| | The end of our dance year always feels bittersweet. We need beginnings and ends, and children (and teachers!) need breaks, but it’s hard to believe we only have two more weeks of classes in the studio before our recital May 18.
Our first dress rehearsal is tomorrow, May 2, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane. Keep this email in your inbox for quick reference!
Our recital is Monday, May 18. If you have a question, please don’t assume it is not a good one — rather, assume other people are asking it too! Please reply to this email with your question, and we’ll compile everything in a recital day FAQ to be included in our mid-month newsletter.
Our summer classes are filling up — registration information is below! Registration for the 2026-2027 dance year is also open. We do not automatically re-enroll, and registration is first come-first served, so please submit a new registration form as soon as possible to ensure a spot in class. |
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| | Saturday, May 2 Dress Rehearsal DetailsLocation: Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane, located at 4340 W. Whistalks Way, at the corner of Government Way by SFCC. There is ample parking, but we do encourage carpooling. (This is not The Unity Church by Comstock!) Time: Rehearsal begins at 9:00 a.m. sharp. Please plan to arrive 10 minutes early. Dismissal is staggered by group: Pre-ballet dancers will be done at different times depending on group: Monday (green tutus) - 9:25 a.m. Thursday (blue tutus) - 9:35 a.m. Saturday (orange tutus) - 9:45 a.m.
Pre-Primary (ducks) - 10:00 a.m. Primary (butterflies and moths) and Tap 1 (polka dots) - 10:30 a.m. Everyone else will be released at 12:00 noon.
Volunteers will escort dancers to a separate location in the church for their group pictures and will bring Pre-Ballet, Pre-Primary, Primary and Tap 1 dancers back to the foyer by the times indicated above. Please remain outside until it is your dancer’s pick-up time. This is a closed rehearsal, so parents will not be allowed to watch unless they are volunteering.
What makes this a dress rehearsal? Dancers need to wear their costumes and clean tights. Ballet dancers’ hair should be in a bun; short hair needs to be slicked back with pins and gel, if possible.
Wear your street shoes into the building. Bring your ballet shoes in a small dance bag. Pointe dances and character dances will be done on flat, and tappers can dance in jazz shoes or grippy socks. If you haven’t yet done so, please write your dancer’s name on their shoes. Pre-Ballet students can be carried into to the church wearing their ballet slippers or change into their slippers the foyer. Shoes, bags, water bottles or toys need to stay with parents. We want to keep things simple, streamlined, and special for our youngest dancers!
Feel free to send a book or other clean, quiet activity with your child. Crayons, markers, glitter and stickers are not allowed. They are welcome to drink water, but food of any kind is not allowed in the rehearsal space.
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| | Monday, May 18 Recital DetailsLocation: Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, 1001 W Sprague Ave, Spokane, WA 99201. Parking is available on the street and in nearby lots. Time: 2:30-7:30 p.m. 2:30 - Dancers should be in costume with hair done, just like for the dress rehearsal. Drop off your dancer at the STAGE DOOR entrance on 1st Avenue, which is on the western side, closer to the parking lot. Volunteers will take them to their dressing rooms. Parents are not allowed in the auditorium during dress rehearsal and may enter through the MAIN DOOR entrance on 1st, which is on the eastern side of the building, to wait in the Founder’s Gallery (a large vestibule between the auditorium and the lobby). We realize that most children are in school until this time and thank you for taking them out a little early. Starting at 2:30 allows us to be done before bedtime! 3:15 (Green), 3:20 (Blue), 3:25 (Orange) - Pre-Ballet dancers will be taken to the Founder's Gallery for dismissal. 3:30 - Pre-Primary dancers will be taken to the Founder’s Gallery for dismissal. 4:00 - Primary and Tap 1 dancers will be taken to the Founder's Gallery for dismissal. 4:45-5:00 - Everyone else will be dismissed, and the auditorium will close. Dancers can take a break. You can leave to get a quick dinner or can eat a sack lunch in the Founder's Gallery. Food is not allowed in the dressing rooms. 5:30 - All dancers need to report to their dressing rooms. Auditorium doors open. 6:00 - The show begins! 7:30ish - The show concludes. Pre-Ballet and Pre-Primary (duck) dancers will be seated on the stage. One parent needs to come and get them from the stage. All other students will be released from the dressing rooms into the auditorium/lobby.
Other things to note: Dancers should wear clean tights and shoes. Small stud earrings are acceptable, but please do not wear bracelets, necklaces or big earrings. Light makeup is fine but not necessary. (A little pink blush can keep the stage lights from washing out the dancer's face!) No nail polish please. No tickets are necessary, as admission is included in the recital fee. Seating is first-come, first-served. Only teachers, graduating seniors and backstage volunteers will be allowed to save seats during the dress rehearsal. The auditorium will close at 5:00 and re-open at 5:30. Thank you for following these rules and creating a calm environment for our dancers. Concessions will be available during the show, but food is not allowed in the theater, and food is strictly prohibited in the dressing rooms. Please do not take photos or videos during the show. It can be distracting for the dancers and the people sitting behind you. All registered students will receive a professionally filmed digital video of the show within a few weeks after the recital.
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| We’ve got something for everyone at the ballet studio this summer! Visit our website for more details, or click the button below to go straight to the online registration form. Please let us know if you have any questions. Register soon to ensure your spot in class!
We are excited to share that our special guest instructor for our June Dance Intensive is Phaedra Jarrett! Some of you may know her from the Plum Tree School, but she is currently the resident choreographer of Spokane Youth Ballet. She was a professional dancer with the Sacramento Ballet and rose from soloist to principal dancer in the Oakland Ballet. The Modern Improv class she’s bringing to our students is an exploration in movement: In her words, “It consists of a variety of techniques to improve dancers' improvisation, choreographic skill, and understanding of dancing with emotion, dynamics, musicality, and artistry. ‘Controlled Abandon’ is the goal. The idea is that, through good technique and a strong sense of our bodies in space, we can dance seamlessly with the appearance of abandon, with a constant array of choices.” |
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Need a body liner? If you have more than one costume, you need this base layer so that your costume changes can happen quickly. These are also great for dancers who feel like their costumes are itchy.
We’ve got a style in stock in our Nimbly store that comes in several different shades to suit you! |
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| | Gratefully, Ann & Stephanie |
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Coming up… Saturday, May 2 — Dress Rehearsal (9:00-12:00) Saturday, May 16 — Last Day of Classes Monday, May 18 — Spring Recital (2:30-7:30) Tuesday, May 19 — Adult Tap Session Begins Monday, June 1 — Continuation Classes Begin
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