Why We Wear Costumes: Experience the Turning Pointe Difference

“Clothes make a statement. Costumes tell a story.”

 While that might just be another one of Mason Cooley’s witty aphorisms, he does have a point—especially when it comes to theater and dance. Costumes play an important part on the stage, helping to enhance the visual appeal and narrative of a performance. Costumes can be used to convey the mood, style, and theme of a dance, as well as distinguish between different characters or groups within a performance. They are meant to complement the song, scene or piece, and create uniformity among the dancers. Simply put, costumes bring the entire dance to life!

 While most instructors and choreographers choose costumes that enhance the performance, fit with the theme of the dance, and do not hinder the dancer’s movement, at Turning Pointe Dance, we also strive to weave our mission and values into every stitch and seam. When STARZ Theater Company performed Walt Disney’s “Newsies” in 2020, each costume was custom made to echo the look and feel of the original Broadway version, with Kelly’s signature blue featured alongside counterpart Katherine Plumber’s classic pink ensembles. When Fidèle Youth Dance Company staged “The Pilgrim’s Progress” in 2022, they intentionally used color to show the audience which characters represented members of God’s Kingdom within the famous allegory.

 And it doesn’t stop with our performance companies!

Our teachers are trained in recital expectations that ensure each choice combines art and faith to produce something that will change lives and hearts—from our advanced and adult classes to our youngest Twirl dancers receiving a costume for the very first time. They’re given guidelines for affordable pricing and styling standards to carefully choose costumes that are age appropriate, beautiful but appropriately modest, and fun costumes that both parents and children love.

 As we wear costumes to class this October 28-November 2, remember: We’re not just doing it for fun (even though it is pretty fun). We’re practicing a performing art! We’re learning about costumes, and why they’re important to dance. We’re teaching the significance of costumes in the history of dance, and how costumes can translate the meanings of the dances we study, practice and see. We’re  building confidence dancing in costumes, and working toward our ultimate goal of shining His light with a complete and polished performance this spring.

 Feeling a little lost in the recital costume process? Even though recitals are still several months away, the process actually gets started in just a few short weeks! Here are a few reminders as we head into the holidays:

 Note: All costumes ordered after December 1 have an additional $10 late order fee.

Opting Out of Recital
Students wishing to opt out of the recital should submit a written request to the office prior to November 30, 2024.

Costumes
Changes in a student’s schedule can result in a change of costume and costume fees. A student’s costume amount includes costume and tax. For male dancers, the teacher will discuss with the dancer’s parents what attire is to be worn for the performance. All other classes will have one costume per class. All costume fees are due December 1, 2024.
Our class drop/add period ends December 1, 2024. Dancers who wish to change classes after that date must purchase an additional costume.

Costume Distribution
Dancers will receive their costume(s) the week after Spring Break. Spring Peek Weeks are a great opportunity to see your dancer practice in costume and video the recital routine for at-home practice!

Exchanges
Costumes may be exchanged for size (depending on availability) and the cost is $8.00 per exchange. It’s important that parents come into the studio November 11-23, 2024, to double-check their child’s sizing, as the sizes are computer generated to help avoid sizing issues.

Refunds
After December 1, 2024, costumes are non-refundable and non-transferable. A student who withdraws from a class after purchasing a costume may pick up the costume between May 1-25, 2025. Costumes not picked up by then will be donated.

Magnify Him Through: Leadership

Did you know that music, singing, instruments and dancing are mentioned more than 400 times throughout the Bible? Did you know that it all started with Miriam? Sure, Deborah’s song in Judges 5 is one of the most well-known songs in the Old Testament, but she wasn’t the first to sing a song of victory to God. Miriam began that tradition after the crossing of the Red Sea in Exodus 15, and in fact, every subsequent verse that describes women going out to sing and dance in victory reflects back to her. With more than 400 instances in the scriptures, it’s clear her actions left quite a legacy. They say it only takes one person to cast the stone that creates ripples across the water. This month at Turning Pointe Dance, we’re studying how we can create the ripples that magnify Him.

 “Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. And Miriam sang to them: ‘Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously; The horse and his rider He has thrown into the sea.’” Exodus 15:20-21

 A victory dance isn’t anything new. After all, when something good happens, the natural human reaction is to celebrate. We see it in sports, TV and movies, and even in video games. But when you dance in the victory over circumstances in your life, because of the price Jesus paid for us, our movements mean so much more. John 10:10 tells us He came that we may have life, and have it to its fullness. And when we’re filled with the fullness of God, we express that fullness outward, in every step at every class in our studio. We don’t “dance like nobody's watching,” but rather for an audience of one, rejoicing in the freedom of our victory in Jesus, just as Miriam did. David danced before the Lord with all his might, and in 2 Samuel 6:21, he said, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me … He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord.”

 At Turning Pointe Dance, our appointed leaders are more than teachers. They’re mentors and leaders first, leading with love through Biblical principles. They strive to be intentional and experienced, trusted advisors. They’re encouraged and trained not to ask “will I reap a harvest,” but “have I sown any seeds today?” They develop their students by educating and helping others acquire knowledge as role models and community builders. They are background checked and CPR certified, with directors earning additional certifications through the Youth Protection Association for Dance. More than that, they use Christian and inspirational music that fits the wholeness of our endeavor, and the culture we are trying to create—which reaches beyond just dancing. They carefully choose costumes that are age appropriate, beautiful and appropriately modest, and their choreography is appropriate for audiences and dancers of any age. They are chosen to lead by example, and to magnify Him through leadership in their classes.

 That’s why Turning Pointe dancers go beyond technique to develop important life skills including learning to be respectful and confident, and share their gifts and talents with the community and beyond, all rooted in faith, with mentors who replant the “why” of our dancing within them. We dance because Miriam danced. We dance in the victory of our King. Our students also have the opportunity to step into leadership in their own right, receiving training and experience in a uniquely Christ-centered environment. The Turning Pointe Dance Teacher’s Assistant and Internship Program trains future leaders to provide basic classroom assistance to teachers and studio management as they serve, observe, and are examples themselves to younger students.

 Psalm 78:72 says “David shepherded [his people] with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” As we continue to study the role of leadership within our communities this month, and how that task can make the Lord easier to see, we will continue to instill a love of God and a love of the arts in each student, connecting the foundations of their technique to the Biblical principles they’re founded upon. We’ll continue our 20 year commitment to serve as effective leaders, and study how leadership reflects the ways of God and the person of Christ. Thank you to the families of our 2024-25 season for trusting us with your training, and being a part of the Turning Pointe Dance family!

TP Top 3: Ways to Celebrate Your Student

It’s been an amazing first month of classes, and we can’t wait to show you what we’ve been working on in the studio! But first, let’s talk about the “why.” Research shows that showing up consistently for your child instills a sense of self-worth and confidence. As they grow, they internalize this positive self-image, leading to a more optimistic outlook on life. They are more likely to approach challenges with resilience and view setbacks as opportunities for growth. More than that, we’re working to instill a love of dance and equip our students with grit, grace, and gratitude for the arts and for His Kingdom. So before we gather to celebrate the progress being made and the skills being learned in each class, here are our top three ways to celebrate your student, and experience the Turning Pointe difference!

1. Acknowledge the Purpose of Performance

 The power of performance is a big deal when you’re learning a performing art. Who doesn’t love wearing costumes and showing your friends and family what you’ve learned? But in order to experience the Turning Pointe difference, it’s important to understand our purpose for performance—and encourage your student to do the same!

 At Turning Pointe, we dance for a greater purpose. Luke 1:46 reminds us of our studio-wide focus this season: “My soul magnifies the Lord.” We hope that all our dancers will be big lights that shine for Jesus. We want to glorify God through our bodies with dancing and present the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 When researchers Bruce Brown and Rob Miller asked college athletes what their parents said that brought them joy when they played sports, the responses were all the same. It wasn’t praise like “you’re an all-star,” or anything constructive like “here are a couple of things I noticed that you can work on.” What stuck with them the most was when their parents said six simple words: “I love to watch you play.” In our case, we love to watch our students dance. We want our students to hear that doing what they do, and learning about who God created them to be, is a joy to watch as it unfolds.

 So rather than building pressure, aggrandizing class placement or providing any constructive criticism, we encourage you to show up for your students and delight in the Lord right along with them—we’ll even give you plenty of chances! In addition to our spring recitals and acting/vocal showcase, we invite families to join us for three annual Peek Weeks, when parents can sit in on the last 10 minutes of class to see what their students have been working on. All of our students will practice performing and their families will celebrate with them. But more than that, our mission at Turning Pointe will be fulfilled and the heart of God will be blessed and pleased.

 Here are this season’s chances to watch your student shine:

 ●      Fall Peek Week: October 7-12 (unless otherwise communicated by your teacher)

●      Christmas Peek Week: December 9-14 (unless otherwise communicated by your teacher)
●      Spring Peek Week: March 31-April 5 (unless otherwise communicated by your teacher)

2. Encourage their Progress

 Did you know most of our classes follow a carefully-constructed curriculum? A well-designed curriculum plays a significant role in helping teachers reach the end goal of growth in their students, and provides structure, support, and consistency throughout the studio. But there’s another benefit specific to Turning Pointe Dance: The unified glorification of God in the lives of our students.

 While the curriculum for each genre provides a foundation of clear and specific standards, and an accessible pathway of progression, students are also introduced to the person of Jesus through studio-wide devotions and gospel–centered classes. They’re also working toward proficiency in five separate targets, which include things like etiquette, performance quality, creativity/composition, and connections to historical context, cultural influence, and Christian engagement within the dance space.

 In other words, our students are learning so much more than plies, and progress in all areas of their growth should be encouraged and celebrated! Sure, nailing their first pirouette in a performance is a big deal, but so is waiting appropriately for their turn, correctly identifying different styles or techniques, or even smiling and remembering all their steps. We’re working to cultivate hearts of worship, nurture creativity, and allow students to flourish in their gifts, equipped to go into every man’s world by training the whole person body, mind, and spirit. Our dancers go beyond technique to develop important life skills including learning to be respectful and confident, and share their gifts and God-given talents with the community and beyond.

 Of course skill development is an important part of every class and curriculum, but we see progress in so many different areas in each student. Join us in watching intentionally, and celebrating the improvements made in every area after each performance and Peek Week!

3. Provide Pathways for Growth

 If your student is truly finding joy in dance, adding another class might be just the ticket to enrich their experience. Who knows—maybe their favorite style of dancing is one they haven’t tried yet! Trying new genres will not only provide additional practice time in the studio, it also gives students a chance to learn from more teachers, make new friends across classes, and have the opportunity to do more of what they love in a safe and Christ-centered training environment. The best part? It’s not too late! You can add classes to your registration until January 31. Turning Pointe Dance also offers two free trial weeks, where students can try any age and level-appropriate class for free—just check in with the front desk first! Your next opportunity to try a class with your friends, or experience something new, free of charge: 

 ●      Bring a Friend Week: October 14-19

●      Free Trial Week: December 16-21

●      Free Trial Week: January 6-11, 2025

Magnify Him Through: Community

Turning Pointe Dance is proud to look different from other dance studios in Colorado Springs. Afterall, as followers of Christ, we’re called to look different from the world, that the Holy Spirit might be seen in and through us. That’s why we choose music that fits the wholeness of our endeavor and the culture we are trying to create which reaches beyond just dancing. It’s why we carefully choose costumes that are age appropriate, beautiful but appropriately modest, yet fun that both parents and children love. It’s why our choreography is appropriate for audiences and dancers of any age and our professional staff members are great role models for students.

 More than that, it’s why each of our dance classes incorporates prayer and a verse of the month, keeping the focus of class time on the Lord. This year, our studio is working to magnify Him, and make Him easier to see in our classrooms, on recital and production stages, in our city, and beyond. This month, we’re learning to do that through building community:

 “Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together!”   — Psalm 34:3

Throughout the New Testament, we see many different metaphors used to help us understand our life in Christ. We’re called a child in a family, a branch on a vine, a stone in a building, and a part of a body. Sensing a theme? We’ve been made new in Christ, washed by the blood of the Lamb. And as members of a saved community, we’re not called to worship the Lord in the isolation of our own hearts. Just like the metaphors above imply, a strong community is needed to give ourselves (and others) a complete picture of God. A building needs every stone. We need every ingredient to reach success, and we need other believers—lifting different voices to the Lord—to walk in faith beside.

Year after year, when we ask our students to share their favorite parts of a dance year, or favorite memories from class, it’s never the steps or the choreography that make the list. Instead it’s the friendships—the bonds that transcend the studio walls and the relationships that encouraged them in their journey to Jesus—that come front and center. We’ve been made new in Christ, washed by the blood of the Lamb. Our community should look different. It should hold its members accountable for pointing others to Him.

Experience the Turning Pointe Difference: Building Community Within the Studio
Studies show it takes parents, teachers and students six full weeks to get into a solid routine at the start of the year—and those first few weeks can be pretty overwhelming! But just like joining a small group at church, building your unique community at Turning Pointe can be SO beneficial—even if it feels like another obligation. Small groups that meet regularly tend to form deeper relationships, and members of these groups offer each other support and encouragement in their journeys. They encourage deeper community and accountability within the church and studio, and develop leaders that can help grow our mission to magnify Him.

While we encourage all of our students, staff and families to be intentional in building relationships, and being sensitive to the needs of others in our dance classes, here are a few other ways to build your own Turning Pointe community:

●      Come to a camp, event or workshop! Outside of regular classes, Turning Pointe hosts annual special events like the Mother/Daughter Tea, Daddy/Daughter Dance, Nutcracker Workshop and Parent’s Afternoon Out. These events are usually broken into smaller groups, and allow participants to connect with each other as they connect with new teachers and other Turning Pointe families. Did we mention they’re one-time, low commitment opportunities? (No weekly class or recital performances here!)

●      Audition for a company or program! Alongside our enrichment curriculum, Turning Pointe Dance offers plenty of opportunities to advance your skills and resume through some amazing pre-professional companies and programs, all of which serve as their own small group of like-minded believers on a mission to magnify the Lord.

Interested in studying Classical Ballet? Find community in our Training Division or Cecchetti syllabus classes! Love Musical Theater? Build friendships on stage and off with STARZ Theater. If you’re interested in growing as a storyteller in dance performance, join Fidèle Youth Dance Company’s community next season, and apply for the FYDC Mission Team for your chance to spread the gospel through dance throughout our city and state, and in El Salvador over Spring Break 2026.

●      Participate in Monthly Outreach! At Turning Pointe Dance, we’re proud of the gospel-driven community we’ve developed over the last two decades. Through it, we’re dedicated to blessing our city, and strive to magnify Him through the community we’ve built. That’s why we commit to outreach and service projects every single month! Because the Lord has called all believers to be active "priests" … To represent God to other people in witness and service, and to represent other people to God in prayer.

This month’s project: Did you know September is Hunger Action Month? As we head into a new dance year, we're striving to honor last season's commitment to give from AbunDance. Join us as we partner with Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado and make a non-perishable food donation in our lobby all month long!

Have a partnership or initiative opportunity? Reach out to teacher.turningpointedance@gmail.com, then put "Ms. Mimi" in the subject line!

Ready to go deeper into the Turning Pointe Dance community? Keep an eye on the monthly newsletter and Weekly Wednesday communication for ways you can help and engage throughout the 2024-25 dance year. We’ll highlight audition and performance opportunities, upcoming events, and all the details for that month’s outreach initiative.

Turning Pointe’s Ultimate Back-To-Dance Checklist

Welcome back to dance, TP students and families! Whether this is your first school year session with us or you’ve called the studio home for years, we’re so excited to be dancing through our 21st year with all of you.

 If you’re feeling overwhelmed with details and schedules, don’t worry. Even our most veteran Turning Pointe families are trying to settle into the groove of a new season! We understand that this time of year can be a lot—especially the weeks that school, dance, sports and other activities are all starting back. But we’re here to help! Throughout the session, we want to give every student the opportunity to succeed, even in the busy weeks before things hit their stride. That’s why we’ve compiled this ultimate back-to-dance checklist! To help our families make the most of the session, and to experience the Turning Pointe difference to its fullest.

 So what are we waiting for? Let’s get started!

1. Make sure you’re registered

 Every class, our amazing instructors will log attendance in our DanceWorks system. This helps us make sure every student is in the correct classroom and receiving the exact instruction they’re paying for. These first few weeks there are plenty of adds and drops, so making sure you’re properly registered beforehand can cut back on a lot of first-week stress!

 If you’ve already registered for classes online, there’s a simple way to double-check that everything in your registration has been processed properly: Log in to your DanceWorks account, and get to the “Home” screen. Scroll down past “Account Info,” and you’ll see a section labeled “Students.” Under each dancer’s name will be a link to “View classes.” Check each one to make sure you’re enrolled in the classes you wish to be in, and let us know ASAP if you see any issues. (You can email us any time at turningpointeoffice@gmail.com.)

 If you’re planning to register in person this week, please arrive in plenty of time! Our hospitality team is happy to assist you at the front desk, but rushing to cross the t’s and dot the i’s definitely won’t help your dancer’s first-day jitters. If a class is full, your student will be placed on a waiting list. But be patient! Things definitely shift a bit after these first few weeks.

2. Get familiar with our policies

 Who should I contact if my student is sick on class day? How do I switch my enrollment to a different class? How does drop off work? What if my student is injured? If these questions aren’t already popping into your mind, odds are they will be soon! The good news is, you can prepare for all the things that will certainly come up throughout the year just by familiarizing yourself with our studio policies.

 Bookmark our policies page in your browser, or make sure you have the link however you keep things handy! This one-stop information shop has everything you need for schedule changes, absence reporting, fees, contacting your teacher, studio rules, what to expect your first week and so much more! The first few times things come up can take some adjustment, but I promise, nothing is all that daunting. Just take a few minutes to read the information so that you can always walk into the studio feeling prepared and ready for a fantastic year of dance!

3. Dress the part

 Did you know our studio curriculum features categories for five targets, including respect and class preparedness? Set your dancer up for success by making sure they hit those etiquette targets every single week. The Turning Pointe Dress Code provides a focused dance education and a safe environment to move by limiting both visual and physical distractions. Each genre of movement requires students to tune into their bodies in a unique way, and the clothing they wear can be a help or a hindrance in the development of dance-specific movement quality. We promise, it’s not just another rule to follow or a box to check. It’s assisting each person in growing from “dance student” to “dancer.”

 Don’t know what’s required for your class/level? You can find all of our studio-wide requirements here. Bonus tip: Think of a full water bottle as a part of the class requirement! Just like you’d bring a towel to a swimming lesson or shin guards to soccer, your dancewear, shoes and water should all be part of your Turning Pointe class uniform.

 Do you need new dance shoes, tights, or leotards? TP alumnus Abbie Van Horn founded Adorn Dancewear to meet all your dancewear needs while keeping modesty in mind. Stop by the Turning Pointe front desk on Wednesdays from 4-7 p.m. to meet with her, or visit her website for more information!

4. Use your resources

 When it comes to staying informed, communication is key! Already this week, you should have received our September newsletter, introductions from your student’s teachers, and the first “Weekly Wednesday” communication of the season. If you didn’t receive these emails, please check your spam folders! We’re using a new program to design and streamline our e-blasts this year, and they may be falling in with your junk mail. Be sure to mark Turning Pointe Dance as a trusted sender, then be sure to read each email in its entirety! It can feel like a lot, but nothing takes the joy out of an experience more than not knowing what’s going on. Support your dancer by staying up-to-date on upcoming events like parent peek weeks, exciting opportunities like auditions for our amazing programs, ways to participate in studio outreach initiatives and more!

 Have you followed us on social media yet? Sometimes emails can get buried in a busy day, but a quick follow will put all the latest and greatest information right in the newsfeed where you’re already looking. We’re on Facebook @TurningPointeSchoolOfDanceColorado, and on Instagram @TurningPointeDanceColorado. We also have bulletin boards and displays set up in our lobby, fliers and brochures at the front desk, and a knowledgeable hospitality team ready to provide any information you need, and of course, this blog! Check back all season long for updates, information, and to follow along with our studio-wide monthly devotions and Bible study.

5. Join us in prayer

 While everything on this checklist helps cultivate the culture of Turning Pointe Dance, none do more so than this final item. We are committed to providing excellence in dance and theater instruction while cultivating hearts of worship and nurturing creativity. From your child’s first class to their graduation performance, Turning Pointe has a class for everyone! We specialize in beginners of all ages and offer training through pre-collegiate levels. Our dancers go beyond technique to develop important life skills including learning to be respectful and confident, and share their gifts and talents with the community and beyond!

 Our theme for the studio this year is Magnify: “Oh magnify the Lord with me-let us exalt His name together.” (Psalm 34:3) As we begin our 2024-25 school-year session together, we encourage you to join us in making ourselves smaller and His name bigger, and in lifting our students, staff, and families up in prayer. We pray that God’s presence will fill our space—every room, every hallway—that He would be invited in as we’re welcomed back to dance; that the students and families walking through the door would feel peace amidst the chaos and unknowns of the first week, and that students would make quick connections in their classes with their teachers, class assistants, and other students.

 We pray that you all have a fantastic year dancing at Turning Pointe, and that His name be glorified in every song, count and plié.

 Welcome to Turning Pointe’s season 21! We can’t wait to praise His name with dancing together.

Season 20 Wrap-Up: Living in His AbunDance

As Turning Pointe Dance concludes its 20th anniversary season, we look back with gratitude at how far the studio—and everyone within it—have come. It’s a dream that began when studio owner Tina Cook wrote the idea of being a dance teacher in a notebook at just 8 years old, and over the last two decades, has grown from humble beginnings in church classrooms to the city’s premier faith-based dance studio.

 In studying this year’s theme of “AbunDance” over the last nine months, we’ve learned that true abundance isn’t an overflowing of pomp and splendor, or earthly possessions. Abundance, like everything else in God’s economy, flows from His Spirit within us. It’s the realization that in each and every season, through the trials and the celebrations, we have everything we need because we have Him. It’s not rolling in riches or basking in trophies. It’s confidence in the abundance of God's ability.

 Matthew 6:33 tells us that God will provide an abundant life to those who “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” As the final curtains close on the 2023-24 dance year, we’re celebrating 20 years of being rooted in Him.

2023-24 Season In Review:

 September/October

 As our students and staff studied the devotional concepts of preparation and cultivating healthy soil, we laid the groundwork for season twenty. We began to tell the Turning Pointe story, and as new and returning students and families passed through the studio doors, we collected more than 100 pounds of wish list items for the Ronald McDonald House of Southern Colorado. The music began to play and steps began to take shape, eight hard-working students received their pointe shoes, and parents got their first glimpse of our foundation at Fall Peek Week.

November/December

 Continuing in our Bible study, sowing and nourishment took center stage in our classes, each of which held special Christmas performances for friends and families. Fidèle Youth Dance Company celebrated the culmination of its 10th anniversary season with performances of “Bring Her Home,” an original stage adaptation of the novel by the same name. The Training Division performed Christmas dances for the residents at Brookdale Vista Grande, and Turning Pointe students performed at holiday events across the city, including United Methodist Church’s “Lessons in Carols,” Jared Anderson’s “Christmas This Year,” and Village 7 Presbyterian Church’s Christmas concert. Students in the Teaching Assistant and Intern Program assembled and delivered Operation Christmas Child boxes for Samaritan’s Purse, and worked to put on community events like The Nutcracker Sweet Workshop, and Parent’s Night Out missions fundraiser.

January/February

 A brand new year saw devotional studies in waiting and growth as students and staff continued to learn about the studio’s history and the story that brought Turning Pointe to 2024. STARZ Theater Company produced “The Little Mermaid” to kick-off its 11th season, invited students from Title III schools to enjoy a free performance, and performed for sold-out crowds across three days of shows. The Training Division performed for patients, volunteers and staff at Children’s Hospital Colorado, and Fidèle Youth Dance Company’s inaugural mission team kicked off its season with gospel story performances, dancing workshops and prayer services at Liberty Heights Independent Living and First Presbyterian Women’s Bible Study.

March/April

 As students began to bloom and bear the fruits of their labor through Spotlight Awards, trial pointe evaluations, costume distribution, and the beginning of progress reports, Turning Pointe studied these concepts Biblically through in-class devotions. Irish classes performed demonstrations and instructors taught Irish group dances at events with the Pike’s Peak Library District, forming a partnership that will continue beyond St. Patrick’s Day and into free community music and movement classes this summer. The FYDC Mission Team traveled to El Salvador, picking up the torch from previous studio trips that were halted by the pandemic nearly 5 years ago. The 14-student team performed the gospel story and taught worship dance across six days in Central America before returning to the U.S. for performances, worship workshops and dance classes at The Vail Church in Avon, Colorado, and at Family Arts Night with D49’s Inspiration Elementary. April wrapped up with Turning Pointe’s second-annual Tutu Fun Run, which raised more than $1,500 for the Baylee Hope Scholarship. Through this and other efforts throughout the year, the fund was able to award $3,000 in scholarships to continue a legacy of love with three of Turning Pointe’s Class of 2024 graduating seniors.

May

 The last month of this remarkable year featured devotions in abundant harvest, as Turning Pointe Dance was awarded “Best of the Springs” once again by the Colorado Springs Gazette. The studio was given Gold distinction in the categories of Dance Studio for Kids and Dance Studio for Adults, marking the ninth time Turning Pointe has been awarded top honors in these divisions over the last 10 years. STARZ Theater Company took home Best of the Springs Silver for Best Theater Company, and in the Best Musical category for their 2023 production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” To finish the anniversary season, Turning Pointe put on its final 2023-24 performances, hosting 11 recitals at the Wasson Academic Campus Auditorium and 17 Twirl Red Carpet recitals for the tiniest dancers in-studio. More than 900 students took the stage to give their gifts and talents right back to God, praising His name with dance on stage. Performances were attended by dozens of Turning Pointe alumni, and featured testimonial videos from the current class of graduating seniors, studio directors, and even Cook’s childhood dance teacher.

 The last 20 years serve as the first 20 chapters in the Turning Pointe testimony. They prove that God sees our efforts as worthwhile, as long as we are working to build His Kingdom. The Kingdom mindset changes everything. It’s seeing that abundance is all around us—in the smiles of our students, in budding love of dance and theater, and in the warmth of every friendship that started in the studio. It’s in the joy of giving back, serving the community, and using our gifts to bless others. But the best part of abundance is that, even though we undoubtedly grow weary (especially this time of year), God will never run out of abundance. He will always have an abundance of grace, of mercy, forgiveness, compassion, freedom, and redemption. Our studio devotion theme may change year-to-year, but His abundance is and always will be constant.

 As we enter a new chapter, and the next 20 years of Turning Pointe, we pray that we’ll gather in God’s abundance each and every day. We pray to hold an abundance of Thanksgiving in our hearts, and operate from the Fruits of the Spirit He’s so carefully planted, cultivated, and grown in this dream.

 To the directors, teachers, staff, students and families who have been a part of this story, we say THANK YOU. After 20 years in business, there is still nothing better than introducing someone to the joy of dance, watching each student flourish in their gifts, and giving God all the glory. Thank you for trusting the process, for believing in what we do, for reading all of the emails, and for choosing Turning Pointe Dance for your family.

 Here’s to the next 20 years (and beyond)!

May: Harvest

 “What blooms from beautiful seeds of worship becomes a symphony of colorful abundance.”― Jazz Feylynn

 “Harvest.” It’s a concept that’s mentioned in 51 verses across 21 books of the Bible. The common thread? It’s the season of gathering. It’s a celebration of God’s provision. It’s the culmination of months or even years of faithfulness. For dance students, spring recitals represent a season of harvest. Friends and families gather to celebrate their student’s diligence, showcased in the culmination of school year dance and theater classes. This year, Turning Pointe Dance celebrates a harvest even more significant: The conclusion of the studio’s 20th year of operation.

 “I am overwhelmed thinking of the journey we have been on these past 20 years,” Turning Pointe owner Tina Cook said. “From the little dream of an 8 year old until today, God has been faithful in every step. This is all about Him.”

 Sure, recitals are a way to practice a performing art, and to learn more about dance through performance experience. It’s also a great opportunity to wear nice costumes, dance on the big stage under the bright lights, and share everything we’ve worked so hard to learn. But for students at Turning Pointe, this harvest is about so much more. Our mission is to fully develop artistic skills and talents in an atmosphere that glorifies God, and to encourage our students to use their gifts to bless others in our community and beyond. Our long-term goal is to see Turning Pointe students flourish in their gifts and be equipped to go into every man’s world by training the whole person body, mind, and spirit.

 “Thousands of students have come through this studio,” Cook said. “Have they all become professional dancers? No. But we are about more than dance. Dance and theater have always been our vehicle, but it’s not the end goal. Our goal is to point students to Jesus. Whether dance is a part of their life for a mini camp or a year or their whole life, our prayer is that they would know God’s love and feel His delight as they worship Him. This is about Kingdom work. Sometimes it's messy and sometimes we miss the mark. But our goal is to plant eternal seeds of God’s love that will bloom into a garden of magnificent color and beauty and abundance.  We want to grow something that lasts longer than us. We want to create a legacy of praising His name through dance.”

 We hope that at each recital performance, all of our dancers will be big lights that shine for Jesus. We want to glorify God through our bodies with dancing and present the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, all of our dancers will be great in their costumes, and they will perform beautifully. Yes, their families will celebrate with them. But more than that, the mission of Turning Pointe will be fulfilled and the heart of God will be blessed and pleased.

 “So often teachers never see the fruit from the seed they planted,” Cook said. “We have students for a short time, but they choose the path they will take and what they will move forward with. Seeing the gathering of alumni coming back for recitals, and everyone at the studio who is praying and investing in this next generation of dancers, and celebrating this story—my heart is bursting just imagining it.

 So let’s celebrate! Let’s celebrate what God has done. How He has “done far more abundantly than all that we ask or imagine,” and the part YOU have in this story of His goodness. He has done GREAT things, and we are filled with JOY! Let’s celebrate a harvest! Let’s celebrate His blessings and favor in AbunDANCE! Happy 20th Turning Pointe Dance!”

2024 May Newsletter

Processing Your Progress Report

This week at Turning Pointe Dance, dancers will come home with student evaluations, with recommended class placements for the fall entered into online portals by May 8. With this, both tension and emotions will be on the rise! But these sheets aren’t meant to be a point of stress. They’re meant to be a checkpoint of encouragement, designed to keep our students safe and developing properly in a way that honors our studio’s uniquely gospel-driven mission. If you’re having trouble navigating these waters, here are our top tips for processing your progress reports.

1. Keep Some Perspective

 They say most despair can be solved with a little dose of perspective. The same can be said for handling success with humility and grace. Regardless of what your student evaluations say, it’s important to see the picture, and not just the paper.

 While this time of year puts heavy focus on completing a grade level and moving on to a new class, it’s important to remember that dance does not run parallel with school. While the expected duration of each grade is one year, each level in dance typically requires 2-3 years to master. At Turning Pointe, our most advanced classes reach Level 5—a number less than half the number of years in a traditional journey from elementary school to high school graduation.

 Ultimately our goal for each student is advancement through proficiency, but at each level, we don’t just focus on technique and mastery of skills. We’re training and developing the whole person, body, mind, and spirit. There’s so much more happening in each class than a piece of paper or a class placement can represent! It’s so important to keep that in mind.

 And because God made each and every one of us so very differently, it is both possible and necessary to assign a dance development level based on readiness. That means students aren’t moved up based on age or time-served, but rather on their proficiency in the targets of technique, concepts and etiquette set forth in our carefully developed curriculum. Simply put, each level builds upon the skills developed in the level prior, so dancers are asked to master their level targets before it is safe to advance, and each student advances at his or her own pace.

2. Acknowledge the Purpose

 Believe it or not, student evaluations are meant to be an encouragement! They provide a valuable checkpoint, feedback on where each dancer has improved, and where they should shift their focus next. But the primary reason for evaluating students each year? To keep them safe! Dancers who don't master essential skills in the curriculum in one level before moving to the next run a significant risk of injury. Without a proper foundation, the walls of what we’re building will fall. As artists, our bodies are our tools, so it’s important to honor God’s creation (that’s you!) by keeping it healthy and safe. So while a student might say they already know all the steps they’re doing in class, proficiency in technique is in the details. It’s not just about knowing what to do, it’s about consistently doing something well—well enough to build upon safely in the next steps of advancement.

 It’s also important to remember that setbacks and hurt aren’t always physical. Students who are moved up before they’re ready will struggle to keep up in their next classes, lose confidence, experience burnout, or begin to resent or dread coming to class. Dancers progress at their own individual rates. Some skills come easier to some than others. We want to encourage the overall health, both mentally and physically, that’s required for safe progression. The purpose is not to break up friend groups, to discourage students or to cultivate frustration. The purpose is to place each student in the right setting and teaching environment to experience safe and successful advancement that fosters a love of dancing, a love of God, and a love of the arts.

3. Practice Your Patience

 Easier said than done, right? But all year long we’ve been studying the progression of growth, from the cultivation of soil to the eventual celebration of harvest. In doing so, each class has talked through and prayed over each devotional prompt. You see, no two flowers bloom at the same time—even those planted right next to each other. As you process your feedback, remember that we pray through these principles in class not just to talk the talk, but to walk the walk with Him. Growth happens in God’s time, and now is the perfect time to put the concepts we’ve studied into practice.

 If your progress report isn’t what you thought it would be, remember this month’s focus: He is the vine, we are the branches. Apart from Him, we wither. If we place the weight of our value in any other hands (like a progress report), we replant ourselves away from our source of life, and we’re sentencing ourselves to frustration and disappointment. But if we remain in Him, trust His plan and trust this process, choosing instead to work within the wait for our advancement to the next level, His reward is promised, and the harvest season is coming. If you’re climbing up the ladder of development, remember why God calls us up to bloom. Spoiler alert: It’s not for our own glory or benefit.

4. Approach it with Prayer

 This one is last, but not least. In fact, it’s above all else.

 God calls us to pray for our enemies and love those who persecute us, but oftentimes we think of “enemies” as the “bad guys” in the movies. But in real life, our persecutors aren’t people out to get us. There aren’t big screen villains, just people competing for the same things. That is, dancers in a season of joy while we’re in a season of sorrow. And it leads to jealousy, comparison, and resentment. We fall into thoughts of: “Why did that person move up and not me?” “I’ve been in this class longer than them, why do they get to move up?” or “I’m x-y-z years old, why aren’t I getting the same opportunities as the other students my age?” “What am I doing wrong?” “Why aren’t I good enough?” That is of course what we say, because we’re human. We live in a fallen world. But what does the Bible say? According to scripture, now is the time to rejoice. And now is the time to rejoice together.

 A classmate or friend who got moved up is not your enemy. They are not against you, and neither is your teacher. God calls us to pray for one another, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. So approach each progress report in prayer—not just for ourselves, for our own reactions and our own hurt, but for the success of others. That the body of Christ as a whole would thrive in His name, however that looks.

 The Bible also instructs us to strive each day to be more like Jesus, and He never compared Himself to others, or showed jealousy toward His fellow men. We dance each day to reflect our Heavenly Father—the one who planted these dreams of dancing in our hearts, and the one we now trust to see those plans through. Lastly, scripture states there is an appointed time for ALL things. These are more than lessons in dancing. They’re lessons in faith, and in life, understanding the value of working hard, holding fast to a dream despite the obstacles in a given moment, and the joy of encouraging and strengthening those around us.

 So as we walk through this week together, we look forward to helping our students develop, grow, and advance towards their dreams as we hold fast to the goals and mission of our unique studio environment.

 Thank you for entrusting Turning Pointe Dance with your unique story. Thank you for trusting the process and the development of the whole person in each of our students. Thank you for counting it all joy as we all work to praise His name with dancing!

A Legacy of Love

Just one day after her earthside arrival, Baylee Hope Nelson was called back home to her Father in Heaven. This Sunday, Turning Pointe Dance invites its students and their families and friends to continue her legacy of love at the second-annual Baylee Hope Fun Run, set for April 21, at 2 p.m. near the Palmer Lake Trail entrance.

“Baylee was always loved,” her mother, Turning Pointe teacher Morgan Nelson said in a video published by the studio. “She was loved in utero … She was loved in our arms, and now she’s loved in the arms of Jesus.”

Presented annually at the studio’s spring recital showcase, The Baylee Hope Scholarship was created to honor the memory of Nelson’s daughter, who was born March 14, 2019, and passed away unexpectedly on March 15.

“It was terrible. We didn’t see it coming,” Nelson said in the video. “It shook us all. Later that summer, Ms. Tina (Cook) and Ms. Jennifer (Pederson) came to me with the idea of starting the Baylee Hope Scholarship in honor of her, and that was really special.”

Since it was established in the summer of 2019, the Baylee Hope Scholarship has annually awarded funds to applicants selected from Turning Pointe’s graduating seniors. In addition to donating proceeds from snacks sold at recital performances, and year-round in the studio lobby, last spring, the studio held the inaugural Baylee Hope Fun Run, which raised more than $1,000 for the scholarship fund.

“The goal of the Baylee Hope Scholarship is for the love to continue through the seniors who are going off to college, or whatever they’re pursuing after high school,” Nelson said. “To share that love to those around them.”

This year’s event hopes to surpass last year’s fundraising efforts to spur on a new generation of dancers who will share their love of Jesus with the world. Registration is $50 per family and $15 per person when you register in advance; Registration is $55 per family and $20 per person when you register on-site. Registration includes a Fun Run swag bag, and participants are encouraged to wear their best tutu to run, walk or dance the 2.2-mile distance.

 To participate in the 2024 Baylee Hope Fun Run, meet us at the welcome tables near the Palmer Lake Trail entrance at 104 Oakdale Drive around 2 p.m. this Sunday. While Baylee Hope did not get the chance to become a dancer here with us, her memory will live on as she dances in Heaven through the seniors who receive her namesake scholarship each year. So grab your friends, neighbors and fellow students, purchase concessions at our upcoming studio events and recitals, or pair your running shoes with your favorite tutu and join us for this weekend’s celebration.

Click HERE to register for the 2024 Baylee Hope 2.2 (tutu) Fun Run. To make a donation to the Baylee Hope Scholarship Fund, please click HERE.