Is this class right for my child?

In this video (Ms. Tobi's first!), she addresses some of the questions received in the office during the first couple of weeks of the new season.  

Is my child in the right class?  I'm not sure my child likes it, is that normal?  My child was crying / scared / shy - does this mean dance isn't for her?  We want to reassure our students and families that there is a normal range of reactions to the first couple of classes and encourage you to stay the course to see the amazing results.  

Back to Dance! A message from Ms. Tobi

Back to Dance!

I hope that everyone has had a fabulous summer.  For me summer is a time to rest, reflect, plan, reconnect with family and friends.  Whatever summer is for you I hope it was exactly what you needed at this time.

The end of August for us at Encore Studios is both exciting and scary:  exciting because we get to start a new season, and scary because of the overwhelming amount of work needed to be done before the first day of classes which seems insurmountable!  Sorting schedules, planning teachers, lesson planning, music preparation, administration and paperwork, and getting the word out that we are a studio to be considered for dancers and their families takes an incredible amount of time, effort, and resources.  But it's all worth it when we get to our first day of classes and see that we have created a culture and space that is incredible with like-minded families who know that dance classes are about so much more than a 'pas de bourre' :).

Our families joined together last week on August 17th for a community picnic in Coronation Park.  It was great seeing so many members of our extended family joining in food, games, face-painting, and spontaneous dance performances.  We offered everyone the opportunity to purchase a 'meal' consisting of a hot dog, drink, and chips and for every meal sold we would donate $1 to the Children's Wish Foundation.  I am so proud that we were able to donate $125!  Some people actually gave beyond the 'meal' price.  Thank you so much for helping to make this donation possible.  It's just one more example of the caliber of families we have as part of the larger 'Encore Family'.

It also gave new families the opportunity to see what the people and culture of Encore Studios is all about.  We have one more formal opportunity to do just that before classes commence:  Our Open House will be held on August 31st from 5:30 - 7:30pm.  We would love to have our existing students take part in the demo classes to make the new students feel more comfortable.  The schedule is as follows:
     5:30 - "Mini Stars" for 2 year olds and their parents
     6:00 - "Little Shining Stars" Preschool Class for 3 - 4 year olds
     6:30 - Tap & "Vocal Theatre" for ages 5 - 8
     7:00 - "Hip Kids" hip hop class for ages 9 - 12
(By the way, the classes in quotes are programs exclusive to Encore Studios!)

We will also be have the teens doing demos throughout the Open House.  If you are an existing student and would like to help welcome new friends by dancing in the demo classes, please RSVP so we know to expect you at encorestudioswinnipeg.leadpages.co/open-house/

If you are looking to see if Encore is the right choice for your family - please join us!  And RSVP to the same link :). We can't wait to meet you!

We are busy getting together Grab Bags for those that are new to Encore.  Current students, if you bring someone new to Encore at the Open House, you will get entered into a draw for a special prize!

I can't tell you how excited I am to start the new dance season with all of you!  I'm so grateful for your patronage, and will continue to work towards our objectives:
     Make dance FUN
     Allow all students the chance to SHINE
     Be a place of friendship and RESPECT
    Where students can appreciate the JOY of having dance in their lives

Ms. Tobi
Artistic Director

10 Things You Didn't Realize Your Dance Teacher / Studio Does...

10 THINGS YOU DIDN’T REALIZE YOUR DANCE TEACHER / STUDIO DOES…

1.    They scroll through HOURS upon HOURS of music choices to find the perfect songs for class and performances.  These songs don't just 'appear' in iTunes.  It takes hours to find music that is just the right fit for a successful learning or performing experience. 

2.    They found the right song, but its 5 minutes, not 2 ½ minutes so the music needs to be edited.  If you yourself haven't yet tried to cut music to make it sound like the song was actually recorded like that... don't!  Its painstaking and tricky and often takes HOURS. 

3.    COSTUMES!  Choosing over 50 unique costumes per season that are age appropriate that the kids like, sourcing reputable and quality products, finding the best price for the parents, making sure all students costumes are ordered on time and correctly…HOURS!

4.    Most dance teachers with families RARELY get a chance to sit at the dinner table and enjoy family time.  They eat on the run, take out, or reheat.  Children of dance teachers are usually already in bed before their parent gets home.  

5.      Clever choreography, creative patterning and artistic direction is HOURS of preparation.  Making sure that spacing will work, that choreography is current, creative and challenging for the dancer requires vision and preparedness.  Choreography is a product of the dance teacher’s own creativity and hard work. 

6.    They worry, they stress and they don't sleep (just like you!) for HOURS the night before a competition, an exam, a concert or a show.  No dance teacher wants you to fail, they want you to be amazing. 

7.    They push through the pain of injury and old age ;).  Who has time for the knee replacement that they so desperately need when HOURS of preparation are needed for exams in only 2 months.  Nights of restless legs and aching feet, the type of pain that really could only be fixed if one could employ a masseur 5 nights a week.   

 

8.    Dance teachers put HOURS of time and lots of energy towards the success of their ‘studio family’.  This usually means that their own kids and families are often forced to give up time with their parent and need to adjust their own personal choices.  Plus, their kids have to be at the studio for long HOURS while their parents work. 

9.    They want every one of their students to succeed.  They may raise their voice and speak passionately, but they do it with the best of intentions.  Dance teachers spend HOURS encouraging their students to kick, turn, jump, and split better so that the students get a feeling of confidence and accomplishment.  They challenge and encourage your kids to be the very best version of themselves every single day.  

10. They appreciate each studio family for being part of their community.  They are thankful that you chose their studio, and thankful that you have trusted them to guide and enrich the life of your child.  They genuinely love teaching, love what they do, and love dance enough to want your child love it too.   

To find out more about what makes Encore Studios a unique dance experience for your family, please visit our website at www.encoreperformer.com. 

Dancing Makes You A Better Student

Quite often we hear from concerned parents that dancing too much will take away from their child's ability to do well academically, especially as they enter high school or move on to university.  While each student is unique with individual strengths and weaknesses, for the most part we find that those students that keep or introduce dance in their life have more success at school.  Here are a few reasons why:

• Dance is the only activity that works both sides of your brain, which helps to expand knowledge as well as memorization skills
• Dance reduces stress levels because it is a form of exercise as well as a form of expression
• Dance enhances the quality of life of a student as they are more fit and feel more confident
• Dance improves kinesthetic intelligence
• Dance gives structure in a student's mind, making it easier for them to manage their time and complete assignments in a timely manner

And if those reasons aren't enough, did you know that the average dancer gets 30% higher on their exams than the average student who doesn't dance?!


Whether you take a class once per week or several times, we know that dance will help you academically - and its FUN!


To find out more about programs for your child or for yourself, visit us at www.encoreperformer.com.