STAY ON TOP OF THINGS

    Please come in frequently during the end of April and throughout the month of May to make sure that you are on top of everything that is going on.  We consistently send information home with the children but often it never makes it to you, so please stick your head in every now and then during this busy time and be sure that you are up to par on all that is going on!

RECITAL DATES SET!

Our 23^rd annual recital will be held at the Lake Charles Civic Center Rosa Hart Theatre on June 12^th (mandatory dress rehearsal) and June 13^th (recitals) - the PreK/Kinder recital will be held at 2:00 PM with our Gala beginning at 5:00 PM.   

 Spring Break

The studio will be closed from March 29^th through April 5^th for the spring/Easter holiday.  Have a safe and happy holiday.  He is risen!!     

Happy Easter!!!

Recital Forms

Beginning in mid-April, look for the forms necessary to insure that your child will be included in all aspects of the recital.  There will be forms on the counter for t-shirts, perfect attendance trophies, medals for 5 years or more of dance training, DVD orders,  and anything else that you need to know or take care of as recital nears.  Please check each week and be sure to turn in any forms that pertain to your child ON TIME!!!  NO FORMS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER MAY 6th!!!

Recital DVD / Roses

During the last two weeks of May you may sign up to receive a professional DVD of our recital and/or to order roses for your child.  These roses will be available for pick up at the Civic Center during recital.  These DVDs and roses must be paid for in advance or they WILL  NOT BE ORDERED.

Costume Info

We will fit all costumes during class when costumes first come in.  However we will not send the costumes home with your child.  You must come in and pick up your child’s costumes  during business hours (Mon – Thurs from 4:00 to 7:00 PM).   All balances must be paid IN FULL in order for you to receive your child’s costumes.  So please review your statement NOW, and take care of any discrepancies immediately.  This will greatly speed the “costume pick up” process for you.

Recital Packets

Beginning the last Monday of May, you may pick up your recital packets, which will include all information pertinent to the recital.  This packet will include your stage pass, quick change info, medals, ribbons or trophies (if applicable), your child’s certificate and all scheduling information for the stage and dress rehearsals.  BE SURE TO COME IN AND PICK IT UP!!

Perfect Attendance/Medalists

Each child who has attended dance all year and hasn’t missed any classes is eligible to receive a Perfect Attendance Trophy.  If your child has earned perfect attendance, please be sure to fill out the appropriate form.  If your child has had 5 years of dance or more, please be sure to fill out the appropriate forms so we can recognize them with a medal or ribbon, put their name in the program and announce them on stage.

Costumes

Remember that costumes will begin coming in during the month of April.  No costumes can be given out to anyone with a balance.  Please be sure that your account is current before costumes are given out.  If there are any questions please don’t hesitate to speak to Ms Lindale during business hours or you can email me at cathykurth@aol.com.  Please be sure and include what you are emailing about in the “memo” section of the email or I probably won’t open it.  Avoid having your child embarrassed and take care of all balances at this time. 

ATTENDANCE

Please understand that attendance is of the utmost importance as recital nears.  We are focusing on our recital routines now and many times we have formations and partner work, etc. that is nearly impossible to perfect with excessive absenteeism.  Please do your best to have your child in class every week.  If your child is not feeling well, he/she can still come and sit and watch the class in order to keep up with the new steps and what is going on in the class.  It is unfair to the other students and to your child as well, to allow them to miss classes all the time.  Teach them the valuable life lesson of commitment by requiring them to finish what they started.  We want all of the classes to look great at recital, but we need the students to be in class in order for that to happen.  REMEMBER – If your child misses excessively he/she may be REQUIRED to take additional private lessons (at parent’s expense) in order to participate in the recital.  This is in the literature you were given when you registered your child for dance classes. 

Souvenir Recital

T-Shirts

 Also if your child would like to order a souvenir t-shirt you MUST fill out the form, designate the desired size, pre-pay and put in the lock box.  The dancers often wear their t-shirts for the finale. 

Statements

Please carefully review your statement.  If you notice any discrepancies, let us know at once.  We DO make mistakes.  We try very hard to be accurate in our accounting, but we are human and do make mistakes.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask!  We are happy to explain anything you don’t understand and we will gladly correct any errors on our part.  If you have made a payment that isn’t reflected on your statement, simply let us know.  We have copies of all cash transactions, credit card transactions can be looked up and with a check number and date that the check cleared the bank, we can easily double check our records for you.   

Recital Pictures

A photographer will set up right here at the studio.  We have the dates for these pictures tentatively set for Apr 30^th – May 2^nd.  We have a “Picture Page” section in our program where only pictures taken with our photographer can be used.  You may use ANY picture you wish for an ad (1/4 page and up) but for picture page section; only our photographer’s pictures may be used.  This is for the sole purpose of having this section look uniform.

Recital Fee Due with April

Remember to add the $35 (plus $5 for additional children) to April’s tuition.  Do not confuse this fee with costume fees or the registration fee paid at the beginning of the year.  This is a fee to help cover the cost of putting on the recital. 

CHRISTMAS SHOW

We will be having a Christmas show next year.  Dates are tentatively set for December 9^th – 12^th.  We will have auditions for the Christmas show in mid-August.  The children will sing, dance and act.  All dancers are encouraged to be in the show.  There will be many non-singing and non-speaking roles for the dancers who just wish to dance or tumble in the show.  There will be some weekend rehearsals for all participants and of course, there will be quite a bit of extra time required for those with “leading” roles.  More info will follow on this soon. 

Dance Team Honors

In Westlake - High score soloist for the day in the Junior Division went to 11-year-old Lindsey Wedgeworth’s performance of “Hazel Eyes” choreographed by Cathy Kurth.  High score soloist for the senior division was a tie and went to Alexis Lawson’s performance “Incomplete” choreographed by Ginger Broussard and Kellee Shaheen’s “It’s Only Life” choreographed by Cathy Kurth.  Our senior group number, “Concrete Angel” choreographed by Cathy Kurth, received best emotional execution.  In New Orleans Kellee & Emmalee Shaheen  and Concrete Angel received “hi gold” awards, which is the highest rating you can achieve. All 3 of these routines were  choreographed by Cathy Kurth. Concrete Angel was also given a special award from the judges for having the “most beautiful jete”.  The junior trio, “Shop Around” (Madison Jagneaux, Shelby Lockhart and Madison Youngblood) which was choreographed by Traci Kurth placed in the top 5 out of over 25 junior duo/trio numbers.  Cortni Liggio and Morgan Rion won high scoring duo/trio in the senior division with their performance to “The Way You Make Me Feel” choreographed by Cathy Kurth.  In Houston, Alexis Lawson received the highest score for senior soloist and was named “Most Promising Dancer”.  Shop Around again won highest scoring duo/trio, our junior team number (Cops & Robbers) received highest scoring group of the day and best choreography (choreographed by Cathy Kurth).  They also received the “Teacher’s Choice” award and our studio was awarded the “Team Spirit Award”.  Concrete Angel received highest scoring senior large group and most emotional performance.  Time After Time (choreographed by Katie Cress) received high scoring senior small group and best choreography in the senior division. Several of our soloists were invited to compete as “Dancers of the Year” in New York this summer.  Those chosen were Traci Jones, Sarah Jorden, Lindsey Wedgeworth, Penelope Haymon, Alexis Lawson, Morgan Rion, Emmalee Shaheen & Kellee Shaheen. In Jennings, Alexis Lawson again won highest scoring senior soloist and highest scoring solo of the day! GO ALEXIS!  Lindsey and “Best of the Best” with the highest scoring team award of the day out of over 50 groups competing.  WOW!!  I am so proud of ALL of you – thanks for all your hard work!!! 

Dance Teams Compete

Our Junior, Intermediate and Senior Rhythm Pirate Dance Teams have competed in Baton Rouge and Houston.  The girls will compete in Westlake on February 27^th and again in Houston on March 13^th.  Our junior team will compete in New Orleans in April.    The girls have been doing a great job so far with our intermediate routine “Hot Lunch Jam” receiving High Score Award at DMI in Baton Rouge.  Kellee & Emmalee Shaheen received the high score award for the entire day, out of more than 50 routines!  They performed a duo to “Every Time It Rains” which  they choreographed  themselves.  We are so proud of all of them!  If your child is interested in dance team, ask for an information sheet that will explain what is expected and what is required for your child to audition.  Team is very demanding financially and time wise.  Only students that are serious about dance and LOVE to dance should even consider this type of commitment. 

Mailing Payments

When mailing payments, be sure to always mail to our PO Box and not our street address as the street address is unmonitored all day and on weekends.  Our mailing address is PO Box 12524, Lake Charles, LA 70612.  Thanks for your cooperation.

SUMMER CLASSES

Once again we will have Hollywood choreographer, Ginger Broussard, offering jazz and hip-hop classes at our studio.  We are very fortunate that Ginger is able to work us into her very busy schedule. 

Ginger teaches at a studio in Santa Monica, California with several of the teachers who choreograph for “So You Think You Can Dance!”  Those classes will be held June 28^th – July 1^st.  Please try and have your child attend these classes.  The classes are open to all studios in the area so space is limited.  Once registration is open, please register early!  We will offer a preschool/kinder class in late July and Dance Team Prep and Dance Team Auditions will be held in early August.  Once all of these dates and information is set we will send it to you.  Remember you can always check the web site for updates if needed.