August 2024 Cecil Dancenter Newsletter

We are excited to announce that our fall classes will begin on Monday, September 9. There will be five 7-week dance sessions with classes culminating in recital performances in June 2024. The first session will be held Monday, September 9 through Saturday, October 26.

Click here for the 2024-2025 class schedule.

RECITAL DATES - **NEW** MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR ONE WEEK EARLIER!!

Studio Recitals: Creative Dance and Dance Basics classes will have their recitals at our studio Saturday, May 31 – Wednesday, June 4.
Elkton High School Recitals (Dance Fundamentals classes & up): Please mark your calendars for June 7 and 8 for these recitals... and we are excited that Dad's will have Father's Day off from dance! Classes will also have a stage and dress rehearsal the week leading up to the recitals (June 2 - 6), so plan accordingly for attendance at these rehearsals.

LEVEL PLACEMENTS

New students to our studio who are age 9+ may need to contact the office for proper placement but students enrolled with us for the 2023-2024 dance year should have received their highlighted level placement in the mail for the fall. Our staff evaluates each child independently and places them in a level that will best serve their individual needs. This evaluation takes into consideration their efforts in developing technique, the ability to maintain consistency in skills, sense of musicality, the ability to assimilate corrections, and their ability to pick up material. Please understand that there are a variety of factors taken into consideration and level placement should not be compared to other dancers that your child may have taken class with in the past. If a child shows significant improvement during the school year, rest assured that you will be asked if they would be interested in changing classes. Likewise, if a child seems to be struggling with class material, it would be prudent to address these issues either by switching classes or adding a class. We are always looking out for the best interest of your child in order to maintain their confidence and interest in the art of dance!

THREE WAYS TO REGISTER:

1. On-line via our website: If you are a returning family with an existing account, just log in as usual as our system automatically keeps you on file. If you would like assistance in creating an account via our on-line system, please contact our office at info@cecildancenter.com or call 410-287-3546.

2. Download a registration sheet from our website and put it and your payment in one of our lobby drop boxes or mail it to 25 Flint Drive, North East, MD 21901.

3. Stop by our office to register in-person. Call before dropping by to make sure we are open – 410-287-3546.

SAVE ON TUITION!!

Want to earn credit towards your dance tuition? Simply create an online account (link below) or pick up an order form for “Fun Pasta” from our lobby in mid-September and 20% of your sales will be applied as credit to your account! Your friends & family can make online or catalog purchases, choosing from an array of pasta items! An additional 20% of sales will help Cecil Dance Theatre meet production expenses for their holiday performance of A Holiday Enchantment! Sales run August 18 – October 6 with delivery in late October.

https://my.funpastafundraising.com/signup/CBLK

NEW POLICIES FOR MONTHLY PAYMENT PLAN

Take advantage of our budget billing! Contact our office if you would like your yearly payments broken into 10 monthly payments. The first payment is taken at registration and then the remaining payments will be due on the 15th of each month from September - May. If you join on or after September 15 then TWO payments will be due initially. In order to be on the monthly plan, you’ll need to have a credit/debit card on file with us. Our monthly payment option CANNOT be set up via our online system. You must call the office to select this payment option and we will manually override the system. Please note that there is now a 3% processing fee for credit card transactions (see below).

CREDIT CARD PROCESSING & LATE FEES

We are happy to process your Visa, Mastercard or Discover for payments but will now include a 3% processing fee for all credit card transactions made online and in person. You are welcome to make a payment via check or cash to avoid this 3% fee. Payments MUST be made on time or in advance to avoid late fees. A late fee of $15 is assessed on ALL accounts two weeks or more in arrears.

CLASS REMINDERS & REMAINING SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES

SPECIALTY CLASSES

Did you know we offer the following classes … adult classes, teen classes, boys only classes (ages 4-7), and toddler classes for ages 18 months – 35 months? Pilates classes are also available (a separate rate structure applies to our fitness program). Click here for our fall schedule or contact us for more information.

WEDNESDAY PRINCESS WORKSHOPS & WEEKLY PRINCESS CAMPS

Our summer themed workshops and camps have been a big hit! Don’t miss your little one’s chance to enjoy creative improvisation, movement games, drama, and of course dancing in costumes… along with fun and magical memories full of adventure and creativity! We have the following opportunities remaining:

Wednesday Princess Workshops: all workshops are ages 4-9, held 5:00pm-7:00pm and are $39/dancer
Princess & The Frog – Wednesday, August 7
Tangled – Wednesday, August 14
Frozen – Wednesday, August 21 (currently full)
Weekly Camps: all camps are for ages 4-9, held 9am-12pm daily and are $185 per princess/dancer
Fantasy Camp #1 Princess Camp – August 5 – 9
Fantasy Camp #2 Princess Camp – August 12 - 16

Click here for our workshop/camp page.

TIK TOK & HIP-HOP CAMP

For ages 9+, Held Monday, August 12 – Friday, August 16 from 9:00am – 12:00pm or 12:30pm – 3:30pm for $170

It’s all the rage … TikTok and Hip-Hop! This camp offers the perfect mix to make your summer sizzle with fun and excitement! Besides learning TikTok video dances, this amazing camp will feature hip-hop choreography, tricks, tumbling, improv, and cool games! We will even create our own sensational TikTok dances! Come out and learn new moves, make great friends and be inspired by our positive and motivating instructor, Platinum J! Come in comfy clothes & sneakers and bring plenty of water! There will be a demonstration for family/friends on Friday for the last 15 minutes of camp.

Click HERE for camp programs.

STAFF NEWS & OTHER REMINDERS

STAFF UPDATES

We are thrilled to have many instructors returning for another amazing year and we are excited to have them share their knowledge and passion for the arts with your dancer. Please see our website for a bio on each of the following instructors for this upcoming year. We are sad to announce that Miss Monica, Miss Kendall, Miss Laura, and Miss Aaliyah will not be able to join our teaching staff this year and we wish them all the best in their endeavors and are thankful they will be on our sub list! Click here for our instructor bio page.

Anya Ivanova-Bojko, Nicole Dahl, Kerianne Darragh, Heather Estep, Abby Goodman, Devon Johnson, Victoria Walpole-McWilliams, Abby Pinkerton, Platinum J, Tracy Soper, Tina Travers, Kim Whitney

CHRISTMAS IS COMING – GET IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT TODAY!

Tickets are on sale now to Cecil Dance Theatre’s production of A Holiday Enchantment to be held on Saturday, December 21 and Sunday, December 22 at Cecil College! Great seats are available now and they make a great gift! Young audience members may dance on stage with some of our cast members in our pre-show! This is a show the whole family will love... for tickets visit our website at www.cecildancenter.com or call the college box office at 410-287-1037. Get your tickets today!!

2024 RECITAL

If you did not receive your trophy at the recital, you may stop by the office to pick one up. If your child participated in the final session but was not able to be in the recital, he/she is still eligible to receive a trophy.
If you pre-ordered an Elkton High School recital DVD, it is available for pickup. To order a DVD, call the office or complete an order form from the lobby or click here.
To order photos from the EHS dress rehearsal, visit: http://amorinphotography.com and click on the dance gallery. If you had recital pictures taken in our studio by Amorin Photography, an email was sent out with ordering information.

GENERAL REMINDERS & STUDIO INFO

STUDIO NOTES

“Ballet Tech” means the class will focus on technique for the entire year and will not perform in the recital.
Each lobby has a locked deposit box for you to drop off payments and/or paperwork when the office is closed. Please feel free to use this secure method to keep your account current and to return registration information.
We have a lost and found bin at each studio location for items that get left behind; however, this bin is emptied several times a year with unclaimed items donated to Goodwill or discarded. So don’t delay… look today for lost items!

DRESS CODE

Please click here for information regarding our dress code for each of our dance styles. It is important that you dress appropriately so that the instructor can make sure your technique and form are correct. For classes requiring dance shoes we recommend purchasing those shoes at The Dance Station. Slippers found at Walmart or discount stores are not recommended as it's hard for the instructor to see if the foot is properly pointed.

NOTES ON ATTIRE: Although it is becoming more common to see professionals in the dance industry wearing crop tops, halters and sports bras, our studio requires dancers come to class dressed modestly with their torsos covered. We strive to promote a level of confidence that focuses on dance and not body image; therefore, students will be asked to change if they come to class exposing their torso. If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact the office. Thank you for helping us to provide a family friendly atmosphere at Cecil Dancenter.

BALLET SLIPPER TIP

Please tuck your dancers ballet slipper laces underneath the top of the shoe. The lace may be cut shorter so it's more comfortable for your child (just make sure to double knot the lace). This provides a more aesthetic look for the mature dancer and for our younger dancers it helps the child/teacher to spend time on instruction rather than tying shoe laces.

PRIVATE LESSONS

Private lessons are a great way for students to get personalized attention and individualized corrections. If you are interested in private lessons, please contact our office.

NEIGHBOR & COMMUNITY NEWS

The Dance Station

The Dance Station located next to studio C has all your dancewear needs. They will be hosting a one-day anniversary sale on Saturday, August 17 from 9am – 3pm with 15% off all shoes and leotards and offering lots of door prizes and raffles. Contact The Dance Station via www.thedancestationllc.com or call 443-674-8075.

Cecil Dancenter | www.cecildancenter.com

Established 1985 | info@cecildancenter.com