1- Reminder!  There is NO CLASS Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday November 23-28th.  (The week of Thanksgiving)  This is a regularly scheduled week off.  ONLY Monday classes have class that week. (it makes up for missing Labor Day when we started in September) 

Everyone have a great week with their family!  

2- We have begun all classes routines for the recital.  I will begin putting music for all classes on the google drive and sharing it with you, but I am not quite there yet.  I am attaching where the files will be, but they are not there yet  I will be working on editing music and that this weekend. 

Monday classes recital music

Tuesday Classes recital music

Wednesday classes recital music

Thursday Classes Recital music

Competition Teams and Solo’s Recital Music

I will also begin making videos of the routines slow motion to practice at home.  I put them on the studio Youtube channel.  Again, I am not quite there yet, but will be putting that info out soon. Heather Reed-HDC Youtube -FOR STUDIO USE ONLY FOR STUDY ONLY

3- Don’t forget to order costumes.  Please reach out to me if you need a costume angel AND thanks to those that have donated so far!  Your assistance is greatly appreciated.  Orders and payments are due November 24th. (but remember the studio is closed then- everything is electronic anyway) 🙂 Yay technology! Yay old people learning it! 🙂 

Here is the Google Form to fill out for sizing. 

Recital Costume Order Form

4- Observers are welcome to use the BAND app live stream to observe classes.  HOWEVER, I caught a creeper this week.  (well it was someone that had no affiliation with any of  MY dance families that I could tell and when questioned, he did not answer me)  I removed him AND I will be removing ALL members that only have a first name entered.  Be sure to go into your profile and check that your first and last name is on your profile AND please put your dancers name on there too. Ex: Name: Heather Reed (Kris’s mom) If your student has a different last name than you, please note it so I know that you are legit.  Again, if your profile says just Heather or just Amy or Suzie.  I will be removing you from the app.  You can always add back again, but I am obviously putting the kiddos safety first. 

Don’t have an account? Join Here. THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE STUDIO. 

https://band.us/n/a4af411bJ3M4r

If you are interested in the Disney 2021 trip, you can join this BAND and keep updated on everything Disney, including fundraisers. To Register for this, go the the Special Opportunities tab for the information and reservation form.

Disney 2021 BAND

5- Here are the links if you’d like to or need to do classes via zoom.  They are the same each week.  They are also accessible by logging into your parent portal from the studio website AND now I am posting them on the studio Website as well.  Note* We got new, faster internet this week at the studio AND we have the laptop cabled right to the router now.  This means that your zoom video should NOT be glitchy.  If you have glitchy zoom meetings, it is often from the host’s internet.  Using Wifi is not as good as using an ethernet cable to actually connect the Equipment.  I am happy to tell you what I did if you are interested.  Just message me. 

ZOOM LINKS ARE FOR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE ONLY- OBSERVERS USE BAND APP

www.heathersdancecompany.com

JUST CLICK THE LINK WHEN IT IS YOUR CLASS TIME TO BE PUT IN THE WAITING ROOM. I WILL LET YOU IN. 

Monday classes: 

Monday class Zoom

Tuesday classes: 

Pre dance and Level 2 classes Zoom

Tuesday Teen Classes

Wednesday classes: 

Wednesday combo classes

Wednesday Teen Classes

Thursday classes: 

Thursday All Classes Zoom

Recital 2021 Costume Order Information- I WILL BE SHOWING PICTURES OF THE COSTUMES IN EACH CLASS THIS WEEK.  THE PICTURES WILL GO UP ON THE WALL IN THE HALLWAY EACH EVENING AND WILL REMAIN UP THROUGH THE SEASON.  YOU CAN COME  LOOK AT THEM ANYTIME.  WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS, I WILL ALSO POST THEM ON THE BAND APP. 

In order to be in “Just Dance 2021 Recital” you will need to commit to the following dates.

Date of Recital: Saturday May 22, 2021             Date of Dress Rehearsal: Tuesday May 11, 2021

Now, of course, we all know that with Covid, things are always up in the air.  I have 2-3 venues set on standby to rent as soon as guidelines are set for school uses for auditoriums, therefore the actual venue is TBD.  We WILL have the recital on this date unless it is legally impossible. 

Normally when I show costumes and hand out costume order forms in classes, it includes lots of information on the costume orders and what show each class is performing in.  This year, things are different.  (Only businesses willing to change and adapt will survive this pandemic)

Although the recital is not until May 2021, we still NEED to get costumes ordered ASAP!  Costume companies are in a pretty tight spot, how many and which costumes should be in stock, etc.  The earlier we get the orders in, the faster we will get in line for production, etc.  However, I have extended the order and payment deadline for costume orders to Saturday November 28^th. (it was originally Nov 14) (It took me longer to pick out costumes this season since I could not go actually SEE them in person) 

This is how the recital will work this year.  Like last year and previous years, each class will be assigned a recital show A, B, C, possibly D.  10:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm, possibly 5:00pm. I will attempt to keep families all in the same show.  When I send that information out, please be sure to check if your students are in the same show and let me know if they are not asap so I can change as needed if possible.  Classes in level 4 and advanced will perform in 2 shows. Classes in level 3 and below will perform in 1 show. 

When recital tickets go on sale, the dance recital ticketing company I use will be able to sell tickets socially distanced. We will follow the guidelines to have a wonderful and safe recital experience for all the students and families. 

Working on recital routines:  In classes, we will begin working on recital routines VERY soon.  I will continue to keep dancers 6’ apart, but in older classes especially, we will begin doing formation changes.  If the dancers need to be near each other for the routine, I will ask them to put a mask on for that part of the class.  Please have your student bring his/her mask to class each week so they can utilize it if necessary.  Pre dance, pre combo, and level 1 classes will NOT have formation changes besides a line change front to back and vice versa.  I will also keep hand holding and touching out of all dances except possibly a few lifts in level 4 and advanced classes.  If you do not want your dancer to participate in the lifts, etc., please tell them to tell me.  

How to Order a Costume:  Each costume is $70.  The fee will be added to your dance account showing an invoice and due date of November 28^th.  If you are on auto pay- your card WILL NOT be auto charged for a costume.  I will know that you want a costume if you pay for it. The usual payment methods will work.  Cash, check, Venmo @heather-reed-180, PayPal heathersdancestjohns@gmail.com as a friend, or log into the parent portal and pay with a CC. 

Costume Sizes: Here is a Google Form to fill out with sizing information. Recital 2021 Costume Size/Order Form  Please fill it out as well as possible so that I can determine what size your dancer needs.  You will need to log into a google account to access the form.  

IF YOU DECIDE NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RECITAL: After you pay for and order your costume, there are NO REFUNDS.  Also, If you decide not to order a costume now, I may not be able to get you one later. 

I completely understand and accept everyone’s decision to do what is right for their family.  If your student is not participating in the recital, she or he will still remain part of the class and learn the choreography.  I will not make them feel bad for not participating.  If your student is attending class via zoom, they can continue doing so.  At some point, they will need to come into the class TO REHEARSE, but not until later in the season. 

COSTUME ANGEL AND FINANCIAL AID: In previous seasons, if a student wanted to participate in the recital but families had financial difficulties and could not afford a costume, we had the costume angel program.  This program allows for generous people to donate anonymously to the students account.  This is still a GREAT NEED.  If you are financially able to assist a family, please drop cash, check, Venmo or PayPal with a costume angel note to the studio. Donations will be applied directly to a student’s account that needs it.  Each costume is $70, but donations of any amount are accepted. 

If you NEED the assistance, please contact me.  I do not require your financial hardship story; just tell me you could use it and I will put you on the list. 

Halloween ALL WEEK. Students are welcome to wear dance costumes or halloween costumes (within reason) to class all next week. Of course be sure that he or she can still move and participate in the class in said costume, if not, maybe just a mask or face paint….

Lots of new studio spirit Merch!

Order the new Be Kind shirts and the crystal bling warm up jackets before October 31 in order to have them ready by Christmas

Or, choose some of the in stock items we have! Bagged and ready for you to pick up in the front of the studio during any studio hours.

https://heathers-dance-co.square.site

Please note that parents that want to watch the dance classes, each class is live streamed through the BAND app and can be viewed as the class is live.  Please set up your Name on the app so that I can tell who your student is.  Example: Heather Reed (Kris mom) .  I periodically check to see who is watching, if I do not recognize the name I will either stop the live stream or remove you from the group.  (We have to be careful of creepers).  Also, please only watch YOUR students class.  It may be entertaining to watch other classes but that is not fair to the students that are in the class.

I have recently put a QR code reader on the door of the studio so you can join right from your phone if you’d like.  Just open your camera and hold it over the code, a link will pop up to open, then follow instructions from there.

Band App- Heathers Dance co  here is a link to directly join the group.  I also use this group to post randomly about studio information. 

Saturday mornings for 8 weeks. Tumbling

Ages 5-9 8:30-9:15am

Ages 7 and up that have a standing backbend (back AND up) 9:15-10:00am

Ages 9 and up that have a strong back walkover EVERYTIME 10:00-11:00am

View our 2020-2021 Class Listings with Register Option

Wed Pre Combo-Virtual ages 3-4 Wednesdays 2:30-3:10

Wed Combo 1 – Virtual ages 5-6 Wednesdays 3:15-3:55

Tues Combo 2 – Virtual ages 7-9 Tuesdays 3:30-4:10

Thurs Combo 3 and 4 – Virtual ages 10 and up Thursdays 3:30-4:10

Register online like a regular class.  A zoom link will be emailed to you when classes start.

There are also some private lesson options, message me if you are interested in that option.

There has been a minor schedule change.  Musical theater has been moved to Thursday’s 5:30-6:15 (it will include acting, singing and dancing this season)

Ballet/Lyrical level 3 is combined with either level 2 or 4.  If your dancer ages 10-12 in interested in ballet/lyrical, please message Miss Heather to see which class would be better for him or her.

The studio will be open Tuesday August 18th from 5:00-7:00pm then closed the following week and open again for the Open House Sept 2 from 3-7.  If you would like too make a payment, please mail to 221 N. Clinton Ave. St Johns, MI  48879 or Venmo @heather-reed-180 or PayPal heathersdancestjohns@gmail.com or pay with a cc online.

ONLINE REGISTRATION BEGINS SATURDAY AUGUST 1.

Ask questions anytime: text or call 517-256-2074, email heathersdancestjohns@gmail.com

IN STUDIO OPEN HOUSE – Meet the teacher, see the studio, get sized for shoes, etc.

Wednesday August 12th. 3:00-7:00pm

Wednesday September 2nd, 3:00-7:00pm

CLASSES START SEPTEMBER 8TH (The Tuesday after Labor Day)

Recital T-shirts Order Link

Order your recital t-shirt with cast list on the back by June 26th. You will be able to pick them up directly from Sports Stop.

If you’d like to order a recital video, please email Miss Heather heathersdancestjohns@gmail.com to place the order and send $37 DVD fee via snail mail to the studio 221 N. Clinton Ave., St. Johns, MI  48879, or Venmo @Heather-Reed-180 or PayPal, Heathersdancestjohns@gmail.com  Video’s will be ready in 4-6 weeks from the recital date.

SUMMER CAMP SCHEDULE AND 2020-2021 SEASON SCHEDULE WILL BE POSTED LATE JUNE!

Hello Dance Families,

This week dance class is the dress rehearsal, please have students wear costumes to class to practice in.  (Hair and makeup is optional).  The schedule with each student name and practice time is at the end of this email. Please look carefully as some students show and practice times have changed from last week.

How the Recital and Pictures will work:

Each show has 35-43 students participating in it. Show A is at 10:00am, Show B is at 12:00pm,. Show C is at 2:00pm.  SHOW A AND B ARE ABOUT AN HOUR LONG, SHOW C IS ABOUT 1 1/2 OR 2 HOURS LONG.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT WE ARE STILL TRYING TO LIMIT OUR EXPOSURE TO EACH OTHER AND BEING IN PUBLIC.  As much as I would like to make this a huge community event, we will need to limit the number of people that you invite to watch.  Please be aware that I have several students that have low immune systems that are still wanting to participate but need to limit their exposure to others.  Please only have 1-2 people per student come to watch.  I ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO WATCH YOUR STUDENT, GET PICTURES TAKEN AND LEAVE THE AREA TO MAKE ROOM FOR OTHERS.

I am not selling tickets or setting up seating.  Please bring your own lawn chairs.  We will have a table for donations to help cover the cost of renting the stage.  If every family donates $5, we will cover the cost, anything additional will go toward studio summer expenses.  I appreciate your generosity.

Students with costume changes, we are setting up a little “tent city” in the grass stage right (by the ramp).  We have several parents already bringing tents with separate rooms and pop up shanties, but if you have anything to bring, it would be helpful to keep kids distanced and modest while changing between routines.

When you arrive (ARRIVAL TIME DEPENDS ON YOUR PICTURE SCHEDULE, BUT PLAN 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE SHOW STARTS),  please find a space to be in.  Students will meet at the bottom of the ramp (stage right) to line up for their routine.  They should stay with their parent until their performance, unless, of course, they are in multiple routines.  We will have 8.5×11 signs with the class song name that we will hold up so that you can see when we are “calling” you to be ready.  We will have 1 class on stage, 1 on the ramp, and 1 getting ready at the bottom of the ramp.  We, of course will be keeping the student distanced as much as possible.  If you’d like your student to wear a mask until they go onstage, that is perfectly acceptable to me.  I am happy to hold it until they come off stage.

The Picture schedule is also attached.  The photographers will have roped off areas and distance lines for everyone, along with sanitizing procedures between students.  The schedule is not set in stone.  If you arrive and see that there is room for you, get your picture taken.  I have tried very hard to have students be able to arrive in their first costume, get picture taken, then perform or perform then get picture taken so that it is close together.  The students that are in multiple classes, of course, are different, but I have still tried to make it quick and easy.  You are not required to purchase pictures, but the studio wall composite will be all individuals this year versus groups.  If you do not want to get pictures taken, I am not offended, if you only want to get pictures taken with 1 costume, or with siblings, that is all fine with me.  HOWEVER, to make the process go quickly, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU PREORDER PICTURES FROM THE LINK I SENT LAST WEEK OR  ON THE STUDIO WEBSITE.  AND, HAVE POSES PICKED OUT FOR EACH COSTUME.  I will not be there to pose students since I will be running the shows.  Again, our goal is to pose, snap, and go!

T-shirt orders will be ready next week.  I will send an email to families to notify them when they can pick them up directly from Sports Stop.

SUMMER DANCE CAMPS: I will be offering a few summer dance camps in July.  Info to be posted later.

Attachment: PICTURE SXCHEDULE 2020.pdf (43.2kB)

Attachment: Modified Dance Schedule 2020.pdf (49.1kB)

PRACTICE SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK. (ALSO ATTACHED AS AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET)

As restrictions begin lifting and the weather gets good, I’m looking at lots of different outdoor options for the dance recital.
We are making all routines “no touch” and modifying or removing lifts, partner work, and floor slides (if we have a “less than desirable” stage flooring).
We may not be able to gather in large groups, so I am also making a plan to have 3-4 smaller recitals by family to showcase these great kids hard work, beautiful smilies, costumes, and to reward them for sticking with the zoom classes.