April 2009 Newsletter
Dear Parents:
Again this month our newsletter is packed with important information. At the end of the newsletter WE HAVE INCLUDED A “PARENT CHECKLIST” that recaps all of the items that you need to be aware of and attend to between now and the recital. We have also included the checklist as an attachment to the email. Please print this out for reference so that you don’t overlook anything important!! The body of the newsletter contains all of the details. Please read it carefully.
Recital Schedule Recap: Our recital dates are Saturday, May 30th and Sunday, May 31st. Please refer to the March newsletter or check with the office if you do not know which day your child will be performing. On Saturday, May 30th the probable start time for our “Alice In Wonderland” Ballet will be 5:00 PM. The ballet will be followed by the show featuring tap, jazz, hip hop and lyrical dances which will start at approximately 6:30 PM. One ticket will get the ticket holder into both the 5:00 and 6:30 productions on Saturday. The dress rehearsal for the Saturday shows will begin at approximately 12:30 on Friday, May 29th.
The Sunday, May 31st show will begin at 2:00 PM. The dress rehearsal for the Sunday show will be held on Friday, May 29th beginning around 5:30 PM. Both the shows and the dress rehearsals will be held at TPAC’s Jackson Hall.
A lineup of all the recital performances has been posted on the bulletin board outside of the office. PLEASE CHECK THIS TO SEE THE ORDER OF THE PROGRAM AND TO TAKE NOTE OF WHERE YOUR CHILD’S DANCES FALL IN THE LINEUP. ALSO PLEASE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CHILD’S NAME IS SPELLED CORRECTLY IN THE LINEUP. Marikay types all of this information, and a typographical error is always a possibility – even though she tries to be very careful! We depend upon our parents to help us proofread!
Recital Tickets: Many of our parents have been inquiring about recital tickets. As we stated in last month’s newsletter, you will receive THREE tickets with your recital fee. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE PERFORMING CHILD MUST USE ONE OF THESE TICKETS. Dancers are seated with their parents before and after their performance, so they are required to have a ticket. We will designate a few days (days and times to be announced) closer to the recital when we will conduct ticket distribution and sales. On those days, you will receive the tickets that you have coming with your recital fee and will have the opportunity to purchase any extra tickets that you need in the same block of seats. We WILL be utilizing reserved seating, and tickets will be given out/sold on a first come, first served basis contingent upon the following 2 criteria: FIRST, YOUR ACCOUNT WILL NEED TO BE PAID IN FULL – INCLUDING MAY TUITION AND ALL OTHER FEES. SECONDLY, YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE TURNED IN PAYMENT TO THE PHOTOGRAPHER FOR PICTURES THAT YOU WANT TO PURCHASE ALONG WITH ANY UNWANTED PHOTOS THAT YOU ARE NOT KEEPING. We will have plenty of seats this year since we are in the big Jackson Hall. Therefore, if you need extra tickets at the last minute (above and beyond what you originally purchased) they will be able to be purchased at the door prior to the shows. However, last minute purchases will not be in the same block of seats as your original tickets. Extra tickets will cost $10.00 each. PLEASE NOTE: The studio will NOT buy back any tickets. Please take this into consideration when purchasing tickets, so that you do not end up with unwanted tickets!
Pictures: Pictures will be here Wednesday afternoon!! You will pick up your picture packet in the office and will be required to sign it out. We ask that you return the packet within one week. All of the pricing will be printed on the front of the packet. You will remove the photos that you desire to keep and place the unwanted photos back in the envelope. Place payment for the photos that you are keeping in the envelope with the unwanted photos and return it to the office. When dropping off your envelope, be sure that you sign your packet back in! Please note that different poses are printed in different sizes. In other words, they do NOT print every pose in every size. If you want a particular picture in a size other than the size(s) in which it was printed, please refer to the instructions for ordering reprints that will be included in your package. Our dance studio has no control over the pose selection/printing process.
Program Ad: THOSE WHO PLACED ORDERS FOR PROGRAM ADS WILL NEED TO TURN IN THEIR POSE SELECTIONS IMMEDIATELY UPON RECEIVING THEIR PHOTOS. The pose number will be located in fine print on the border of the picture. You may call us with your pose numbers, email them or record them on a designated sheet in the office. If you purchased an ad featuring multiple photos, be sure to indicate how you desire the placement of your photos on the ad layout.
Recital Tee Shirts: Each student will receive a commemorative recital tee shirt featuring this year’s theme, “Just Dance”. This cost of the shirt is included with your recital fee. WE NEED EVERYONE TO INDICATE THE SIZE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE FOR THEIR CHILD. We will put a student list on the bulletin board next week. PLEASE take a moment to write in your child’s tee shirt size next to his or her name on the list!! We ask that you take care of this ASAP, so that we can get our order in to the printer. Each year we do a finale dance at the end of each show, and all of the dancers are invited to participate. The finale dance will be taught in class. Keep in mind that participation in the finale dance is OPTIONAL!!! Those who elect to participate will wear their recital tee shirt in the dance.
Account Balances: Because the receipt of recital tickets is contingent upon your account balance being paid in full by the ticket sales date, we recommend that you check with the office to confirm your balance. PLEASE DON’T FORGET THAT THE $55.00 RECITAL FEE AND THE $3.00 PER COSTUME PICTURE FEES ARE NOW DUE!! Please note that the recital fee is different from the costume fee that you paid earlier in the year. Marikay will go ahead and post the May tuition charge to all accounts next week, so that you can receive the full payoff amount when you request your balance. Even though the May tuition will be posted early, be assured that it will not actually be due until the usual time – May 15th being the deadline. Auto debits will be run the first week of May, as usual. Over the next few weeks, Marikay will be emailing statements to folks who have outstanding fees OTHER THAN May tuition. This will give you the opportunity to go ahead and get account balances taken care of. Please email or call if you have questions regarding your account.
Summer Programs & Classes: We are offering a variety of classes and camps for students during the summer. These will include preschool classes; hip hop for elementary, middle school and high school students; a yoga/stretch class for dancers; a performing arts camp; a summer dance intensive; and a “Little Rock Star” camp. Please visit our website and click on to the “summer programs” tab to see the detailed listing of summer classes and fees. We will also have printed brochures that may be picked up in the office. This year, you may register for all of our summer programs online. Online registration may be accessed through our website. Please spread the word about our summer programs to your friends and neighbors!!
Applause Competition Awards: Congratulations to our competition dancers who competed in the Applause Talent Competition in Chattanooga in March. We won several awards which included the following: Katharine Kolp, Chelsea Milligan and Allison Goodpaster all received overall awards for their solos, and Katharine and Chelsea also were selected to receive Applause scholarships. “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”, “Revival” and “Just Dance” all received overall awards, and “Revival” also received the overall “Entertainment Award” for the day. In total we received 3 platinum awards, 13 high golds and 2 gold awards.
“This & That”:
- It has been brought to our attention that on some evenings the majority of chairs in the snackbar waiting area are unable to be occupied because they are piled with dancebags, shoes etc. Students, please keep your belongings with you in class or place them along the long counter in the snackbar room so that we will have plenty of seats available for parents who are waiting.
- The “Sumner Music Together” program directed by Angie Trottman is planning to hold music/movement classes for mothers and their newborns, infants, toddlers and preschoolers here at our studio on Friday mornings beginning April 24th. For more information or to register, visit Angie’s website at www.sumnermusictogether.com.
- Be sure to let us know now if you will need shoes or dancewear of any kind before recital. We will place a final order within the next few weeks.
PARENT CHECKLIST:
- Make sure that you know which day your child performs. Check with the office if in doubt. Be sure you have the recital and dress rehearsal dates/times marked on your calendar.
- Check the recital lineup (posted outside office) to see where your child’s dances fall in the program.
- Check the spelling of your child’s name in the lineup. Report any errors to Marikay.
- Write your child’s tee shirt size next to his or her name on the student list posted outside of the office
- Check your account balance to make sure that all fees etc. have been paid. May tuition will be due no later than May 15th.
- Watch your email for the announcement regarding picture delivery. Pick up your pictures promptly from our office and return payment and unwanted photos within one week.
- If you ordered a program ad, select your pose or poses immediately upon receipt of your pictures and report your selections to the office.
- Watch your email for an announcement regarding ticket sale dates. Decide how many tickets (in addition to the ones you receive with your recital fee) that you will need. Unwanted tickets will NOT be bought back by the studio.
- Let us know ASAP if you need us to order shoes for your child before recital.
- Visit our website or pick up a brochure to learn about our summer classes/programs. You may register online.
