How to Prep for the Best Dance Year Ever!

Prepping for the BEST Dance Year Ever!

We are SO excited to get back to dance! We’re looking forward to a year filled with classes, performances, workshops, and more! Whether your child is returning or BRAND new to Positions Studio, we are so excited to welcome them back. 

Most parents are very accustomed to prepping and shopping for the school year. In order for your dancer to have the best experience possible, we recommend taking a little time to also do some dance year prep! 

We’ve rounded up some of our BEST tips for prepping for a new dance year. If you have questions or need more information, please feel free to reach out to our team. We are always happy to help and want you to feel confident as we head into another dance season. 

Four Tips for Prepping for the Upcoming Dance Year: 

1. Make Sure Your Dancer Has the Proper Dance Supplies

Different dance classes require different supplies. It’s important for dancers to wear the appropriate attire and shoes for their classes. Just like any other sport or activity, having the right dancewear and shoes will help students perform better and focus on their technique. Luckily, we have everything you might need for classes in our Dance Store! Located in our lobby, we maintain a large inventory of shoes, leotards, and accessories! 

You can stop by our store during our office hours and our knowledgeable staff is always there to make recommendations and answer any questions you may have! 

2. Start Stretching and Cross Training Before Our Season Starts to Avoid Injury

We hope everyone had a fun, restful, and exciting summer! Fall may mean a return to more technique classes and longer, fun-filled dance days for your child. 

In anticipation of a more rigorous schedule, we recommend taking some time to stretch and do some cross-training. We recommend taking a look at this wonderful article discussing all the ways dancers can continue to care for themselves and maintain a healthy dancing body! 

3. Prepare Your Child’s Dance Bag

Having a dance bag is SO helpful when you’re running out the door! All shoes, clothing, first-aid (for older dancers), and accessories can be put in your child’s dance bag. Giving your child’s shoes a home and reminding them that they are only for dance class can help you avoid last-minute scrambles to locate your child’s dance gear.  Please put your child’s name on everything, including their bag. 

4. Discuss Expectations for Dance Classes 

If your child is a bit older, you already know that it is perfectly fine to drop them off and pick them up later. For younger students, we recommend taking some time before the first week to discuss what they can expect when they arrive at the studio. 

Parents will walk their child into the studio, help them get ready for class, and then pass them on to their teacher to take the lead. We will ALWAYS come find you if your dancer needs you. Things tend to go much better when you give your child a little space. This may be a new space and experience for them! Please give your child a few weeks to adjust. After class, be sure to greet your child with an enthusiastic hug and let them show you what they learned! 

We are ready for another amazing dance year filled with learning, new memories, and growth! We’re ready to watch our dancers soar this dance year. Our team is passionate about continuing to make Positions a dance studio that your child loves being at and training at! 

Registration is ongoing in classes with availability for the 2022/2023 dance year. We’d love to have your family join us. Cheers to the best dance year ever! Please remember we are ALWAYS here to help! 

The Positions Difference!

At Positions Dance Studio, we pride ourselves in being different, we are not your typical dance studio. While our dancers are busy learning discipline, grace, and focus, we are busy fostering a supportive, welcoming atmosphere. We firmly believe this allows our students to reach their full potential. Nothing makes us happier than watching our dancers grow year after year!

TUTORIAL ALERT: If you are ready to register for classes but aren't sure how, skip to the bottom of this post to view a quick tutorial!

So what exactly is the Positions difference? We thought today we would highlight a few of the things we love the MOST about our studio.

• We provide age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate classes, choreography, and costumes. It is a top priority to keep our kids, kids! We keep all song, costume, and choreography choices age-appropriate. We also offer a variety of technique levels along with a Dance Abilities class for students with special needs.

• Our staff is experienced and qualified with extensive training in dance and education. Our staff works together to provide the best training possible with putting a strong emphasis on injury prevention. They take great care in creating age-appropriate classes where each student receives individualized instruction and attention. You can read more about our amazing teachers here.

• Our customer service is top notch! From signing up for a trial class to moments at the big recital we want to make sure that our parents have an amazing experience as well. Our parent portal is available online 24/7 so you can always access your information and register for classes (see below!). We also keep our website and Facebook page up-to-date so our customers can depend on it for the latest information. Finally, our front desk is always receptive to questions and feedback. We really enjoy getting to know families at the studio and find that it helps us provide a better experience for our students.

At Positions Dance Studio, we LOVE what we do and we want to make sure our families feel a part of something amazing because they are! We know you will feel the Positions difference when you are here. Schedule a free trial to experience it for yourself.

Ready to register for classes but not sure how? We have made a quick tutorial to show you exactly how easy it is to register for our classes.

Summer Camps At Positions

Here at Positions we have some AMAZING things going on this summer! We have a 6-week summer schedule packed full of our favorite dance classes for dancers ages 18 month-18 years. We also have a GREAT lineup of summer camps for our preschoolers. Today we thought we would help you sort through our camp schedule to figure out which ones are a good match for your child.

Individual pricing for each camp is listed in the camp description. Get started by contacting the studio with questions or by registering via our online portal. 

Fairytale Camp

Our Fairytale Camp is sure to be a magical week! We will spend our mornings dancing to their favorite princess songs, reading the classics and eating a delicious snack!

Your 3-5-year-old will be transformed into their favorite prince or princess and will leave as royalty

*When: July 31st and Aug 2nd from 9:30am-12:00pm
*Where: Positions Dance Studio, Babylon, NY
*How much? $100

Olympics Camp

Our Summer Olympics Camp is going to be a BLAST! We will spend our mornings together having relay races, exploring movement, and of course, eating a delicious snack!

Your 3-5 year old will leave feeling like they have won the gold medal!

*When: Aug 7th and 9th from 9:30am-12:00pm
*Where: Positions Dance Studio, Babylon, NY
*How much? $100

Super Hero Camp

Our Super Hero Camp is going to be a SUPER GOOD time! We will spend our mornings together making superhero masks, playing games like pin the mask on the superhero, exploring movement, and of course, eating a delicious snack!

Your 3-5 year old will come dressed as their favorite superhero and will leave with a whole superhero CREW! 

*When: Aug 14th and 16th from 9:30am-12:00pm
*Where: Positions Dance Studio, Babylon, NY
*How much? $100

As you can see we have some really fun things planned for this summer and we would love if your preschooler would join us! Please feel free to contact the studio with questions.We can’t wait to see you at the studio this summer!

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!

Is Your Child Ready For Dance Class?

Knowing when your child is ready for dance class can be tough! Whether you have a toddler, preschooler, or a child in elementary school, making the decision to sign your child up for dance classes may be nerve wracking. Every kid is unique and of course, you know your child best! To make the choice just a tad easier, we thought we would share a few tell tale signs that your little dancer is ready to jump right in!

• They LOVE music and movement! Does your dancer demand their favorite songs in the car? Do they start wiggling when a song comes on? Have they ever put on a “show” for you in the living room? If yes, then they will love dance class!

• They are ready to take class independently. We DO offer classes for children 18-36 months accompanied with a parent ( called “Dance With Me”) but if your child is older than 3, they will have to be emotionally ready to take class without a parent in the room. Sometimes the adjustment takes a couple weeks and that is OK. We do have viewing windows in our studios so you can be sure to peek in.

• They can follow simple instructions. We realize we are talking about little ones so we DO NOT expect perfection but your child should be able to follow simple instructions most of the time. Some examples of what we ask in class are: imitating the teacher’s movement, taking turns, and making a circle with their new dance friends.

Like we mentioned, each child is different and we love that! We hope this list gives you a little more confidence knowing your child is ready to have a blast with us in class. If you are still not sure, give us a call or contact us here to schedule a free trial class! Getting a tour of the space and meeting the director before the start of a new class can make the transition so much easier for both you and your child, so what are you waiting for??

How To AMAZE Your Dancer At This Year's Recital

Recital week is almost here at Positions Dance Studio! We could not be more excited to see all the hard work come to life and I’m sure you and your dancers feel the same. They have put in countless hours at the studio and you have supported them every step of the way. It is time to celebrate right?! With all the fun and excitement comes something else not so pleasant, STRESS. Yes, recital week is stressful for everyone (for us too!). There are costumes and accessories to pack, special hair and makeup to master, a handful of different check-in times to keep track of, and much much more. It is a lot to handle for the seasoned dance parent not to mention for those first timers out there! We want to make sure we are doing all we can to make your week as easy as it can be for you and your dancer. Let’s face it, if you are stressed out, your dancer will be stressed out too. And that is not fun for anyone. So we thought we would give you a few ways you can feel less of that awful stress and more of the fun and excitement. Following these tips will ensure that you can AMAZE your dancer at this year’s recital!  

• Read EVERYTHING. Twice. Make sure you are really going through all the emails and handouts you receive from the studio. They contain information like check-in times, order deadlines, day-of instructions, etc. Take the time to really process the information and write reminders in your calendar.

• Take Inventory Now. Do you have all the right shoes? New tights in the correct color? All hair and makeup supplies? Have you double checked all costumes and their accessories? Figuring out you are missing something last minute could be the worst feeling ever! You will feel much better knowing you have a few days to run to the store rather than just a few hours.

• Make a recital day PLAN with your dancer. Everyone will feel much better after you talk through logistics and expectations. Talk with your dancer about when you will start getting ready, who will be helping with quick changes, when will they eat, and when and where you will meet them after the performance. You will rest assured knowing they know what to do and they will feel more prepared in handling the day without you.

• Be positive, have fun, and enjoy every second! Recital is only once a year and trust us, it goes FAST! Be proud of your dancer no matter what happens on stage. It takes a lot of guts to get on stage and your dancer wants no more than to do the best they can do. Don’t be shy in telling them how you feel after their performance. Performing after all the preparation should feel amazing and as their parents, you get to share that feeling with them. They deserve that shining moment and so do you. Make sure you take a moment or two to look around and feel the joy with your dancer.

We want nothing more than for you and your dancer to enjoy this moment because it is the BEST part of being a performer (and a proud parent too) and like we mentioned, it will go fast! Take the stress out of the week and you will be able to truly savor each precious moment.

Have any questions about recital week? Check out this FAQ page we have and call or email the studio with anything you don’t see mentioned.

Who Is Your Hero?

Written By Chelsea Anderson

With Memorial Day and our recital quickly approaching, and both having to do with heroes, several students and faculty were asked to name who they consider a hero. A few students recognized the ‘dance moms’ that make them who they are. Sofia Giorgio, a member on one of our Performance Teams, had this to say about her mother: “She’s nice and helpful and wants me to get good grades.”

            Nicole Jarvis and Maya Ryan, also on Positions Performance Teams, recognized their instructor, Miss Dominique, as a hero and a “good role model,” along with their mothers. Along with the many other men and women who fought and have suffered for this country, these young ladies took the time to remember their loved ones that fought in the Army. 

Annie Castellano, one of our very talented teachers got to marry her hero! Her husband Chris was a Sergeant in the United States Army and now currently works in the Reserves. He also is a member of the FDNY in Queens, New York. “Being a part of his life has allowed me to see all the courageous jobs he has taken part in.” said Annie, “My husband’s dedication to his country and others is to be admired, yet he is so humble.”

Jeanine Cullen, also a staff member here at Positions, said she would also like to remember the many heroes that serve our country well. “My three/four year olds are doing their recital dance dedicated to these heroes.”

            Now that spring has officially sprung, our dancers and staff have many things to look forward to (recital being one of them!) We asked our friends what their favorite part of the new season. Some of the responses included birthdays, barbecues, end of school, going fishing with the family, and, of course, the recital!