ISSUE 03
THE BEAT BACKSTAGE DANCE STUDIO
NOVEMBER 2023
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DRESS CODE CONTEST • 2 CHARACTER FOCUS • 3 TEACHER SPOTLIGHT • 4 COLORING CONTEST • 5 POP-UP CLASSES! • 6
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NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS • 7 PARENT EDUCATION • 8
CONTENTS
TABLE OF
SPRING SHOW INFORMATION • 9-10 LOBBY BEHAVIOR • 11 DANCER OF THE MONTH & • 12-14 SKILLS OF THE MONTH SEATTLE ANGELS • 15-16 40TH ANNIVERSARY CORNER • 17 UPCOMING EVENTS • 18
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DRESS CODE
CONTEST! Our dress code contest starts this month! Students, please come to class in full dress code clothing so your class can be entered into our drawing for an ICE CREAM SOCIAL PARTY! All students in a class must be in proper dress code for the teacher to enter the class in our contest. Last year, well over 100 entries were received for the contest. Let’s top last year and have EVERY class entered several times for coming to class in perfect dress code! Our dress code contest runs for two weeks, beginning Monday, November 6th and ending Saturday, November 18th. The three winning classes will be announced on November 27th and Ice Cream Social parties for the winners will take place at the end of class the week of December 4th!
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NOVEMBER CHARACTER FOCUS
COMMUNITY Our Character Focus for the month of November is... COMMUNITY. Why is building community important?
Strong communities are critical because they're often an important source of social connection and a sense of belonging. Participating in a community bonded by attitudes, values, and goals is an essential ingredient to enjoying a fulfilling life!
BACKSTAGE!
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Miss Shandie joined the Backstage faculty this summer and currently teaches PreHip Hop, Hip Hop Basics, Jazz 1, Hip Hop 1, Hip Hop 2, Acro 2 and Broadway Bound. Beginning in November, she will teach a Pre-Ballet 6-week Pop-Up Class on Fridays at 4:15, and she is also offering a fun Bollywood class on Friday, November 3–be sure to sign up today!
Miss Shandie has been teaching dance for the past 8 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 at UW 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 knows the importance of combining the foundations of dance with each dancer’s true expression of movement, while maintaining a safe and inviting environment for all. Miss Shandie has loved getting to know her new dancers at Backstage and sharing her love and knowledge she has for all styles of movement!
Teacher Spotlight
SHANDIE
FUN FACTS: Miss Shandie’s favorite animal is a wolf! When she is not dancing, she enjoys camping, swimming–anything outdoors!
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oring l o c c
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We are having a coloring/art contest for the month of November! Dancers can take a coloring sheet (located at the front desk), decorate it, and submit their masterpieces by November 15th to win a prize! Three age group winners (6 and under, 7 to 12, 13 and up). Creativity & originality celebrated!!!
! S R O L O EOV C
-- November 1 through November 15 --
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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 4:15 Tuesday, November 7 through Tuesday, December 12 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 5:00 Friday, November 3 through Friday, December 15 COST: $180 for the 6-week session
POP-UP
CLASSES COMING SOON!
ONE-TIME BOLLYWOOD FOR 7 TO 12 YEAR OLDS! Pop-Up Bollywood class with Miss Shandie! This one-time class on November 3rd is for dancers ages 7 to 12 who are interested in a fun-filled introduction to Bollywood dance. Bollywood dancing is a colorful, dynamic and highly theatrical dance style seen in Indian films. It combines classical forms of dance including traditional Indian, folk, salsa, belly-dance while also incorporating more contemporary western forms such as hip hop, jazz and funk. Having no set rules, Bollywood dancing is the perfect means to encourage freedom of expression. We hope you join us! Dancers must be registered by Thursday night, November 2, and the class must have a minimum of 6 dancers enrolled in order to run. Class is on Friday, November 3, 7:30 to 8:15pm. Cost is $25 for the class.
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BIRTHDAYS!
DANCER Isabella A. 1-Nov Rinka W. 1-Nov Clara C. 2-Nov Malinda E. 3-Nov Clover N. 3-Nov Katelyn J. 4-Nov Amy C. 5-Nov Alan D. 5-Nov Cianna Rose N. 5-Nov Ori T. 5-Nov Corianna K. 6-Nov Elena M. 6-Nov Leigh B. 7-Nov Esther C. 7-Nov Olivia G. 7-Nov Phoebe G. 7-Nov Donna D. 8-Nov Sienna M. 8-Nov Laurie H. 9-Nov Natalie K. 9-Nov Marshall A. 10-Nov Taya B. 12-Nov Geneva C. 12-Nov Avery O. 12-Nov Lucy L. 13-Nov Emily M. 13-Nov
Autumn O. 13-Nov Alex Z. 13-Nov Selah T. 14-Nov Maisie K. 15-Nov Kaibrie A. 17-Nov Claire F. 17-Nov Reagan H. 17-Nov Brielle W. 17-Nov Satyana Z. 17-Nov Inaaya N. 18-Nov Capri T. 18-Nov Nathalie T. 18-Nov Mason M. 19-Nov Alexa P. 19-Nov Amelia T. 19-Nov Ryder M. 21-Nov Ananya S. 21-Nov Opel K. 22-Nov Samaara G. 23-Nov Sydney C. 24-Nov Andrea R. 24-Nov Lex K. 25-Nov Naomi B. 26-Nov Alice Z. 26-Nov Zoe C. 29-Nov
TEACHER BIRTHDAYS!
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Miss Leta 11-Nov Miss Jenae 23-Nov
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PARENT
EDUCATION Parent Map Presents: The Future is Now: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of AI and What to Do About It, Tuesday, November 14 at 1:00pm REGISTER NOW The days of Oregon Trails are long over. From essay-writing chatbots to AIgenerated selfies, technology looks a lot different these days. Having trouble keeping up? Us, too. How do we teach our kids the promise and the peril of these tools? Join ParentMap for our ParentEd Talk, The Future is Now: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of AI and What to Do About It, on Tuesday, November 14 with Christine Rosen, Ph.D. Learn how to: Help children navigate ChatGPT and other AI platforms safely and ethically Protect kids’ mental and physical health when using these tools Set reasonable rules and guidelines for social media and other technology Advocate for better regulations of these tools in your home, schools and communities
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SPRING
SHOWS Saturday, May 18, 2024:
RED SHOW: 11:00am, ORANGE SHOW: 2:30pm, YELLOW SHOW: 6:00pm
Sunday, May 19, 2024:
GREEN SHOW: 11:00am, BLUE SHOW: 2:30pm, PURPLE SHOW: 6:00pm We are excitedly preparing for our Spring Shows, which will take place Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19 at IKEA Performing Arts Center in Renton! This month, we will reveal our SHOW THEME and provide additional details about our shows. Performing in our Spring Shows gives students the opportunity to showcase their skills, their confidence, and all the hard work they have put in month after month! It is the culmination of so many things that students learn all year long in dance class and it is our hope that all our dancers will participate! Our six shows are designated by a COLOR of the rainbow. We have updated the show color for each class in the Jackrabbit portal, where you can check to see which show your child's class is participating in. We'll provide additional details in the months ahead! Costume ordering will begin soon, so watch for your dancer to bring home a COSTUME NOTICE/SHOW PARTICIPATION FORM this month, which should be turned in by December 4th!
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NOVEMBER
Teachers begin selection for music, costumes and choreography inspiration based on the show's theme. Costume Notices/Show Participation Forms are sent home the week of November 6th! THANKSGIVING BREAK! Show Theme is revealed the week of November 27th!
DECEMBER
Costume Forms are due December 4th (with student measurements for proper costume fit). Costumes are ordered in December for arrival in April. Choreography begins in the classroom. WINTER BREAK!
JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH
Students continue to learn new choreography and skills to perform in our Shows. MID-WINTER BREAK! Attendance is important so dancers don't fall behind! Practice at home is IMPORTANT.
APRIL
Costumes begin to arrive and are passed out in class. SPRING BREAK! Dancers continue to rehearse their show piece, as well as the Grande Finale Bow! Spring Show Photo Week begins (April 29 - May 4: WEAR YOUR COSTUME TO CLASS)!
MAY - The Final Countdown!
Spring Show pictures continue during classes (April 29 - May 4). Dress Rehearsal at Backstage (May 13 - 16). SPRING SHOWS (May 18 & 19 at IKEA Performing Arts Center)!
SPRING SHOW TIMELINE
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CHILDREN X CROSSING
LOBBY BEHAVIOR
It is fun to see our dancers come to the studio excited to see their friends and ready to dance with them! Please help them remember that the studio is also a place of business and the lobby can get pretty loud and unruly at times when dancers aren’t in class. Remind your dancers to use inside voices, refrain from running and doing gymnastics of any kind, and to be kind to each other!
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HIP HIP
OF THE MONTH
HOORAY!
Dancers
YAMI HORANE
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NOVEMBER
Yami is in one of our Creative Movement classes and was nominated by her teacher, Miss Danielle. Yami is a great listener and ALWAYS participates in class. Way to go, Yami!
WARI JUNYA
SHIVALI DOSHI
Congratulations to our November 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.
Wari is a member of our Signature Team and is enrolled in classes in ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary and hip hop. She was nominated by Miss Rhonda, who says that Wari is focused, hard-working, encouraging of her teammates and always smiling. Congratulations, Wari!
Shivali is a student in Miss Ally’s Contemporary 4 class. Miss Ally nominated Shivali because she is focused, dedicated, a hard worker, and always pushes herself to be better. She is a true joy to teach and watch grow. Awesome job, Shivali!
Skills
OF THE MONTH
Acro = Cartwheel Ballet = Passé Hip Hop = Tootsie Roll Jazz = Jazz Hands Tap = Ball Change SEE DETAILS ON NEXT PAGE >>>
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november
SKILLS OF T ACRO
BALLET
HIP
CARTWHEEL
PASSÉ
TOOTS
Definition: A circular sideways handspring with the arms and legs extended. Proper stacking, straight arms with fingers forward, straight legs, wide split, transfer of weight softly bending through the knees and clean ending position, straight line of direction, balance, stretched feet, posture at start and end, clean tendu starting/ending position. Beginners can work on monkey jumps or precartwheels where they’re in a support in the middle so they don’t have to reach as far. Advanced students can work towards ariels or other variations. https://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=tkugpC33ZVI
Translation: to pass. Definition: Passé is a movement in ballet in which one leg passes (hence the name) the standing leg, sliding close to the knee. Technique: The leg ends up in a bent position, with the foot positioned right above the standing leg's kneecap, making a triangle shape. Passé VS retiré: Technically and linguistically speaking, passé refers to the action of the leg passing through the retiré position, whereas retiré refers to the actual position itself. Oftentimes, dancers and teachers use the two terms interchangeably. https://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=v-gaUt2NXhQ&t=60s
Definiti created both kn togethe to side. https:// atch?v=
THE MONTH
P HOP
JAZZ
TAP
IE ROLL
JAZZ HANDS
BALL CHANGE
ion: A dance move d in the 90’s. You twist nees and toes in er while grooving side . /www.youtube.com/w =5RTkExKobH4
Definition: A gesture originating in musical theater, in which the hands are waved rapidly to and fro with the palms facing forward and the fingers splayed. The creator of jazz hands was Bob Fosse! What is the difference between jazz hands and spirit fingers? https://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=wwCUE9BAU6M
Definition: A quick change of weight from the ball of one foot to the other. Two sounds! Mix it up by adding shuffles, flaps or a pivot. https://www.youtube.com/w atch?v=wRS-BRvBwRg
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INTENTIONAL GIVING
SEATTLE ANGELS This holiday season, Backstage Dance Studio has chosen to work with Seattle Angels, a non-profit that serves the foster care community. The mission of the Seattle Angels is to walk alongside children, youth and families in the foster care community by offering consistent support through intentional giving, relationship building and mentorship. We are working with the Seattle Angels through INTENTIONAL GIVING -giving thoughtful and personalized resources, gifts and care packages that meet the real needs of the foster child and their entire family.
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During the month of December, we invite our Backstage community to help us brighten the holiday season for three families in the foster care community:
T
e v i G tfully oh u g h
Two parents caring for a set of four siblings, boys age 1, 4 and 7 and a 2 year old girl. These sweet kiddos are full of energy and love playing in their backyard. A young, single mother caring for a 5 year old boy. The little one is especially looking forward to the holidays! A single grandmother caring for her 9 year old grandson and 17 year old son in Seattle. They are interested in drawing and art, building Legos, and books. We will have the wishlists from the families closer to the holidays and will post them in the December newsletter, as well as send email reminders after Thanksgiving. There will be a range of items and some suggestions for gift cards (including $25 grocery cards for something special for a holiday meal). We will begin accepting donated items for the families listed above on December 1st. Stay tuned for more details and thank you in advance for your participation.
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40th
ANNIVERSARY CORNER DID YOU KNOW ... When Backstage Dance Studio opened in 1984 (as McKimson Roberts Dance Studio) we occupied a space in Factoria that had only two studio rooms (which you had to walk through to get to the restroom!) and only 75 students. Fast forward to 2023, we have over 600 students, over 100 dancers on our Signature and STARS teams, six studio rooms in two buildings, and a dancewear store! McKimson Roberts Dance Studio, located in Factoria Mall, 1984.
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coming p ev s u t en WEEK OF NOVEMBER 6 • COSTUME NOTICE/SHOW PARTICIPATION FORMS GO HOME WITH DANCERS NOVEMBER 6 - NOVEMBER 18 • DRESS CODE CONTEST NOVEMBER 16 • THANKSGIVING COLORING CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED NOVEMBER 22 - NOVEMBER 25 • THANKSGIVING BREAK/STUDIO CLOSED (NO CLASSES) NOVEMBER 27 • DRESS CODE CONTEST CLASS WINNERS ANNOUNCED NOVEMBER 27 • SPRING SHOW THEME ANNOUNCED NOVEMBER 30 • REGISTRATION FOR 2023-2024 SESSION CLOSES
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Follow Us: @backstage.dance.studio @backstagebellevue @backstagedancestudio
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FT. ELLA ZHANG
SIGNATURE TEAM !
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THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING
BACKSTAGE!