Happy new year! Please don’t forget that fall semester continues through January, so please return to class this week, and read on for spring registration information.
SPRING REGISTRATION SNEAK PEEKS
Fall students receive priority to continue in the spring, so current families should keep an eye out for a preregistration email on January 10th. All remaining spots are open to newsletter subscribers. We'll send a link to you on January 17th, but you can view the class schedule, tuition and policy information, or teacher bios now.
WELCOME, TEACHER CLAIRE!
Teacher Sonja will be focusing on school in the spring (but hopes to return to Steppin' Out in the fall), so this spring we are thrilled to be welcoming Claire Fisher to the studio. Claire will be taking over as our Wednesday ballet teacher starting in mid-January. Claire is a California native who has extensive experience training and performing with an array of Bay Area companies. You can view Claire's bio--along with bios for all of our teachers--on the Steppin' Out "About" page. Claire, we're so excited to have you on board!
MOVEMENT OF THE MONTH: WEIGHT TRANSFER
The transferring of weight is essential to nearly all styles of dance. Any time someone walks, they shift weight from one foot to the next. Weight transfer in dance works in the same way--dancers project weight from one part of the body to another, freeing up that first part to move. This can be a partial transfer, as in a "ball change," or a full transfer, as when we run, leap, or perform certain turns.
The new year is a great time to return our focus to the basics and really explore what it feels like to transfer weight. Ask your dancers to move their weight between feet slowly and then quickly, noting the exact moment the original foot becomes free. Then try shifting weight from other parts of the body too!
CLASS SPOTLIGHTS
Did you know that Steppin' Out offers Contemporary on Thursday nights from 5-6 p.m. with Teacher Emily? We've noticed some amazing work happening in that class as Teacher Emily's students have explored movement quality and worked on interpreting and creating dance phrases in class. Best of all, there's still space for students wishing to add a second or third class to their schedule for spring.
Also, please note the two brand new classes we're adding to the spring slate: Tuesday 5-6 p.m. Tap/Ballet Beginning III for ages 6-8 and Wednesday 3-4 p.m. Tap/Ballet/Tumbling Beginning II for ages 5-7. Please review the schedule and spread the word!
MUSIC IN THE NEWS
This month, we want to highlight two new films dancers might want to check out to get into the spirit of music, Encanto (with music by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Germaine Franco; can be streamed from home), and Sing 2 (with music by Joby Talbot; not yet streaming but should be shortly).
QUICK TIP: TAKE RISKS
Sometimes returning to class can feel tentative, but don't be afraid to take risks this month. The classroom is a safe place to try new things and learn. "Mistakes" are just opportunities to adjust, and progress often arrives when we push ourselves out of our comfort zone, so GO BIG when you return.