Are your muscles warm?

As it gets colder outside it is important to remember how to warm up and take care of our muscles while dancing.  It can be a lot of fun to dress in layers for dance classes.  Students and teachers alike can add their sense of style to the traditional leotard and tights!

Over my regular dance clothes I am always layering an extra tank top or tee shirt and a sweater along with a pair or shorts or pants so that I can stay warm on my way to class and keep my muscles warm to prevent injury.  i have seen other teachers and students add scarves and leg warmers.  During class it is easy to tell when to take off a sweater, either just after the classes regular warm up or when you start sweating.  If you are sweating and just have on a leotard and tights then that shows you are getting a great workout while learning your dance moves, or that you accidentally walked into a Hot Yoga class!

Be sure to remember to get to class a few minutes early so that you do not miss any of the warm up and your muscles are fully prepared for class.  Many pulled muscles and twisted ankles have been the result of unprepared dancers.  Stay safe and stay warm in the season ahead!

Back to Dance!

Everyone has been talking about and preparing for back to school.  For me, this has always included getting back to regular dance classes and a new beginning for practicing technique.  This year I began by welcoming my daughter into the world and hosting a dance party for just the two of us each day!  After knowing that I would be back to classes, I promptly headed over to the local dance wear store and picked up a new leotard, tights and ballet shoes!  Along with my new District Dance warm up hoodie, I am all ready.  Being mentally prepared to work hard and do your best is half the battle.

I am excited to see all of my returning students and to meet everyone new!  It is a great chance to make new friends.  Getting together new warm ups for classes has been fun.  Now it’s time to focus on technique!  I am really paying attention to positions this year.  Body placement is also a major focus for students.  Positions are important and should include the arms, so many times the arms are left out with the thought that they will be added later and then they are forgotten.  In ballet, we began class with position review and proved to be beneficial to everyone.  Body placement will be a challenge for some dancers.  Hip placement during hip hop moves is hard because you may be doing a move from side to side, but the hips need to be square to the front.  Just a few things to really be thinking about while learning technique this Fall.

I also wanted to note a little something about dancers who take classes.  I commend everyone who comes to class for a full year because you really get the benefit of specific technique, practice with coordination by learning different combinations of dance and being really far ahead of the dancers who only come to class to learn the recital or performance dance.  Being a dancer takes hard work and dedication, by registering and coming to class for the whole year, you really show that you have the dedication it takes to dance your way to the top!

Dancing in Public

As the weather continues to be nice, I can’t help but think of all the ways dancers are taking their talents outside!  I know last weekend there were many jigs being performed in St. Patrick’s Day Parades.  It’s a little nerve wrecking, performing with a big open space instead of a dancers predictable confines of a stage.  With warm weather brings festivals, parties, parades and more reasons to be entertained.

This Spring, District Dance will be taking a small performance group to the Washington DC Cherry Blossom Festival to perform a vibrant tap dance on a stage for festival enthusiasts and passers by!  This is such an opportunity that dancers don’t forget, which is why we couldn’t pass it up.

These are the times when dancers have to be prepared for anything to happen.  It could rain, the sun could shine directly into your eyes, the floor might not be perfect for the type of dance being performed, but . . .   The show must go on!  Many times dancers have put on a smile and danced their hearts out in less than perfect conditions.  This makes them stronger performers all around.  Cheers to anyone stepping outside their comfort zone.

I want to wish a “break a leg” to District Dance’s CM dancers as they take the stage for what hopes to be the first of many public performances this year.

August Newlsetter

Classes Start in 6 Days!

We enjoyed meeting you at our open house. If you were not able to attend, that’s OK, all the information you need is on our website. Just a reminder to sign-up for classes before August 29th in order to utilize any discounts and start fresh in the new dance year.

Fall Class Schedule

Our schedule has been finalized! Click here to view our most up to date schedule. We are so excited to have six amazing teachers on staff this year. For more information on each teacher, please click their name below.
Miss Melissa Curling - Owner, Director and Instructor
Miss Lisa McKay - Performance Director and Instructor
Miss Annie Yates - Dance Instructor
Miss Amy Amatucci - Dance Instructor
Miss Amanda Kaplan - Dance Instructor
Miss Caitlin Kotkowski  - Dance Instructor

Helpful Information

This dance season, the year will be broken into 2 sessions – fall and spring. Registration for both sessions is required if the dancer plans to perform at the annual recital in June. Payment is due at the time of registration for the fall session. Parents who choose to pay for the entire year at registration will not be charged a registration fee. That’s a $25-$35 savings!

Exciting Updates

Performance Group - interested in learning more? Contact us!
Birthday Dance Parties - pop-star, hip-hop, fairy tale ballet, and more. Learn about our themed birthday parties!
Special Needs Classes - we have a soft spot in our heart for children with special needs. We plan to offer multiple free classes this fall to our special friends. More information to follow…
Cheer/Dance Workshop - coming this fall.

If you have any questions regarding the new dance year, please contact us ASAP so we can answer your questions and get your dancer registered. The start of a new year is very important for dancers as this is when they learn classroom behavior, teacher expectations and so much more.

See you soon!

Keep Dancing,

Melissa Curling
Owner & Director

Registration Open House

Click here for our Open House flyer!

Date:
Monday, August 15 & Thursday, August 18, 2011

Time:
5:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Location:
Clopper’s Mill Dance Center
18026 Mateny Road
Germantown, MD 20874
301.916.2660

Join Clopper’s Mill Dance Center on Monday or Thursday to learn more about the dance company, meet the company director and register for new classes.

• Meet the Company Director

• Learn about the exciting new classes, teachers, and upcoming events

• Register for amazing dance classes

• COUPONS for class discounts will be given away

We can’t wait to see you there. Please contact us if you have any questions. If you are not able to join us for the open house, you can always register online!