Looking for something fun and festive to do this weekend? We have you covered! Children ages 3-9 are invited toPrestige Dance Studio for our Holiday Ho-Ho-Hoedown Saturday, December 15th from 9:30am-12:00pm.
If you have been searching for kids holiday events in Cedar Rapids, you NEED to add our event to your list and get registered. We have been busy behind the scenes preparing and are so excited to share what we have been working on. We are anticipating LOTS of smiles and giggles!
Here are just a few of the reasons you should join us:
We like to have fun! Our staff is caring, energetic, and creative. Most importantly, we LOVE kids! We are planning a jam-packed morning full of activities, crafts, and dancing. Not to mention, a heavy dose of holiday cheer! We will make sure everyone has a wonderful time.
It is fun to spend time in the studio outside of class time. Joining us for one of our special events is an opportunity for your child to bond with their classmates in a social setting. There is more time for laughing and chatting! Dance truly is more fun with friends. When a dancer feels connected to his or her peers they are more confident in class.
We could all use a couple extra hours of prep time. This time of year is very busy for parents. We get it! How much could you check off your list in two (child-free) hours? Your child gets to have a fun morning and you get a couple hours to yourself. Win, win!
Have we convinced you? It is going to be a GREAT morning that you don’t want to miss. We highly recommend registering quickly to reserve your spot. Registration can be completed online or by sending us an email at prestigedancestudiocr@gmail.com. All the details are below.
We can’t wait to spend the morning with our enthusiastic guests. Let’s get into the holiday spirit!
Holiday Ho-Ho-Hoedown
Saturday, December 15th, 2018
9:30am-12:00pm
@ Prestige Dance Studio (Cedar Rapids Location)
Ages 3-9 $19/ child
Alright dance families, Turkey Day is ALMOST here! We hope your Thanksgiving is filled with delicious food, family time, and a well-deserved break from your hectic lives. Be sure to take some time to breathe!
We are hosting an event on the Saturday after Thanksgiving for kids ages 3-9. It is going to be a morning full of crafts, dance, games, and so much fun! We are so excited to share the deets with you!
After Gobble Wobble
Saturday, November 24th 9:30am- 12:00pm
Prestige Dance Studio (Cedar Rapids location)
$19
Here are the top 3 reasons why you should sign up for our After Gobble Wobble event:
1. Build some physical activity into your break!
Our After Gobble Wobble is the perfect way to make sure your dancer’s body isn’t aching on the first day back at dance class. Our After Gobble Wobble will get your kids off the couch, on their feet, and grooving through Thanksgiving break.
2. Put something fun on the calendar for your kiddos while you prep for the holidays!
Getting ready for the holidays can be stressful! We know it is officially prime time for Christmas shopping and decorating. The LAST thing you need to be worrying about is entertaining your kids! We are busy planning a fun-filled morning of crafts, dance, and games that they won’t want to miss. Send them our way while you focus on what you need to get done!
3. Take the morning to reset and regroup.
We know how easily Thanksgiving break can feel like NOT so much of a break for parents. After hosting a family gathering, washing tons of dishes, and getting started on your Christmas shopping, the break is always gone before you know it! We are GLAD to take your kids off your hands while you pencil in some “you-time.” Get your nails done, take a nap, or go see a movie with a friend! I’m sure you could probably think of a million ways to spend a free morning, and now is your chance!
Register now for our After Gobble Wobble on November 24th from 9:30am-12:00pm. For only $19, you can free up your morning AND give your kids some fun-filled activity. It’s a win-win and we hope to see you there!
The Intensive is back by popular demand! Each August, incredible choreographers from all over the United States are flown into Cedar Rapids for a dance workshop at Prestige Dance Studio. The Intensive is a jam-packed weekend full of quality technical training, choreography that challenges dancers mentally and physically, and most of all FUN! This is our favorite way to finish the summer and gear up for the start of another great school year session. We are accepting registrations as space allows. Register online to reserve your child’s spot!
Tiny Intensive – Ages 4-6, 10:00-12:00pm $58.00 Jazz, Musical Theatre, Hip Hop
Mini Intensive – Ages 7-9, 9:00-12:00pm $99.00 Technique, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Hip Hop
Junior Intensive – Ages 10-12, 1:00-5:00pm $132.00 Technique, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Hip Hop
Senior Intensive – Ages 13 and up, 10:00am-3:00pm $159.00 Technique, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, Hip Hop
Dancers ages 4+ are invited to join us August 11th and 12th for a weekend that will have an impact LONG after they leave the studio. Be prepared to be inspired and energized! Training in an intense, condensed atmosphere allows dancers to really dive deep into the material and push themselves beyond what they thought they could achieve. Every summer we are blown away by the growth we witness in our dancers.
One of the aspects that makes The Intensive so special is our line-up of guest artists. Our guest choreographers bring diverse backgrounds and a wide range of impressive credentials. We are thrilled to offer our students an opportunity to expand their horizons and exposure to different teaching styles without having to leave the studio. We are providing a safe environment for them to explore and express the emotional component of dance!
Ready to get excited? Read more about the AMAZING faculty we are bringing in below:
Samantha Long is a professional dancer, choreographer, and teacher based out of Los Angeles. She is an Elite Protege Alumni at The Pulse On Tour, Masterclass teacher at HDJ, and instructs dancers from all across the country. She has danced in music videos, television shows, & national commercials. Her dancing has brought her to dance for artists such as Janet Jackson, Paul McCartney, Lunchmoney Lewis, Paula Abdul, D. Woods, Carson Lueders, Guordan Banks & many more. Samantha has been on shows such as So You Think You Can Dance, Every Single Step, & MTV. She has danced in national commercials/ads for brands such as Samsung, Doritos, Sprite, Avon, Danielle Wellington, Air BnB, Fashion Nova & Rocksbox. She also just got done dancing in the new Emoji Movie as well as dancing for James Gordon on a live award show! Samantha is currently choreographing a commercial and live performance that will be performed on the Grammy’s next year! She is also a company member of IMMAbeast & has performed with other companies such as Academy of Villains. Samantha loves traveling to teach and choreographing for artists across the world.
“Scuba” Steve Gorski started dancing at the young age of 2. He received his training from Stage Door Dance Academy and Impact Dance Studio. Steve has won many titles, scholarships, and awards and was also featured in the December 2007 Dance Spirit Magazine as a “Future Dance Star.” Steve attended Oklahoma City University as a Dance Performance major at the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management under the direction of John Bedford and Jo Rowan. Steve holds a B.P.A from Oklahoma City University. While in Oklahoma, Steve has performed in the Oklahoma Centennial Parade and the Oklahoma Centennial Spectacular along with Reba, Carrie Underwood, The Flaming Lips, and All American Rejects. He was a member of the professional dance company at OCU, The American Spirit Dance Company and was elected the Deputy of the company, which allowed him to work closely with the director and company manager while he served as a liaison between the dancers and the director and company manager. He has starred in shows at OCU such as Life of the Party, Home for the Holidays, The American Spirit Spring Show, and, as a freshman, was selected to be a part of the American Spirit Tour Cast. Steve was the swing for Kate Jablonski’s Off Broadway Show, Beyond Words, in New York City. After graduating from OCU, Steve joined Inaside Chicago Dance as a performing apprentice and media director. With Inaside Steve was able to work with instructors/choreographers Richard Smith, Anna Czajun, Laura Wade, Sarah Ford, Harrison McEldowny, Wade Schaaf, Lizzie MacKenzie, Eddy Ocampo, Sinead Gildea, William Gil, Debra Nanni, Autum Eckman and Robert McKee. Steve joined S.L.A.T.E. Theater’s cast of Legally Blonde where he was cast as Nikkos, ensemble & dance captain. Steve has also performed with Michigan Ballet Theatre in their production of Copellia (Fiancé) and The Nutcracker (Rat King/Russian/Spanish). Steve choreographed Kankakee Valley Association Theatre’s production of The Wedding Singer which was raved about in the Kankakee press. Steve’s choreography has appeared on CBS, FOX, ABC & NBC for the Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade, received numerous choreography/entertainment awards, and several students hold national titles with Steve’s choreography. Several of Steve’s students have gone off to perform in Joffrey’s cast of The Nutcracker, Drury Lane’s Production of Billy Elliot, models for Revolution Dancewear, scholarship recipients to Joffrey, Alvin Ailey, Lines Ballet, River North and Inaside Chicago Dance. Steve currently teaches throughout the suburbs of Chicago and Northwest Indiana at several studios and high schools sharing his love of dance to those around him.
Lindsay “Lil” Doescher is a former student and current instructor at Applause Studios in Moore, Oklahoma. She is also the Head Coach of the University of Oklahoma Dance Team. Lil worked with our Company last season and choreographed a routine that now holds a 2018 National Championship Title. We are so excited she is returning to work with our students at The Intensive!
Aimee Jarzembowski found her joy and drive for performing at the young age of three. Since then, she’s been singing, dancing and acting her way to her dreams. Aimee is a graduate of Western Illinois University with a degree in Musical Theatre and Dance. When not teaching dance and theatre, she enjoys participating in local community theatre productions, prepping her for the big move to NYC, one day. Some favorites have been Tracy in Hairspray, Jan in Grease, BJ in Smokey Joe’s Cafe, and Miss Fleming in Heathers. This summer she will be Mabel in the beloved 80s hit, Fame. She thoroughly enjoys bringing dance and musical theatre together; one of her favorite pieces choreographed has been a tap dance to a song from Dear Evan Hansen. If any free time occurs, she loves learning new songs and recording singing videos that have been recognized on social media.
So excited to welcome back Missy Ridgway to work with our 2018-2019 Company! Missy has worked with our Company for the past 3 seasons, sharing her knowledge and passion for dance and choreographing some amazing award winning dances. We are so thankful for her!
Is your dancer registered? We would love to see them at the studio August 11th and 12th. Take care of your registration online and get ready for an amazing weekend of dance!
Recital is getting close, can you FEEL the energy in the air? We sure can! Students, teachers, and families are working hard to make sure the performance goes on without a hitch. Our teachers have been busy in the classroom making sure dances are perfect. We wanted to share a few tips that you can do outside of the classroom so that your dancer is ready to perform come recital!
Dances
Encourage your dancer to start a dance journal if they haven’t already. After class, they can write all their notes and changes in the journal. We find that dancers do a much better job remembering corrections when they write them down.
Practice your dances at home! Practice videos for our 2018 recital dances will be uploaded as they are available. Visit our Vimeo site at: https://vimeo.com/prestigedancestudio to access them.
Costumes
One of the most important things you can do before the big day is to label your costumes. Put your dancer’s initials on each costume’s tag. There is nothing worse than losing a costume or taking home someone else’s by accident!
Take a few moments before you go to the theater and get things in order so they are easy to find. This includes tights, shoes, accessories, undergarments, etc.
Hair and Makeup
Know the specifics. You can find the hair and makeup details on our recital page.
Practice before recital week. If you are new to recital hair and makeup make sure you practice a few times. There is a tutorial video here and you can always ask teachers for more guidance if needed.
We cannot wait to see our dancers shine on stage Sunday, June 3rd 2018! With any questions that pop up, please remember all of the recital details can be found on our recital page. Our teachers and staff are also available to help before and after classes.
Audition for one of our award-winning teams! Believe it or not, we are already starting to think about next season at Prestige Dance Studio. We are looking for confident, hard-working dancers to join our performance teams for the 2018/2019 season.
At the June audition, we will be holding auditions for both of our performance teams, P.Co and P.Com. Interested families should plan on attending the parent meeting in May. In addition to covering requirements and expectations, there will be ample time for questions. We also highly recommend attending the clinics leading up to the audition. This will give you (and your child!) a sneak peek into what our performance teams are like.
Below, you can learn a little bit about each of our teams and start to think about which might be the best fit for your child.
P.Co is our competitive dance team.
As a member of P.Co, dancers compete all styles of dance. They learn teamwork, responsibility, and commitment in an energetic and fun-filled atmosphere. P.Co dancers attend dance conventions, four regional competitions, and a national dance competition throughout their season.
Curious what being a part of a competitive dance team is like? Check out our studio vlog!
We documented our experience attending a regional dance competition. Dance competitions are a great opportunity for dancers to perform, push themselves outside of their comfort zones, and make SO many memories alongside their teammates.
P.Com is Prestige Dance Studio’s community expo team.
P.Com team members represent Prestige Dance Studio in the Cedar Rapids area. The dancers perform four to six times throughout the school year. They learn, rehearse, and perform jazz and hip-hop routines. Dancers learn discipline, teamwork, and showmanship.
P.Com members get a TON of performance experience and learn to be flexible (we perform in a variety of venues!). Our P.Com members get to experience the joy of sharing dance with the community first hand!
Both of Prestige Dance Studio’s performance teams offer students the opportunity to gain additional performance experience, be a part of a dedicated group of dancers, and work intensively alongside their teachers and the studio director. In addition to weekly dance technique classes, dancers attend weekly rehearsals. Students learn the value of hard work, are motivated to reach their full potential, and make lasting relationships with their teammates and teachers.
If you have a dancer at home that is looking for something beyond a weekly class, is itching to perform more, and anxious to grow as a dancer… one of our performance teams could be a GREAT fit. We may be just what you are looking for.
At Prestige, we have SO many amazing things happening but one of our ultimate favorites is recital! We could not be any more excited for this year’s annual recital and want to make sure you are in on ALL the recital details needed to put on our spectacular event. If you haven’t already, make sure to mark your calendar for our production of “It Takes A Village” on June 3, 2018.
We have added ALL the recital details to our website to keep you informed(link below)! We encourage all of our Prestige families to check the website when questions pop up. You will see sections on dress rehearsal, picture day, forms, costumes, volunteers, practice videos, and so much more! You are free to access this information at any time. Make sure to take a little time to get familiar with these pages. For any family members hoping to catch the recital, share the link to our general information page.
Tickets can be purchased in our studio office Monday – Thursday from 4:30 – 7:00 PM beginning on April 1st for $12 each. Tickets will also be available at the Box Office the day of the performance for $15 each.
The countdown to our annual recital and Prestige Dance Studio is ON! We are so excited to see our dancers perform at our 5th Annual Recital. Our recital is an opportunity for our students to showcase their hard work and get valuable experience performing. We LOVE seeing their passion and joy as they take the stage.
It Takes a Village
Sunday, June 3rd Paramount Theatre
Over the next few months, parents will continue to get more details and information about the upcoming performance. Recital time requires a lot of coordination and organization from our parents, students, and staff. Today, we are giving you 3 practical tips to stay on top of recital season. It will be here before we know it!
Write down important dates as soon as you receive them. Rather than sticking the recital packet in a drawer or saving our latest email, pull out all the important dates and write them somewhere where your whole family can see them. Large family calendars on the refrigerator are great for this!
Read everything. We do our best to thoroughly explain everything that happens surrounding recital. Read the recital packet, all emails, and the information on our website. You may find that your questions are answered!
If you do have questions, ask for clarification earlier rather then later. Please do not call us the night before dress rehearsal asking what color lipstick your daughter needs:) If you do have questions, it is best to get them answered well in advance of the performance. Asking in advance ensures that our staff can give your question the attention it deserves.
Below you will find the important dates leading up to our 5th Annual Recital, It Takes a Village. We hope our families at Prestige Dance Studio are as excited as we are. We greatly appreciate the dedication of our studio families and are looking forward to a wonderful performance!
Important Dates
Thursday, February 1 February Tuition Billed to Account on File
Monday, February 26- Sunday, March 4th Parent Observation Week
Thursday, March 1 March Tuition and Recital Fee Billed to Account on File
Thursday, March 1 Recital Packets Available for Pick-up in Studio Office
Monday, March 12- Sunday, March 18th Spring Break
Saturday, April 1st – May 1st Recital Tickets Available for Pick-up and Purchase
Saturday, April 1st – May 1st Host-Mom Seat Reservations
Sunday, May 6th -Saturday, May 12 In-studio Dress Rehearsal and Dance Pictures
Tuesday, May 15 Dress Rehearsal for 12pm Show at Paramount Theatre No Regular Tuesday Classes
Wednesday, May 16th Dress Rehearsal for 4pm Show at Paramount Theatre No regular Wednesday Classes
Sunday, May 27 Last Day of Regular Classes
Tuesday, May 29 and Wednesday, May 30 Makeup Classes for Classes Missed During Dress Rehearsals
Sunday, June 3 “It Takes a Village” Recital 2018 at Paramount Theatre
With Parent Observation Week right around the corner here at Prestige Dance Studio (October 16th-22nd), we thought we would spend a little time talking about what you can do to ensure a successful week. I mean, not to put too much pressure on you parents out there but it really can influence what happens next in your dancer’s career. Don’t sweat it though! Prestige has your back. We want you to ROCK your Parent Observation Week, so here’s how:
Talk about it before you arrive at class: Don’t throw off your dancer! Kids like predictability and perform better when they know what is going to happen. Surprising your dancer at the studio can send them into a spiral of doom. Nerves and too much excitement aren’t usually processed very well by a young dancer. Instead, a couple days before class just start talking about it. Mention that you will be in the room and that you get to see all the hard work they have been doing.
Be positive: This goes from the moment you start talking about Parent Viewing Week until you (eventually) stop talking about it. Your dancer wants nothing more than for you to be proud of him/her. So get excited for them to show you what they know.
Listen and watch: During class, keep your ears open for any important information from the teacher (sometimes information about upcoming events are discussed) and really watch your dancer! This is their moment, don’t get distracted by your phone (unless it is to take that adorable picture of course!).
Have realistic expectations: If your dancer is not the “best” dancer in class, don’t be disappointed! Instead, focus on if they are having fun and if they are learning new skills. Those things are much more important.
That is all it takes to ROCK your week! We can’t wait to see you there!
Parent Observation Week: Monday, October 16th- Sunday, October 22nd.
Parents will be invited in for the last 10-15 minutes of class. Cell phones or tablets should be left in the lobby or put on silent. We encourage you to take photos of your dancer but ask that videos of class time not be shared on social media.
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!
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?!
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.
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!
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.
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!
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!
Samantha Long is a professional dancer, choreographer, and teacher based out of Los Angeles. She is an Elite Protege Alumni at The Pulse On Tour, Masterclass teacher at HDJ, and instructs dancers from all across the country. She has danced in mus
“Scuba” Steve Gorski started dancing at the young age of 2. He received his training from Stage Door Dance Academy and Impact Dance Studio. Steve has won many titles, scholarships, and awards and was also featured in the December 2007 Dance Spirit Magazine as a “Future Dance Star.” Steve attended Oklahoma City University as a Dance Performance major at the Ann Lacy Scho
Lindsay “Lil” Doescher is a former student and current instructor at Applause Studios in Moore, Oklahoma. She is also the Head Coach of the University of Oklahoma Dance Team. Lil worked with our Company last season and choreographed a routine that now holds a 2018 National Championship Title. We are so excited she is returning to work with our students at The Intensive!
So excited to welcome back Missy Ridgway to work with our 2018-2019 Company! Missy has worked with our Company for the past 3 seasons, sharing her knowledge and passion for dance and choreographing some amazing award winning dances. We are so thankful for her!
