To The Pointe! Vivette's Dance Studio October 2011 Newsletter
1. STATEMENTS: Statements are attached to this newsletter. We hope all are accurate, but if you have a
question, Miss Sarah or Miss Anna can pull up your account and you can check your check numbers. I
did find a few errors after last statement was printed and corrected those.
1A. I will be posting credits or writing checks for dancewear sold next weekend. After this, anything
sold with your name on it will be credited directly to your account.
1B. LATE FEES The class tuition is due the 1st class of the month. The “grace” period lasts until the
14th. On the 15th a $15.00 late fee is added, just like Westar, or your mortgage if you are late with their
payment.
Dancers with a 2-month balance will not be allowed to dance until the balance is paid. You can avoid
the late fees by giving us your credit card number to run only if your account is not paid by the 15th. Just
talk to Sarah or Anna. We will also hold a post dated check to be run on the 15th.
I disabled the Sept late fee due to our late start.
1C. RECITAL AND COSTUME FEES
We have posted the recital fee, $30.00 per single student, $40.00 per family to your account. It is due by
Oct 30th.
What does the recital fee cover? The recital t-shirt and auditorium rental, during rehearsal and recital, the
band room and little theatre rental, custodians, sets, programs, etc etc etc. Many people assume that use
of school property is free…this is incorrect.
We do not sell tickets! You are free to invite as many people as you wish.
We do costume fees a little differently than some dance studio’s. Here is a detailed explanation.
Costume fees: Costume fees will be posted to your account in November, they are not due until December
22nd . Each student will be required to purchase a costume or costumes for the recital.
A deposit towards the actual cost of the costume of $50 for Bitty through Primary 1, $100 for Primary 2,
$150 for Primary 3 will be posted to your account in November. Jr and Senior Deposits will be $65.00 per
costume.
Costumes for Pom, Adult and students taking single subject classes will be billed on an individual basis.
In general, child sized costumes are approximately $55, adults $65.
*The costume deposit is due by Dec 22, 2011
You may pay the deposit in full or in payments. Some families have already begun to give us costume
payments.
A $15.00 per costume late fee will be assessed after that date
Costume fees are based upon my 36 years of experience in ordering costumes.
Bitty-Primary 1 will have 1 costume that they will wear for ballet/tap combo’s dances.
P2 and P3 will usually have 2 costumes. . We are going to try to build jazz costumes by getting a top to go
with the booty shorts that is part of the dress code to hold costume costs down. We know that the economy
is straining everyone this year, we feel it too.
Jr and Sr dancers will generally have 1 costume for each dance style. We try to re-use, recycle and be
creative when we can. Costumes must be paid for at my time of ordering.
In April/May adjustments are made, giving credit if I’ve managed to stay under budget, billing remainder if
we’ve gone over a little. I try so very hard not to go over, but as prices rise at the grocery stores, so do
costume prices.
3. New Friends and Families: We have many new students who have joined our studio family in
September. We welcome each of you! Please read all notes, keep all notes, check the websites frequently
and read the windows!
Families are never an intrusion at Vivette’s Dance Studio, we welcome your presence. We do ask that you
apply “home” rules to our studio home. If you drop it, pick it up, if you spill it wipe it up, don’t walk on the
furniture, don’t throw the pillows, no running or shouting, empty out your drink before putting in the trash…
you know, the “were you born in a barn?” mom rules.
We are enjoying the beautiful new-looking sofa, recovered by studio dad Marco Sandoval!
4. FUNDRAISER
Next week you will receive the order forms for the Optional Uncle Jerry Fundraiser. This is a fundraiser for
you, not the studio. Credits from your fundraiser are posted to your costume or recital account. We take a
small percentage to cover costs of postage, and preparation, but the majority of the profits go directly to
your account.
Uncle Jerry Credits will be posted in Nov, when I get the list from the company of each dancers
credits. If you are participating in the fundraiser, you may wish to wait until the credits have been applied
to pay on these categories. Late fees on these categories will be applied in January.
5. WHAT ARE WE LEARNING:
All classes have been working on technique, the ballet classes are really seeing improvements.
We are beginning to teach some of the younger dancers Halloween dances or “fun dances” to reinforce
the techniques we are working on.
We will be performing these at a nursing home. More information later!
Bitties have learned, “Plie means to bend your knees” and “See How Smart I Am?’, Alligator and Bean Bag
Dance.
Pre K have learned “Dancing Clouds, Dancing Bear, Rock n Roll Tap and Twist and Tap”
Kindergarten Ballet dancers have learned “Dancing Mary” and “Mary, Mary Quite Contrary”.
Older dancers in tap/jazz/pom and hip hop have begun to learn a little of their recital dances in addition to
technique. Ballet routines are always started later as ballet technique is more difficult.
6. HALLOWEEN REMINDER
Halloween falls on a Monday this year. The studio will close to let all dancers enjoy the evening. Dancers
may wear Halloween costumes or old Dance costumes Monday Oct 24-Sat 29. If you don’t want to, you
don’t have to. Make sure your dancer can dance in them, though.
WORKSHOPS - We are so excited to be able to offer so many workshops to our dancers. Each teacher
teaches differently and you can learn something from everyone. Try to take advantage of as many as your
schedule allows.
Valery Lantratov - will be returning July 5, 2012.
7. TOP Dance Directive: Sunday Oct 30th Wichita,
The forms for this workshop were sent home with the Starfeet dancers previously, BUT great for all
dancers. Forms will be on the lobby table. This workshop will include ballet, tap and jazz classes for ages 6
and older.
8. Miss Vivette will be attending the Dance Masters Fall Convention on Sunday Nov. 13 at the Marriott in
Overland Park. Dance Masters is an organization of Dance Instructors dedicated to continuing excellence
in technical training. Miss V is the only Salina area teacher to have passed the entrance exams required to
join. If your dancer would be interested in attending, please let me know.
9. BUILDING ANNIVERSARY
We moved in on Halloween 2003 and are very proud of all we have accomplished in 8 years. We are also
very proud of how our dancers treat the building, taking care of it as “their own”.
10. STARFEET ACADEMY team members are working hard on their routines to prepare for their
upcoming competitions. They are selling Scentsy products as a fundraiser for their new costumes.
11. CLASS OPENINGS Opening remain in several classes, we appreciate the “tell a friend” advertising!
We have openings in all younger age groups. We are taking Dancers who will be 3 by Jan. 1 in our Bitty
class so spread the word!
12. PARADE: We had a fun time in the parade, and proved how adaptable we are when our flatbed was
accidentally given to someone else! We put dancers in the back of 2 trucks, Miss Rachel lead the
dancers in front with some great energy. The little dancers had a great time spotting their grandparents
and parents on the sides. Thanks to all who came. Look for photo’s of the parade on our website. Please
email me, or give me any photo’s you took so that I may add them to our scrapbook, website, facebook fan
page and blog. I planted the “float” mums in the front garden.
13. DATES TO REMEMBER:
Oct 10 : Deadline to turn in Dance Mastesrs forms and funds.
Sat Oct 22: Deadline turn in Uncle Jerry fundraiser
Oct 24-22 - Costume week!
Sun, Oct. 30th : TOP Dance Directive workshop in Wichita
Wed Nov23-Sun Nov 27 - closed for Thanksgiving