Spring semester begins today! We are so excited to welcome new students to the studio as well as to welcome back familiar faces. As a reminder, in the spring semester dancers work more deeply on choreography in preparation for the Steppin' Out Annual Performance (we are still working on the plan, but please pencil in June 4th and 5th for now).
COMMUNITY HEALTH/COVID SAFETY REMINDERS
For the safety of all the Steppin' Out community, please monitor all family members for any signs of illness. Even mild signs like a runny nose should trigger testing, and students who are positive should kindly complete their quarantine before returning to the studio. We'll continue to do our part with hand washing and sanitization, air filtration, and masks. A well-fitting mask that stays over the nose is important, and medical experts are currently recommending N-95 or KN-95 masks when possible.
MOVEMENT OF THE MONTH: WALKING BACKWARDS
A new semester is a great time to shake things up a bit. Why not try walking backwards? Develop balance, coordination, confidence, and a greater awareness of all the dimensions of space. That kind of awareness is great to have when sharing the dance floor with classmates during class--and crucial when it's time for the performance. Have your child practice at home to music. Just make sure to clear a space before you get started!
CLASS SPOTLIGHT: NEW CLASS FOR AGES 4-6
Please spread the word--we've just opened an additional Tap/Ballet/Tumbling Beginning I for ages 4-6 with Angela Rose Dorantes and Abigail Hinson from 5-6 p.m. on Tuesdays. Please view the schedule, register now, or tell a friend!
DANCE IN THE NEWS: SUPER BOWL DANCERS & COMPENSATION
Conversations about paying dancers fairly for their work have arisen this month around Super Bowl performers. Dancers' union SAG-AFTRA announced after a meeting with Super Bowl producers that "no professional dancers will be asked to work for free as part of the halftime show." Read about the struggle for dance work to be recognized and compensated fairly in New York Times dance critic Gia Kourlas' "What Do Dancers Bring to a Halftime Show?" Kourlas argues that "to perform without adequate compensation devalues dancers as artists. It suggests dance is just a hobby, not an artistic or athletic pursuit."
QUICK TIP: STICKER BOOKS!
We love giving stickers and our dancers love collecting them, so how about a new sticker book for the new year? Any small notebook with blank pages will do.