim, we will be adding another 6-week session once this session ends.  Look out for an email next week for more information.

Important Recital Notes

Recital prep in full swing!!

There are A LOT of moving parts that go along with putting on a recital.  I will be sending a ton of information your way in the next couple of weeks and months.  I suggest making a folder in your email just for recital/end of year information.  This way it is all in one place if you don’t have time to read it right away or need to refer to it later on.  I ask that you please read through all emails before emailing with questions.  Often times you can quickly find the answer to your question in a previous e-mail.  Remember, all Recital information sheets will be posted to the recital tab on the website as soon as it becomes available as well as information for all events.

Costume Item list is now available 

The Costume Item list for Recital is now posted under the Recital tab on the website. This is where you will find how the dancers need to wear their hair, what kind of tights and shoes they need and anything else related to costumes for Recital.  Generally, dancers are only responsible for purchasing tights and shoes, however, it will be listed under the costume tab if there is another item they must provide for their costume.  Make sure to read through carefully so you are fully prepared for all performances!

You can purchase shoes, tights, and undergarments from Twinkle Toes in Hampton or Brixham Dancewear in Berwick or online at Discount Dance Supply or Dancewear Solutions.

Costumes are still arriving until the end of April, so if you haven’t received yours yet, not too worry!

Show Order Draft

The first draft of the Show Order will be posted to the Recital tab on the website soon.  When it is sent out, please look through the order right away in case of any issues.  We will be unable to accommodate any changes once the final order is posted.

Student Choreography Showcase: Auditions March 17th!!

Dancers who are 8 by the time of the recital can audition for the showcase. There is an information sheet posted under the recital tab on the website you can read through for answers to any questions.  Auditions will begin at 1:00 pm.

 

March Performances

We have been working so hard on our upcoming performance pieces and we would LOVE to see some familiar faces in the audience. Showcases like these help younger dancers understand the values of dancing on stage, the promotion of community and the importance of supporting one another!

Dancing to Make a Difference- March 3rd

Where: Noble High School in South Berwick, ME

When: 1:00 pm Show- Petite Team, Junior Hip Hop Troupe, Production Number

7:00 pm- Junior Team, Senior Team, Senior Hip Hop Troupe, Alegria Dance Company

Cost: Tickets for audience members are $10 for all seats.

Dance Northeast- March 10th

Where: Rochester Opera House

When: 2:00 pm- Petite Team, Junior Team, Junior Hip Hop Troupe

7:00 pm- Senior Team, Senior Hip Hop Troupe

Cost: Tickets to the 2:00 pm show are $8 all seats and to the 7:00 pm they are $14 for adults and $10 for students/seniors.

There are also Master classes offered the next day on the 11th at Sole City Dance.

Barrington Creative Arts Festival at BES (Barrington Elementary School), March 24th

This is a free event open to the community.  There will be a lot of fun activities and showcases including performances from some of our competition dances.  Arrival time for dancers is at 10:30am for a 11:00am-11:30am performance.

Performances from- Mini Team, Petite Team, Junior Team, Senior Team, Junior Troupe, Senior Troupe, Production,

 

 

 

Happy March!

Miss Lindsey

02 - CupidHappy February!

Winter break

We will be closed for Winter Break from February 24th to March 2nd.

We will be open for President’s Day February 19th!

Shoes

We want to say thank you for following the new courtesy of taking your shoes off when entering the studio.  On occasion, it can get a little crowded during the time in between classes when people are coming and going and we appreciate your patience each week!  We like to make sure all dancers and parents are utilizing the shoe racks to their fullest extent.  There are plenty of spaces for boots and shoes either on the shoe racks or on a may in front of the shoe racks.  It is hard for people coming into the studio to navigate through a maze of shoes when they are on the rug and not placed out of the way.  Thank you for your attention to this!

Share Week and Practice Videos

The last week of classes is a fun week at the studio! We take the time to share dances with our parents and with the other classes being held at the same time.  This helps the dancers get used to having an audience and to get excited about the progress they’ve made so far with their Recital pieces.  All the teachers also videotape this week in order to send out for practicing over break and beyond.  This means parents can sit back and enjoy the performances the dancers are putting on for them!

Bathroom breaks

We want to make sure our dancers are getting the most out of their time while at Joy of Dance, so please remind them to use the bathroom before leaving home or when arriving at the studio.

Important Message About Posting Dances to Social Media 

We LOVE to see pictures of our dancers having fun both inside outside of class, so please tag us when posting on FaceBook(@joyofdancenh) or Instagram(joyofdancenh).  However, we respectfully ask you not to post any videos of choreography you take during class or at any performances until after Recital takes place.  This is because rehearsal videos are meant for practice purposes only and are not performance ready for the public to see.  We also want people to be surprised at Recital!  After Recital, we are happy to see any videos you have taken of dances posted to social media.  In fact, we encourage it!  We just ask that you please tag us in your posts so people know where you dance and how to find us.  Thank you for your understanding on this!

Speaking of Social Media… Welcome to Miss Nicole as our new Social Media Coordinator!

If you haven’t checked out our Facebook or Instagram pages, head on over and check out the awesome posts Miss Nicole has been sharing! We are so excited about the creative and informative posts she’s been sharing with our dance family.  If you have any pictures of your dancer you’d love to share with us, send them on over and he or she may be included in our next exciting post!

Events

Did you know that under the Events page on the website, you can click on one of our events(studio closings/openings, vacations, performances, etc.)and it will import all the information right into your Google Calendar or iCal on your phone??  This makes it easy to keep up with happenings at the studio! Make sure you check it out if you haven’t already.

Speaking of Events…

We would love to see some of our Joy of Dance family come out to support our dancers in their upcoming performances.  It’s a great time cheering on your fellow dancers, supporting a good cause and also getting to see many other talented dancers from surrounding studios perform.  There are two opportunities next month, Dancing to Make A Difference on March 3rd and Dance Northeast on March 10th.  We will also be performing at Barrington’s Creative Arts Festival on March 24th.  The Events page has more detailed information for you.

Sleeping Beauty Ballet Variations class

Miss Crystal will be holding a special variations class for dancers ages 10 & up. This is a great opportunity to test your ballet skills in a fun and challenging way!

For who: Dancers ages 10 & up who are registered in a ballet class.  Pointe dancers may take the class in their Pointe shoes if they wish, but it not required.

Date/Time: Saturday February 17th from 1:00 pm-2:30 pm.

Cost: $22 or $20 cash or check discount.

Registration– Register online through your portal.  Please note if you would like to pay with cash or check instead of the card on file.

 

Boston Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty Trip!

On Saturday, May 12th at 1:30pm, we would like to take a group of dancers to go see the Boston Ballet perform Sleeping Beauty in Boston. Tickets are going fast, so we would need to purchase tickets ASAP.  The tickets are $110 plus a $6 processing fee.   I will need to know by 2/9 if you would like to attend.  If there are enough people interested, we can look into taking a bus down together as a group! Please email me to let me know of your interest.

Lost and Found

Later this month I will be heading to goodwill, so make sure to check out the lost and found next time you are in the studio.  Water bottles, clothes, and shoes are located in the top right cube in the cubbies.  If any of the teachers find shoes after class, we do try out best to set them aside behind my desk until we can find their owner.

Recital is June 9th and 10th!!!

Mark your calendars if you haven’t already! We will be sending out information on tights, shoes, hair, and accessories in the next few days.

Student Choreography Showcase

Any dancer ages 8 and older are invited on March 17th at 1:00 pm to audition for the Showcase.   Performing choreography for the Showcase is a great responsibility! We are auditioning dancers to make sure they are taking it seriously and are prepared with all the steps completed on or before the audition date.  There is a $5 audition fee per dancer.  Dancers must sign up for song approval before they start choreographing. Choreography pieces should be 2 minutes in length or less and MUST be fully completed at the time of the addition in order to be considered for the Showcase.  More information on this can be found on the Recital tab on our website. If the dancer has completed all steps on or before March 18th and makes it into the Showcase, there is a performance fee of $20 per dancer to cover the cost of running the Showcase. Audience members do not need to buy tickets for the Showcase.

Studio Keurig

In case you haven’t noticed, a couple of dance families got together and donated a Keurig to the studio! This is for everyone’s use.  There are currently some Dunkin’ Donuts cups and a refill cup that are free to use.  You may also bring your own favorite brew to use.  In the interest of saving trees, we ask that you bring a mug from home to use, as well as sugar and cream if you enjoy those in your coffee.

Illness Policy

As winter season has started, we are seeing more and more kids coming in with illnesses of varying degrees and types. We would like to take a moment and go over our policy for illness with you so we can help keep our studio and dancers as healthy as possible this school year.

Please make sure anyone coming to the studio either to attend classes or sit in the reception area, are free of the following symptoms for at least 24 hours WITHOUT medications before returning to class:
*Vomiting
*Diarrhea
*Fever
*Green Mucous
*Productive Cough

Remember that any class missed due to illness is able to be made up by attending either the same level or a level below for your child’s age range in any style they choose.

Thank you for helping to keep our dancers healthy!

 

Checking Dancer’s Absences

We wanted to remind you that you can check your dancer’s absences in your online portal! This feature is especially helpful if your dancer is working toward getting perfect attendance for the year, and to clarify if there are any classes to make up.  Occasionally a teacher might miss taking attendance, so if you know your dancer has a class to make up that isn’t showing up in the portal, you are still, of course, welcome to make that class up. Dancers in Pre-Dance classes and higher are eligible for Perfect Attendance.  We have found that is a great age for dancers to start to take responsibility in attending class each week to get the most out of their dance education.

To view your dancer’s absences, log into your online portal, click on “My students”, and choose the “Absences” tab (under Miscellaneous) toward the bottom of the screen. This will show any absences recorded for each student. I have included a screenshot below for a visual.

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Thank you!

Miss Lindsey

Yellow Sparkly New Year Card
Happy New Year Joy of Dancers!

I hope your holidays were filled with happiness, good food and great company as mine was!  Classes resume Tuesday, January 2nd at the NEW STUDIO, located at 29 Calef Highway in Lee.  We can’t wait for you to see it!

A Couple of Important Notes About The New Studio

Parking- We have been working with the DOT for several months on making a better flow for the driveway and parking lot.  However, we did not receive approval for a final plan in time before it snowed and the ground froze.  Becuase of the delay, the parking lot might be a little confusing without a clear path to follow.  Below is the link to what the plan will look like when we add a landscaped island to the driveway.  Please try to follow this flow from the beginning to make the parking lot as safe as possible.

Parking Layout_InterimStudio

Speaking of safe- The parking lot has been sanded several times, but with the frigid weather we’ve been having there is a lot of icy patches.  Please take care when walking in the parking lot and using the stairs to the side.

Bathrooms- There are two bathrooms in the reception area, a small one in the front and a handicap/family one with a changing table to the right of it. There is also a bathroom in Studio Teal for dancers to use while in class.

Studio Names- The three studios will be Studio Teal, Studio Yellow, and Studio Purple.  Please refer to the schedule on our website to know which studio your class is in.

Viewing Class- In the reception area there are three monitors on the wall that will be linked to cameras in each room for parents to view while their dancers are in class.  We’ve had a few technical issues with the cameras we’ve ordered, so they will not all be up and running the first week.  It is our goal to have it up an running by the second week of classes.

Tuition box- This will be located on the L-shaped office wall facing the bathroom.

Welcome, Miss Abby!- We are so excited to announce that Miss Abby will be joining the Joy of Dance Staff this year! She is teaching Combo 1 on Mondays.

Miss Abby has been dancing at Joy of Dance for 15 years, training in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical and most recently Tap. She continues to be a part of JoD’s Adult dance classes and Alegria Dance Company, and even had the opportunity to take classes in England! She has worked with children of all ages through Joy of Dance’s Apprenticeship program, assisting both Miss Lindsey and Miss Linda.  At the tender age of eight, Miss Abby began choreographing and performing her pieces on stage. Most recently she choreographed, “The Sound of Silence,” for Alegria Dance Company.
Miss Abby is currently studying Business Administration at the New Hampshire Technical Institute and has always dreamed of teaching dance. She is thrilled to be joining the Joy of Dance team and is looking forward to sharing her love of dance and passion for performing with every student she teaches!

Grand Opening Celebration Saturday, January 6th

We are so excited to finally celebrate moving into our new home at 29 Calef Highway in Lee!  Current and new families are welcome to come enjoy fun, food and check out the new space.  In the spirit of celebration, new families will have their registration fee waived!  Stop by to check us out on Saturday, January 6th from 1pm-5pm, and bring a friend to try out one of our free trial classes:
Frozen Wonderland class- 2:00pm-2:45pm ages 3-7
Intro to Ballet 3:00pm-3:30pm ages 11 & up
Intro to Jazz 3:30pm-4:00pm ages 11 & up

New Classes and Dance with Me are still open for registration!

We are still accepting registrations for our new classes starting January 2nd!  We are starting several new classes in the new studio – some are existing classes being offered at new times, and others are brand new to expand opportunities for dancers.  Please visit our website www.joyofdancenh.com and choose Schedule 2017-2018 under the classes tab to see a list of all the new class sessions.  Registration for our new classes will close Sunday, January 14th, and Dance with Me registration will remain open until March 1, 2018.

Costume Remainders

The remaining $30 of costume fees are due January 1st and must be paid by the 1oth.  Costumes are ordered on January 11th for up-to-date accounts only.  This includes tuition as well as all costume fees.  Accounts must be current (January tuition and costumes paid in full) by January 10th. Costumes will not be ordered for accounts that are not up-to-date.  Accounts that are not current prior to costume ordering (by end of day January 10th) will incur a $10.00 shipping charge per costume for late costume orders and run the risk of not receiving the costume(s) in time for Picture Day and possibly even Recital.

**Costume Measurements**

Costume companies do not accept returns.  Therefore, once the costume is ordered in January, it can not be canceled or returned for a refund if the need should arise.  We know our younger dancers can grow quite a bit between when we measure in December and when recital comes along in June.  To account for this, we add 2 inches to the girth (the leotard size) and always size up.  Better to take in some straps than to have it be too small!  If the costume seems a little small,  most costumes come with extra room in the straps, so they can be taken out if needed.  We are happy to discuss sizing for your dancer’s costumes if you feel this could be an issue.

Recital Date Reminder

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for Recital weekend at Oyster River High School in Durham June 9-10th, with tech rehearsals June 5th and 6th.  It feels far away now, but it will be here before we know it!

Speaking of Recital, we will be starting choreography for our recital dances this month!  We ask that our dance parents speak to their dancers about the importance of making a commitment to their classmates to finish out the dance year.  Formations are specific to each number of dancers in the piece and can be hard to re-do if a dancer decides not to continue.  Dance is a team sport and everyone depends on each other in order to put on a great show! Thanks so much for your understanding and help on this!

7th Annual Sleepover!

The Joy of Dance Sleepover will be Saturday, January 27th!  Dancers will learn a combo, share recital pieces, play dance games and have lots of fun!  We provide pizza, snacks, and drinks.  Drop off will be between 5:15pm- 5:30pm and pick up between 7:45am- 8:00am.  All dancers in classes for ages 8 and older can sign up.  Space is limited and the fee must be paid(cash or check) when you sign up.  There will be a sign-up sheet and permission slips at the studio front desk.  Dancers wishing to attend the sleepover, but not stay the night must leave by 11:00pm when we lock the doors.   The cost for all dancers(either staying over or leaving at 11:00pm) is $25 per dancer and $15 for each additional dancer in the family.

Student Choreography Showcase

Any dancer ages 8 and older are invited on Saturday, March 17th at 1:30pm to audition for the Showcase.  Choreography for the Showcase is a great responsibility!  We audition dancers to make sure they are taking it seriously and are prepared with all the steps completed on or before the audition date.  There is a $5 audition fee per dancer and a sign-up sheet is on Miss Lindsey’s desk at the studio.  Choreography pieces MUST be fully completed at the time of the addition in order to be considered for the Showcase.  More information on this can be found on the Recital tab on our website.  If the dancer has completed all steps on or before March 17th and makes it into the Showcase, there is a performance fee of $20 per dancer to cover the cost of running the Showcase.  Audience members do not need to buy tickets for the Showcase.

Important Message About Posting Dances to Social Media

As we start to work on our recital pieces, I want to send a note about posting to social media.  We LOVE to see pictures of our dancers having fun both inside outside of class, so please tag us when posting on Facebook and/or Instagram (@joyofdancenh).  However, we respectfully ask you not to post any videos of choreography you take during class or at any performances.  This is because rehearsal videos are meant for practice purposes only and are not performance ready for the public to see.  We also want people to be surprised at Recital!  After Recital, we are happy to see any videos you have taken of dances posted to social media.  In fact, we encourage it!  We just ask that you please tag us in your posts so people know where you dance and how to find us.  Thank you for your understanding on this!

Leaps and Turns Workshop

On Saturday, January 13th, we will be holding a Turns and Leaps Workshop.  Any dancer enrolled in a ballet class for ages 8 and up is invited to attend the workshop where they will work to improve their technique, as well as learning new technique!  The cost is $20 per dancer. Space is limited, so make sure to sign up through your portal today.

11:00-12:30 ages 8-11

12:30-2:00 ages 12 & up

Spring Events on our Website 

We will be updating all upcoming events on our website, so please make sure to check back often.  If you have a google calendar or an iPhone, you can import the event directly into your calendar and not have to worry about missing a thing!

Mark your calendars!- We will be open on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 15th.

 

Happy New Year!

Miss Lindsey

Production- Not everyone will be needed for the entire rehearsal, but everyone will rehearse each day. I will have a more detailed schedule available on or before January 13th.  For now, please block off between 11:00-1:00pm for the days listed below:
January 20th
January 27th
February 3rd
February 10th
February 17th
Off February 24th
March 3rd(shortened rehearsal before Dancing to Make a Difference),
Off March 10th
March 17th
March 24th- Performance at Barrington’s Creative Arts Festival
Off March 31st
April 14th
Off until May 5th for the in-studio rehearsal

Hello, Joy of Dancers and families,

12 - candycanes

Happy December!

Closings

If you are ever unsure when we are open/closed for holidays and breaks, please make sure to check in the Parents and Students handbook and also on the events page of our website.  Weather-related closings will be sent out through an e-mail and posted to our Facebook page as well as on the Cancelations page under the Home tab.

Important Costume Information

Most families have paid their costume deposits and we thank you for being on top of that! The remaining balance will be posted at the end of the month and due January 1st.  Please note, costumes will only be purchased for those dancers with up-to-date accounts on January 10th.  If your account is not up-to-date act that time, there will be an extra $10 per dance fee to cover the extra cost of placing the dancer’s order separately. Ordering late will also run the risk of not receiving the costume in time for Picture Day.  Please e-mail Tara at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

Starting Monday, we will be measuring all dancers for costumes.  We will add 1 inch to all girth measurements(the leotard measurement), as we know these kids can grow fast! We will not be able to make costumes for size exchanges, so if you are concerned about the size we will be ordering for your dancer(for example, if you think he or she will be going through a growth spurt), please let me know and we can look at it together.

MOVING DATE!

January 2nd is the official date of the first class at the new studio! We will start moving over to the new studio starting Monday, December 18th from 7:00pm- 9:00pm and also Thursday, December 21st from 4:00pm-8:00pm. If you have a truck, we’d love to have you join us either or both days! We definitely need one truck on the 21st to help us move some of the bigger items, so please let us know if you are available.  We will also be working the next couple of weekends to get the new space finished in time.  If you are interested/available to lend a hand, join the group below to stay up-to-date on days/times we will be working!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/292979947844040/

Grand Opening Celebration!

Come join us for our GRAND OPENING at our new location of 29 Calef Highway in Lee, NH conveniently located 1 minute north of the Lee Traffic Circle. We are welcoming current and new families for fun, food and free registration for new students! Meet our faculty, tour the NEW studio, and try free dance demo classes. You’ll see why dancers at Joy of Dance are considered family!

Stop by to check us out on:
Saturday, January 6th from 1pm-5pm
Frozen Wonderland class- 2:00pm-2:45pm ages 3-7
Intro to Ballet 3:00pm-3:30pm ages 11 & up
Intro to Jazz 3:30pm-4:00pm ages 11 & up

Want the chance to win a custom Joy of Dance water bottle?

I’m guessing your answer is yes! For your chance to win, head over to our Facebook page and follow the directions below.

1. “Like” our page
2. Share the post on your page
3. Comment “Shared” on the original post
4. For an extra chance to win, in a separate comment just tag a friend (or two or more!) who might be interested in joining our dance family!

The winner of the water bottle will be announced at the Grand Opening, so make sure to share before then to be entered to win!

Referral Credits Applied

Thanks so much to those who have referred new families to join our dance family! The first round of the $25 referral credit has been applied to both the new family’s and current family’s account.  We greatly appreciate you sharing your love of dance with your family and friends!

*Credits are applied after both families have been dancing with us for three months

Reception Area note

If you need to drop off your dancer or pick them up more than 15 minutes before/after their scheduled class time, please let us know ahead of time if it is a weekly occurrence or a one-time thing.  We completely understand this is necessary sometimes in order to juggle schedules. However, please be aware that the teachers cannot be responsible for the dancers outside of their class time.  Dancers should also be mindful that they are expected to be courteous of others in the waiting room and have homework or another activity to stay occupied while waiting.  We appreciate your help in this matter!

Holiday Break and PJ Week!

As a reminder, the studio will be closed for the holiday break from December 19th to January 1st.  We are open Tuesday, January 2nd.  The last week of classes before break will be the French Lollipop test for ballet dancers ages 5 and up as well as wear your PJ’s to class week!  Dancers are welcome to wear their favorite pair of PJs to class all this week.  Please make sure you are able to dance in your PJs or wear your dance clothes underneath.

Need a gift for the Holidays?

We offer gift certificates for dance classes.   Dance can be a great gift from Grandparents or other relatives! 

Student Choreography Showcase

For dancers 8 years old and up, the sign up sheet is at the studio.  There are only 3 months left until the audition, so it’s best to get started soon! The information sheet on the Showcase is listed on the Recital page of our website.

Recital at Oyster River High School on June 9th and 10th

Mark your calendars if you haven’t already! Remember Tech Rehearsal is the Tuesday and Wednesday (June 5th, and 6th) before Recital.  We will have more details on this on or before May 1st.

Have a fabulous holiday season!!!

Miss Lindsey

Hello Joy of Dancers and families!

I hope you’re having a great fall so far!  Everyone has been working so hard in class.  We are impressed!

11 - hornofplenty

Bad Weather

As we are approaching snow season(and have already hit a bad storm this week!), I want to remind everyone how to know about any cancellations. Most of the time if school is closed, the studio will be closed as well but not always.  In case of closure, we will post to the website(hover over the home tab to see the Cancellation tab), FaceBook and send out an e-mail roughly 2 hours before the start of class.  Do not call the studio as I will not be in to check messages. Please note, per our policies, Joy of Dance is not responsible for cancellations due to bad weather, however, students are always welcome to make up any missed classes at another time.  Just send us an email so we don’t have too many makeups on the same night.

Halloween Party Pictures!

We had a super fun week of Halloween party games. Head to our Facebook page to check out all the great pictures!

Costume Deposits

As previously mentioned, costume deposits have been posted on your account.  If you haven’t done so already, please log in to see the fees and make sure they are correct.

Recital

Recital will be held again this year at Oyster River High School in Durham on June 9th and 10th. After some great feedback from last year’s recital, we are changing up the format this year. We will have our younger dancers in classes for 18 months to 7 years performance on Saturday, June 9th as well as our team/troupe dancers and some of our advanced classes.  Dancers in classes for ages 8 and up will perform on Sunday.  The Student Choreography Showcase will take place on Sunday as well.  The list of classes in which show on Saturday can be found on the website at the bottom of the Schedule tab.

We will be holding Tech Rehearsals this year instead of a Dress Rehearsal for each show.  Every class will get 10 minutes on stage.  This will allow more time to stage the dances for spacing before they run them.  If there is time, they should be able to run each dance twice.  This new format will help dancers be better prepared for the Recital! Tech rehearsals will full hair, makeup, and costume rehearsals and will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 5th and 6th.  I will have the list in order by May 1st if not sooner.

Dancers do not pay a recital fee, only the costume fee.  Audience members are required to buy a ticket in order to watch the recital. Younger siblings(ages 2 and under) who will be sitting on parents’ laps do not need a ticket, but if you are using a seat, then you will need a ticket, due to fire code safety.   Ticket fees pay for the rental of the recital space and school employees along with other fees associated with putting together our fabulous annual recital!

Joy of Dance Clothing Order 

We are putting together a clothing order that will be sent by the end of the week and due by November 10th.  The order will be ready in December before we go on break for the holidays.  All orders are placed online through a link that we will send out in the email.

Open for Veteran’s Day

Please note, we will be open 11/10(Observed) & 11/11 for Veterans Day.

Thanksgiving Break 

The studio will be closed for Thanksgiving Break from Monday, November 20t to Sunday, November 26th. We hope everyone is able to enjoy time with their families and loved ones!

*Remember, holidays and breaks are listed in the Parents and Students Handbook as well as on the website under the Events page.*

The Nutcracker

We will be doing our annual trip to see the Nutcracker at the Rochester Opera House on Sunday, December 10th at 2:00pm.  Tickets are $26 for Adults and $22 for Students/Seniors, however, we usually have enough people to get a group discount.  Please let me know by November 19th. Once I hear from everyone, I will let you know the final price.  We have several dancers performing this year and I would love to get a big group together to cheer them on!

Thank you!

Miss Lindsey

Owner & Director at Joy of Dance

10 - HappyHalloween

Hello Joy of Dancers and families!

I hope everyone is enjoying fall so far! Hooray for the weather is finally feeling like fall too!

Hair Ties & Water Bottles

Many of our dancers are showing up to class without their hair tied back and no hair tie for us to help them with.  If this happens, dancers may borrow one from a friend, purchase a set of 4 hair elastics for $1 or they will need to sit out for class.  Remember, this is part of your uniform and is an important part of dance training! Water bottles are also important for our older dancers especially to have each week.   This way they can stay hydrated throughout dance and not disrupt class by having to get water from the refrigerator.  Of course, it will still be available in case anyone forgets, but this will allow for a more productive class for everyone.  Forgotten water bottles will be stored on top of the microwave for a few weeks before they are discarded.

Events and holiday/vacation closures

Remember to check out the Parent and Student Handbook or the website for when the studio is open/closed during vacations and holidays and for performance events as well.

Open Columbus Day Monday, October 9th

We will be holding classes as usual on Columbus Day.  Don’t forget to attend that day!!

Tuition reminder

Just a reminder that tuition is due the 1st of the month. Monthly tuition will be posted before the 1st so that you may view the fees posted to your account.  Late fees will be posted after the 10th of the month and accounts not paid by the 20th of each month will have their backup card charged.  Also, when paying by check, please remember to write the month on the memo line of your check, along with anything else that might be included in the check(costumes, t-shirt orders, ballet shoes, etc).

Student Choreography Showcase

Any student in a class for ages 8 and up can start signing up for their showcase piece! Showcase Pieces are a dance students can choreograph themselves or with other dancers for Recital.  This is a wonderful opportunity for dancers to showcase their creative side along with their love of dance.  Interested dancers must have song approval before starting his or her choreography.  The checklist is listed below as well as posted in the studio as a reference.  Copied below is a list of FAQ’s regarding the Showcase.

Student Choreography pieces will have their own showcase before the Sunday Recital. In order to make this show free for audience members to attend, there will be a small performance fee for the dancers. We will accept up to 15 pieces for the showcase.  Auditions will take place in March.  If you are unable to make the audition day, we will figure out another arrangement before the audition date.  I will be sending out more information on the Student Choreography Showcase within the next couple of weeks.

FREE Trial week!

From Monday, October 9th to Saturday, October 14th, currents dancers can try a new class, such as Musical Theatre, Tap, Lyrical, Hip Hop or Modern for free all this week! Friends are also welcome to come try the class with them.  All open classes are eligible for a free trial class for new or current students. Please check out the registration page to see what classes are still open. Classes that say Register next to them are open to try this week.

Halloween!

Halloween parties will go from Tuesday, October 25th to Monday, October 31st. Everyone should come in costume with his or her dance clothes underneath.  We will be doing fun dance games during class and also handing out candy.  If you or your child have any allergies or dietary restrictions, please let me know so we can have options for everyone. Candy made in a peanut/tree nut free facility will be available.  IMPORTANT- All dancers must wait until after they leave the studio before opening any candy.  If there is a conflict with trick or treating and our Halloween parties, let us know ASAP so we can adjust for our party.

Birthday Parties!

Joy of Dance offers fun, energetic and creative birthday parties! Everyone will have a great time at your child’s party and the best part is that you won’t have to lift a finger.  You can find more information on birthday parties on our website under the classes tab.

 

Costume Deposits

Costume Deposits of $30 per dance are due November 1st.  More detailed information on this will be sent later in the month.

Competition Classes

Competiton fees of $45 per dancer per dance for teams and troupes are due October 15th.  All regular classes that will be participating in the spring competition will have the fee due on December 1st.

 

Have a great fall!

Miss Lindsey

 

FAQ’s for our Student Choreography Showcase

What is the Student Choreography Showcase?  Dancers in a class for ages 8 and up can put together a piece by themselves or with a friend to be performed in the showcase.

When are pieces performed? The Student Choreography Showcase will take place before the Sunday Recital.

Do I have to purchase tickets to attend the Showcase? No, we want as many people as possible to have the opportunity to attend the Showcase!

Why is there a Performance fee?  Because we are not requiring audience members to purchase tickets to the showcase, there is a performance fee of $20 per dancer.  This fee will cover the cost of hiring the staff at the school and our staff from Joy of Dance to put on the show as well as the rental fee without requiring audience members to purchase tickets for the showcase.

How can my dancer sign up? Miss Lindsey needs to approve of all songs before dancers start choreographing.  There is a signup sheet on her desk.

Why does my dancer have to audition?  The reason we are holding auditions is to make sure all choreography, music and costume ideas are completed at the time of the audition.  Before holding the auditions, we were constantly chasing dancers to complete all steps by the deadline, which isn’t fun for anyone! By holding an audition, dancers must show responsibility by being required to have everything completed by that date or they will not have their piece in the Showcase.  This will help them to take the Showcase seriously and abide by all deadlines.  As long as a dancer auditions with cut music, choreography written down, a costume idea and a polished piece(it’s ok if you forget a few steps!), he or she will have a spot in the showcase.  Dances thrown together carelessly, last minute or missing any requirements will not make it into the Showcase.

Checklist
1. The song needs to be approved by Miss Lindsey.
2. The dance MUST be under 2 minutes.
3. The written choreography is to be handed in.
4. The completed piece is to be performed at the audition.
5. Costumes need to planned out, but not purchased until April.

 NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE

09 - SeptemberApples

Hello to both our new and returning families! We look forward to welcoming all the new students into the Joy of Dance family and reuniting with our returning students when classes start on Saturday, September 9th.

A couple of important notes as classes start:

New Location Coming Soon!

In case you haven’t heard yet, Joy of Dance has found a new home less than 4 minutes down the road at 29 Calef Hwy in Lee! Our new home is currently being renovated and will be open for classes starting January 1st, 2018.  It will have three spacious studios, a large reception area(yay!), dressing rooms and plenty of parking. If you are interested in helping out at all, please check out our FaceBook group where we will be posting updates and opportunities to volunteer- https://www.facebook.com/groups/292979947844040/?source=create_flow.   We are beyond excited for the new studio and to share in this journey with you all!

Parents’ and Students’ Handbook

This year we put together a handbook to help keep information easy to find, all in one place.   If you haven’t already read through it, please do so at your earliest convenience. You can find it under the About tab on our website or a hard copy can be available upon request. This is the best reference for any questions you might have.  If you are unable to find the answer to your question after looking through the Handbook, feel free to contact us at [email protected] and we would be happy to assist you.

Email is how we communicate all of our important messages to you.  To ensure you are receiving our emails, please add jackrabbittech.com to your safe list.  You can also view all our sent messages through your portal when you log in. We recommend checking there if you find you haven’t been receiving monthly emails from us.

Reception Room and Outdoor Area 

Joy of Dance is a place where our staff and many dancers(and some parents too!) think of as their home away from home, we ask that you and your guests treat the space accordingly.  Please return any moved furniture to their original places, clean up any spilled food or drinks, empty drinks before placing them into the trash, etc.  Last year we had a big problem with spilled coffees.  I totally understand spills happen, but please let one of the staff know as soon as possible so we can address it.   If you have a moment to take care of it yourself, there are paper towels and carpet cleaner on the shelf to the left inside the closet behind the desk.

This courtesy should also be extended when using the space outside.  The chairs should remain around the fireplace, and trash should be picked up and brought with you, not placed inside the fire pit.  Parents, please make sure your dancers and siblings know that the teether ball is off limits for swinging on.  It is dangerous and breaks often due to kids swinging on it.

Thank you so much for your attention on this matter.  We want to make sure we start the area off great!

For those who plan to wait in their car while their child dances- The owner of the Adagio and Dante’s would like us to be respectful of those needing to park for the salon and/or restaurant.  Please drop your child off then park at the far end of the parking lot until your child is ready to be picked up again at the end of his or her class.  Thank you!

Recital DVDs are (finally!)available for pickup at the studio. We truly appreciate your patience for waiting a few extra weeks.

Water Bottles- We do have tap water in the mini fridge, but we ask dancers to bring water bottles into the studio for class. Dancers ages 8 and up should consider a water bottle part of their dress code.  It’s important to stay hydrated and not interrupt class by having to leave to get water from the mini fridge.

Missed classes and makeups- If you know ahead of time that you are going to be absent from class, we would love an e-mail so we won’t worry. Missed classes can be made up with teacher permission anytime until the end of May, and even proactively when there is advance notice. Keeping up with attendance from the beginning is a great way to stay on track for perfect attendance, too!

Perfect Attendance- At the end of the year, dancers who have not missed any classes, or attended all makeup classes, will receive a Perfect Attendance award the last week of classes as well as being recognized at Recital.  Dancers in classes for ages 5 and up are eligible to receive a Perfect Attendance Award.  Working towards earning their awards helps instill a sense of accomplishment, as well as teaching dancers the importance of hard work and dedication.  You may view absences by signing into your account on our website, click on the Students tab then the Absence tab under the miscellaneous section.

Dress code- For questions about appropriate/required class attire, please refer to the Dress Code section of the Handbook. If you placed an order at one of the Open Houses, they will be available on your first day of class for pickup. I will leave the items out on my desk with your name on it in case I am in class when you arrive.

 

Private lessons are available to any student who would like extra work outside of regular classes. Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

FaceBook Page- If you haven’t liked our page yet, head on over and do so! Once you do, make sure you go to the More tab and check the get notifications button so you don’t miss our posts. We often post pictures of classes, important studio information, as well as contests where you can win free stuff! Starting September 1st, we are highlighting our amazing staff by posting some fun facts about them each day leading up to the start of classes. We encourage you to share each post so your friends and family can get to know us as well and have the chance to win a free t-shirt! You can also find us on Instagram- @joyofdancenh.

Tuition- Please make sure you have thoroughly read the Tuition page on the handbook.  Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about tuition, [email protected].

Team andTroupe Competition Fees Due

Competiton fees of $45 per dancer per dance for teams and troupes are due October 1st.

 

We are looking forward to another great year and hope you have a wonderful and safe Labor Day weekend!

-The Joy of Dance Staff