Prestige Dance Studio

How To Be A Star Student

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Great advice on how to be star dancer in class.

By now, most of us have mastered the in’s and out’s of how to be a star student in school. Students should do their homework, study for tests, follow directions, etc. Even if school isn’t your child’s “thing,” if they follow those simple rules they will do just fine. Luckily, dance class is very similar. It doesn’t take much to be a star student in dance class. The best part is that it has nothing to do with your dancer’s abilities, it’s all about the attitude! We encourage you to talk with your dancer about this list, either now or at the start of a new session. Although some things may seem obvious to you, it may not be to your dancer.

  • Practice at home. This could mean stretching while watching TV, going over new choreography before bed or having an all out dance class in the basement. At Prestige, we don’t expect our dancers to practice all day and night but if they are really wanting to nail a new step or learn new choreography, they may have to do a little “homework” from time to time.
  • Practice corrections. When a teacher gives a correction the most typical response is to say “OK” and that is great! To take things one step further, we love when dancers start practicing that correction right away. Dance takes practice and to just visualize the correction doesn’t always work. To physically apply the correction will help make sure that the correction sticks.
  • Work hard. This may seem like a no-brainer but sometimes working hard takes an extra little push. The kids that aren’t afraid to sweat, shake, and be tired are the ones to get the most out of class.
  • Have a good attitude. What does that mean? To stay positive, to be nice to classmates, and to be excited to be there.

That wasn’t so bad, was it? As you can see, it doesn’t take much to be a star student in dance class. In fact, all of our students at Prestige are star students in our book! We are so lucky to have such a great group of dancers!

We can’t wait to see them all in classes this fall. Still need to register?? Check out the schedule here!

Best Of The Web: Dancers To Watch

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A web round up of amazing dancers from around the world! Perfect to follow on social media to get some inspiration!

If you haven’t guessed by now, dance is kinda our thing at Prestige Dance Studio hehe. We love performing, taking class, choreographing, talking about pieces, and of course watching it. It is so exciting to get a front-row seat watching our very own young students transform into amazing dancers! To get some inspiration and to keep moving forward, it is always fun to go outside of our Prestige family and check out what other dancers are doing.

Lucky for us, social media makes it SO easy to see what other dancers are up to! We thought we would share with you, our favorite dancers to watch right now. You and your dancers can watch their videos or follow them on Instagram to be AMAZED! It is one of the best places to look when your dancer is needing a little motivation or just needs some distraction.

  • Eva Igo – Have you seen The World Of Dance yet?! This 14-year-old is phenomenal! Her passion and dedication are undeniable. Fingers crossed she goes far in this competition!
  • 25 To Watch From Dance Magazine– This list is packed FULL of amazing dancers from all over the world. We love how they included emerging dancers from so many different disciplines: ballet, jazz, modern, musical theater, hip-hop, and more. There is something for everyone here. Be sure to check out your favorites on social media!
  • 5 Dancers To Follow On Instagram From Dance Spirit– This is another great list. It is heavy on choreographers but they post videos and photos like CRAZY and it is awesome! Some of these dancers will get you out of your comfort zone in an amazing way.

So what are you waiting for!? Go get your inspiration on with these beyond talented dancers and choreographers! We know you and your dancer will enjoy watching them grow and transform along the way, we certainly do!

An Introduction To Dance Class Etiquette

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Dance Class Etiquette for dance studios. Perfect for new dance parents!

With our summer session well under way, we are busy in the classroom learning new skills and having a blast! Our Fall Session is approaching quickly and with it comes a handful of new dancers. In our latest post, we gave you a few hints on how to make your child’s first dance class a success. This week we thought it would be helpful to get an introduction to dance class etiquette.

Before your dancer’s first class every year, it is a great idea to talk about the classroom customs and rules. Not only will it make for a more pleasant experience for YOUR dancer, it enhances the experience for the OTHER dancers in class as well. Each teacher may have specific rules depending on the kind of dance class and the age of the dancers. However, you can assume the following class etiquette guidelines will be expected in any dance class.

  • Respect yourself, your dance friends, and your teacher. This one is SO important! We talk about it even with our littlest dancers. In our classes at Prestige, we want to respect ourselves by trying our hardest and working toward our goals. We respect our dance friends by being kind, keeping our hands to ourselves, and waiting our turn. Finally, we respect our teacher by listening, following directions, and being kind.
  • Go to the bathroom, get a drink of water, and blow your nose before class starts. Asking to do one of these things in the middle of class is not the worst thing in the world and sometimes it cannot be avoided (especially with little ones). But it can be a distraction and often starts a waterfall of kids leaving the classroom. Try your best to keep these requests at bay by asking your dancer to take care of it before class starts.
  • Keep the chatting to a minimum. We totally understand that dance class is FUN and is a reason to see all your best dance friends. Whispers during short breaks are OK but make sure your dancer knows that it is not OK to talk when the teacher is talking and that most conversations should wait until after class.

That isn’t so bad right!? Our top priority is to make sure that your dancer has an amazing time in whatever class they take. These etiquette rules help make that happen and keep the focus on what is important- DANCE!

Helpful Hints to Make Sure Your Child’s First Dance Class is a Success

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Helpful hints to make sure your child's first dance class is a success

A child’s first dance class is a very special event. Maybe your dancer has been asking for MONTHS to take a class, or you had to wait until the start of a new session to enroll, or perhaps YOU danced as a child and have been patiently waiting to share your love of dance with your son or daughter. Regardless of your situation, emotions tend to run high that first day:)

Both parents and students have expectations of how the first class should go. At Prestige Dance Studio, we WANT your child’s first dance experience to exceed your expectations. Nothing makes us happier than watching our students leave after their first class with a smile ear to ear!

A few helpful hints to make sure your child’s first dance class is a success:

  1. Arrive a few minutes early. Arrive with enough time to get your child’s shoes on, use the restroom if needed, put your things away, and get a general lay of the land. Rushing is the last thing you want to do on that first day!
  2. If possible, bring your child to the studio for an open house. If at all possible, it is helpful (especially for students ages 3-6!) to bring your child to the studio before the first day. Point out the studios. Find the bathrooms. Provide them with an opportunity to get familiar with the studio before the first day.
  3. Bring a rested, fed child to dance class. Make sure your child has a snack before class. If they still take naps, try to respect their need for rest and find a class that works around that nap schedule. You know your child- if they are falling apart at home around 5:30 pm, a dance class at that time might not be the best option.
  4. Arrive mostly ready for class. Arrive at the studio with tights and leotard already on and hair pulled up. Getting tights on a toddler or preschool student is not the easiest thing in the world… doing at home will be much less stressful than trying to do it at the studio:)
  5. Buy shoes and apparel well in advance. Tights, leotards, and dance shoes fit differently than other clothes and shoes. Have them do a trial run at home and make sure everything fits properly. All dancewear and shoes can be purchased through the studio.
  6. Talk through what is going to happen before they arrive. For many children, a dance class is their first independent class experience. Talk about how they’ll get ready. Talk about their teacher. Remind them that they will be dancing with new friends in class and that you will watch. Talk about how proud of them you will be afterward!

Feeling prepared? We are looking forward to meeting a new round of first-time dancers and dance parents this summer and fall. We are also still accepting enrollment in our upcoming Troll Camp! Troll Camp would be the perfect introduction to dance classes at Prestige Dance Studio. Contact the studio to learn more or with any questions about your child’s first dance class. We look forward to getting to know your family!

Fostering Your Child’s Passion For Dance

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Fostering your child's passion for dance can be tough! This is great advice on HOW to do it when dance may not be your thing!

If your child won’t stop making up dances, performing for friends and family, or is constantly practicing steps in their room, they may have caught the dance “bug.” Don’t panic hehe! Although this may be a little unfamiliar to you, this “bug” can be an AMAZING thing! Finding a passion for dance is exciting and will do great things for them now and in the future. They will learn how to work hard, set and achieve goals, and have an emotional outlet when things get tough. Sound too good to be true? It isn’t! Dance can do all of those things for your child and much much more so it is time to join them in this excitement! You may be wondering how to support your dancer in this new journey and make sure you are truly fostering your child’s passion for dance, and we are here to help!

The first thing to consider is that every child is unique. Not every child is going to want the same type of support. Some will want to share every moment along the way with you and others will want you to wait outside while they rock it out in dance class. Luckily, you know your child better than anyone so try to respect their “style” and give them the space they need to flourish.

The second way you can foster your child’s passion is by finding a program that they can connect with. Really try to identify your child’s goals. Do they want to just have fun with their friends? Do they want to become a professional ballerina? Do they want to master their hip hop skills? How many hours at the studio can they handle? What sort of environment is good for their personality?  Find a program that compliments who they are and one that will help get them where they want to go. At Prestige, we try to identify what ignites each dancer’s passion and tailor our program to match, you can learn more about our program here.

Another great way to support your dancer is to be positive. Be excited when they share a new mastered step with you. Make a big deal when they perform or sign up for a new class. Even if you are not personally into the dance thing, be happy that is THEIR thing. Think about it, isn’t it so much better when you can share your passion with the people you love? Don’t let them figure out that you would rather have them doing what YOU are into. Instead, be happy they are into an amazing activity that will help them grow and prosper.

We may be a little biased but dance is a pretty great thing to get into and we are so happy your little dancer has chosen to share their passion with us! We know that with your support, they will grow into not only talented dancers but well rounded young adults!

Need help finding the perfect class schedule for your dancer?? Let us know! We would love to help get your dancer off on the right foot this Fall!

Your Musical Guide For This Summer

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Your musical guide for dancers in Cedar Rapids, IA

With summer comes some very well deserved time OFF. We think you should spend that time relaxing, trying something new, and of course devoting more time to doing what you love! We are PRETTY sure you and your dancer LOVE dance (hehe) so why not spend your summer catching up on a little art and culture in the form of musicals. We have rounded up a few ideas to get your musical exposure on. If you take us up on some of these ideas, let us know! We always love to hear opinions and experiences when it comes to dance and the performing arts. Have an exciting event already planned that isn’t on our list? We would love to hear about it in the comments!

Enjoy from your couch

  • The World Of Dance– Ok, this is not a musical BUT with a panel of AMAZING judges, this show is definitely building some hype! Dancers from all over the world compete to be named the best. We love that there are all different styles, there will be something for everyone in this show! We can’t wait to catch the premiere (May 30th, 9:00pm)!

In Cedar Rapids

  • Peter Pan- Perfect for all ages, this show is taking place at the Theatre Cedar Rapids from June 3-4
  • Billy Elliot The Musical – This show is for an older dancer (13+) but is a great story about following your dreams! Also hosted at the Theatre Cedar Rapids from June 30-July 22

In Des Moines

  • An American In Paris– The dancing in this musical is just amazing! Check it out at the Des Moines Civic Center from July 18-23

In Chicago

  • Disney’s Aladdin – Who doesn’t love a good Disney musical? Well worth the drive, this show is playing at the Cadillac Palace Theatre until September 10
  • Hamilton– I’m sure you have heard of this one by now, catch it at The PrivateBank Theatre before it leaves Chicago!
  • Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE KING AND I – The costumes in this show are so beautiful! It is taking place at the Oriental Theatre from June 14-July 2

We hope this list gets you excited to go experience a performance or two this summer! Make a trip out of it or just a fun night. We can’t wait to hear all about it!

3 Things to Add to Your Summer Schedule

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Summer Dance Classes at Prestige Dance Studio

We are in the final countdown to our Annual Recital! We are so excited to see our dancers on stage doing what they love. We know that you are focused on finishing the school year strong… but we can’t help but think ahead to all the fun we are going to have at Prestige Dance Studio in our summer dance classes and camps!

Have you had a chance to check out our exciting line-up of summer camps and classes? Spots are going quick! We highly recommend registering quickly to ensure a spot. Summer is a great time to try something new, reach specific dance goals, and have fun without the stress of the school year. Unfortunately, dancing is NOT like riding a bike. You have to continue training in order to continue to improve. We recommend a summer dance class or camp to all of our dancers. Today we are offering a few additional recommendations for your dancer this summer. Make sure these things are on your schedule and help your dancer to be his or her best when our school year classes resume!

  1. Rest. OK we DO want your dancer in class, but we also understand the positive benefits of rest or taking a little time off. For our competitive dancers, this could be a weekend with no dance. Or a week long vacation with family. Or even a morning spent at home. Time without a schedule or places to be can be rejuvenating for both dancers and their families. Make sure you have periods blocked out for unstructured fun! A little time away can make sure they are ready physically and mentally to jump back in.
  2. Stay Active. If your dancer is taking a little lighter load this summer in terms of their dance training, make sure they are staying active! Swimming, running, climbing, playing… all great ways to make sure they are ready for the demands of their dance classes.
  3. Cross Train. Cross-training is a great way to address specific areas of your dancer’s technique. Help your dancer to make improvements outside of the dance studio. Do they need to work on their flexibility? Take a yoga class! Core strength? Pilates! Do they want to leap higher? Safely incorporate some resistance training! Cross training can be a great way to keep things interesting.

 

Great Ways To Remember This Year’s Recital!

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Memories for dance recitals are so important! Make sure you remember this years!

Is anyone else completely blown away that recital is just a few weeks away?! Our teachers and staff are busy perfecting dances, finalizing lighting, and working hard to make sure the day goes off without a hitch. All the while, your dancers are busy remembering notes and perfecting their recital looks! With it being such a busy time of year (not only at the studio but also in your personal life), I’m sure it feels like you are going at 60 miles an hour just to get through it all. We want to make sure that when it comes to recital you are able to slow down and really enjoy the moment with your dancers.

Don’t get us wrong, it is still going to go fast but we hope there are a few precious moments in there that you will really remember. Maybe you will remember helping your dancer get ready or seeing them shine during their favorite number on stage.  Or maybe when you got to meet them after the performance to finally tell them how amazing they were. Whatever moment sticks for you, hold on to that! Write it down in a journal and tell your friends, you’ll want to remember that for years to come!

Another great way to hold on to those memories is to make a keepsake from this year’s recital. We found a few great ideas that you can start this year! A great one for first-time recital dancers is to make a shadow box filled with a recital photo, shoes from this year, ticket stubs, program, and maybe even a dried flower from the show. For those long-time dancers, we love the idea to keep a ballet/tap/jazz shoe from every year and create a display with yearly pictures for your dancer’s room. We think this one is adorable! Make sure to write the year, recital theme, and the name of their favorite dance in each shoe. Finally, for those dancers with a TON of old costumes, make a quilt! What a great way to remember all those years of dance at Prestige Dance Studio! This would make an amazing gift for those seniors going off to college. Queue the water works, right?!

However you decide to commemorate this year’s recital, we are so excited to show you all that your dancers have accomplished this year. We know you will be beaming with pride and will have a blast!

Check here for more recital information, we can’t wait to see you there!

Getting To Know Addy!

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One of the things that sets Prestige Dance Studio apart from other dance studios is our AMAZING staff. Our staff does their best to provide outstanding customer service and it shows! I’m sure at this point in the year, you have met Addy but we just wanted to give her a little shout out because we just love having her on our team. Addy is our full-time office manager and assistant to Miss Jess. She is a great person to contact for any questions or concerns you have while Miss Jess is with her students.

Addy A Few Fun Facts

Favorite TV Show: Teen Wolf

Favorite Movie: Harry Potter

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite Restaurant: Zeppelins (She is a regular hehe!)

Favorite Season: Fall

Hobbies: Long-boarding, Surfing, Traveling, Attending Music Festivals, Graphic Design

We sat down with Addy and asked her a few more questions about her background and dance memories. Interested in learning more? Be sure to catch Addy at the studio. She loves getting to know all of the wonderful dance families at Prestige Dance Studio!

Where did you grow up? Cedar Rapids – I graduated from Prairie High School.

Where did you go to school and what did you study? Iowa State University for Biochemistry and Business Management and The University of Iowa for Entrepreneurial Management

What has been your most rewarding dance experience? Competition weekends with our Prestige Competition Teams are my favorite. I get to step out from behind the desk and help make sure the kids are where they need to be and prepared for their performance/s. I was a competitive gymnast growing up, competitive dancer through high school and coached Junior Olympic Gymnasts during college so the high energy, fast paced atmosphere makes me nostalgic.

What was your most embarrassing Prestige moment? One time I went tanning before coming into work. At the end of the night, I walked into the studio and saw my lobster-red face staring back at me in the mirror. I had talked to clients ALL night with a bright red face.

Why do you like working at Prestige Dance Studio? I love watching the students develop their talents and reach their goals. Getting to know the dance families and share excitement in their successes is the most rewarding feeling.

Thanks for all you do Addy!

5 Things To Throw In Your Recital Bag

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What to pack in your recital bag! Love these unique items!

Can you believe it is almost May?! For us here at Prestige that just means we are getting closer and closer to recital and we cannot wait! With dress rehearsal and recital just around the corner, we thought you may be starting to think about what exactly you should pack in your dancer’s recital bag. I’m sure you have already thought of the usual (shoes, tights, hair and makeup supplies, costumes and accessories, undergarments, and snacks just to name a few) but have you thought to bring these next 5 things?!

  1. Clear Nail Polish– Of course, we suggest bringing an extra pair of tights for the day of recital but sometimes even that isn’t enough! Clear nail polish is the perfect thing to stop a RUN in your tights dead in its tracks. As soon as you notice a tear, dab the polish on the end.
  2.  Sewing Kit– Like we hinted at before, sometimes the unexpected can happen during the big day. A rip or tear to a costume could be devastating if you cannot repair it quickly. Make sure to throw in a handful of safety pins along with your needle and thread!
  3. Dryer Sheets– For some reason, costumes LOVE static cling on a performance day! Simply rubbing the inside with a dryer sheet can completely eliminate the cling and your dancer’s costume will lay like it should.
  4. First Aid Kit– Throwing in some bandaids, antibacterial ointment, and ibuprofen can save the day in a pinch. Don’t worry though, if you forget- you can always find a PDS staff member during the performance, we will be well stocked!
  5. Tennis Ball– During performances, cramped and tight muscles happen! A tennis ball can bring a world of relief to a sore dancer in between numbers.

So, how did you do? Were these things already on your list to be packed? Do you have any favorite unconventional items that weren’t on our list? Let us know so we can share!

Check here for more information on recital events and schedules. We can’t wait to see you there!