I’m getting conflicting information about when the centers will be open during Spring Session. Originally, I was told there were no holidays, and the session was 9 weeks. But now there is mention of the centers being closed during Spring Break.

I will let you know as soon as I have official word.

My job is not easy, everything I do is based on unknowns. I try to schedule my classes following the City Sessions, so it is easier on you, the parents, to plan your family’s schedules. If the center or the room is not open certain days, I cannot teach. Which means no classes during registration weeks, and breaks. But sometimes other events conflict with the classroom’s availability or they close the centers early. 

Planning the recital has challenges, too. Finding a location big enough and that we can afford is number one. We have done recitals in the Whetstone Auditorium but there aren’t enough chairs and it becomes standing room only and sometimes people end up standing outside the auditorium trying to look in. That situation is unpleasant and unsafe.

I won’t know who is participating in the recital until everyone has paid the recital fee. I won’t know if we raised enough money to pay for the location or how much money is left over to help pay for the other expenses. Many dancers are not even registered in a class yet. We will have new students registering for Spring Session.

Picking music is challenging. I try to pick music based on the personalities of the dancers, their skill level, their age. I try to pick music that has a positive message, clean, entertaining, age appropriate. And some dancers have been in past recitals, so I try to make sure they aren’t dancing to a song they danced to before. But I won’t know all the dancers in a class until Spring session. I may pick a song that says I’m a pretty ballerina and then a boy register the next session. I encourage all children to dance, 

Because I don’t know who is doing the recital, I don’t know how many costumes are needed, or what sizes. I make the skirts and tutus to be adjustable to fit most students. But I have students in 20-22 classes that range from XSC to XXLA, so fitting everyone is super challenging. I don’t have many costumes for the older dancers, so I have been trying to make longer skirts and tutus. It takes 3-5 yrds of tulle to make one tutu, more if it is a long juliet skirt. I try to match the color of the costume with the class song, I may have enough skirts, but not enough hair pieces to match. 

I appreciate everyone’s support. And I understand that sometimes things get confusing, believe me, I’m constantly putting out unexpected fires. Everything should work out fine.

Sincerely,
Miss Nicole