fall

Fall Fun In Cedar Rapids!

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Great ideas for fall fun for families in the Cedar Rapids area!

Fall is the perfect time to fit some family fun into your busy schedule! Not only is the landscape breathtaking but there are TONS of fun things to do for all ages. At Prestige we love hearing about all the fun family adventures our students go on during the fall. This year we have gathered a few great resources for you to pick and choose what sort of activities suit your family best. Whether it is a trip to the farm to pick pumpkins, getting in a few thrills with a haunted house, or just spending some time in the kitchen, we have you covered! So pick one or two fun activities or tackle them all, just get out and spend some quality time with your family this season.

Apple and Pumpkin Picking– This site has put together a great list of orchards and farms. Whether you are looking for rides and petting zoos or your more traditional farm, you will find it here!

Festivals– Festivals are a great place to explore a new area, try a new food, or see some amazing talent! This list contains festivals from all over Iowa so you can make a fun weekend out of it if you like.

Haunted Houses – This list may not be for everyone but we know that there are people out there that go CRAZY for a good scare. If you dare to try one, let us know the thrill factor so we can steer clear hehe!

Halloween Crafts– With Halloween quickly approaching, you will start needing to prepare costumes and decorations. Why not have the kids help out? Check here for some great inspiration and how-to.

Apple Recipes and Pumpkin Recipes – The smell of ANYTHING baking in the oven is often irresistible. Add some pumpkin or apple and we can’t resist. Here are some delicious ideas so you can use up all those apples and pie pumpkins in your pantry. If you have any left over, we know some hungry dancers that would gladly take care of them hehe!

What do you have planned this fall? Anything going on around Cedar Rapids that we missed? We hope you are able to take a little time enjoying this amazing season. We would love for you to tell us all about your fun fall adventures!

 

Is your Child Ready for a Dance or Tumbling Class?

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Ready for Dance Class

 

Spring is a BUSY time at Prestige Dance Studio. Dancers are in the midst of their competition season, we are prepping for our annual recital, and (believe it or not!) we are already thinking ahead to summer and fall 2017! If you have a little one, you may be thinking about signing them up for their FIRST dance or tumbling class. Which is super exciting!!! We have several options during the school year for our little ones. Below we’ve included our current offerings for students under six and some helpful suggestions for figuring out exactly HOW you know your child is ready for a formal class.

Baby and Me: This parent and tot class is the perfect introduction to dance and tumbling for students 6 months- 36 months. Parents will help their dancer to gain confidence, use their imagination, and gain coordination. A great opportunity to bond with your baby and meet other families!

Is your dancer ready? Do they love music and movement? Do you think they would benefit from being around other children? Would you like to get some fresh ideas for ways you can interact and play with your little one? Then YES!!! This class is a perfect match for students that love to move but aren’t quite ready for an independent class (without a parent).  

Tippy Toes: Tippy Toes 1-4 is our progressive combined ballet and tap technique class for kids ages 2-6. Classes are separated by age and focus on introducing and building coordination, strength and motor skills without the accompaniment of a parent. Students will build a foundation for continued ballet and tap instruction while interacting with other dancers their age in a focused environment.

Teenie Tumble: Introductory tumbling skills are taught in this class to young dancers ages 3-6. This class focuses on the coordination and strength used when tumbling.

Hippity Hop: This 30-minute class is an upbeat introduction to hip hop for our 3-6-year-olds. This high energy class will focus on coordination, strength and learning combinations to current and age-appropriate music. Hippity Hop will encourage students to step outside of the box by bringing their own individual style and personality to the movements.

Is your dancer ready? Our Tippy Toes, Teenie Tumble, and Hippity Hop are all independent classes, which means parents are not in the classroom. Think about how your child does away from you. Can they handle 30-60 minutes away? How quickly do they adjust to new situations? We do NOT expect any two or three-year-old to be perfect:) But, within a few weeks of starting a new class, they should be able to walk into the studio independently without tears. Another thing to consider is your child’s ability to follow simple instructions. We expect our youngest dancers to be able to sit when asked, make a circle with their friends, and generally stay with their classmates. Again, this can be a work in progress- but within a few weeks, they should have a good feel of the expectations.

Your child’s first dance class should be exciting! By doing a quick check-in to make sure they are ready, you are setting them up for an AWESOME experience. We do offer FREE trials at Prestige Dance Studio and would encourage all parents of students ages 1-6 to take advantage. Trials can be a great way to test the waters a bit, let your child SEE and experience the studio, and make sure it is a good match. Keeps things positive, and be patient:) We can’t tell you how many times we have seen a timid, shy child walk in the door and leave after their class with a smile ear to ear. That new found confidence and joy is priceless. We look forward to seeing your child in class!

PS. We also have several exciting summer camps for this age group- be sure to check out our offerings!