Hello Dance Families!

As we are finishing up our first week back to classes, we’d like to tell you how wonderful this week has been!  Here is lots of important information about the next several months. 

1) We are beginning our annual Fund Raising campaign.  Funds from this are used for programs such as Costume Angel, Financial Aid Angel, and for props and such that are needed for the recital.  Each season we purchase costumes that we can use in our Christmas Program each year.  We lend out the costumes, collect and store them for use each year.  It helps keep the costs down for parents this time of year. We sell Little Caesars Pizza Kits from now until October 9th (Orders due Oct 9th).  Join the fundraiser with this Link Join the fundraiser Here. After you set up your account, you can invite friends and family to purchase from you. Remember that you will be responsible to pick up and deliver items to your family.  For family out of the the area, perhaps the meal deal code would be best.   Items purchased online with this link can be tracked to your dancer directly.  You will get a unique code for your family to use.  We will also be handing out paper brochures for you to take orders the old fashioned way.  Take orders, collect the money and drop off at the studio in the front box or hand directly to your teacher by 9pm on October 9th.  Delivery is expected to arrive on Tuesday October 28th.  We ask all students to please sell 10 items if you can.  All dancers that sell 10 items will receive a FREE HDC t-shirt.  Everyone selling 11 or more items will be entered into a drawing to win a FREE recital Costume!    People often ask if they can donate instead of participate in the fund raiser.  The answer is YES.  Just make checks payable to HDC or Heather’s Dance Co. 

2) Performance Opportunities:  T

      A) This season we will be having a Christmas Program at SJHS Auditorium again.  Our Christmas program is a more casual performance opportunity than our Spring recital.  Costumes for Christmas are either borrowed from the studio stock costumes, or we give parents guidelines for what students should wear, with the intention for you to not have to spend a lot of money or can rewear what you purchase.  When we have everything set, we will announce music and costume choices by class.  Example: last year the teen hip hop class needed a Christmas sweater and funky socks, Pre level dancers just needed a Christmas dress.  It will be similar.  The performance this season will be on SUNDAY November 30th at 2:00pm.  Note that this is the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  We will help everyone start their Christmas season with some wonderful blessings. Dress Rehearsal will be Thursday Nov 20 6:00pm.  Tickets for the Performances will on sale Nov 1st at 9:00am.  Because we are only doing 1 show, we need to limit the number of tickets available to purchase at first to 4 per dancer.  After everyone has gotten the chance to purchase tickets, we open sale to purchase additional tickets if their any remaining. More info to come, but get these date on your calendar.  NOTE: NONE OF THE PERFORMANCES ARE REQUIRED. If you can’t participate, kindly let me know so we put your dancer on an end of the line. 

     B) Spring Recital: Just Dance 2025 will be SUNDAY MAY 31 2:00PM SHOW A, AND 6:00PM SHOW B.  Classes Pre, Stage 1 and 2 will be in 1 show or the other, Stage 3 and teen classes will be in both shows.  (if you have dancers that are siblings that are in multiple classes, we strive to have them in the same show- PLEASE look up your dancers classes assigned show when it is announced so we can make adjustments if we can)  Dress Rehearsal is required to participate in the shows and will be Wed May 20 (pre, stage 1 and 2 classes) and Thursday May 21 (stage 3 and teen classes).  

           a) Recital costumes are $85.  In order to participate in the recital, a costume purchase is required.  The costumes chosen for each class will be shown to students and parents during parent watch week October 6-10th.  Costume orders are due Nov 6th. Instructors will measure and size all students in class.  If you pay for a costume, we will get it ordered. It takes us some time to get everything finalized, if you need assistance on size or financial, please reach out at heathersdancestjohns@gmail.com. You can make the costume payment anytime between now and Nov 6th. 

3) Dance shoes and leotards:  Please remember that all female students must wear a leotard every week.  We understand that things happen sometimes and we will not deny your dancer into class, but please have your dancer communicate to her instructor if she forgot her leotard.  Dancers can wear leggings, shorts and t-shirts over leotard but may be ask to be removed if necessary. Breast, belly, and bottom are required to be covered.  Nude colored leotard are NOT leotards for class, they are for under a costume.  Male students should wear shorts or lounge pants, and t-shirt that can be tucked in if asked.  As it gets colder, students can wear a sweatshirt when classes start, but it must be able to be removed when the instructor asks.  Everyone should be able to maintain modesty if we tumble or do tricks including reaching and such.  Tips: Baton= baggy clothes and skirts hinder twirling, stick with form fighting clothing.   All classes: pants that are extra long or flare legged hinder the dancer (tripping hazard) and the instructor (can’t see the ankle), stick with leggings that are tight at the ankle.  No jeans or jean shorts ever please.  Shoes:  If you need to order shoes yet, here is the link to the dance studio’s online store : https://www.shopnimbly.com/heathersdance.    Tuesday Teen Hip Hop:  for now, wear clean tennis shoes to class, we will discuss shoe options in class this week.   Wednesday Stage 3 (preteen) jazz/Pom/Hip Hop, based on our conversation in class this week, the white sparkle shoes are ordered, we will distribute and get sizing situations corrected next week. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT HAIR MUST BE BACK AWAY FROM THE FACE EACH WEEK. We always have extra hair bands in the studio by the benches, help your self and feel free to contribute to it if you can.  Please do not put used hairbands back into the container.  That’s gross.  Just keep the band. 

4) Competition Teams are beginning to form.  If your dancer is 7 and up, she/he is invited to participate in 1 of our competition teams.  Competition at our studio is quite different from other studios.  We do not require a try-out, you can sign up if you are interested.  These classes start in December and go through March.  All music and costuming is age appropriate.  We have fun but work a little harder and perform 3 weekends late Feb-March.  The info is here, you can sign up through the app or parent portal anytime now! competition 2025-2026 info here

5) Dance at Disney 2026!  We will have final pricing and sign up information on this amazing opportunity very soon.  We will be traveling to and performing at Walt Disney World Orlando, FL Dec 10-13, 2026!  Why are we advertising for this so early?  Because we offer the opportunity to make payments and fund raise for this wonderful dance and vacation opportunity for a full year before we go.  This is available to dancers that will be 7 by Dec 10, 2026 up to age 22!  Disney sends me parade choreography that I teach the students starting next August.  Dancers ages 7-9 perform their parade in Disney springs (nice shorter route), dancers ages 10 and up perform their parade in Magic Kingdom!  Both parades include hundreds of other dancers from around the world.  It’s an amazing site!  We also perform on Disney spring stage another routine that we choreograph and teach only our students.  If you’d like to stay up to date on all fund raiser opportunities and get first look at pricing when we have it, please join our Band.   Miss Heather invited you to the ‘Dance at Disney 2026’ Band. Accept the invite and join the group! 

6) Coming soon: Date TBA: Euchre tournament fundraiser and Nov 6th Parent Night Out Fundraiser 6:00-9:00pm (more info coming) 

7) If you have any questions, feel free to email us.  Welcome and have a great season! 

Ms Heather and the HDC Staff and Assistants