Backstage Dance Studio-January 2026 Newsletter

JAN 2026

ISSUE 05

the beat BACKSTAGE DANCE STUDIO

BUILDING CONFIDENCE, CHARACTER, AND COMMUNITY SINCE 1984!

THE BEAT

KAYLEE FEATHER

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TAKE A PEEK IN THIS MONTH’S ISSUE OF THE BEAT TO KEEP UP WITH ALL THINGS GOING ON AT BACKSTAGE DANCE STUDIO IN JANUARY!

ISSUE 05

E C N A D

table of

contents 03-04 Spring Show News!

05 Stage Left is Moving!

06 Seattle Angels 07-08 TEAM News!

10 Studio Spirit Week 11 January Birthdays

H WIT

09 FAQ

12 Character Focus 13 Teacher Spotlight 14 Parent Education 15 Dancer of the Month

19 Lost and Found 20 Upcoming Events

!

US

16-18 Skills of the Month

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THE BEAT

Thanks to everyone who turned in their SHOW PARTICIPATION/COSTUME ORDER FORM during the busy-ness of the month of December!

All costumes were ordered over the winter break and should be received by the end of March. Costumes will be distributed in classes during the month of April.

As a reminder, our ballet follows the storyline of the classic story/movie, Alice in Wonderland, and our overall show is also tied to that theme, titled “ALICE and the ROYALTEA PARTY.” This year, our five shows will take place on Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31 at IKEA Performing Arts Center at Renton High School. LOTS of information will be shared in the coming months, so be sure to read all studio communications so you don’t miss any of the details!

spring show news!

ISSUE 05

Introducing our ballet main characters

Congrats to our Signature Team Elite Dancers!

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THE BEAT

WE’RE MOVING! You may have noticed that we’ve been paring down our inventory and boxing up merchandise in Stage Left Dancewear over the past month. That’s because we are moving Stage Left from our satellite building to the main studio!

This change will take place over the course of this month! You will now be able to purchase dancewear and shoes at the front desk in the main studio building. Please note that we will not carry all the items sold in the current store, however, we hope to continue to provide tights, dress code clothing and shoes.

We appreciate your patience this month as we finalize the move process! If you need anything from Stage Left during this transition time, please check in at the front desk and a member of our customer care team will be happy to help you!

stage left dancewear

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SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY DURING THE HOLIDAYS –

Seattle Angels!

We had such an amazing response to our Seattle Angels fundraiser in November/December!

Thanks so much to those who donated items to support local foster families who are served

by Seattle Angels. Because of your generosity, we donated a carload of toys, games, puzzles, blankets, squishmallows, and gift cards to the Seattle Angels organization. They added our items to the Love Boxes they distributed to families during the holidays and said that our donations will also be used to provide additional support to families at other times of the year.

Way to go, Backstage Dance families!

Together, our amazing community makes a difference!

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THE BEAT

SIGNATURE TEAM, DEBUT TEAM AND STARS TEA

news!

Our Signature Competition team of 65 dancers has been hard at work since August, perfecting skills and learning choreography that they perform on stage at various competition venues. The competition season kicks off this month and continues through the summer. Our team dancers will represent Backstage at six regional competitions in addition to a national competition.

GOOD LUCK SIGNATURE TEAM DANCERS!

ISSUE 05

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AM

The 15 dancers on our Debut Competition Team are also hard at work in their ballet, tap, jazz and dancer development classes! They will participate in two competitions in 2026, which they are preparing for by learning choreography in class. The Debut team is for dancers in grades K-1 who love to dance, are focused, passionate, and are looking to ease into the competitive dance experience.

The 51 dancers who are part of our STARS teams have been invested in building a strong team by giving 100% effort in their hip hop, tap, contemporary, ballet and dancer development classes. Our four STARS teams are learning choreography in classes that will be performed at local competitions in March and April. We can’t wait to see our STARS teams on stage in the spring!

Photos by Nigel Cooper

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THE BEAT

Can I add or change classes?

We have closed enrollment for the 2025-2026 school-year session, with the exception of Acro, Creative Movement, and Tech classes that do not participate in our Spring Shows.

Please contact us at dancewithus@backstagedance.org with any questions.

Is my child registered for the Spring Show?

If you turned in your Show Participation/Costume Form prior to Winter Break, you are all set!

If you aren't sure whether or not you turned in your child's form, you can check your portal account for a costume fee (charged in November or December, depending on when you turned in your form) or contact the studio office for confirmation. If you did not turn in a form, we did not order a costume for your child and your teachers have noted that they are not participating in the show.

Can my child continue to take classes if they aren't participating in the Spring Show?

YES! Your child will continue to learn new technique and skills, in addition to the choreography that will be performed in the Spring Shows. As we get close to our Spring Show performances, we will communicate with those not participating in the shows regarding their last scheduled classes for the session.

Are make-up classes available?

We ended our make-up class opportunities at the end of December, so dancers who miss a class are no longer able to do make-ups as we return to classes in January. Beginning in January, classes will be focused on preparing choreography for our shows and building community within the classroom, and we encourage regular attendance so that students do not fall behind.

Classes not participating in our shows (Creative Movement and Acro) are still able to make-up missed classes; please contact us in the studio office with any questions.

FREQUENTLY asked questions

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STUDIO SPIRIT WEEK CO

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NC ID E

Show your Backstage pride during studio spirit week, Monday, January 12 through Saturday, January 17.

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Wear your Backstage gear to class or show your spirit by donning our studio colors, black, red and purple!

Just make sure what you wear is something you can easily dance in! We can’t wait to see your Backstage pride during spirit week this month!

CHA

RAC

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THE BEAT

DANCER

birthdays!

Jayla M. 1-Jan Ruth B. 2-Jan Stella G. 2-Jan Bella C. 3-Jan Sofia S. 4-Jan Julia H. 5-Jan Gigi M. 5-Jan Tammy F. 6-Jan Zara B. 7-Jan Edie T. 7-Jan Eric T. 7-Jan Juliet H. 8-Jan Claire M. 9-Jan Vella K. 10-Jan Aanya K. 11-Jan Siena K. 12-Jan Hope N. 12-Jan Isabella P. 12-Jan Janice W. 12-Jan Jolene H. 15-Jan Audrey L. 15-Jan Madeline N. 15-Jan Eliana R. 15-Jan Sasha A. 16-Jan

HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS TO EVERYONE CELEBRATING THIS MONTH!

Camille B. 16-Jan Joyce C. 16-Jan Dorian F. 16-Jan Luke M. 17-Jan Nicole C. 18-Jan Parker M. 19-Jan Blythe P. 21-Jan Vivian M. 22-Jan Mia W. 22-Jan Camilla D. 23-Jan Harper K. 23-Jan Soren M. 23-Jan Luka R. 23-Jan Ethan P. 24-Jan Eliana K. 25-Jan Tadashi K. 25-Jan Myla Z. 25-Jan Josephine K. 27-Jan Ava P. 27-Jan Chelsea C. 28-Jan Camilla D. 28-Jan Anarion C. 30-Jan Hannah D. 30-Jan

STAFF

birthdays!

Miss Hope 12-Jan Miss Marty 28-Jan

ISSUE 05

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Self-discipline is the ability to push yourself forward, stay motivated, and take action, regardless of how you're feeling, physically or emotionally!

Look for a culture card coming home with your dancer this month! We hope everyone will earn a card for working on their SELF-DISCIPLINE this month!

What are the benefits of self-discipline?

The feeling of being in control of yourself Higher rates of goal achievement and success Feeling more motivation towards your goals

self-discipline JANUARY

character FOCUS

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THE BEAT

TEACHER SPOTLIGHT Miss Shandie has been teaching dance for the past 10 years in styles such as jazz, ballet, tap, hip hop, lyrical, musical theater, acro, contemporary, and Bollywood.

She has taught all ages from 6 months old to adults and thrives on watching others use dance as a way to express themselves and to connect with one another. Miss Shandie started dancing at the age of 11 and knew immediately that she wanted to teach dance. She was captain and co-choreographer of her high school dance team and graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor's degree in creative dance. At UW she performed in their Faculty Dance performance and UW’s very first musical theater production of Sweet Charity. Shandie has seen how dance teaches more than just how to push the body, it also teaches how to push the mind and how to creatively communicate emotions using both.

She blends strong dance foundations with individual expression while fostering a safe, welcoming space, and has loved getting to know her dancers at Backstage and sharing her passion for movement.

Miss Shandie joined the Backstage faculty in 2023 and currently teaches Hip Hop, levels 1 through 5, along with Hip Hop Tech 202/203 and Adult Beginning Hip Hop. She also teaches Broadway Bound and will take over Miss Chisako's Hip Hop/Flip Flop class this month!

miss

shandie

fun facts!

Miss Shandie’s favorite animal is a wolf! When she is not dancing, she enjoys camping, swimming– anything outdoors!

ISSUE 05

PARENT EDUCATION

talks!

AGAIN THIS YEAR, BACKSTAGE WOULD LIKE TO PARTNER WITH YOU ON YOUR PARENTING JOURNEY! WE WILL INFORM YOU OF PARENTING WORKSHOPS AND SPEAKER SERIES THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO YOU, AND HOPE TO BRING YOU SOME OF OUR OWN EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. Inside the ADHD Mind: Tools to Help Your Child Thrive With Dr. Sasha Hamdani, ADHD specialist Jan. 21, 2026, noon–1 p.m. PT Better understanding leads to better support. Join Dr. Sasha Hamdani, board-certified psychiatrist and ADHD specialist, for an insightful talk to help you decipher what’s really going on in your child’s brain. Discover how to spot ADHD symptoms, choose the right treatments and confidently support their mental health through everyday challenges.

You'll leave with: A clear understanding of ADHD’s neurological roots and how they influence behavior, attention and emotional regulation Practical tools to ease daily struggles like transitions, executive dysfunction and time blindness Actionable strategies for communication, structure and supporting independence Help your kids thrive in a changing world — join the live Zoom webinar to engage, learn and get your questions answered. ParentMap charges a small fee for these webinars. You can reserve your spot for just $10 and enjoy on-demand replay access anytime.

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THE BEAT

dancer OF THE MONTH -

congrats!

Moses Chen Moses is enrolled in Pre-Hip Hop and Hip Hop Basics classes at Backstage.

His Pre-Hip Hop teacher, Miss Isabelle, nominated Moses and says that he is always respectful, focused and on task.

She says Moses is eager to try new things, even if they are hard.

Way to go, Moses!

Josephine Kleven CONGRATS to our January Dancers of the Month!

These dancers were nominated by one of their teachers for going above and beyond in class! Each dancer of the month will receive a certificate of recognition and a gift card to Stage Left Dancewear!

WAY TO GO, DANCERS!

Josephine is in Miss Lauren’s Jazz 3 class. She was nominated because of her strong focus when learning choreography, her excellent attendance, and her strong work ethic. Miss Lauren also appreciates that Josephine does such a great job at being good classmate. Awesome job, Josephine!

Olivia Feather Olivia is a member of our Signature Team and was nominated by Miss Alyssa for her contributions in class. Miss Alyssa says that Olivia approaches class with a professional attitude and always gives 100%. She is so proud of Olivia’s efforts, not only in Dancer Development but in all classes! Amazing work, Olivia!

ISSUE 05

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Each month of our school-year session, dancers in Acro, Ballet, Hip Hop, Jazz and Tap classes will be working on particular skills. We will list these skills, along with a description (and sometimes links to additional information about the skills) in the newsletter. Practicing these skills outside of class is beneficial, so we encourage you to ask your dancers for demonstrations at home!

acro ballet hip hop jazz tap

january SPLITS GLISSADE POPPING CHARLESTON PADDLE

See the next page for more >>>

skills of the

month!

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skills of th

mon

acro

ballet

Definition: A position where the legs are extended fully in opposite directions, ideally forming a 180-degree angle, either forward (front split) or sideways (middle/straddle split).

Side splits are executed by extending the legs to the left and right of the torso. Side splits are called straddle splits (or middle splits) in dance.

Front splits are executed by extending one leg forward of, and the other leg to the rear of the torso. In dance, a front split is named according to the leg that is extended forward.

VIDEO: How to do the splits!

Translation: To glide.

Definition/technique: A traveling step starting in fifth position from demi-plié. The leading foot brushes out to dégagé as weight bears on the trailing leg, weight is shifted to the leading leg via a jump and the trailing foot extends out of plié into degagé. The leading foot lands tombé and the trailing foot slides in to meet the leading foot in fifth position demi-plié.

Can be done en avant, en arrière, dessous (leading front foot ends back), dessus (leading back foot ends front), or without a changement of feet.

VIDEO: How to glissade!

SPLITS

GLISSADE

hip ho POPPING

Definition: A style started in the late 70's. This dance s characterized by and releasing of t ("hitting") to the in music.

Popping can be c specific body par variants such as a pops, chest pops VIDEO: How to po

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he

nth!

january

op

jazz

tap

e of dance that e 1960's and style is y sudden tensing the muscles rhythm of beats

Definition: Of African origin, is described as the wing of the buck and wing dance, only the dancer steps forward and backward instead of sideways.

Founded in Charleston, South Carolina.

Begin with your palms parallel to the floor. Step forward with your left foot. Move your right foot forward, and tap it in front of your left. Step backward with your right foot. Then step backward with your left foot, and tap it behind your right.

Repeat.

VIDEO: How to Charleston!

Definition: A scuffle, followed by step heel, all on the same foot.

Paradiddles have four sounds.

Dig, spank, step, and heel drop.

Can do reverse paddles for more advanced - dig, spank, heel walk.

Can add an extra sound with a toe drop - dig, spank, toe drop, step, heel drop for more advanced.

VIDEO: How to paddle!

concentrated to rts, creating arm pops, leg s and neck pops. op!

CHARLESTON

PADDLE

THE BEAT

MAKAYLA DU

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We collected a number of items in our lost and found during the months of November and December, so we will be donating all items not claimed at the end of the month. The lost and found closet was organized over Winter Break, so please make sure to check it for any items your dancer may have left behind when you return to classes this week!

Items not claimed by the end of January will be donated to our local Goodwill.

LOST AND FOUND

JORDYN OHASHI

Is your dancer missing a shoe, jacket, water bottle, etc?

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UPCOMING

Classes resume after Winter Break Studio Spirit Week Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Studio Closed)

LEENA HUANG

events!

January 5 January 12-17 January 19

Valentine Spirit Week

February 9-14

Mid-Winter Break

February 16-21

Summer 2026 Enrollment Opens

February 28

STAY CONNECTED! @backstage.dance.studio @backstagebellevue @backstagedancestudio

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the beat

FT. JINRAN LIU

SIGNATURE TEAM