Sleigh Bells Ring...

It's official!  Winter is here to stay.  The first Tuesday of December turned Calgary into a winter wonderland keeping everyone housebound and off the messy roads.  Lucky for the dancers at Absolute Dance the storm was late and left us with pleasant weather to make it through our holiday production of The Wizard of Oz on December 1st.  

Throughout the month of November 72 dancers along with the staff of Absolute Dance worked hard to prepare for the annual event.  Costumes arrived from the US while others were custom made.  Of course there were many finishing touches to be done to make everyone look their best.  Accessories were added and costumes bedazzled from top to bottom.  With the help of Muge Performance Wear our leads resembled the characters from the movie but had a modern and unique design that enabled them to dance.  Set pieces were built and painted and as usual everyone pulled together to make the show come together in time.  Show day went off without a hitch.  Our dancers put on three wonderful performances.  By the end of the day everyone was exhausted but excited that all their hard work had paid off.  Most impressive was the fact that our 4-6 year olds were able to hold it together till the end of the third performance.  Congratulations to all of our dancers! 

There is no doubt that what makes an event of this scale possible is teamwork.  Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped with our load in and out, supervised dancers backstage, or took care of the pre-show events in the lobby.  Our silent auction was held prior to the 12 and 4 pm shows with 100% of the proceeds going to support the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation.  We had many great items donated and are happy to have raised $2500.  Way to go everyone!

Overall, the day was a hit, a positive and memorable experience for everyone.  Stay tuned for photos of the show to be posted on our website.  We were also happy to have Open Call Films shoot the 4pm performance.  We will contact those who ordered a video when they are ready for pick up.   

As if our dancers didn't have enough on their plates with preparation for The Wizard of Oz some of our more senior dancers also took a vocational level ballet exam in November.  Congratulations our Intermediate and Intermediate Foundation dancers who put their best foot forward and went through with the examination process.  Vocational level exams are not easy and require many hours of preparation in addition to strong technique and a broad vocabulary in classical ballet.  Our candidates had been studying the work since last winter/spring so finally having completed the exam really is an accomplishment to be proud of.  Now onwards and upwards into the next level!  

December promises to be a busy month of year-end wind ups, concerts and will continue with exciting studio events. Our fall preschool tour with Early Discoveries Nursery Schools is wrapping up and will resume full force in the New Year.  

We are also in deep preparation for our upcoming viewing week here at Absolute Dance!  Monday December 16^th through to Saturday December 21^st, parents and family are invited to come and watch the last 15 minutes of their dancer’s class. This applies to all classes at the studio.  Photography and video are allowed at this time, however please take footage of your dancer only.  We hope that parents will enjoy seeing what we have been up to over the last few months!

Registration for our Winter session is on-going and available in online or in person during office hours.  Monday to Thursday 4:00-8:30pm or Saturday from 9:00am-2:00pm.  As usual there are many different options for children and adults to choose from and our Adult class pass makes for an affordable opportunity to participate in dance and fitness classes and even take advantage of free childcare during our daytime classes.

The beginning of another month also means a new Student of the Month.  Congratulations to Malia Kerr for being nominated!  Malia is a hard-working and dedicated dancer.  Her attention to detail and effort has contributed to her success in her classes.  We hope that her work ethic can act as inspiration to her fellow dancers and help them build their skill and enthusiasm for dance.  

           

We have just launched out new website and encourage you to take a peek www.absolutedanceinc.com

You may even see some familiar faces in the promotional pictures of dancers you see around the halls here at the studio! 

Our last day of classes before our holiday break is Saturday December 21^st.  We will resume in the New Year on Monday January 6^th 2014. 

Absolute Dance staff would like to wish everyone a happy, safe and restful holiday season.  We are so looking forward to what lies ahead in 2014.

Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Madame Jete

Dance Dance Dance

Now well into our regular season of classes, I would like to start this months post by giving a "kudos" to all of our participants in our adult dance and fitness classes.  There has been a real eagerness for learning and positivity when it comes to staying fit amongst our participants.  It is so nice to see that attending the adult classes at Absolute Dance have become a regular part of a weekly schedule for many.  When it comes to getting our sweat on, getting out the door and off to class can be a huge challenge.  It takes real commitment to attend a class regularly as an adult when A) Nobody is making you go B) You have likely spent the entire day at work and/or caring for your family and C) There are probably many other things that you could be checking off your to-do list during that hour you are at class.  What has been so great to see this year is that two months in, attendance in our adult programs is holding strong and it really feels like the content in these classes can gain some momentum.
Most people have tried some sort of gym-related regimen whether it be getting their cardio in on a machine or attending a group class.  Attending an adult dance class, however, is not something that many adults have tried.  People without dance experience as a child have many reservations about starting up and it really does take some serious courage (and maybe a friend to join you) to try your hand at dance in adulthood.  So, if you have found yourself at the ballet barre or working on your "swag" in a hip hop class - congratulations, it takes guts to put yourself out there and be open to learning something new.
As a teacher, instructing adults is a whole different ball game but it is always refreshing and fun.  You have to keep in mind that often people are attending your class for a variety of reasons whether it be fitness, to get out of the house, to learn something new, or because they want to relive the experience they had as a youngster.  Whatever the motivation might be it is a welcome challenge to find the balance where you can offer a bit of each to your class.  It is also a reminder of the benefits of dance in adulthood.  When I was a teenager I remember leaving to go to dance after having an argument with my parents (oh the joys of hormones!) and starting off the class in a full-tilt mood swing but then feeling like whatever was bothering me wasn't really that big of a deal by the time the class ended.  There is no doubt that dance is a great stress-buster.  Dance builds body awareness which can extend into our daily routine.  Learning about posture, placement, and gaining awareness of correct alignment teaches non-dancers to rethink how they are using their bodies throughout the day and can often help out work out the kinks, improve flexibility and ease mobility.  Now that I spend much more of my time conducting class rather than taking one when I do take a dance class I am reminded of the intellectual aspect of dance.  The musicality, the co-ordination, the patterning and sequences take a lot of brain work.  It is most definitely a learned skill that needs to be maintained.  I'm sure most people have heard of the benefits of dance in combating serious illness like Alzheimer's.  Dance exercises the mind and body.

We're Off To See The Wizard!

It is officially Fall here in Calgary and our classes are in full swing.  Last week Absolute Dance hosted "Bring a Friend to Class" week and it was a lot of fun to see the dancers show off their skills in the studio and invite their friends in to see how they spend their time after school.  Hopefully our special guests left having had a little exercise and a lot of fun.

Preparations for Wizard of Oz are also well under way.  All classes have learned most, if not all, of their first scene in the production.  Even though it is a ballet, it is fun to see how surprised kids become when they see how we figure out ways to tell the story through movement.  It is not uncommon to hear at least 1 person ask, "this is ballet?"  We are using a blend of music from the movie and musical which makes for a really catchy soundtrack.  Our Holiday Productions aim not only to show technical skills, but also to entertain even the youngest of audience members.  The most senior classes in the production have now had four years experience in doing productions of this kind and last week they slipped into their character/acting roles like it was old hat.  It was impressive to see how far they have come not only in their dancing but in their ability to very quickly figure out how their character was going to move, how they should fill "down time" in scenes where they are not given specific choreography, and contribute ideas to find signature movements to suit each character.  It was also fun to talk to the littlest group of Munchkins and attempt to explain the story of Dorothy to them.  They may have not gotten all the details but as things start to come together it will start to make sense.  It is always such a fun process!

Parents and dancers please keep in mind that we will be hosting a silent auction during our December 1st show day with all proceeds going to support a local charity.  Auctions will take place before each show and will open one hour prior.  We will hold three performances at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm.   It is not too early to start gathering items for this event.  Last year we raised a record $4350.00, all of which went to support the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation.  Let's work together to top that amount!

Way back when, it was very common for parents to put their child in dance not only to learn the art form but also to learn discipline and etiquette.  Although times have changed and dance may be part of the routine more for fun and fitness, Absolute Dance is still adamant about teaching dancers behavioral skills that will extend beyond the studio.  Our teachers are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and are encouraged to remind students of the little things that show respect for their instructors, peers and art form.

Here a few things for dancers to keep in mind when participating in class:
- Be a clever dancer.  Upon entering the studio be quick about getting your shoes on.  If the class has not yet started, warm up by reviewing elements or combinations from the previous class.
- Be properly attired for class!  Not only will you look and feel the part, teachers will be better able to assist you when they can see what you are doing.
- If you are late for class wait until the music has paused before entering the room.  When you do go in be mindful to make as few interruptions as possible.  A quick apology for being late after the class has finished is always appreciated by the teacher.
- If you are in a dance class, you are there to dance!  Get into the habit of repeating a movement after you or the class has been given a correction.  It is one thing for you to understand a correction in your mind, but another to understand it in your body.  If the instructor is giving time for individual practice and has not given specific corrections to you, listen to what she/he is saying to other students and make those corrections on yourself.
- There are always times in a class where something is being discussed and it is not appropriate to dance but rather stop to listen.  Don't allow yourself to hang off the barres - practice your stationary posture!  Stand with weight equal on both feet and be sure not to hold your arms in a way that could interpreted as a poor attitude.
- Yawning, looking at the clock or asking how much time is left in class are considered bad manners.
- Always raise your hand before asking or answering a question.  Be mindful of the time of the teacher and students in the class and remember to keep questions focused only on what is being discussed in class.
- Watch your fellow dancers and learn from their successes or challenges.
- Do not comment on your peers technique.  That is the job of the teacher.  Do not be afraid to tell one of your peers if you thought they did something well.
- Always finish each class with a bow or curtsey and a thank you to the teacher.  The teacher will also thank the dancers.

As we venture into October we'd like to take a moment to acknowledge Stephanie Rha, our Student of the Month!  Stephanie started the year off with a great attitude and a lot of determination.  She has had great focus in all of her classes.  With her great work skills she is sure to make some wonderful improvements in her dancing this year.  Keep it up Stephanie!

Absolute Dance would also like to wish all parents and dancers a Happy Thanksgiving.  The studio will be closed from Friday, October 11th to Monday, October 14th.  All classes will resume on Tuesday, October 15th.  Enjoy an extra long weekend and a few days of relaxation.

Until next time!

Sincerely,
Madame Jete

Our Best Feet Forward

After a very busy summer Absolute Dance is pleased to welcome all returning and new students through its doors.  We couldn't be more excited about entering into our sixteenth season!

Summertime offered a change of schedule with some rest but also many opportunities for our students to participate in camps, dance intensives and a chance to learn from visiting teachers from Ontario.  Many of our ballet students started pointe work for the first time and trained for RAD exams, while some of our competitive students got an early start into learning their choreography for competition.  There's nothing like having a leg up on the busy year that lies ahead.  Our dance camps were bursting at the seams with over 110 participants over the course of two weeks.  It was truly great to see enthusiasm for dance continue through the summer months.

What makes September so exciting is to see not only the physical changes in our students (they always come back taller!) but also the excitement and anticipation they have when they return ready to embrace the challenges of the year ahead.  Even with our returning 4 year olds there is an air of confidence they feel when they come back to the familiar walls of the studio.  There's definitely something about getting back into the swing of things that fills everyone with a renewed energy.  Look out everyone!  Starting now its full steam ahead!

Our new dance year means that rehearsals start for our latest and greatest Holiday Production.  This has become a tradition at Absolute Dance and will be the fifth year that dancers have performed a full-scale ballet production in December.  This year we are so excited to be doing The Wizard of Oz.  Originally a novel and then a musical, The Wizard of Oz has never been done as a ballet on a professional scale.  The staff and dancers at Absolute Dance are eager to go where no one has gone before and see how they can make the story of Dorothy and Toto come to life in a classical form.  You can bet that you will see all your favorite characters and hear the familiar (and catchy) tunes, but we will be finding ways to develop characters and move through the plot using only the language of dance.  Participating in the Holiday Productions are a great way not only for students to learn choreography in a short period of time, but also see what it takes to use movement as a means to tell a story.  It's a great opportunity to get involved in the studio and for dancers of different ages and levels to dance together on stage.  Registration for the Holiday Production classes will stay open until rehearsals begin.  Don't miss your chance to be a part of a fantastic new production!

As a teacher, I always like to approach the new dance year with a few resolutions in mind.  I also like to ask my students what their goals are for the season.  Well this year I will still encourage everyone to come up with one or two personal goals as far as technique and class work goes but I would also like to invite dancers to find ways to expose themselves to as much art and culture as possible.  This year, I want to find ways to foster creativity in my students in the hopes that they will become more aware and expressive in their performance.  What does this mean?  Well we can start by watching as much dance as possible.  Nowadays this could not be any easier thanks to Youtube and televised dance series.  The city of Calgary also happens to have a lot going on in dance for the 2013/14 season.  Check out the line up for The Alberta Ballet and Decidedly Jazz.  There are also smaller dance companies in the city like En Corps Dance Collective that are continuously taking new works to the stage.  Absolute Dance will always post dance workshop opportunities which are also great opportunities to learn from new teachers.

Building a creative dancer does not stop at attending and participating in dance opportunities.  Listen to music, go to art galleries and theatre productions.  Attend the symphony or make a painting.  Learn how to play an instrument.  Write a poem or write or perform in a play.  Take voice or acting lessons.  Watch musicals.  These are all ways that our dancers can start to connect the dots between various art forms, develop a wider appreciation and take what they gain from this exposure and apply it to their skills in the studio and on stage.  In the studio, the teachers at Absolute Dance will continue to deliver classes that not only cover steps but also educate our students in the music and history that make the study of dance so much more than just fancy footwork.

Once again we wish all new and returning students a warm welcome and are so excited about the learning and achievements that the coming year holds.  Here's to another season of artistry, expression, and fun!

Sincerely,
Madame Jete

Hold on Tight! Here Comes April!

Welcome back students and staff to what promises to be an action packed April after a well deserved March/Easter break.  Hopefully families that left Calgary over the past two weeks had a restful time away and travelled safely.  If you stuck around the city, hopefully there was time to reconnect with friends and family and treat yourselves to some of the events and activities that Calgary has to offer at this time of year.

Things were not totally shut down at Absolute Dance over the past few weeks.  On March 25th, we welcomed a group of dancers ages 3 - 6 to our March Break half day camps.  We had a great time doing creative movement, jazz, ballet, hip hop, musical theatre, arts and crafts, and story time.  It was great to see many familiar faces return to our camps and to welcome new ones into our studio.  We finished up with a small demonstration of dances on the 29th and were so pleased to have such a large turn out from our audiences.  The dancers did a great job with their crafts as well.  One of the more exciting projects we did was some ceramic painting made possible by the folks at Fire Escape, a local pottery painting studio.  Special thanks goes out to our camp assistants who kept the little ones engaged and busy throughout the week.

Over the holiday we were also happy to see some of our competitive dancers continue their training on their own here at the studio.  It was great to see dancers take the initiative to come in, run their numbers and stay on top of their fitness level and keep choreography and corrections fresh in their minds.  Practice and rehearsal will only make things better.  You will only get out what you give in so you might as well give it all you got!  Your hard work does not go unnoticed.

An exciting announcement went out just before we went on holidays.  We unveiled our Holiday Production for 2013!  On December 1st Absolute Danee will be presenting The Wizard of Oz.  This full-scale production will feature dancers ages 4 - 18 from both our recreational and competitive streams.  Not only do these productions give dancers another opportunity to perform on stage, but it adds a storytelling element to dancing which may or may not be present in the material a dancer would focus on in a recital numbers.  A project of this size also gives the younger dancers a chance to see older dancers at work.  It is great for generating a sense of teamwork and community.  There is a lot of work involved but dancers are left with lasting memories and a sense of accomplishment.

Although it is a story that most people are familiar with, you'd be surprised to know that The Wizard of Oz has never been done on a large scale by a professional ballet company.  This means that we have a huge task ahead of us as we work to put together music, develop which parts of the story line and characters we want to highlight and what concepts we want to experiment with in order to make the production unique to Absolute Dance.  This opportunity is open to anyone enrolled in a full-year ballet class and is available on a sessional (10 week)  basis, or for the full year as part of a special performance based class.  We encourage you to chat with the office if you are interested.  Last year's production of Alice in Wonderland was a huge success and we are very excited with where we can go with this upcoming production.  If you don't join us onstage, then we hope to see you in the audience!

As we venture into April get ready for an on slot of information!  Between our new schedule, registration, pictures, competitions, recital and summer session/camps, there are many important dates you'll want to highlight on your calenders.

April 12th - Graded Royal Academy of Dance Exams held at Absolute Dance.  Best of luck to all our candidates entering for their Grade 2, 3, or 5 exam!
April 15th - Our schedule of classes for 2013/2014 will be available
April 20th - Our competitive season gets underway with "Dance Stars" held at The Edge School.
                  -  Recital packages will be sent home.
April 23rd - 27th - Our competitive team will attend "Champions" held at the University of Calgary campus.
May 1st - Registration for Fall programs open to the general public.

Tickets for our Year-End Recitals go on sale through the Wright Theatre box office.  We've got 4 shows scheduled for June 9th.  Our Junior shows entitled, Get Up and Go! will take place at 10am and 1pm.  Our Senior shows, Dancing on Air, are scheduled for 4pm and 7pm.  Tickets can be purchased by calling 403-440-7770 or by visiting www.tickets.mtroyal.ca.  Parents be sure to get your tickets quickly as these shows will sell out!

Come May, we will be sending dancers home with their recital costumes which need to remain in their garment bag and are not to be worn until our recital is over.  Dancers will have to be in full costume for pictures which are scheduled for the week of May 27th at Absolute Dance.

Please stay tuned for more important dates for the month of May which will be listed in the blog posting next month.  As we get closer to summer and you start to think about how you want to keep your dancer busy, Absolute Dance is excited to be welcoming some fabulous teachers to our June Bootcamp, August Intensive and Summer Camps.  Adults, we are also excited to announce that our 6 week summer session (June 10 - July 18) will essentially give you an all-access pass to attend any dance or fitness class throughout the week for only $94.50.  Don't miss out!

Hold on to your tights!  April is the month where we finally get to see the results of all our hard work that has taken place throughout the year.  Dancers stay well rested, healthy, and eat nutritious meals and snacks.  We look forward to a very exciting month!

Sincerely,

Madame Jete

March Madness

It may not feel like it outside but believe it or not Spring is upon us!  Looking at our studio schedule for the upcoming weeks Spring will have come and gone in no time.

February was a month jam packed with all things dance.  In the majority of our full year classes teachers started setting their recital choreography.  These pieces are now in full swing and students are able to get a copy of their music from the office so they can practice at home.  We always encourage students to spend a bit of extra time on their choreography.  Not only is it a great habit to get into but there is always a noticeable difference in a child's confidence, accuracy and sense of achievement when they know they have put in the extra time to learn the material to the best of their ability.  Parents and teachers play a big role in encouraging these good habits.  Having a great work ethic is a quality that can be developed in the studio and extend into the other aspects of a child's life.  There is no doubt that at-home practice is a must.

Also in the month of February the studio held its 3rd annual presentation of Plies to Performance.  This was an in-studio performance that involved all the students enrolled in our full-year Holiday Production class.  The evening went off without a hitch and was hosted by Sydney Miltimore, Keana O'Grady and Shantel Grasdal.  Three different groups of dancers presented various exercises that focused heavily on patterns, transitions, and choreography that was more suited to the stage.  The goal when setting the material was to design exercises that fell somewhere between what dancers do in their everyday technique class and what they did on stage in Alice in Wonderland.  With the older groups, classes became more of a collaborative effort and students were encouraged to voice any ideas they had regarding choreography or patterning.  It was fun to hear the different highlights dancers catch in the music and the variety of interpretations that come out when creating an exercise together.  There was also a research portion of Plies to Performance where each student was asked to put together a short project that focused on some aspect of dance history.  Everyone did a fantastic job and came up with some projects that were not only informative but fun to look at.

The end of February also meant crunch time for our competitive team.  On March 1st and 2nd, Absolute Dance held its competitive dress rehearsal showcasing all of our solos, duets, trios and groups that will attend competition this Spring.  The dress rehearsal is a great way to see how dancers perform in front of an audience, how costumes move with the choreography and to get past any major nerves that dancers may be feeling.  From the point of view of the directors, it is also a day where they get to see the scope and variety of what will be representing Absolute Dance beyond the studio walls.  Our dress rehearsal featured several out-of-the-box numbers that really highlighted the abilities of our dancers and the expertise of our choreographers.  We are so pleased to be venturing out with a fantastic team of talented kids ages seven to eighteen.  While we still have a few more weeks to clean and perfect, this years competitive team is well on its way to a successful season.  We encourage dancers to stay healthy, rested and focused as we move into one of the most important times in our dance season.  We will be attending three local competitions starting with the first on April 20th.  Some of our more experienced dancers will also be traveling to Phoenix, Arizona in May.  Good luck to all of our competitors!

As if dancers didn't already have enough on their plates, the Royal Academy of Dance will be visiting our studio once again for our Spring set of ballet examinations.  On April 12th we wish all the best to our 21 candidates in Grades 2, 3, and 5.  Ballet exams can be nerve racking but, for the most part, dancers are proud of themselves and there is often a noticeable improvement in their skill level when all is said and done.

The end of the month means suspended classes at Absolute Dance as we break for Easter and March Break.  All regular classes will be suspended from March 25 to April 8 with the exception of our Adult classes which will run on April 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.  This does not mean you cannot dance over the holidays!  We are still taking registration for our March Break camps which run March 25th to 29th.  These camps are for kids ages 3 - 5 and run from 9am - 12pm or 1pm - 4pm.  Registration is available online!

Congratulations to Natalia Slaba, our Student of the Month for the month of March!  Natalia got into dance only recently and we are so pleased to have such an enthusiastic and eager person join our classes.  Way to go Natalia!  Keep working hard!

We would like to wish everyone a safe and restful holiday as we move into Spring.  We look forward to the last leg of our 2012/2013 season when we return.  Hold onto your hats, April and May promise to be action packed as we tackle competition and recital season.

That's all for now,

Madame Jete