As you know, at AED we endorse students participating in other activities! Youth is a precious time with oodles of opportunities....and we have dancers participating in crazy fun activities all over Chittenden County and beyond. Some children focus on only one thing, some do a gazillion...the point is to be realistic as to the consequences of choices. As a dance studio who takes training seriously, we want all of our dancer's experiences with us to be successful and joyful.

So what to do? How can we maintain a studio where classes make continual progress and do not have to back track (in order to catch students up to speed because they were involved in another opportunity?) It is unfair to those who come consistently to dance class to have to stop their momentum.

Here are several things we recommend.

1. Come to a dance class during your other activity that works for your schedule. If soccer is on Tuesdays and you dance on Tuesdays, figure out with Martina which class you can substitute during soccer season.
   
2. You may have to take some extra classes when you get back from your sport to catch up with your peers...and some of the classes may be with a level lower than you....but that's ok!!!! That is part of dancing with a studio that makes progress! You don't want to dance at a place where they have learned nothing in the 2 months you missed! Work hard, catch up, and enjoy the rest of the year!!!
   
3. Be realistic and prioritize. If your heart is set on Varsity at all costs...that is definitely where you need to put your emphasis!  Just know that for someone else, dance is their Varsity, and they are not slowing down their pace. They may move up faster than you, they may get a role you dreamed of...that's ok!!! We all have our own priorities! One reason AED was started was to have a place where dancers work hard, at their own pace, while supporting each other's decisions.
   
4. Amazingly, there are the rare birds who can do it all, and do it all successfully. If you are not one of them, you are actually like all the rest of us humans, and you are wonderful just as you are! Sigh....oh well. We will have to be super human some other way :)
   

Hello AED!

I am sending out the class recommendations today. So exciting to see so much interest in the fall!!! If you still have questions after today by all means please give me a shout out.

We have increased our Hip Hop classes to include a new beginning level of Bunheads ( a class for accomplished ballerinas who want to learn hip hop.) This underlines the philosophy of our studio...if you take ballet, all other styles of dance will come easier. (Thus our name....Arabesque Etc.  :)

We have also increased our Contemporary line, and added in new levels of Ballet.

The summer class participants are blossoming at an exponential rate!!!!!  It is amazing to watch these dancers grow! If you have time in your schedule, it is not too late to catch the wave of excitement that is going on (in the air conditioning) at the studio!

We still have openings in the American History Doll Camp, the Int Hip Hop Camp, the Contemporary/Jazz/Ballet Camp, and the Fairy Tale/Tiny Tot B camp. (As well as Beg HH and Beg ballet next week.)

Already planning the Nutcracker and the Spring Show.....hmmmmm. any guesses? Our Seniors this year are already having fun discussing the songs!!!!

Happy end of July to all!
Martina

We are celebrating our 5th Birthday with a float on the Richmond 4th of July parade!!!!!

We would love anyone to participate. We are looking for a flatbed to showcase dancers and sets from each of our 5 big shows. It should be super fun to celebrate all of the stories we have put out there.

Contact Martina if you are interested or can help!

The 2018 Nutcracker Tea will be performed December 7 - 9, 2018 at the Richmond Free Library, Richmond, VT.  Save the date!

Hello AED!

Here we are! It's gong to be a lot of fun :) For those of you new to productions, they may seem a bit overwhelming at first, but rest assured, the rest of have all been there, and are here to help!

Familiar Questions:

"HELP ME!!!! I've never done a bun!"  
If this is you, no worries, a gazillion of us have and we can help! See below for instructions.

"Do I wear make up for the Dress rehearsal?" No! (whew!!!)

"How in the world do I do stage make-up? I don't even wear make up myself!!!!" See below for ideas...and we can help!


****REMINDER: ALL SHOES MUST BE CLEAN ON THE MARLEY DANCE FLOOR***********

Dress Rehearsal: Friday June 1, 3:45 PM at Colchester High School

Enter through Main entrance, take a Right, the auditorium will be on your right.

Find a picture of your child's costume for their first dance on the ends of the seat rows. That is where they and you should park.

Get dressed in your first costume, do your hair if it is not done, and wait with your classmates!

Larissa will call you for Bows at 4:15

After bows, wait for your dance to be called by a runner who will take you back stage at the proper time for your dance.

If you only have one dance you are free to go!

If not, change into your next costume and sit with the next picture

Note: if you have back-to-back dances you are considered a quick change. Please see below:

Quick Change Details:
the runner will have details as to which side to lay your quick change costume. Place it there before your first dance so that when you exit we can assist you to change into your next costume. Remember your nude leotard!!!

All tights and nude leotards have come in...Aimee Dessaint will have the box of merchandise in the back of the auditorium during the first hour of dress rehearsal.

Ticket Sales at dress rehearsal during the first hour: see Aimee Dessaint

For already Bought Tickets at Dress rehearsal: See Maggie VanDuyn

Online ticket sales STOP on June 1: don't panic, just buy at the door...get there early!

And to make life even easier, We sell flowers (inexpensively) at the show for your favorite dancer!

Remember: no snacks in costume!

Please Be Quiet in the Auditorium!

BUNS need slightly dirty hair , hair ties, hair pins (like the hairpin turn...not the same as bobby pins), bobby pins, and hair nets...hair spray, mousse or gel.

Set the ponytail at the crown of the head. Separate the pony tail, and twirl one piece, lay it flat around the base of the pony tail like a cinnamon bun and pin in place. Repeat with the other pieces until you have a flat cinnamon bun of hair. Wrap the net around the bun, pin in place with the hairpins. Spray, mousse or gel the rest of the head. Bobby pin whispies....and you are set to go!

STAGE MAKE-UP is necessary because the lights can make you look like you are about to pass out, or worse, have already done so!
Wear: red lipstick, pink cheeks (more than your mamma let you wear ever!) and eye liner. PP1 and up should have ballet wings at the eyes. Becky and Emmy do awesome ballet wings ...they will help you at the show if you need it. Eye shadow should be in the brown/gold family NOT the blue family please!

Looking forward to an awesome show!
Best, Martina

Tickets are officially on sale for our spring show, "A Very Peculiar Nanny".

Shows are Saturday, June 2, 2018 at 12:00 PM & 4:30 PM at Colchester High School (131 Laker Lane, Colchester, VT)

TICKETS prices are: Adult: $13, Child 11 and under & Seniors $9

You can BUY your tickets at AED by putting a check and your show time request, number and type of tickets in the black tuition mailbox.
OR you can BUY tickets online (online ticket prices: Adult $14, Child and Senior $10 to cover credit card and ticket vendor fees)

All ticket sales are nonrefundable.

Arabesque Summer Dance Camp spaces are filling up quickly! Sign up now to make sure your child has a space.

We have camps for tiny tots Princess Play to advanced instruction in Ballet, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Jazz, and Musical Theater! Don't know what kind of dance you like? Come and try our Combo camps where you get to sample them all! Want to experience dance with just the guys? Come join out Boy's Hip Hop Camp. Outdoor time with every camp weather permitting!

Every camp ends with a performance at the end of camp to show off your newly acquired skills!

See our complete list of camps below. 

To sign up, you can either download a registration form or sign up using your Arabesque account on DanceStudioPro. You can reserve your child's spot with a $25 non-refundable deposit.