Jacksonville Parent News!

From Melissa…   We are super excited about our 2024-2025 dance season!                      

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN and classes are filling up quickly!  Registration is open until January 31, 2025 and is closed until June 2025.   Dancers must be registered to participate in our dance program.   Read guidelines carefully, as by registering your dancer, registration indicates that  you “read and understand the guidelines.”           

SPRING BREAK and VPK INFORMATION:  Look at your dance calendar on our website.  We do not follow the VPK schedule nor public schools.  Our time off is for Little Dancing Stars and we do not follow the public school calendar/districts for each county we serve.

2024 Recital… Recital recording will be sent to you the week of July 4, 2024.  Recital photos are mailed to the address on the order by the photography company, Excellence from the Heart.  Photo questions or concerns should be directed to Mark at 859-512-4377.  Online order at https://efthphoto.com

Info. on classes…  If your dancer should miss a class or if your preschool is closed for any reason, your tuition is not pro-rated.   Should your dancer not dance or does not seem interested two weeks in a row, you will be contacted.

Facts about local dance studios/NOT Little Dancing Stars – Average registration fee is $70.00 per family.  Average price for one-hour per week of combo class ballet/tap in the 3 to 5 year old age group is $65 for one child and $55.00 for second child.  Recital’s are not optional and fees begin at $75.00 plus $25.00 for each additional child PLUS Costume charges are $80.00 per costume – older dancers are usually charged per type of dance they do.  Late fees are usually $35.00 and additional charge if fees are not paid by a certain date of the month.  And you have to drive to and from the dance studio after work or on the weekends.

What your dancer should be able to show you and remember that each dancer is different!  We hear from some parents that their dancer says “I don’t know” when asked to show what they have learned in dance class.  Others state that their dancer comes home, puts on  their ballet or tap shoes and dances around the house all night long!  Whichever one is your dancer, we hope that the below terms and definitions will help you. 

Ballet portion of class (we use the French method for arm and feet positions):  

*Point and Flex.  Streching our feet/toes.  ‘Hello toes, goodbye toes’     

*1st position with their arms; hold a beach ball.  With their feet; heels are together and toes are apart, ‘V”.    

*2nd position with their arms; drop the ball/arms out to side. With their feet; jump out with feet shoulder width part.      

*3rd position with their arms; one arm above head with hand curved over head “wave to the crowd”, other arm out to the side straight.       

*4th position with their arms; one arm above head with hand curved over head, other arm out front like “petting our dog or cat –  hold”.   

*5th position with their arms; both arms above head to “make the sun”.       

*Arabesque is our “elephant”; one arm extended at an angle like a “trunk” the other arm pointed down like a “tail”.  The same leg/foot pointing outward.        

*Bourre’ is our train, choo-choo… walking on toes.        

*Plie’ (demi – small/half bend, grand – big/full bend), feet in 1st position while bending knees.  Back is straight with head high.     

*Releve’ is our “elevator”, which floor are you going on?  Feet in 1st position while raising up on your toes.  Eleve up, Eleve down.    

*Rond de jambe is us being rabbits in a garden.  Circling of the leg; point your toes to the front, side and back.     

*Tendu is pointing of the toes. 

Tap portion of class, dancers should be able to show jazz hand/arm; tapping toes to front, side and back; show their toe taps from their heel taps on their shoes; shuffle (put the bug on their toes and swing them… not too high) – shuffle step – shuffle hop step.  

Remember dance attire on your dancer’s dance day!  Dancers are really excited to get dressed up in their dance attire on dance day.  When dancers do not have their dance items, they might feel out of place and they might not want to participate.  Purchase dance attire at:  Target, Walmart or Consignment shops like Kid to Kid, Once Upon a Child or on our website at the above option.    

Some dance time is used to change dancers into and out of their clothing.  Dancer’s with morning classes should arrive dressed and ready to dance!  Dancer’s name or initials should be on every dance item.  See guidelines for additional information.