Advice for dance parents

Prestige Students Are Thankful for Their Dance Friends!

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weekly dance classes

It’s the season of giving thanks! So tell us, what are you thankful for? What things in your life bring you joy? What things do you hold near and dear to your heart? For us, our dance families and their continued support make us grateful year after year.

So this year has us thinking, what are our students grateful for? We of course know that they LOVE to dance, and they love sharing special moments with their teachers. But another big piece of their grateful spirits is always their dance friends. Many of them are thankful for the unbreakable bonds they have with their fellow classmates.

So after years of watching our students make lifelong friendships at dance, we thought it was time to share a little bit more about why that magic happens. After all, our dance parents don’t always get to see what happens in class! Our staff always says “dance friends make the best friends,” and we can’t wait to share why!

4 Reasons Why Dance Friends Make the Best Friends:

1. Familiar Faces From School to Dance

Of course, our students LOVE meeting dancers that they’ve never met before, but when they recognize a familiar face from their classes at school, it’s a game-changer! We watch as students get excited on their first day of dance when they recognize a friend from school. And they ALSO tell us when their dance friends are in the same classes with them on the first day of school. Dance makes kids feel that much more connected to their community!

2. Dance Builds Teamwork

Teamwork and support for one another is at the forefront of both our competition team program as well as our weekly dance classes. Students work together to perfect their routines, cheer on their teammates, and meet group goals throughout the year. When you are supporting one another and investing in each other’s successes, it’s easy to form close bonds that can’t be broken! 

3. Sharing a Common Interest Brings Kids Together

Having something in common helps kids make new friends and be social. When children have a common interest, it gives them things to talk about, things to do together, and things to look forward to as friends. It’s not uncommon for our students to tell us that they practiced their dance routine during their play-dates or performed for their friends on the school playground! 

4. Growing Up Together At The Studio

Something that makes dance unique is that kids often get to stay in the same classes with their peers year after year. Our clear-level progressions and flexible class scheduling options make it so that they can essentially grow up together at dance. Many of our oldest students can look back with their peers and remember their shared routines from their very first dance years. 

With all these things in mind, one thing is for sure, dance friends make the BEST friends! Ask any of our teaching staff and they will probably tell you about how the people they danced with growing up were oftentimes their most treasured friendships. The memories our students make together are truly priceless. 

This Thanksgiving, our students are thankful for their dance friends. We see it each and every day when they share smiles on the dance floor! Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at Prestige Dance Studio! 

P.S. It’s not too late to join us in our 2021/2022 Weekly Dance Classes. Watch as your child makes lifelong friendships! View the schedule and register today! 

How To Pick The PERFECT Class for Your Beginner Dancer

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beginning dance classes

Here at Prestige Dance Studio, we welcome dancers of all levels and abilities with open arms. From beginning dance classes to a student’s final recital, we take pride in all their dancing moments! If your child is brand new to dance, we’d love to help them start their dance journey here at Prestige.

When introducing your child to new activities, the goal is to help them find something they really enjoy! After all, having fun is what it’s ALL about. That’s why we offer a wide range of classes that vary in energy level and style. We LOVE helping our beginner students find the PERFECT class that makes them fall in love with dance!

So today, we’re breaking down our beginning dance classes with the hopes that YOUR dancer will find the one that hits their sweet spot!

Here’s how to pick the PERFECT beginning dance classes for your child:

Ballet: A foundational dance form that helps with many other styles and focuses on flexibility, strength, and proper placement of the body.
Perfect for dancers who…

    • Love feeling graceful and strong
    • Are open to repetition with added challenges along the way
    • Want a strong foundation for many years of dancing in the future!
      *For pre-school dancers, try Tippy Toes!

Jazz: A strong and energetic technique that will help a dancer master turns, leaps, and show-stopping stage presence.
Perfect for dancers who…

    • Love the technical elements of ballet with added energy & style
    • Aren’t afraid to be sassy and love their time in the spotlight!
      *Jazz students must also be enrolled in a ballet class.

Lyrical: A highly emotive and expressive dance form that mixes elements from ballet and jazz.
Perfect for dancers who…

    • Love the idea of expressing their emotions and telling a story though movement
    • Enjoy slower and more sustained movement
      *Lyrical students must also be enrolled in a ballet class.

Tap: A rhythmic style that uses both the rhythms of the feet as well as musicality to transform a dancer into a percussive musician.
Perfect for dancers who…

    • Love music, beats, and rhythms 
    • Enjoy quick footwork and making loud sounds!

Hip Hop: A fast, upbeat style that focuses on being grounded into the floor, intricate movement, and incorporating personal style into movement.
Perfect for dancers who…

    • Love feeling cool and staying up to date with current trends
    • Are looking for a hard-hitting and powerful activity!
      *For pre-school dancers, try Hippity Hop!

Strength and Tumbling: Conditioning and tumbling exercises with an emphasis on form.
Perfect for dancers who…

    • Love to soar and tumble through the air
    • Enjoy strength and conditioning exercises
      *For pre-school dancers, try Teenie Tumble!

Musical Theatre: The study of broadway dance and style, focusing on singing, dancing, AND acting at the same time.
Perfect for dancers who…

    • Love the dramatic elements of telling a story through movement
    • Are looking to gain stage presence and confidence

While these are our most popular classes, we have even MORE class offerings. Hard to believe right?! Check out our complete class list with descriptions here!

Beginning dance classes are a great opportunity to try new things and discover what your child loves about moving! After deciding what dance style your child is interested in, it’s time to head over to our class schedule to find a class time that works for you! 

Class Schedule by Age
Class Schedule by Day

We can’t wait to welcome your beginner dancer to the Prestige family!

5 Benefits of Starting Dance From A Young Age

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preschool dance classes

Preschool-aged children are unique in that they are not babies anymore, but they are also not quite ready to independently move through the world. They slowly start to develop their very own thoughts, curiosities, and abilities. This transformation is pretty magical! 

Because they are developing at such a rapid pace and beginning to find their bearings, those preschool years are so important! Giving them opportunities to cultivate their abilities can make a huge difference in their development. Dance is an excellent way to do this!

Did you know that Prestige Dance Studio offers preschool dance classes for ages as young as 1 year old?! From Baby and Me classes for children ages 12 – 36, to independent classes for ages 2 and up, we’ve got just what your little one needs! Check out our class schedule here! 

While we truly believe that dance is for everyone, no matter what age you start, we also see many upsides to starting early on! Check out these 5 Benefits of Starting Dance From A Young Age:

1. Confidence

As many adults can agree, standing in front of a mirror and moving your body can feel vulnerable sometimes! But for most young children, dancing their heart out with no fear of judgement comes super naturally! When they become comfortable and confident moving at a young age, it can give them an extra self-esteem boost during those self-conscious teenage years. 

2. Natural Flexibility

Are you amazed by how bendy your babies and tots are?! Well, it’s proven that the younger you are, the more flexible and malleable your muscles are! With weekly stretching at dance class, this flexibility often sticks with a child into their pre-teen years, when others’ bodies start to stiffen up. 

3. Developmental Effects

In preschool dance classes, we leap, skip, hop, gallop and more! The developmental benefits are endless, including gross motor skills, balance, and coordination. We see so much improvement in even our tiniest dancers over the course of the school year. 

4. Spatial Awareness

In dance class, we talk a lot about personal space. This concept is important as children head to school! With dance under their belt, a child knows how to stay safe around others and are more aware of their surroundings. 

5. Social Skills

Taking turns, raising hands, and being kind to others are all things that our preschool dance classes are great for. It’s rewarding to see even our littlest dancers not only learn dance skills, but also life skills! 

These are just some of the many benefits of our preschool dance classes! But don’t take our word for it, see for yourself! Click here to view the class schedule and register online today. 

We love teaching students of all ages about the magic dance. No matter how old or young they are, dance can make a huge difference in a child’s life. We’d love to welcome your child so they can experience, learn, and grow through movement!

Back to School, Back to Dance!

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school year dance classes

It’s officially back-to-school season! Most of our Prestigians have already headed back for their first day of the 2021/2022 school year. This time of year is SO exciting for our kids, especially coming off of our last crazy school year! 

Heading back to school usually comes with new school supplies, new teachers, and best of ALL, new DANCE classes! That’s right, back 2 school means back 2 dance. We have officially kicked off our 2021/2022 Dance Season! Have you joined us yet? The studio is BUZZING!

Today on the blog, it’s time to break down just a few of the reasons why the school year just isn’t the same without dance classes. Having a weekly dance class to look forward to will take your child’s year to the next level. 

4 Reasons Why Dance Is the Perfect Supplement to Your Child’s Schedule This School Year:

1. Dedicated Time for Being Active

After sitting at desks for most of the day, children need time in their schedule to get up and MOVE. When you sign your child up for school year dance classes, you are ensuring that your child will stay active for the entire year. We get our heart rates up and build strength & flexibility, all while having the MOST fun!

2. Social Time Outside of School

Dance friends are the best friends! When your child can connect with their peers outside of school, it adds to their social skills and gives them tools for building lifelong friendships. At dance, we build eachother up and work together, which teaches children how to connect and care for others.

3. A Confidence Boost

This one may be the most valuable benefits of dance, and we see it ring true for our students time and time again. When a child learns a new skill, especially a performing art, they learn how to be comfortable in their own skin. We teach them that their bodies can do spectacular things, and they end up carrying that confidence with them through everything they do. 

4. A Much-Needed Brain Break

As children head back to school, you may notice that their brains are fried by the end of the school day. With so much mental energy going into their schoolwork, they really need afterschool activities to give their brain a break. In dance class, we often quiet our brains and let our bodies do the work, especially towards the end of class! We dedicate time in every class to just let go and dance! 

As we head back to dance for our 9th Season, we are continuing to support, nurture, and uplift our dancers as they get into the back-to-school groove. We know our school year dance classes offer them both something to look forward to, AND something that most of them can’t go without! 

So, if you’re looking for something fun and valuable to add to your child’s schedule this school year, look no further than Prestige Dance Studio! We offer weekly dance classes for ages 1-18 and we would love to welcome your child! With many classes full already, be sure to register quickly to get a spot in the perfect class. 

It’s Not Too Late to PUNCH Your Way Through Summer Dance!

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summer dance in Cedar Rapids

Our 8th season of dance at Prestige has officially come to a close. From stellar recital performances to countless awards at Inferno Dance Nationals, let’s just say our Prestigians went out with a bang! 

But the momentum does not stop here! Did you know that our 6-week Summer Class Session is already in full swing?! And trust us, summer dance in Cedar Rapids has never been more convenient! Our summer classes operate on a punch card system, making them convenient for families who are traveling or students who want to try out a wide variety of classes!

Our students have been working on those punch cards for just one week, so it’s not too late to join us! We’ll be punching our way through Summer Dance until July 21st! Here’s what we’ve got  in store!

Punch! Your Way Through Summer Dance

    • Crawl! Your Way Through Baby & Me
    • Flip! Your Way Through Tumbling
    • Leap! Your Way Through Ballet
    • Kick! Your Way Through Jazz
    • Pop! Your Way Through Hip Hop
    • Fly! Your Way Through Lyrical
    • Zoom! Your Way Through Musical Theater! 

We’ve got something for everyone this summer! View the Class Schedule HERE! 

So How Do Our Punch Cards Work?

Our punch cards are easy, convenient, and provide the most amount of flexibility. You may purchase punch cards with 6,12,18, or unlimited punches. Each punch is good for 1 class within your dancer’s age/level. The system is specifically designed for dancers to explore our many class options without committing to a weekly class!

    • 6 Punches for $59
    • 12 Punches for $114
    • 18 Punches for $168
    • Unlimited Punches for $225

So are you ready to join us for summer dance in Cedar Rapids?! Don’t walk, run over to our registration page to purchase your punch card today! It’s going to be an amazing summer here at Prestige! 

Are You Ready for Recital 2021?!

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dance recital in Cedar Rapids

The countdown is officially ON! Prestige Dance Studio’s 8th Annual Recital, “Our Favorite Show” is happening THIS Sunday, June 6th. Are you ready for a spectacular performance, an amazing showcase of artistry, and the most impressive dance recital in Cedar Rapids?! 

Our students have worked SO hard this year. The recital stage is where it ALL comes together. Take it from us, teachers who’ve spent our lives both on stage performing and off stage watching from the wings, there’s nothing quite like hearing that applause!

Each year, we prepare our students for recital by perfecting their routines in class, hosting dress rehearsals, and teaching them exactly what to expect on the big day. With an in-studio dress rehearsal as well as one at the Paramount Theatre, we work out all the little kinks with costumes, hair, makeup, adrenaline, and everything in between! 

So… is your child ready for Recital 2021?!

  • Have they sorted and organized their costumes in the order they appear in this show? 
  • Are their accessories, tights, and dance shoes all accounted for in their recital bag?
  • Do they know what time they should be ready to leave the house? 
  • Is your child performing their routines ALL around the house?
  • Have you caught them sneaking a peak at their costumes over and over?
  • Are they asking to listen to their recital songs on repeat? 

*A Little Note*
For dancers over the age of 8, we recommend that they pack their own recital bags (with mom or dad’s approval at the end). This helps them take responsibility for their belongings and reduces backstage confusion because they know exactly where everything is. Dancers, this is YOUR job! Don’t make your beloved dance parents do all the hard work! 

Now… we know our students are ready to dance… but are YOU ready for Recital 2021?!

  • Are you prepared to see your child in a whole new light? Literally, those stage lights really make our dancers shine! 
  • Did you purchase your tickets yet? Email the studio office at prestigedancestudiocr@gmail.com for any inquiries. 
  • Do you know what time to arrive with your dancer at the theater? Visit our recital page and enter the password to review the schedule. 
  • Are you prepared to be in awe of your child’s dance moves? We guarantee they’ve grown by leaps and bounds. 
  • Are you expecting to watch your child’s confidence soar when they step on stage? Seeing them come out of their shells is magical!
  • Do you have any ideas on which TV shows you’ll hear some tunes from? Our recital theme this year is “Our Favorite Show,” and we can’t wait for it to come together!
  • Did you clear your iPhone storage for tons of precious pictures? You AND your dancer will look back and treasure these moments forever! 
  • Are you ready to laugh, grin, and cry your heart our during the Dude and Dancer performance? It’s one of our favorite recital traditions.
  • Most importantly, are you ready to sit back, relax, and enjoy the show? Our dance parents work SO hard for their kids. We hope the show is your chance to finally watch your child shine ALL by themselves while you watch in amazement! 

We can’t wait to see you at the Paramount Theatre this Sunday! Tell us you’re going on Facebook! It is truly a gift to see our dance families come together to celebrate our student’s hard work. 

If you have any questions about the upcoming weekend or need anything from our staff, please contact us via email at prestigedancestudiocr@gmail.com. We’d be happy to help! 

Break a leg dancers!

5 Reasons to Stop By Our Open House on April 24th!

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dance lessons in Cedar Rapids

Have you heard about our upcoming special event?! This Saturday, April 24th we are opening our studio doors to the Cedar Rapids community and we can’t wait to welcome your family! Now is YOUR chance to take a look at our facility and learn more about our dance lessons in Cedar Rapids. We even have a fun surprise to offer… hint hint: FREE dancewear!

Open House at Prestige Dance Studio
Saturday, April 24th
9-12am
RSVP On Our Facebook Event HERE

We love showing off our space, talking with dance parents, and meeting new dancers. Of course, we love a good raffle surprise too! So today on the blog, we’re sharing some great reasons to stop by this Saturday. We can’t wait to see you there!

5 Reasons to Stop By our Open House on April 24th:

1. You’re looking for dance lessons in Cedar Rapids. Prestige Dance Studio offers dance classes for children ages 1-18. We are currently enrolling for Summer Camps and Fall Classes and we’d love to help you find the perfect dance class for your child!
2. You’ve heard about our studio and want to see our beautiful facility! We’d love to give you a tour.
3. You took a break from in-person activities during COVID-19 and are looking for a safe return to hobbies! View our COVID-19 Procedures here and see our safety measures in action!
4. You want to register and you have questions. We can’t wait to help you get registered and get all those questions answered!
5. You’re interested in winning a FREE Tap and Ballet Set! All who attend our Open House this weekend will be entered to win a tap and ballet set ($49 value)! 

So, will we see you there?! RSVP on our Facebook Event HERE! 

Dive Into Summer Dance

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summer dance classes

Who is ready for SUMMER?! We are counting down the days until the pool opens and we can enjoy some FUN in the SUN! But there’s something we’re looking forward to even MORE than pool days…. Summer Dance Camps of course!

As always, we’ve got a HUGE lineup in the works for summer fun! You best believe we’ve got something for everyone this year. From camps, technique workshops, intensives, and weekly classes, we KNOW you’ll want to spend your summer with US!

2021 Prestige Summer Dance Opportunities:  

Is your young dancer looking for a SUPER fun day camp filled with themed activities? Check out our Themed Summer Camp Options:

Life As a Princess: June 28th-July 31st
9am-12pm for Ages 3-9
Get out your glass slippers + crown for music and friendship with all your favorite princess friends! We will explore princess music, dance and make new friends in our magical kingdom! 

Rockstar Camp: July 12th-July 15th
9am-12pm for Ages 3-9
Break out your sunglasses and glitter for Prestige’s hottest camp yet! We’ll take your Rockstar Camper through obstacles filled with bright lights and cool vibes.

Half Day Themed Camps are $129 for all four days. Daily activities include a morning stretch, themed arts & crafts, snack time, creative movement activities, and choreography. Register for summer dance camps HERE! 

Is your dancer looking to ramp up their skills this summer and come back in the Fall stronger than ever?! Check out our Technique Workshops:

Tumbling Camp: July 26th-July 29th
Turning Camp: July 26th-July 29th
Strength and Flexibility Camp: August 2nd-August 5th
Legs and Jumps Camp: August 2nd-August 5th

All Technique Workshops take place in the evening and are divided up by age and skill level. Times and pricing varies depending on age/level groupings. Click HERE for a complete schedule and pricing breakdown. 

Is your dancer considering joining one of our performance teams? Are they interested in training with world-renowned faculty in a fast-paced learning environment? The Intensive is a great way to take their dance training to the next level. Click HERE to register today! 

That’s not all! We are also excited to offer a 6-week session of dance classes for ages 2-18.

Summer is a GREAT time to try dance for the first time, try a new style, or dramatically improve technique. In addition, our classes are loads of fun!

Going on a trip this summer and not sure if you’re able to commit to all 6-weeks? No problem! Prestige offers summer dance classes on a punch card system. With each punch, your dancer may take ANY class within their age/level! Buy 6, 12, 18, or unlimited classes! Learn more about our classes and pricing HERE and purchase your punch cards online today! 

So, can we count you in?! If your child is ready to dive into dance and have the best summer EVER, save their spot today! 

3 Things We LOVE Showing Off at Our Parent Observation Week

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Cedar Rapids Dance Studio

We’ve got an exciting week coming up at Prestige! The week of February 22nd is Parent Observation Week and we can’t wait to open the doors to our Cedar Rapids dance studio! Prestige parents are welcome during the last 10 minutes of their students’ class. Be sure to mark your calendars and RSVP to our Facebook event so you get those reminder notifications. 

In the meantime, we’d love to share what this week is ALL about. We’ve got great students here at Prestige, and we can’t help but show them off! More importantly, it’s a moment in the middle of the year to do something for our Prestige parents, who do SO much for their kids and for our studio. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating your kids’ progress. We promise to impress! 

3 Things We LOVE to Show Off at Our Parent Observation Week:

1. Our Latest and Greatest Skill Progressions

This time of year is usually when our students start to REALLY get it when it comes to difficult skills. Things are clicking in their brains and they are thrilled at the thought of adding them to their recital dances. We invite you to come check out all the stellar progress we’ve made on those leaps, turns, tricks, and more! We know they make us proud. 

2. The Beginnings of Our Recital Dances!

Recital choreography is in full swing! Now is your chance to get a sneak peek of your child’s dances that we’re gearing up to perform in June. Sharing this with our parents really builds the excitement for the kiddos.

3. The Joy and Excitement That Hasn’t Faded Since Fall

Amazing dance moves are great, but we know that those priceless smiles top everything else. Our Parent Observation Week is our way of reminding you of how valuable your support for your child is, and how much joy we witness in class each week. 

So, will we see you there?! During the last 10 minutes of every class, parents who feel comfortable are welcome to stop in and check out what we’ve been working on! If you are uncomfortable being in the classroom during that week, send us an email and we would be happy to help!

Parent Observation Week
February 22nd-28th
The last 10 mins of your child’s class! 

5 Ways to Stay Injury Free in the New Year

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tips for dancers

Happy New Year Prestigians! 2021 may have been the most anticipated New Year’s celebration that we’ve ever imagined. After last year’s craziness, it’s safe to say that we ALL are ready to turn over a new leaf. Our dancers faced some unique challenges during the pandemic, which has inspired us to provide some useful tips for dancers on our blog in 2021! 

Dancing at home for months in 2020 made all of us shift our skill-building into smaller spaces and not-so-ideal flooring. We knew this was going to have an impact on our dancers, and since returning to the studio for our 2020/2021 Dance Classes, we’ve witnessed our students adjust and re-learn how to dance in big spaces. 

Our dedicated Prestige teachers recognize that this transition has probably made our dancers more prone to injuries in the last couple of months. But we are always here to help! Check out this list of 5 proven ways to stay injury-free this year! 

5 Ways to Stay Injury Free in 2021:

1. Stretch, Stretch, Stretch!

We’re putting this one at the top of our list because we KNOW that most of our dancers don’t do this as much as they should! It’s okay, we’re guilty too sometimes! Stretching is the act of lengthening muscles and tendons. Doing so increases your range of motion and takes stress off your joints when dancing. Longer and more flexible muscles are less likely to strain, pull, or cause pain elsewhere!

2. Strength Training

Dancers are athletes, and athletes must condition their bodies in addition to practicing their chosen sport or technique. If certain muscles are weak, the body begins compensating by overworking other muscles and joints. Of course, this leads to pain and difficult injuries. If you’re looking for some guidance, follow along with this great video! Tailored specifically to dancers, this Youtuber posts videos of super useful strength and stretch workouts!  

3. Roll It Out!

This one is especially important for our dancers that took a break from dance recently! Inactivity can lead to tightness in your muscles. Rolling out can help release and relax those muscles, increasing your range of motion. Foam rolling is also great for recovery AFTER dancing, reducing soreness and fatigue.

4. Placement Over Power

Here at Prestige, we often remind our dancers that proper placement and technique is more important than executing impressive tricks. We would ALWAYS rather see a clean single turn than a messy double, or a clean leap with low legs than a messy leap with legs in a split. When you are pushing for a skill that your body is not ready for or hasn’t perfected the technique for, injury is just one wrong move away. 

5. Always Give Yourself A Warm Up Before Practicing At Home

We LOVE when our dancers work on their skills and routines at home. But we were young once upon a time and we remember always wanting to jump RIGHT in with no warm-up or stretches! Don’t do it! You’ll regret it when you pull a muscle. Give yourself some light cardio, a quick stretch, and some pliés and relevés before going hard at home. 

We must admit, we have a ton of goals for 2021, but encouraging injury prevention among our dancers is high on the list! We take safety, longevity, and technique very seriously here at Prestige. We hope this list offers some great tips for dancers!

Did you know that we are still enrolling in our 2020/2021 Dance Classes?! If you are interested in adding a class or joining in on the fun this winter/spring, visit the schedule and get registered today. Contact us if you need assistance finding the perfect class for your dancer! 

The New Year served as a long-awaited fresh start for all of us! Here’s to a brighter year and staying injury-free in 2021!