Backstage Dance Studio-January 2024 Newsletter

ISSUE 05

THE BEAT BACKSTAGE DANCE STUDIO

JANUARY 2024

TABLE OF CONTENTS • 1

AK!

TAK

E

SPRING SHOW NEWS • 2

A

A

PE

AK!

AK! TAKE

TAKE

PE

A

PE

SEATTLE ANGELS • 3 POP-UP CLASSES • 4 CHARACTER FOCUS • 5 TEACHER SPOTLIGHT • 6

PE

AK! TAKE

A

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS • 7 PARENT EDUCATION • 8

CONTENTS

TABLE OF

SIGNATURE TEAM UPDATES • 9 STARS UPDATES • 10 JANUARY FAQS • 11 DANCER OF THE MONTH & • 12-14 SKILLS OF THE MONTH 40TH ANNIVERSARY CORNER • 15 UPCOMING EVENTS • 16

/ THE BEAT

ISSUE 05 /

SPRING SHOW

NEWS! 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 Disney's The Little Mermaid with the overall show titled “Part of Your World Since 1984.” Our six shows will take place on Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19 at IKEA Performing Arts Center at Renton High School. Lots of details will be shared in the coming months, so be sure to read all studio communications for the details.

/ 02

03 /

INTENTIONAL GIVING

SEATTLE ANGELS We had such an amazing response to our Seattle Angels Alliance fundraiser in December! Thanks so much to those who donated items to support four local foster families who are served by Seattle Angels. Because of your generosity, we donated two trunk-loads of toys, clothing, blankets, books and gift cards to the Seattle Angels organization in time for your items to be shared with foster children and their families for the holidays. Together, our amazing community makes a difference!

/ THE BEAT

ISSUE 05 /

CREATIVE MOVEMENT FOR 2 TO 3 YEAR OLDS! Join Miss Danielle for a fun-filled introduction to music and movement! Creative movement classes are designed to encourage a child’s imagination and exploration through guided movement exercises. We hope your tiny dancer will join Miss Danielle for this playful pathway to dance!

6-week session, Tuesdays from 3:30 to 4:15pm Tuesday, January 9th through Tuesday, February 13th COST: $180 for the 6-week session

PRE-BALLET FOR 4 TO 5 YEAR OLDS! Introduce your little dancer to the beautiful art of ballet! This class will enhance your child's coordination, balance and flexibility with the teaching of basic ballet positions, steps, and terminology. Miss Shandie will also incorporate fun exercises in creative dance and music exploration in the pre-ballet class.

6-week session, Fridays from 4:15 to 5:00pm Friday, January 12th through Friday, February 16th COST: $180 for the 6-week session

POP-UP

CLASSES COMING SOON!

PRE-HIP HOP FOR 4 TO 5 YEAR OLDS! Introduce your little dancer to the exciting art of hip hop dancing! This class will enhance your child's coordination and musicality with the teaching of basic hip hop steps to upbeat music. Join Miss Sofia for this fun 45-minute, high-energy class!

6-week session, Saturdays from 10:45 to 11:30am Saturday, January 13th through Saturday, February 17th COST: $180 for the 6-week session

/ 04

05 /

JANUARY CHARACTER FOCUS

SELF-DISCIPLINE We hope everyone will earn a card for working on their SELF-DISCIPLINE this month! Self-discipline is the ability to push yourself forward, stay motivated, and take action, regardless of how you're feeling, physically or emotionally!

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

BACKSTAGE!

/ THE BEAT

ISSUE 05 /

Kellsie joined the Backstage Faculty last year and is thrilled to be part of our community. Kellsie teaches a variety of classes at Backstage, including STARS 101 Tap, Tap 4, Jazz Tech and Hip Hop Tech team classes, STARS 102 Hip Hop, Tap 2-3 and Hip Hop 1.

Since the age of three, when Miss Kellsie took her first dance class at the Boys and Girls Club, dance has been a gift to her and has given her many unexpected and amazing opportunities! Kellsie’s dance experience led her to join the cheerleading squad in high school, which in turn earned her a spot on the cheer team at Saint Mary College of California. The formative years in high school and college cheer enabled Kellsie to open doors she never thought possible, such as joining the San Francisco 49ers Goldrush Cheer Squad, working with many amazing dancers and choreographers, and even traveling the world. One of these experiences she particularly cherishes is the opportunity to travel to Japan as a cheer ambassador. On this trip, she had the opportunity to interact with Japanese cheerleaders and even got to go to Hello Kitty's house! Unique experiences like this trip kept Kellsie’s passion for dance alive! Kellsie is so appreciative of the opportunities dance has brought into her life that she now focuses on giving back to others through dance.

After leaving the 49ers Cheer Squad, Kellsie pursued a career in dance education. She has had the opportunity to teach so many gifted dancers and is proud to have helped them go on to prestigious dance institutions. Kellsie credits her family for their support in making her dance career possible. She is also thankful to her amazing fiancé and her sluggish yet lovable cat, Louie. She is grateful to be part of Backstage Dance Studio and continue her dance journey with our community!

Teacher Spotlight

KELLSIE

FUN FACTS: When Miss Kellsie isn’t dancing, she enjoys playing tennis, snowboarding and traveling. Her favorite food? Her mom’s enchiladas!

/ 06

07 /

BIRTHDAYS!

DANCER Agam B. 2-Jan Willa G. 4-Jan Amelia M. 4-Jan Mila W. 4-Jan Julia H. 5-Jan Genevieve P. 7-Jan Edie T. 7-Jan Ella W. 7-Jan Krystel D. 8-Jan Juliet H. 8-Jan Ella A. 9-Jan Claire M. 9-Jan Thea P. 9-Jan Wenzhong W. 10-Jan Walker J. 11-Jan Aanya K. 11-Jan Alia K. 12-Jan Ziva N. 12-Jan Isabella P. 12-Jan Elaina Y. 13-Jan Jolene H. 15-Jan Madeline N. 15-Jan Ellie C. 16-Jan Dorian F. 16-Jan Sophie F-S. 16-Jan Maeve H. 16-Jan Emma N. 16-Jan Luke M. 17-Jan Margot S. 17-Jan

s ’ t e L rate! eb l e C Andre W. 17-Jan Nicole C. 18-Jan Elizabeth K. 18-Jan Parker M. 19-Jan Natasha B. 20-Jan Blythe P. 21-Jan Anna R. 21-Jan David R. 21-Jan Mia W. 22-Jan Aria Y. 22-Jan Camilla D. 23-Jan Harper K. 23-Jan Cameron B. 24-Jan MJ M. 24-Jan Kira A. 25-Jan Myla Z. 25-Jan Amelia S. 26-Jan Colette G. 27-Jan Ava P. 27-Jan Ada V. 27-Jan Ethan B. 28-Jan Kieu An R. 28-Jan Riley H. 30-Jan Dhruv K. 30-Jan Isaline T. 30-Jan Elise C. 31-Jan Reese G. 31-Jan Olivia L. 31-Jan

/ THE BEAT

ISSUE 05/

PARENT

EDUCATION 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.

Brave Listening: The Secret to Safeguarding Your Child’s Mental Health

Nurturing the Healing Power of Play for Ourselves and for Our Children

Free webinar with mental health expert Stacey Freedenthal

Free webinar with University of Washington iLabs researchers Mike Browne and Amelia Bachleda, Ph.D.

January 10, 2024, 1:00 pm

January 23, 2024, 1:00 pm

REGISTER NOW

REGISTER NOW

In this essential talk, suicide risk assessment expert Stacey Freedenthal, Ph.D., LISW, will guide parents through the sensitive and challenging topic of supporting their child’s mental health.

Among the powerful strategies Freedenthal will outline is brave listening, which not only helps our children feel seen, heard and supported, but can literally be the difference between life and death.

Amelia Bachleda, Ph.D., a child development specialist from the Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, will join Mike Browne, senior director of Community Engagement for Cultivate Learning at the University of Washington, for an engaging conversation about the brain science of play, the critical role of play in our lives and how to advocate for play in all of its forms.

/ 08

09 /

SIGNATURE TEAM

UPDATES!

Our signature competition team 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!

/ THE BEAT

ISSUE 05 /

Our STARS teams were finalized in September and dancers involved have been invested in building a strong team by giving 100% effort in class, practicing at home and creating friendships. They can’t wait to show their team pride by wearing the new jackets to their first of two competitions in March.

STARS UPDATES

/ 10

11 /

nuary a fa j qs Can I add or change classes?

We have closed enrollment for the 2023-2024 school-year session, except for 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?

As we have closed enrollment in classes participating in our shows, make-ups in these classes are no longer available. Classes are focused on preparing choreography for our shows and building community within the classroom. Classes not participating in our shows (Creative Movement and Acro) will still have make-up class opportunities. Please contact us in the studio office with any questions.

/ THE BEAT

HIP HIP

OF THE MONTH

HOORAY!

Dancers

CHLOE MILLER

ISSUE 05 /

JANUARY

OWYN CHINN

ALAN DONNER

Chloe is in Miss Sofia’s Pre-Hip Hop Class. Miss Sofia says that Chloe is very focused in class and excited to learn! Congratulations, Chloe!

Congratulations to our January Dancers of the Month! These dancers will receive a gift card to Stage Left Dancewear! Please stop by the front desk to pick up your prize. HOORAY!!

Owyn is a member of our Signature Team and was nominated by her Jazz Tech teacher, Miss Rhonda.

Rhonda says that Owyn works hard and has a desire to improve. She is kind to her teammates and tries to make everyone feel included. Outstanding job, Owyn!

Skills

OF THE MONTH

Alan was nominated by Miss Danielle, his teacher for Ballet 2-3. Miss Danielle says that Alan is a very focused student, applies all corrections and has great technique. Amazing work, Alan!

Acro = Splits Ballet = Glissade Hip Hop = Popping Jazz = Charleston Tap = Paradiddles SEE DETAILS ON NEXT PAGE >>>

/ 12

13 /

january

SKILLS OF T ACRO

BALLET

HIP

SPLITS

GLISSADE

POPPIN

Definition: An act of leaping in the air or sitting down with the legs straight and at right angles to the upright body, one in front and the other behind, or one at each side.

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. https://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=k0HHzxa7St8

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. https://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=B2pukux7em8

Definiti that sta 1960's a style is sudden releasin ("hitting beats in Popping concent body pa such as chest p https:// atch? v=MvbY

THE MONTH

P HOP

JAZZ

TAP

NG

CHARLESTON

PARADIDDLES

ion: A style of dance arted in the late and 70's. This dance characterized by tensing and ng of the muscles g") to the rhythm of n music. g can be trated to specific arts, creating variants s arm pops, leg pops, ops and neck pops. /www.youtube.com/w

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. Usually, it is done without musical accompaniment and to the clapping of hands in two-four time.

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. https://www.youtube.com/w atch?v=W_g8rZHJEEY

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. https://www.youtube.com/w atch?v=dIRImsakl2w

YzMbNuLo&t=221s

/ 14

15 /

40th

ANNIVERSARY CORNER DID YOU KNOW ...

It’s officially our 40th anniversary year! Our first competition team in 1984 was named Starlight Dance Company and had 19 members, including one of our current teachers (can you spot her in the photos???)

Starlight Dance Company photos, 1984.

/ THE BEAT

ISSUE 05 /

coming p ev s u t en JANUARY 1ST - 2ND • WINTER BREAK: STUDIO CLOSED JANUARY 10TH • PARENT ED: THE SECRET TO SAFEGUARDING YOUR CHILD’S MENTAL HEALTH , 1:00PM WEBINAR JANUARY 15TH • MLK HOLIDAY: STUDIO CLOSED JANUARY 16TH - 22ND • 80'S THROWBACK SPIRIT WEEK! JANUARY 23RD • PARENT ED: NURTURING THE HEALING POWER OF PLAY FOR OURSELVES AND FOR OUR CHILDREN, 1:00PM WEBINAR

Follow Us:

y a t S cted! e n n o C

@backstage.dance.studio @backstagebellevue @backstagedancestudio

/ 16

FT. PHILIP TRESCASES

O

U

!

SIGNATURE TEAM

Y N !

A

THA N K

U O Y

TH

K

THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING

BACKSTAGE!