Love is In the Air — Valentine’s Day At Your Studio

Is Valentine’s Day only for sweethearts?

No. Some might consider it just a “Hallmark Holiday” but Valentine’s Day remains an opportunity to show appreciation for and celebrate our friends, family, and loved ones. With the exception of ballroom or social dance schools, it’s not typically a holiday that gets much attention at dance studios… a candy heart here, a Valentine for the teacher there…

Why not make Valentine’s Day an event in your studio?

Here are a few lovely ideas!

Have students bring a parent (or two) to class. It is a great way to wrap parent observation (often held around this time of year anyway) and dance parent appreciation together with a sweet theme. After all, we love our dance parents!

A parent could even participate in class. A “My heart belongs to Daddy” theme may get the fathers to join in! If you’ve got a class of girls, you might want to check out my list of father/daughter songs.

Bring a friend to class. This is a fun marketing idea that many studios have adopted. Students get to bring a friend to their class to share their favorite activity, their friends get a taste of your class or school, and studios may enjoy a few extra customers when all is said and done. On Valentine’s Day the focus doesn’t have to be on “sweethearts” though high school students may get a kick out of bringing significant others. Try some fun partnering or mirroring activities. After all, two hearts are better than one!

Speaking of partnering… If you don’t have time to create your own event around the holiday. Why not make your class extra special with some fun mirroring activities for young children or a partnering class for the older ones. I love this idea for a Dynamic Friendship Dance from Stacey at Leaping Legs!

Hold an open class. Take a cue from your social-dancing cousins. An open class could be held during an evening of the week that you wouldn’t normally have class. Make it something accessible and appealing to males and females of all ages, like an introductory Hip Hop class. Open it to the community. If it’s an adult class, bill it as a great date night. If it’s for kids, just make it fun. If you think you may fill up, hold more than one class. Consider it an open house for people to ask questions or get more information about your school. Get volunteers from your studio to decorate for the holiday and serve refreshments!

These are just a few ideas – do you have one to share?

Does your studio do something special for Valentine’s Day?

Trick or Treat Tracks for Halloween

I love holidays in the dance studio and Halloween can be especially fun. Below is a list of songs and albums that may inspire you to get a little ghoulish in your classes this year. The categories just give an idea of which groups the songs could be used for, however, feel free to mix and match or go on your own little witch hunt for music – many popular Halloween tunes have been covered by multiple artists. If you have a song or album you’re just dying to share, let us know about it in the comments below!

Creepy Kid Stuff

• Monster Boogie – Laurie Berkner
• Spooky – Lazy Town
• Clownfoot – Jo Jo’s Circus
• Witch Doctor – Alvin & The Chipmunks Soundtrack
• Purple People Eater – Sheb Wooley (original)
• Doin’ The Zombie – Chubby Checker

Mickey’s Monster Bash – DisneyIncludes a Disney Monster Mash, This Is Halloween, and Sound Effect/Instrumental tracks	Boo Cackle Trick or Treat – Sue SchnitzerSome sweet, original tunes for young children
Halloween Songs and Sounds Pooh, Tigger, and other Disney friends get scary

For More Grown-Up Ghouls

• Thriller – Michael Jackson
• Spooky – Dusty Springfield, or try Imogen Heap
• I Want Candy – Bow Wow Wow, or try Melanie C
• Somebody’s Watching Me – Rockwell
• Witchy Woman - The Eagles, or try Kristen Chenoweth (from Bewitched soundtrack)
• Black Magic Woman – Santana, or try Fleetwood Mac
• I Put A Spell on You – Creedence Clearwater, Fame Soundtrack, Marilyn Manson, etc.
• I’m Your Boogie Man – KC and the Sunshine Band, or try White Zombie (still has the disco beat!)
• The Boogie Monster – Gnarls Barkley
• This is the Night or Do the Hippogriff or Magic Works – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (the “Weird Sisters” band in the movie include members of Pulp and Radiohead)

Nightmare Revisited – Various Artists (including Marilyn Manson’s version of This Is Halloween)

Hair-raising Hip-Hop

• Addam’s Groove – MC Hammer
• Halloween – Arsonists
• Every Halloween – Insane Clown Posse
• Scary Story – Will Smith
• A Nightmare on my Street – DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince

Bone-chilling Ballet

• Great Pumpkin Waltz – Vince Guaraldi Trio
• Resurrection Waltz – Hellraiser Soundtrack
• Estasi Dell Anima – Zombieland Soundtrack
• Tubular Bells (Theme from The Exorcist) – Mike Oldfield
• O Fortuna/Carmina Burana – Carl Orff
• Theme from Halloween - John Carpenter
• Toccata and Fugue in D Minor – Johann Sebastian Bach

	Sleepy Hollow Soundtrack
	Dracula – Philip Feeney
	Dracula – Philip Glass and Kronos Quartet

Alarming Alternatives

• Raining Blood – Tori Amos
• Halloween – Dave Matthews
• Halloween or Spellbound – Siouxie and the Banshees
• Halloween – Misfits

12 Steps to a More Eco-Friendly Dance Studio

Happy Earth Day!

12 Ideas for Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling in the Dance Studio Environment

1. Collect and Recycle

Many of us recycle at home but forget about our workplace. Collect plastic, aluminum, glass, paper, and cardboard if you can. If there is no collection for your area or facility, check into possible drop-off sites and mobilize teachers, parents, and students to see that it gets there.

Consider recycling CDs and cases, as well! With music going completely digital there are probably a lot of these lying around the studio, not to mention all of the burned CDs that get made and tossed. Check this article for ideas about Where to Recycle CD and DVD Cases or try http://www.cdrecyclingcenter.com.

2. Turn Off Lights and Office Machines

Encourage students and staff to turn off lights whenever the studios, bathrooms, or offices are not in use. If your space has the option, try using only half of the lights available or installing dimmer switches. And, replace bulbs,as they burn out with energy-efficient ones.

Also, shut down computers and other office equipment when not in use, purchasing Energy Star labeled devices when you can.

3. Avoid Air Conditioning

Embrace the sweat and resist the urge to immediately snap on the A/C on hot days. Check out this article in Dance Teacher about Choosing the Right Temperature for Your Studio. And, don’t forget to remind students to stay hydrated!

4. Reduce Water Bottle Waste

Speaking of hydration, I know that some of you probably sell bottled water at your studio. However, it’s a no-brainer that all that waste is a real downside. Consider providing filtered water and/or encouraging students to bring a refillable from home. Perhaps you could sell containers with the studio logo to make up for not selling bottled water.

5. Reduce Water Use

Consider installing low-flow toilets or using the ol’ brick-in-the-tank method. Plus, do your best to keep up with maintenance of dripping faucets.

6. Go Paperless

In this age of technology, going paperless isn’t as difficult as it seems. Studios are beginning to move newsletters and other communications online. From increased communication through a studio blog to interacting with customers on your studio’s Facebook page or group, technology is making it much easier to go paperless. In fact, the free teleseminar that I am involved with at DanceStudioOwner.com will include discussion about how to transition your registration and billing systems online. This event begins TODAY with yours truly kicking things off. The topics are so timely, please don’t miss it. Update: Obviously this teleseminar is over but all the interviews and discussions are still available to members at DanceStudioOwner.com. In addition, the download of my interview with Suzanne on how a studio blog can boost your business is free to download when you subscribe to Dance Advantage.

7. Print Wisely

When you must print, use both sides of the paper whenever possible, use the back sides of old documents for faxes, drafts, etc, use the draft setting on your printer when you can, and consider recycling your ink cartridges or toner.

8. Carpool

Start a carpool network. We live in a fast-paced world but students are very conscious of environmental issues. Consider tapping this resource and challenge your students to come up with a plan for organizing the car pool (or to brainstorm more green ideas for the studio). You might be surprised at their willingness to embrace your efforts in this area. However, if you want to go that extra mile, consider offering some incentive with a discount or coupons to those who participate in an organized carpool.

9. Set Up a Gently Used Consignment or Trading List

Young dancers grow out of dancewear and shoes constantly and prices for brand new stuff can get expensive. Again, mobilize your customer base and work together to create a system in which students/parents can offer used items for resale or trade. Frugal parents will thank you.

10. Community Clean-Up

Adopt a highway or join other community clean-up efforts. This is great for your city and the environment. Additionally, showing an interest in your local region is good for business.

11. Buy Organic, Recycled, and Eco-Friendly Products

From the snacks you offer, to the paper towels you use, to the cleaning products you put on your floors, there are plenty of options for going green. Check TheGreenOffice.com or the following link, if you’re not sure where to Find Eco-Friendly Office Supplies.

12. Say No to Faux

Nothing brightens up a space like real, growing things. Consider bringing live plants into your studio environment to cool, humidify, and refresh the air.

What are some ways your studio is “going green?”

What are the pros and cons of the above 12 steps?

I’m looking forward to your thoughts and input!

Yes We Can, and Did!

Happy Inauguration Day, everyone!

I only now realized that my earlier post, I Can’t, was posted on today of all days. A humorous coincidence. Today America has shown that we can and I am so glad that we DID! Best wishes to the first family and specifically to our 44th President who will face many challenges in the years ahead.

Looking Back, Stepping Forward

I began Dance Advantage in April of 2008. It has been a great eight months and quite a learning process for me. When I began I knew next to nothing about blogs or blogging. This has been a year of learning, watching, reading, writing, trial-and-error, hard work, and TIME (lots of time)! I’ve tweaked the look and the layout of this blog. I’ve tried all kinds of social media forms. And I’ve gotten a really good response from readers and other bloggers. So, I’d like to take a moment to say thank you to a few people/websites that have been a great help.

Thank you!

Some folks that have been especially kind, helpful, and supportive…

Leslea at NJ Dancers and Uptown Dance

Suzanne at Dance Studio Owner

David at Movmnt Magazine

Nancy Wozny at Dancehunter

Angie at Blog Coach

Cammie at Stripes and Velour

Some sites and services that have been a great help along the way

WordPress.com

ProBlogger

Twitter

BlogCatalog

Google

The Body Series/Dancing Smart Newsletter

My Tweeps and other dancebloggers

Selly at DanceOutlook

Tonya at Swan Lake Samba Girl

Deborah at Dance in Israel and DanceBloggers.com

Maria at A Time to Dance

M. Butterfly at Notes from Upstage Left

… the many others who have been kind enough to add Dance Advantage to their blogroll or links, most of them can be found on my blogroll (so please check it out).

And a huge THANK YOU to my readers!

Readership has increased over 300% since that first month of blogging. Dance Advantage has come a long way, and I recently published my 100th post! Just for fun, let’s look back at the most popular posts this year.

Top Five Posts for the Year

1. Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Turnout (Part I)
2. What Is Modern Dance?
3. Creative Dance
4. Encouraging Boys to Dance
5. Improving Pirouettes

Goals for 2009

I have many goals for Dance Advantage but I thought I’d let you in on the biggest one. Plans are already in motion for making the switch from WordPress.com to WordPress.org. For readers who have no idea, this means that I will have more control over the look and design of the blog, which will translate into a new look and layout, new features, options for navigating the posts, and more. I am very excited about this transition as I believe it will support my mission to provide a quality and useful resource for those involved in dance education.

If you are a regular reader of the blog, I encourage any suggestions or feedback that will improve this site. I’d love to hear from you!

To all of you visiting this, my first post in 2009, I want to wish you a wonderful, prosperous, and…

Happy Holidays!

And don’t forget!

Tonight on OvationTV, the winning Nutcracker is revealed!

From the Times Online (UK):

Dance TV programmes this Christmas

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

I hope all of you in the U.S. are having a happy holiday.

The holiday season is, of course, a busy one for everyone. I wanted to let everyone know that I will be taking a little break from writing new material for the blog until after the new year. In addition to my duties as a mom, which will keep me quite busy throughout this time, I have some other writing projects in the works, and I have decided that as the blog has grown I need use this time to organize my writing and posting habits. Streamlining my process will not only be beneficial for my home life, but allow me to bring you the best possible content here at Dance Advantage. From now until the New Year I will be doing some re-posting of older articles which may be new to readers who have recently discovered the blog, as well as sharing occassional news and events stories that may be of interest to you.

I will not be disappearing completely. You can still find me on Twitter and other places around the net.

To those of you in the U.S. and elsewhere around the world, have a very happy holiday season.

Thank you for your readership and support of Dance Advantage. May you have a wonderful and prosperous new year!

The Thought That Counts

Decisions, Decisions

Parents often agonize each year about what to get for the vast number of people that work among, care for, and interact with their children on a regular basis.  School teachers, coaches, dance instructors, den mothers, classroom aides, daycare workers, on and on and on!

If you are a parent wrestling with what to get your son or daughter’s dance teacher, you will have to decide how to spend (or not spend) your money this year. Who to give to, what to give, and how much to give are personal decisions each family must make. It is my opinion, however, that less is almost always more. I’ve heard over and over that people are concerned with the amount of clutter in their lives and in their home. Yet, often out of obligation, we add to our stress and our stuff during the holidays. Givers feel exasperated and overwhelmed, but remember that those receiving may also be feeling overrun by gifts. I can’t offer any hard and fast rules about gifting at the holidays, however, I will suggest that simplicity can be a gift to yourself and others. Perhaps keeping this in mind will help to reduce your stress and guide you in your choices.

The Low-Down on Loot

Teachers, especially, get a lot of stuff at the holidays, particularly candles, mugs, and bath/body products. These are great, but one runs out of places and opportunities to use these. As a dance teacher, I appreciate edible treats (healthy snacks like granola or trail mixes are very thoughtful) but remember that it is not always safe to assume that everyone will appreciate food items. For those with allergies or special diet concerns, holiday treats often go to waste. In addition to treats, I prefer items that are small, personal (something obviously purchased with the recipient in mind), consumable (movie passes, coupons, certificates), or handmade by my students (like cards, jewelry, or artwork). Holiday ornaments and decorations were nice when I was a young teacher and didn’t have a lot of my own yet, but now that I have been teaching for a number of years I’ve amassed plenty of these.

If you are planning on spending a bit of cash for a dance teacher (perhaps one that you really think is special or has made extra effort for your child), gift cards or certificates are usually well received. I know that sometimes it feels like $5 is too little for a gift card, however, I think you’d be hard pressed to find someone who didn’t appreciate that bit of extra pocket money. Just keep in mind what type of card you are buying. If the items in the shop cost well over the amount on the card, the recipient may end up spending money that they otherwise would not have just to make use of the card.  Choose a card for an establishment which you know the teacher frequents. For example, a coffee shop, the eatery near the dance studio where he/she grabs dinner on the run between classes, a dancewear shop, bookstore, or music site like iTunes®.

Alternative Gift Ideas

Rather than individual gifts, a class can consider organizing a collective gift for a teacher. This cuts down on the amount of individual items given and ultimately can result in a more useful or meaningful gift. A collective gift does not need to cost a lot of money. The class can work together on making a scrapbook, card, or craft with a holiday theme. Each member of the class could take a turn cleaning the studio mirrors or staying a few minutes after the last lesson to assist with tidying the studio. Get creative!

Another alternative gift idea that is becoming more popular is making a donation in someone’s name. This type of giving/getting is not for everyone. Some are for donation gifts and some are against the idea. You may want to consider if this gift is right for the recipient. If you have a creative way of telling someone that you’ve made a donation in their name, be sure to tell us about it in the comments for this post. Typically the gift recipient receives a card or note about the charity to inform them of the contribution made in his/her name. Another suggestion is to buy/make a small item that is a representation of the charity (for instance, a school-themed magnet for an educational charity).

Something to consider if you receive an abundance of gifts each year is to ask others to donate in lieu of a present. Teachers could hand out a card or note prior to the holiday season and encourage those who would like to give a gift to donate to an organization instead. Providing a short list of charities from which to choose will ensure that both you and the donor are happy about where the money (or item) is going. Changing the Present is one online not-for-profit site on which you can set up a registry/wish list, letting others know you’d welcome a donation made in your name.

The Thought That Counts

More important that gift-giving or receiving, the holidays are a great time to say thank you to the people who spend time with and care for you or your kids in all of their activities. These folks deserve a show of appreciation but saying “thank you” with money or stuff isn’t necessary. I’m going to write that again… Teachers, caregivers, and the people who spend time with you or your kids deserve your thanks but do not need money or stuff to feel appreciated. If they did, they would probably not have chosen a career working with children! Have your kids take the time to write or decorate a card/note and offer your sincere thanks for their time, care, and energy. For most, this gesture of appreciation will be worth more than any thing you could give! Here are some tips to help you or your child write the perfect “thank you” note.

So what are your thoughts?

• Do you give teachers gifts at all? (I know some schools have a policy discouraging this)
• What types have you given in the past?
• What are you planning to give this year?
• Do you make homemade gifts, crafts, or other creative presents? Post your ideas in the comments!

Holiday Gift List for Dancers and Dance Teachers

We are well into November already and the holidays are quickly approaching. Unless you are a last-minute shopper, you may already be thinking about what to get for the dancer or dance teacher in your life. I’ve found some fun products online that would be a treat for any dancer-type this holiday season. These are primarily gifts that cost more than $10 each. I will cover low-cost gifts that students can give to their dance teachers in my next post.

It’s in the Bag!

It’s not always easy to find dance accessories suitable for boys. Horizon Dance has a variety of dance bags suitable for young girls, teachers, AND boys.

Dance totes for the ladies don’t have to be frou-frou either! Check out these bags from Sugar and Bruno Dancewear.

A Dream Come True

For little girls with big dreams. Check out these pillow cases from Bunnies and Bows and You Go Girl Dancewear.

Charmed I’m Sure

Charm necklaces and bracelets can be sweet or sophisticated. Crcreations.com offers over 50 dance charms.

Generous Gems also has a wide selection of lovely dance and theatre charms.

Definitely a site for the girly at heart, High IntenCITY sells cute but stylish dance jewelry and charms, plus accessories and bags for young dancers. Their logo gives you an excellent feel for their product design.

We’re on a Roll!

A great gift for any dance teacher! DanceDice.com offers ten sets of dice – Ballet, Jazz, and Tap in beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, and one Creative Dance set. Each set is $21.95.

Fix-er Up-er

For the serious tapper – a repair kit from Hollywood Tap Mall. Includes a “mini-screwdriver set with tubes of odd-sized screws, leather tap-bits + a tube of Super Glue – in a RED supple neoprene pack for an easy-find in your bag.” $19.95

Sock it To Me!

What is it with dancers and socks? I don’t know but we love them. Check out these cute, comfy, and original designs. Click on the pictures for information and ordering.

Feelin’ Good

Hugger-Mugger is great for aspiring yogis but dancers and teachers will enjoy some of their products as well. They have a full line of organic clothing, jewelry, mats, bags, and more.

Sincerely, Yours

Yes, people do still write letters… I think. For the dancer that still physically writes a thank you note, Dance Extras has some beautiful designs.

Happy Feet

Tired feet can always use a little TLC! Click on the pictures for more information and ordering.

Original Ornaments

Ornaments are a great holiday gift! These are particularly lovely or unique.

Get Cracking!

Some dancers get a little Nutcracker crazy around the holidays. For the collector who has everything, here are some unusual and/or rare finds. Also included are three performance DVDs with a slightly different take on the Nutcracker story.

Raise the Barre

Perhaps all your dancer wants for Christmas is his/her own space to practice. Portable floors are available for tap dancers.  And, here are some tips for what to look for in a ballet barre (article provides links to three major retailers, here is another). Please note that it is not safe to “teach oneself” pointe, this should always be done with the guidance of a skilled teacher. In fact, it is best to develop most dance skills under the eye of a trained teacher and ask for their suggestions as to what can or should be practiced outside of class.

Happy Shopping!

I hope you enjoy this list and maybe even find some great gifts for the dancer in your life (or for yourself)! I want to note that I am receiving nothing in return for listing these products, I just thought it would be fun to share some of the fun things one can get online with my readers. I cannot speak to the quality of the products or the retailer. Therefore, please practice safe and smart shopping online! Check out these tips. Or, this quick guide.

Hair-raising Halloween Dance Videos!

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Here are some fun and frightening dance videos for your Halloween pleasure. Enjoy… if you dare!

Performances…

(from professional to amateur)

Jiri Kylian’s Petite Mort (2-part)

A short excerpt from Ben Stevenson’s Dracula

Blacklight and Bellydance – Black Magic Woman

Zandra Thomas’s Zombie

Art House Dance Company (UPenn) – What’s Your Favorite Scary Movie?

More Blacklight fun…

Animation Attack…

Scary Skeletons Dance

Dance Macabre

Last (and perhaps least)…

a truly scary version of Thriller