Top 10 Things To Know Before Recital

Can you feel the energy in the air?! It is recital season! We know all the information can be overwhelming so we thought today we would streamline the process. In this post, we have listed the top 10 things to know before recital. We hope that you use this list as a refresher course after you have read through all the recital handouts. All of the recital documents can be found on our Spring Recital page.  

1. Recital photos are taken at dress rehearsal: Group photos will be done on stage as they rehearse. If the parent wants to order individual photos, they may then go down the hall and take individual photos. Lasting Impressions Photography will be present to take orders the day of rehearsal AND the day of the recital.

2. When/where to report the day of the show: About a half hour prior to the show start time (12:30 pm for 1:00 pm show, 4:00 pm for 4:30 pm show), students should report to the cafeteria backstage.

3. Dress rehearsal information: The dress rehearsal is at 5:00 pm on June 4th at West Babylon High School. This rehearsal is mandatory and dancers should arrive in full costume. Hair and makeup should be done just like it will be done for the recital.  You can find the dress rehearsal schedule here.

4. What to do with costume issues: With any costume issues (wrinkles, static cling, itchiness, snags, etc.), please alert your dancer’s teacher to determine the appropriate course of action. We always recommend keeping your costume hanging in a safe place in your home, free from pets or mess.

5. Students are expected to stay for the duration of the show: Our show will be approximately 2 hours. The dancers will be backstage with ample supervision and will get to watch the recital with live streaming while they're backstage! IF THE PARENT NEEDS TO PICK THEM UP BEFORE THE END, it must be arranged with me ahead of time. We have security at the door and parents will not just be able to randomly pick up their child.

6. Each student will receive 2 programs: Additional programs can be pre-ordered on the ticket website.  Recital t-shirts can also be pre-ordered here.  

7. No photography or videos allowed at the recital: Photos can be taken at dress rehearsal. Flash photography is dangerous for performers on stage. We want you to relax and enjoy the show and that's why we have a professional videographer! You can order your DVD of the spring recital here.

8. What else can you get the day of recital: You can purchase snacks and water, flowers, and t-shirts (if you didn't already pre-order) the day of the performance.

9. Last minute necessities: Nude leotards, extra tights, shoes, hair accessories (bun maker, bobby pins, etc), dance bras/undergarments & clear straps can be purchased at the dance studio. Do you still need to learn how to make your bun? Check out this great tutorial!

10. We have class the week after recital: Make sure you don’t miss our last week of the session! We always have a great time celebrating all the hard work that went into the show! The last day of classes is June 17th.

If you have any questions about any of the recital happenings, please let us know! We can’t wait to see you at the show!

Top 4 Reasons To Dance This Summer!

Can you believe summer is right around the corner?? We are just as shocked as you but it is that time of year again! Many families start planning their summer fun right around this time of year and we are so excited to share with you all that Positions has to offer. This summer we have an amazing line up including a 6-week session AND 6 awesome camps to choose from! We are POSITIVE your child will have a blast but if you need a bit more convincing, check out our TOP 4 reasons to dance this summer!

1. Summer is the PERFECT time to try something new! With a short 6 week session, it is a great time to try a new style of dance without having to commit to a longer session. If your child has shown an interest in trying dance for the first time or maybe adding another class to their line up, summer is the best time to see if they are ready!

2. Improving technique is a BREEZE in the summer! Ok, maybe not a breeze hehe. Dancers still have to put in the work but they can do it without all the distractions that the school year brings. We have found that the dancers who commit to our summer sessions improve SO much in such a short amount of time and it is all because of the focus they bring to the table. If your dancer is hoping to improve this year or perhaps move up a level, taking class during the summer should definitely be a priority!

3. Making new friends comes easily in our classes! We strongly believe that dance is for EVERYONE and with that comes our commitment to provide an all-inclusive, positive, family-friendly environment. Whether your child has friends at the studio or is brand new to Positions, we know they will leave their first summer class with a handful of new friends!

4. Our summer classes and camps are FUN! We are a bit biased but we just LOVE spending the summer at Positions. We have a blast seeing our dancers achieve goals, make new friends, and get out of their comfort zones. Combine that with some great music, fun combos, and silly activities and we couldn’t be any more thrilled to get this summer rolling!   

There is one more thing we would like to mention that will get you PUMPED for summer! If you register before April 30, 2018 you will get 10% OFF your summer tuition! We recommend registering early as our classes do fill quickly.

We can’t wait to spend the summer with your family!

It's Time To Tackle Your Goals!

With the New Year comes fresh starts and new chances. Have you sat down to think about what goals you would like to accomplish this year? At Positions, we like to see ALL of our students (children and adults) take some time to really think about their goals. Goals keep us motivated to pursue the life we want! Whether that is to become a great dancer, to do something we love, or to stay healthy and fit, the New Year is a great time to re-evaluate.

How do you make sure you actually accomplish these goals? Although the power is entirely up to you, we thought we could give you a few of our best strategies to turn your hopes and dreams into reality.

1. Say your goal out loud and not just to yourself hehe! Tell your family and friends and write it down somewhere you will see every day. The more you can spread the word about your goal, the more you are telling yourself that you CAN accomplish it! This strategy has a bonus: when you tell people about your goals, you are also building a support system. Your friends and family will check in every once and while to see how you are doing, what a better way to stay accountable!? You may even find a couple people who have a similar goal.

2. Make a plan. What steps are you going to take to make this goal happen? For example: If you would like to incorporate more exercise into your life: Are you going to join a gym? Take group fitness classes ( like the amazing ones we have here at Positions )? Sign up for a race? How often will you train? What time of day? Be specific! Don’t leave anything up to chance. Make a plan and stick with it!

3. Find an accountability buddy. Accomplishing goals is much more fun when you have a buddy! Find someone who has a similar goal and check in week-to-week on how you are both doing. You can even meet once a week to take a class, go for a run, etc. It’s always much harder to skip out when someone is meeting you there or waiting to hear all about your progress.

4. Set a reward. If you are anything like us, getting a reward is half the fun of accomplishing goals! Your reward could be big or small but make sure it is something enticing enough to pull you out of a slump. Unfortunately, there will be days where you don’t feel like following through on your plan, if you have a reward in place, it will help push you through! We love putting a picture of the reward right next to our goal where we can see it every day.

Are you feeling motivated yet?? We sure are! If your young dancer is hoping to set some goals this year, we encourage you to help guide them through this process. You can feel good that you are teaching them how to ACTUALLY accomplish their goals and they will feel good that you are there to support them through it. For any dance specific goals, check in with their teacher. Teachers can be great resources in making goals a reality!

What Makes Positions Dance Studio Different

We know there are so many great dance studios to choose from in the Long Island area. When deciding where your child is going to dance, there are so many different factors to consider and we totally understand that. What are the teachers like? How well maintained is the facility? What is the classroom dynamic? A dance studio often becomes like a second home for young dancers and their families. That is why it is SO important to find one that you and your dancer connect with.

We feel great about all the things that make Positions Dance Studio different from all the other studios in the area. We pride ourselves in cultivating an environment where our students come out of dance class learning not only dance steps but more importantly, life skills. We are very confident that you will feel just as great knowing that your dancer’s second home is at our studio. “For Your Island,” a local show concentrating on the arts, culture, and entertainment in Long Island,  featured our studio. In the episode, you will get to know the studio owner and director, Kelly Peckholdt, see the space, and get a glimpse into our classes. It is the perfect first step in getting to know our studio and its values.

As you can see, at Positions Dance Studio we truly care about each and every student. It is one of our top priorities to make long lasting, positive relationships with all of our students and their families. We have classes for students no matter what stage in their dance journey they are in. Our family-friendly environment helps our students gain self-confidence, self-esteem, and discipline all while maintaining age and developmentally appropriate classes. Using age appropriate music and costumes in class and for performances will always be our policy. We want your kids, to be kids!

Our experienced and qualified teachers keep our students busy learning proper terminology and technique while teaching them important life skills such as discipline, focus, and grace that they will carry well beyond their dance years. We are beyond passionate about dance along with creating an all-inclusive, positive environment for our students.

Like we said, we know there are a ton of great studios out there and we are SO honored that our students have chosen our studio as their home away from home.

If you would like to learn more about what sets Positions Dance Studio apart contact us today or stop in during one of our Open House Events (6/25 4:30-6:30, 6/26 4-6, and 6/27 6-8). We are now accepting enrollment for our Fall 2018/2019 session and would love to see you there!