Peggy's Dance Studio

PDS Danstarz Newsletter

Hey yall… ok…lets all make sure we have the dates listed below on your calendar.

I will be placing an order for make up on December 28^th. If you are in need of any replacement make up or would like to purchase any of the other items on the list, I need a check for the proper amount made out to me CHRISTINE GRANIER by December 27^th. This will be the only makeup order I will place and no extras will be ordered. Please make sure you are going to the website and practicing your make up application. Please do not wait until the morning of dress rehearsal to try it for the first time, it takes a while to get fast. Also, make sure you have your makeup kit and bun making kit together.

BOOTCAMP DATES: Please remember, that this is my personal off time that I am giving your daughters, free of charge, for these rehearsals. Please do not make me feel like I care more about this endeavor than you do, and make every attempt to attend the rehearsals listed below. I try hard to not overload you w/ rehearsals, but this is what I feel is the MINIMUM required of your children, to make their experience a positive one. A group is only as strong as it’s weakest link…don’t be that link!!

Friday – December 18^th – 2:00 5:00pm – Petite Ballet

5:00 – 8:00 -- Junior Jazz

Monday – December 21^st - 8:30 – 2:30 -- Junior Lyrical

2:30 – 5:00 -- Junior Ballet

Tuesday – December 22^nd - 8:30 – 12:00 - Petite Ballet

12:00 - 3:00 Junior Jazz

Wednesday - December 23^rd 8:30 – 11:00 Junior Ballet

11:00 - 1:30 Junior Lyrical

Monday - December 28^th 8:30 – 11:00 Junior Ballet

11:00 – 3:30 Junior Lyrical

Tuesday – December 29^th 8:30 – 11:30 Petite Ballet

11:30 – 1:30 Junior Jazz

1:30 – 4:30 Junior Lyrical

4:30 – 6:00 Junior Ballet

Sunday – January 3nd 1:00 - 2:30 Junior Lyrical

2:30 – 4:00 Junior Ballet

4:00 – 5:30 Junior Jazz

5:30 - 7:00 Petite Ballet

Monday – January 4^th 9:00 – 12:00 Elites

Competition Dates

THERE ARE TO BE NO ABSENTEES AT COMPETITIONS…PERIOD

PLEASE ALSO REMEMBER THAT ANYONE PARTICIPATING IN A SOLO, MUST BEGIN GIVING ME THE 85.00 ENTRY FEE FOR EACH COMPETITION, YOUR SOLO WILL NOT BE ENTERED UNLESS THIS MONEY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME….CHRISTINE GRANIER…NOT PDS

Here we go Again!

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Make up Application

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS FOR

the application of our competition make up for this season.

you recommend, but do not require you to use this particular brand of makeup, however

similar colors in another brand IS required. Please take the time to practice

these procedures and be able to execute them without assistance before our first

competition.

False eyelashes must be worn by all members, NO EXCEPTIONS!!

Video instructions can be found in the video section of our website

for further assistance.

http://www.jamcosmetics.net/v/vspfiles/files/pdf/JAMFC_primadivab.pdf

PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR THE 2009 COMPETITION SCHEDULE!!!.

Christine Watson - Granier
Competition Director/Peggy's Dance Studio
danceteacher@danceart.net

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Below you will find Links to the competitions we will be attending this season:

Please keep in mind that our performance day and time could be on any of the below dates.

It would be great if they were all saturdays, but we have had Sunday performances as well as Friday night performances.

Prepare yourselves for ALL!

Dance Makers Competition & Convention

Jan. 15-17, 2010

Baton Rouge Louisiana

Holiday Inn Select

Convention fees have been included within your Danstarz Fee -

this is a 2 day event, you MUST be present BOTH DAYS !!!

Dance Masters of America Competition & Convention

Feb 19 - 21, 2010

Convention fees have been included within your Danstarz Fee -

this is a 2 day event, you MUST be present BOTH DAYS !!!

Kids Artistic Revue Dance Competition

February 26 - 28, 2010

Baton Rouge Louisiana

RiverCenter - Theater for the performing arts

Star Power Talent Competition

March 5 - 7, 2010

Baton Rouge Louisiana

RiverCenter - Theater for the performing Arts

http://www.showbiztalent.com/

Showstoppers Competition

March 12 - 17, 2010

Baton Rouge, Louisiana -

Rivercenter Theater for the performing Arts

I will also be attending the DMA Fall Convention in Baton Rouge November 13 - 15, 2009. Classes will be at Jeffie Jean's School of Dance and the Competiton will be at Brec's Independence Park Theater, if you are interested in attending.

We will be having girls compete this year for the Miss DMA of Dixie title! Best of luck ladies!

Cost of this convention is 80.00. Please see Mrs. Christine if you are intersted in attending.

The cut off date for this competition is Oct. 2, 2009

This convention was NOT included within your Danstarz fee and will be an additional charge to attend.

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Other Competitions coming to our area: For Solo participants

http://www.showbiztalent.com/

http://masqueradedance.com/

http://www.talentonparade.com/

http://www.ladancemagic.com/

http://www.creationdancechamps.com/

http://www.sophisticatedproductions.com/

http://www.halloffamedance.com/

http://www.hoctordance.com/dancecaravan.htm

http://www.vipdanceonline.com/pages/regionals.htm

http://www.tremainedance.com/

http://www.applausetalent.com/new/main/index.shtml

http://www.starpowertalent.com

http://www.intldancechallenge.com

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU DO (anybody can do) , BUT HOW YOU DO WHAT YOU DO (technique) THAT MAKES DANCE BEAUTIFUL!

Danstarz!

Thank you ladies for your hard work and dedication to the Art of Dance. You ladies exemplify what the true meaning of the word Champion and I wish you the best in whatever your future holds!

2007 - 2008 ELITE DANSTARZ 2007 - 2008 JUNIOR DANSTARZ

Samantha Uselton Kandace Bonaventure

Khadijah Matthews Abby Nealy

Ginger Douglas Lindsey Hooge

Jessica Vicellio Morgan Mazzarella

Sara Montero

Autumn Gardner

2006 - 2007 PDS Danstarz

Samantha Uselton

Khadijah Matthews

Claire Rioux

Ginger Douglas

Stacee Jones

Latresha Banks

Megan Rayburn

2005 - 2006 Elite Danstarz

Samantha Uselton

Khadijah Matthews

Natalie Myers

Claire Rioux

Stacee Jones

Ginger Douglas

Conner Fusselier

Markie Hastings

Latresha Banks

2004 - 2005 Junior Danstarz

Front Row: Khadijah Matthews

Second Row: Lacey Alise', Samantha Uselton, Natalie Myers

Third Row: Ginger Douglas, Claire Rioux

4th Row: Stacey Jones

2003 - 2004 Junior Danstarz

Samantha Uselton

Khadijah Matthews

Natalie Myers

Claire Rioux

Lacey Alise

Stacee Jones

Ginger Douglas

2002 - 2003 Petite Elite Danstarz

Samantha Uselton

Khadijah Matthews

Natalie Myers

Danstarz Newsletter

Congratulations to our new ELITE DANSTARZ!!!

For more information please feel free to email Mrs. Christine (company director) at Danceteacher@danceart.net .

GREAT NEWS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lets keep up the hard work and continue to improve our technique as well as stage prescence. Remember, You only have to have one blue light, but it takes other good sales to keep the crowd !!!

Tips and Techniques

Want to know what the judges are thinking?

Here are a few comments from judges regarding their worst pet peeve when judging!

Question

With competition season starting shortly it might be really helpful to hear from the judges on what they look for in a routine. What sets apart a winning number from the rest, solo or group? How important is the choreography, the costumes and the stage presence? What do you find the most appealing in judging and what drives you crazy?

Judge 1

Besides good, clean technique for age and level, and appropriate moves, costumes and music, I like to be entertained!

Be creative, be different and don't try to look like all the other schools, winning or not! Just because ninety-two other schools do a step in every dance, doesn't mean you have to do that, too.

If they can't do it well, don't put it in the dance. I have given kids some moves they needed to work on, and by the time they got to their first comp, they could do it, but if not, I go to something that they can do. Why pull down their score for something they have no control over.

RHINESTONES are NOT mandatory! I love them, too, but in EVERY dance? Also, these trendy hairpieces, nice for some dances but hair should fit the dance. If you don't have time for lots of hair changes, then pick a style that fits them all.

I remember the curly ponytail phase! UGH.

Well-groomed, personality that fits the theme of the dance, age appropriate, no sexual moves, costumes that don't start above the pubic bone and just below the breasts!

I find that competition pieces from most schools all look alike. I am thrilled when someone is orginal and will score a lower level, cleanly done dance over a higher level one with sloppy work.

It's like choosing lobster over McDonalds! LOL.

Judge 2

Clean technique is very important. Only tricks that have been mastered by the dancer should really be in the routine. I don't like to see dancers executing a trick that number one they are no where ready for and number two should not be doing. I'd rather see clean singles and doubles rather than a quad on a flat foot.

Stage presence is also very important. A genuine smile is better than those ooh ahh facial expressions. Eye contact shows confidence. I think that really makes a difference.

I've come to find that some competitions do not have judges qualified for the job. It's wonderful to be on Broadway, in movies, or a back up concert dancer but judges need to keep in mind that these are just kids. Most of them don't want to make a career out of this and do this for fun. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying everyone has to win. Most of the time it's not the fault of the dancer thats on stage wearing a tony pony with a really bad routine, it's the teachers.

Judge 3

I agree with everything above. I like clean entertaining routines. Something that has a wow or 2 but if the dancers cant do it then leave it out.

My other pet peeve is unity, please work hard to have your dancers together, if they are unable to stay together in tap make the routine easier, if the lyrical music doesnt have a way to count and the dancers cant stay together find another piece of music this is to hard.

Second, this is huge and I see it ALOT please make sure when doing chasse or walks the students lead with the toe and I have seen this with even the best studios. Of course there is the occasional walk with flexed on purpose.

Lastly, I like the bare leg look on some dancers with some costumes but PLEASE do not have your dancers come front and center in a light colored leotard with no tights and do a pitched developpe. I saw this many times and it is not pleasent.

I dont mean to sound rude and would never be this blunt when judging but these are the things that make me go huh? what was the teacher thinking and may lose a small amount of value when there is another dancer doing the same amount of difficulty and is the same age not doing the above items.

I score high for real emotion be it happy or sad, if the routine looks well polished, has a level of difficulty for the dancer not the age (some kids cant turn, some cant leap etc), and is family oriented because that is your audience at comps.

I hope all of this helps and I look forward to seeing some great routines this year.

Judge 4

CLEAN TECHNIQUE, age appropriate costumes, music and choreography. Everything written above, I agree with. Let me add a few things....I love to see original choreography, but also, I love to be entertained. Every number doesn't have to be gimmicky just to make it original. Example: Student using props but not really dancing. Just changing patterns and acting. Maybe it is original, but I think some teachers use it to cover up technique and leave out difficulty.
I like to see a routine that has a mixture of dance and tricks (only things they do well). I am also a sucker for anyne who can pull off a lyrical where I feel like I am drawn into the song from their facial and body movements. I once saw a beautiful dancer who did a lyrical to "I Hope You Dance". that was 4 years ago and I can still see that dancer in my mind and I was blown away. She had everything..technique, feeling, grace and tricks that fit the music perfectly. that song is still my favorite (love the lyrics) and I would never use it because to me, nobody can come close to this dancers version.
Things that drive me crazy: flexed feet, leading with the heel on chasses, bent standing legs on turns and pirouettes, arched backs and open rib cages, no personality, laziness, no dynamics, never looking at the audience or judges, walking off the stage like you were walking down the street and exhausted, arms flying behind you in your turns, rhinestones all over the eyes (this is not Vegas), not staying with the music. I could go on, but i hope this helps.

Judge 5

I agree with the above and would like to add:
pirouette preparation with a turned in supporting leg. I judged a competition last year where this was just about in every routine. I started looking at my own kids after that and have decided to use a turned out prep just to make sure. This drives me crazy!

Judge 6

OH GOSH!! I hate that so much and see it on almost everyone! I commented on that on almost every dance at one competition. 3 days of it and I said on the tape at one point, "You must be tired of hearing this but...".

GAG!

Judge 7

OMG! I was the same way last year with those preps! I began being so nice, and saying that it just needed to be clear, if it was parallel, fine, but try not to turn in. But after seeing it over and over, and even when a pas de bourree would finish in a turned out 4th, they would plie deeper and BAM- there went the toe- in like a pigeon! Drives me crazy. Also turning on a flat foot. I saw so many dancers do a number of turns and after the 2nd one, the rest were on a completely flat foot. JUST DO 2! Big pet peeve also is the heel slap ( I call them Farmer Jack) Chasse's...UGH!!
What I love is an entertaining, clean piece with tight tech. I don't need to see tricks, if there are cool tricks that are cleanly executed, great, but just going from trick to trick drives me nuts- JUST DANCE!! When a dance is done from the soul- you got me- even if the difficulty isn't there. If the technique is there, and I can tell a dancer is just on stage feeling it, living, loving to dance. I love it!

DANSTARZ HOMEWORK & Practice Sheet

In order for you to continue to grow, it is vital that you be what I call "Dance Smart". For you to control a thing, you must understand a thing. Dance Technique is a very complicated area. Be prepared to answer on the spot questions in regards to definition, demonstration or discussion, in an audition atmosphere, on the following terms each week. You can find these terms on our Ballet Dictionary page or within most dance books sold.

Below is a list of recommended reading on Ballet these are excellent books and I do reference them in class:

The Ballet Book by the National Ballet School

First Steps in Ballet by Thalia Mara

Second Steps in Balletby Thalia Mara

Third Steps in Ballet by Thalia Mara

Basic Ballet by Joyce Mackie

Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet

Inside Ballet Technique - seperating anatomical fact from fiction in the ballet class by Valerie Grieg

The Dancer Prepares: Modern Dance for Beginners (Paperback)
by James W Penrod (Author), Janice Gudde Plastino (Author)

DEFINE THESE TERMS:

Lesson 1:

Epaulment

Posture

Placement

Positions of the feet (5)

Positions of the arms (french)

Demi Plie

Grand Plie

Lesson 2

Battement Tendu

Degage

Fondu

Frappe

Petite Battement Sur le cou de pied

Pas de cheval

Flic Flac (basic)

Develope

Demi Fouette

Grand Battment

Demi Detourne

Lesson 3

Adagio

Allegro

Reverance

Temp Lie

Pas de bourre

Pas de basque

Retire

Passe

Releve

Eleve

Chasse

Lesson 4

Glissade

Jete

Assemble

Temp Leve

Sissone

Pas de chat

Soubrasaut

Fouette Arabesque

Lesson 5

Changement

Pas de chat

Echappe

Croise Devant

Ala quatreime Devant

Ala Second

Ala quatrieme Derriere

Lesson 6

Ecarte

Efface

Epaule

First Arabesque

Second Arabesque

Third Arabesque

Envelope

Grand Rond de Jambe

Lesson 7

Fourth Arabesque

Fifth Arabesque

Pirouette En dehors

Attitude Devant

Attitude Derriere

Promenade

Pique

Grand Jete

Rond de jambe en l'air

Penchee

Lesson 8

De sous

De sus

En Avant

En Arriere

Derriere

Devant

Entournant

En dehors

En dedans

Avec

Sans

Battu

Croise

Efface

En fac

Detourne

Lesson 9

Tour Jete en tournant

Royal

Entre Chat quatre

Temp de Cuisse

Brise

Saute de Basque

Pirouette en dedans

Lame duck (pique turn en dedans)

Grand Jete Decote

Ballone'

Ballote'

Fouette Raccourcci

Lesson 10

Cabriolle

Temp de Fleche

Temp de Poisson

Tour en lair

Fouette rond de jambe en tournant (female)

Male Pas de Chat

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Below you will find a practice sheet containing material covered at our first workshop. Please make sure your daughters are reviewing this material and improving on all items listed.

Please print off this sheet and fill one out each week until our next rehearsal!

Peggy's Dance Studio

(225) 654-7755 * Zachary, Louisiana (225) 774-7710 * Baker, Louisiana

Here we go Again!

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Make up Application

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS FOR

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