April 2018

​Hello dance and tumbling families - 
This month has flown by... I cannot believe it is almost Spring/Easter break. This means recital is right around the corner. There are so many preparations currently in motion. Please read and save emails carefully and don't hesitate to email us any questions, stop by the desk, or Facebook message us. We are happy to help.
The dance recital T shirt list has now been hung in both the main location and Mall of the Bluffs studio. This T shirt will feature the dance recital theme on the front and all the participants names on the back. Please check your child's name is spelled correct and mark what size you would like ordered for them. Size options are only those listed. This list will remain up through the end of April. If you have not selected a size for your child by then we will choose one for you based on their measurements. This name list will also be used to proof the recital program so please double check the spelling of your child's name so it will not only be correct on the T shirt but also in the program. All T shirts were paid for on your dance costume bills.
I am working daily on the list of whom will be in what show for the dance recitals. We refer to this as the show split list. We will have 4 recital performances, different dancers will be in each show. Younger dancers will be in 1 of the 4 shows, 3-5th grade dancers 1-2 shows, middle school dancers 1-2 shows, and high school dancers 2-3 shows. This is a general rule. You will receive these lists via email as well as paper copies in class by the end of the month (email). Paper copies after Easter. I appreciate your patience as I work through this large task. It is not something you want to publish prematurely, it will only cause confusion. We will promise that siblings will have at least 1 show together unless there are special circumstances. We cannot however promise for cousins. We will do our best to accommodate special show requests as well but there are no guarrentees. Organizing over 400 families allows us some options but there are some limits. Again we appreciate your patience as we finalize this part of the show planning.
Tickets for all 4 dance recital performances will go on sale and be available for pick up April 16th at 4:00pm. All families will have 6 tickets held for them to what is considered their MAIN show. This is the show with all their routines are in. A family may have 2 shows with all their dances, in this case we will choose. You may trade tickets to another show as long as they are available. The dance recitals are held at the Mid American center in the Exhibition hall. This allows us ample seating and the option of adding as needed. We will begin with 650 seats per performance. Families with 1 dancer will have 6 tickets held for them, families with 2 dancers will have 7 tickets held and so on. These held tickets can be picked up April 16th or after. There is a $40-$50 annual recital fee that MUST be paid by all families to participate in the recital. This helps pay for the rental of the hall, the stage, lights, programs, sound equipment etc. The recital fee will vary by number of dancers participating. Regardless of ticket use, this fee is applicable to all families with dance students. 
Additional tickets will sell for $12.00 each. All tickets are first come, first serve. Again ticket sales begin April 16th. 
The Cheer and Tumbling annual showcase will be held Sunday, May 20th at 2:00pm at Abraham Lincoln High School in the small gym. I will be emailing an information packet with leotard and T -shirt options in the next few days and Miss Kailey will also have paper copies available. This showcase is a casual, fun way for the kids to show off all the skills they have been working hard to achieve. Admission will be $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for students. One parent will be admitted free with each participant. We will have a selected leotard and T shirt available for purchase or tumblers may wear their own. Again packets will be coming home via email this coming week and in paper form after Easter.
There is no dance class March 26th through April 1st for our studio Spring/Easter break. Classes will resume on Monday, April 2nd. Please note this is different than schools.
We have been trying costumes on in classes alot this week. A few adjustments here and there and they will start coming home after Easter. I imagine April will fly by so please mark those calendars - 
March 26-April 1st - No classes - Spring break
April 16th - Recital tickets will go on sale and be available for pick up
May 14th - 17th - Studio pictures for tumbling, cheer, and recreational dance classes (during normal class times)
May 19th - Celebrate CB Parade, come walk with KDS!
May 20th - Cheer and Tumbling Showcase - 2:00pm ALHS
June 8th - Dance recital rehearsal  - All day - Schedule will follow
June 9th and 10th - Dance recital performances 1:00pm and 6:00pm each days
Thanks everyone - Keep working hard and have a great Easter!
Kerri Watts and Staff

December 2017

Hello dance and tumbling families - 
Oh my goodness it is almost December... This year is just flying by! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and fall break. 
December can be a crazy month with church and school programs, changes in the weather (sickness), travelling, and general busy-ness... Please let us know if your child will be missing any classes. Reminder we are on holiday break Dec. 23-January 5th. Enjoy the time with friends and family.
Although we have been fortunate to have some amazing weather this season we all know the cold stuff is coming. The number one needed item at the open door mission are socks! SO... KDS will be having a sock drive in December! We will have tub set up for donations of new and barely used socks that will be donated to the Open Door Mission at the end of the month. All those who donate can grab a free candy treat for their efforts too! Let's fill the tub and help in giving back to our community and a great cause!
I have prepared just over 100 costume bills over the break, I will continue to prepare them and get them passed out. Watch for your child's in the next few weeks. They will be passed out in class and added to the online account system. If a student is absent they will be mailed out USPS. If you miss it or are not sure please check at the desk.
December 4-9th we will host another "Bring a Friend to Class Week". This time however there will be a few more restrictions as we are winding up our enrollment session and beginning to prepare for recital. Bring a Friend week in December will only apply to classes that currently have openings and friends in attendance will need to be the correct age for the class and not a sibling. We will again be offering a special treat for those dancers and tumblers who do bring a friend. The following classes are open to bring a friend week - 
All beginner combo classes (Monday, Tuesdays, and Thursday at 4:30, Tuesday at 10:00am, Saturday at 8:45am and Saturday at 9:00am)
Beginners Tap/Jazz class on Wednesday at 4:30 or Saturday at 9:30am
Junior Ballet on Monday at 4:30, Wednesday at 4:30, Thursday at 5:00 or Saturday at 11:00am
Junior Hip Hop on Mondays at 6:30 and Saturdays ta 11:30am.
Junior Tap and Jazz class on Wednesdays at 5:00 or Saturdays at 10:15am.
Intermediate Tap on Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday and Intermediate Jazz on Mondays
All tumbling classes
All boy hip hop class and Rough and Tumbles class on Mondays
We hope you will share your dance class with a friend! We appreciate the love and referrals!


December 16th - 27th will be Holiday Sweater and spirit week - Saturday through Thursday classes are asked to join in the spirit of the season by wearing a Christmas sweater, ugly or not, fun holiday socks, reindeer or elf headbands and hats, light earrings, you name it we welcome it. Just please be sure you can still dance as needed! We will have some fun holiday happening this last week before break! This will include some treats in the lobby for parents and siblings as well. We cannot wait to see everyone decked out in fun holiday gear!
Just a friendly reminder... lesson fees are due by the 15th of each month, late fees are applied on the 20th. If you paid the first trimester the next one is also due by December 15th. Please keep accounts up to date and avoid late fees.
We have added anew page to the KDS website, it's called Studio Buzz! This page will list all the latest happenings, needed dates, and shout outs happening at the studio. It is designed to be a quick reference for needed info. All newsletters will continue to be posted under the newsletter tab on the page as well. This page is just for a quick look, keep it bookmarked and be sure to refresh for the most up to date info!
We want to end with some well deserved shout outs!!
Congrats to Haley C. for being chosen September Dancer of the Month - She was nominated by Miss Rachel for her focus in pointe class!
Congrats to Lexi D. for being selected October Dancer of the Month - She was nominated for her growth in classes and overcoming her shyness and being brave in hip hop!
Congrats to the member of the Take Flight Competition team who competed at the DanZa competition in November - We had a clean sweep winning all our group divisions as well as winning the Zenith Award for highest score of the day. Congrats to Madison S, Eleanor S, and Ryann W, for being selected as DanZa Stars and invited to perform at the DanZa nationals event.
Dancers also attended the DanZa intensive the same weekend taking classes with the judges and other renown choreographers and teachers. Congrats to Alex W, Alli B, and Ryann W for receiving "I Did It" awards in classes for standing out and working hard! Miss Sabrina was also awarded!
Have a great month everyone and keep up all the good work! So excited with what we have planned for the coming recital, we will start preparing in January and we are eager to share and watch these dances come to life!
Kerri and Staff