BIG NEWS!!!

I am formally announcing Ballet 5:8 from the Chicago area will be offering classes at Master's Dance Academy here in Valparaiso, IN!! Amy and Julianna from Ballet 5:8 have joyfully adopted our studio and are offering classes starting soon! I have truly enjoyed getting the studio to where it is today and will forever be grateful for all our families and students! Ballet 5:8 is a great, nonprofit, Christian dance studio as well and we are only moving up here at MDA! 

Please consider registering today! Learn more here--  Ballet 5:8 Valpo Campus, Register Here!

Upcoming Events, Homework & Announcements, 4.19.16

Upcoming Events:

Tuesday, May 3rd - BAREFOOT DAY!! All dancers attend without ballet shoes! Also, if your dancer doesn't have convertible tights- have her wear shorts or leggings over her leotard and NO TIGHTS! :)

Saturday, May 21st - WORKSHOP DAY!!  Meet the NEW INSTRUCTOR for the FALL! See the email link to register!! Invite your friends!

Tuesday, May 31st - PARENT DAY!! Parents watch your dancer day! Attend your dancer's class and see what she has worked on this season of dance!

Announcements: 

You are welcome to bring your own TUTU or SKIRT for PARENT DAY!! I will also have dozens of cute tutus (mostly smaller sizes) available that evening dancers could wear if desired! 

Also MAY TUITION is due before May 3rd (barefoot day!)!! :) 

Summer & Fall session information with Ballet 5:8 to be announced soon! :) 

Homework:

Creative Movement -
>Review God is love, joy, good, strong, truth, and just.
>Continue to teach your child their body parts, shoulders, legs, hips, chin, ears, etc.- work on heels...and then walking in releve.
>fast and slow
>balance
>jumping with two feet
> Worship songs-- Here I am to Worship, Chris Tomlin and Great are you Lord by All Sons and Daughters

Pre-Ballet -
>Dancing Prayer
>Have them make pizza and butterflies (stretch legs out in a V while sitting for pizza & put feet together and move knees up and down for butterfly) - the dancers know the routine for each one!
>Saute (plie, jump, plie, straight- like a rocket!)
>Have them make several combinations of plie, releve, twirl, walk around, first position, tendu
> Worship songs-- Here I am to Worship, Chris Tomlin and Great are you Lord by All Sons and Daughters

Ballet -
>Dancing Prayer
>Stretching
>Ronde Jambe - make a D- forward and backward
>tendu - squish ladybug with toe and turn heel in
>chasse
>chaine turns (half circle)
>Worship Songs -- Joy by Rend Collective and Good Good Father by Housefires

Honesty, March 8th 2016

March 8, 2015

Don’t forget--- next week Amy and Julliana from Ballet 5:8 will be here at 5:30 for a PARENT FORUM during the 5:30 class. Please plan to attend with your questions!

Creative Movement (CM)- Today the dancers worked hard! I am so proud of them. Thanks to the grown-up they were able to stay focused and learn all about God and dance! In our class we masting one step concepts and adding a second step a times to give them a challenge! For example, march on the line (one step) and shake your shaker at the same time (2nd step challenge). This age group is just trying to learn the English language, understand where their bodies are in space, understand social skills and then also use those skills in the daily life.  It’s a big job for such a little one! Try to remember to encourage your young child when you see them working hard to master a daily living skill.  Here’s a hint for when you need your child to do something (put shoes on, get a toy, pick up something)  use their name first and then give them a command with as FEW words as possible. Try to use only 1-3 words when giving the command.  Also, here are a few dance skills to help them practice this week!

• START and STOP an activity with a given timing, such as use music to play the freeze game at home!
• Stand on one foot - balance!
• Gallop across the floor!
• Tip toes, or releve walking!

Pre-Ballet (PB)

These little ones are ready for more of a challenge! It has been so delightful to watch the dancers that have just moved up from being with a ‘grown-up’ in class to now being independent!! They are catching on and learning social skills with the other students. I am so proud of them and of you parents that are letting go! I know its hard, but they are doing great! They are learning that they have different sides of their bodies and learning how to use one side first and then the other side. It’s so fun watching them interact with each other and learn! They are also learning how to take turns and let others go first. Please work on the following at home when you get some time! I know this age loves to dance on their own at home and when you see them doing those things on their own, just throw out a reminder from below:

• How do you MARCH again? That’s right, pick those knees up to your belly button.
• Find your tree trunk, send a branch out. (first position, tendu point)
• Open your doggie door (plie)
• Tip toe (releve walk)
• Show me a gallop (chasse)

Ballet, 6 years and up

I am so proud of these girls! They are working hard and learning so much! We are really enjoying the worship dance part of our class as well.  We are currently dancing to Great are you Lord by All Sons and Daughters.  They are welcome to put the song on this week and worship dance.  

We also had a devotional this evening about Honesty.

‘To worship God means that we must come before Him with an honest heart. No, we cannot actually see His face, but we can understand who He is, recognize His power, and acknowledge His sovereignty. True worship takes place in an honest heart.’ Girlfriends in God, An Honest Woman, March 8, 2016

The dancers can work on remembering placement of their arms, legs, trunk for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions of ballet. They can also work on their tendus and degages, along with working on their plies to gain strength and grace. Also, work on flexibility this week, stretching anytime they can and whenever they have a moment.

Welcome to our new students this week!

Remember-- next week at 5:30pm Amy and Julianna will be here from Ballet 5:8 to answer questions and have a PARENT FORUM, MEET & GREET. It will be during the 6 yrs and up class. See you then!

Registration for Spring NOW OPEN!

Feb. 1st- open to current students
Feb. 10th- open to new students

SPRING SESSION will be March 1st - May 31st, taking spring break off, 3/22.  It will be a simple curriculum working mainly on developing more technique, strength, flexibility, and spiritual growth.  We will NOT have our typical recital program at the end of the session, but we WILL have an in-class demonstration for parents on the last day of class. There will also be several exciting events happening with Ballet 5:8 over the next few months for your dancer to participate in as well which I share later.

*SPRING SCHEDULE

Tuesdays

9:30-10am  Creative Movement, 2-3 yrs. plus caregiver

10-10:45am Pre-Ballet, 4 yrs.

4:30-5:15pm Pre-Ballet 4-5 yrs.

5:30-6:30pm Ballet 6 yrs +

SPRING REGISTRATION

Register by visiting mastersdancevalpo.com and click on the PAYPAL link to pay for the first month of classes. CM - $35, PB- $40, Ballet-$45/month; you may also mail your payment with checks made out to Master’s Dance Academy, Inc. Email to the address below for the address. Please send any updates to your registration form to mastersdanceacademy@gmail.com.

*Class size limit is 10 students, when the limit is met your child will be placed on a wait list.  You will be contacted when a new class is opened. Times may vary from schedule above due to opening an additional class or classes. 

In preparation for the transition of joining with ballet58.org to teach 5 yrs and older dancers, we are having several events prior to September.

>PARENT FORUM with Amy and Julianna, on Tuesday, March 15th starting at 5:30pm at MDA. They will be available for questions and discussion regarding the upcoming transition to Ballet 5:8 (for 5 yrs. and older) and be available to meet and greet.

>Second, Ballet 5:8 will offer a workshop for the dancers in the spring. The date is yet to be determined. This workshop will allow the dancers and families to see what they could learn under Ballet 5:8’s instruction and have fun!

>Third, Ballet 5:8 will come to Valpo and do a performance for our community again this spring.

>Fourth, Ballet 5:8 will ask for a commitment for training by May 31st, to begin in September.

When you get an opportunity, please check out ballet58.org to read more!  

God makes all things new!

Announcements regarding our upcoming sessions and changes at the studio coming soon!