Encore Studios is a proud sponsor of the ConfiDance Workshop - Join in the positivity, and the fun!

How to Handle New Student Jitters

Before you give up on class for your child, be sure to check out the valuable information in this short video by Artistic Director, Ms. Tobi Leveille.

Top 10 Reasons Why Dance Should Be The 'Go-To' Activity For Your Child

Reason #1:

Dance builds healthy bodies and healthy habits.

From cardio to strength to flexibility, kids who take dance build regular exercise into their routines.  They learn to understand their bodies, and explore their personal strengths and limitations in a structured and safe environment.

Reason #2:

Dance teaches how to work with others and be part of a team.

Dance teamwork is different from other types of recreational activities in that its all about working together to make each other shine as stars.  When we help one another succeed in dance, the result is not just a 'win', its also a beautiful masterpiece!  

There's something here to be said about safety as well - let's face it, concussions are not a part of dance the way they are in other organized sporting activities.  

Reason #3:

Dance teaches a sense of independence and confidence.

As students practice and master various skills and movements, they begin to feel confident in themselves.  Add to that the fact that dance is a 'performing art', and you can see the strength of character develop in dancers.  Eventually these individuals learn that they are strong and capable, and this leads to self-confidence in other aspects of their lives as well.

Reason #4:

Dance teaches perseverance and how to overcome challenges.  

Sometimes during a performance unexpected things happen, like you fall, or you turn the wrong way.  Dancers learn how to cope and rise above when life throws you surprises, so they learn not only how to survive, but to thrive.

Reason #5:

Dance teaches patience.

https://instagram.com/p/BRb0_wPg452/

Even though dancers make their movements look easy and effortless, it takes time and practice to make it look that way.  It can be frustrating to try to master spins, kicks, jumps, flexibility, and the latest moves, but when theses moves are finally achieved, it is very rewarding.  Dancers learn to be patient through this process, which leads to Reason #6...

Reason #6:

Dance teaches how to set & accomplish goals.

From the youngest to the oldest, dancers always have something to work towards.  For the 3-year-old it may be working toward showing their moves to their family on Observation Day.  The tween may be focused on getting into the splits for the first time.  Or the senior competitive dancer may be working towards getting their first triple pirouette for the next performance.  Dancers get an understanding of setting goals for themselves, and get the satisfaction of achieving these milestones.  They learn to understand this as a rewarding experience that they can apply to other aspects of their life.  

Reason #7:

Dancers learn the importance of working hard for success.

Nothing comes easily to us in life, and dancers learn that in order to accomplish their goals, effort is required. What better skill to equip your child with for success than that!

Reason #8:

Dancers learn respect & manners.

We usually think of dance as being 'disciplined'.  How dance classes are conducted really comes down to learning respect for oneself, their classmates, their teachers, and their environment.  At the end of each class, the students and teachers express how much they appreciate each other by a simple thank you, a bow or curtsy, or a round of applause.  Learning good manners and being respectful is a strong skill for future success in any career.

Reason #9:

Dancers create friendships and memories that last a lifetime.

Adults that took dance as a child can tell you that some of their fondest memories and closest friendships came from their dance class and performance experiences.  There is something about studying this art-form that is unique, and helps to form strong bonds between classmates.  What parent doesn't want their child to be happy and enjoy their childhood?

Reason #10:

Dance is FUN!

Have you heard the phrase, 'Dance like no one is watching'?  Why?  Because it is a blast!  It is an integral part of most life celebrations:  graduation, sweet 16, weddings, etc.  Let your child learn to be comfortable at any social event because they can let loose and dance through celebrations!

Don't delay - register your child for dance NOW.  For more information on classes offered, go to https://encoreperformer.com, or give us a call at 204-235-0879.  Join us and start your child on the road to learning successful life skills TODAY!

Dance Documentary by Encore Studios Student Omar Benson

One of our students, Omar Benson, did this documentary as a school project.  I think its an excellent reflection on the question of why we dance and why it is so important to us.  That is a question I personally struggled to be able to answer articulately for many years.  The kids featured in this documentary are amazing dancers and wonderful people.  Perhaps they go hand-in-hand?  Enjoy.

6 Benefits of Dance Recital Participation

What is my child getting out of this performance experience?

As a parent, you may be thinking:  I’m paying for a costume that may only get worn once, I’m buying tickets for my whole family to attend a 3-hour recital in which my child will only be dancing for 3 minutes, I’m doing special hair, make-up, and making sure we have the right colour tights - all for what?

Excellent question! 

We think the question deserves an answer J.  Following is a short list of benefits to your child and the reason why participation in the recital is so valuable to their development.

 

1.       Recitals provide achievable goals

Just as athletes have tournaments and games, performers have recitals!  When a student knows they will be showing their moves off to family and friends, it gives them a bit of extra motivation to work a little bit harder.  In the end, the recital is considered to be the highlight of the dancer’s experience.  It is a celebration of their work over the past year of classes.  The pride they feel in accomplishing this goal is a real confidence-booster! 

2.        Recitals promote social cooperation (teamwork)

The dances in the recital are performed as a class.  Even though dance class encourages the development of the individual, the recital promotes working together toward a common goal.  Camaraderie is a skill that will help the student in school, career, and family life.  Students also learn patience, listening, and leadership skills as they help each other with learning and practising the steps.  (This is also why dance classes usually result in the making of friendships that last a lifetime!)

3.        Recitals help kids overcome anxieties

Because the recital dances are performed in groups, students feel safer about going out in front of a crowd to perform.  They get a sense of empowerment over the nervous feeling, and come out the other side realizing they overcame their fear!  The gratifying sound of applause will encourage them to take action in spite of when they are fearful, and help them to be brave enough to overcome other obstacles they will face in life.

4.        Recitals build memorization skills

Learning how to memorize is a highly-recommended skill for future professional opportunities.  If your child can have the ability to absorb and retain the steps of their dance, they are building skills towards a successful future without even realizing it.  Actually, they are probably just having fun, which is the best way to learn!

5.        Recitals build problem-solving skills

Things don’t always go easily, or as planned.  This is true in life, and in dance!  Learning how to overcome unexpected challenges is one of the many benefits of participating in the performing arts.  Whether it be how to deal with a lost costume piece, or figuring out how to remember to go left instead of right, dealing with the unexpected and working through to viable solutions is very beneficial for students of all ages (and parents too…did you think you were off the hook on this learning curve? Lol).

6.        Recitals create moments of celebration and lifelong memories

For families, recital is an opportunity to celebrate their child’s achievements in dance.  For dancers, the recital is a positive experience that instills a passion for the performing arts and, in turn, a passion for lifelong learning. The costumes and pictures then become valuable keepsakes of a special time for all involved.

Although the thought of the costume, practising, commitment, dress rehearsal, and performing in front of a large audience may seem overwhelming at first, the benefits of participating in the year-end recital are incredible!  Both dancers and parents alike often consider recital as the highlight of the dance year! 

Our Stars on Stage recital will be held this year on June 7 at Pantages Playhouse Theatre.  We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

BE A BETTER DANCER WITH THIS SIMPLE ADVICE



Chloe Mathieu performing at CNDC April 2016 in Winnipeg

Chloe Mathieu, a 12 year old student at Encore Studios, recently attended 3 local dance conventions.  We thought this was a recognizable commitment for such a young lady, so we asked her to share her experiences with us.  Which convention was her favourite, what did she learn, and why she recommends other dancers should attend conventions.

The three conventions she attended were View Dance Convention, Triple Threat Dance Convention, & iDance.  Chloe says her favourite was View: 

“It was the most organized of the three.  It was less crowded (because they limit registrations) which meant you had more room to dance.  The teachers were really nice too, and took time to connect with the students.  Overall, it was the most welcoming of all the conventions.”

When asked what she learned out of these conventions, she mentions two important realizations:

“First, I realized how important it is to focus on the details the choreographers are giving as they teach.  I needed to try to work in the details as I was learning the moves, because this is what they are looking for in the final product.  The second thing that I learned about was musicality and the importance of staying in the beat and rhythm of the song being used.  I had just never thought about it much before these experiences.”

The most inspiring moment came from iDance and the Q & A session with the teachers at the end of the convention.  It was here that she heard from Hip Hop teacher, Tyger B, that it doesn’t matter whether you are the best dancer right now.  What’s important is the effort you put into your dance, and if you work at your personal best, eventually you will get to be the best. 

With Vocal Theatre as her favourite class at Encore Studios, she was thrilled that there was a Theatre class at iDance, which was “super fun”.

Chloe was the only student from Encore Studios to attend Triple Threat this season, and luckily she found it the easiest to make friends at this event.  But overall she said that all of the conventions had a competitive feel amongst the participants.  “It wasn’t bad though, it just pushed you to work harder.”

Chloe was one of three Encore students that won scholarships at View Dance Convention (the others were Sierra Reid and Anne Leveille).  About being recognized, Chloe says it was a surprise that she truly was not expecting.  She was excited with winning the award which made her feel like she had accomplished something, and pushed her to work harder at all of the conventions.

We asked Chloe what her advice would be to other dance students about attending conventions:

“Attending conventions helps to expand your horizons.  You learn more.  It’s also good to be with new dancers and learn from watching others that you don’t normally dance with.  Overall, I found that attending these conventions is really encouraging and I would recommend others to attend conventions when they can.”

Getting to know our Artistic Director and Owner, Ms. Tobi

As a young girl, I started out as a figure skater training about 12 hours/week.  My parents spent countless hours and dollars on my training and our family gave up ever going on a family vacation because of the time and financial commitment to figure skating.  (This is why we respect family time so much with our Encore families, because you only get this time with your children once in a lifetime).

Initially I started to dance ‘on the side’, as a supplement to my figure skating training which included ballet, jazz, & tap. Eventually my passion for dance took over but I was never encouraged by my family to consider it as a career option.   My other interests in high school included the sciences and business through Junior Achievement.

I started university in commerce and stopped dancing (as a lot of kids do because we think we don’t have time for it).  I was very depressed and decided I needed to change my path.  I enrolled in Medical Radiological Diagnostic Technology and shortly after, went back to dancing.  It made such a difference in my mood, and actually helped me to be more organized with my studies. 

Upon graduation there were no full-time jobs in x-ray, so I asked the director of my dance studio if she had any positions opening up for the next season.  She hired me to manage one of her three locations, which included teaching 20 hours/week.  I was in heaven!

Later on I enrolled in the Teacher Training program through the RWB, and made my way into the RAD Teaching Certification program. I taught and choreographed for Royal Dance Conservatory, Sisler High School, Royal Dance at the Forks, and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

I realized through continuing professional development that I needed to work for myself because I had developed very strong views about what and how I wanted to teach. These beliefs include:

·   People who dance are stronger mentally and physically

·  Having a passion for dance trumps talent in terms of how far one can progress through meaningful practice

·  Everybody should be given the opportunity to shine regardless of skills and limitations

·  Quality dance education should be made equally available as both a recreational activity as well as a vocation 

With these ideas, combined with my previous interest in business, I started my own studio, Promenade Dance Academy, in 2005.  We rebranded in 2014 as Encore Studios and are now in our twelfth season.

I hope that by sharing a bit of my history that you can gain a better understanding about how and why we run the programs at Encore Studios the way that we do.  There are 30 dance studios in Winnipeg and not all are created equally.  What makes Encore Studios unique in such a highly popular and competitive industry is:

·        The belief that dance should be a source of joy and positivity for our students their families. 

·        That we limit class sizes to ensure we can offer truly personalized teaching and programming.  

·        That we have fun, celebrating all of our students' successes at every level.

We know that we have a unique approach that is welcoming and positive, kind and supportive, inclusive and healthy, so that we can develop students who are capable and confident for their futures.  We work to make registering streamlined and convenient, including getting class supplies, so that we can support our families.   Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to be a part of your lives, and for trusting us with your child’s development through dance.