Introducing: FYDC Missions

Since it was first created in 2014, Fidèle Youth Dance Company has worked to impact the community for His Kingdom through original, full-length and faith-based productions. As one of Turning Pointe’s two performing companies, they’ve worked to uphold the mission and values of the studio while providing pre-professional training and performance experience in a uniquely Christ-centered environment. With each successful year, the Lord has continued to build up every aspect of the company, growing every detail from cast size and production quality to ticket sales and worldwide creative partnerships that build a legacy of gospel-driven theater.

 This year, as FYDC prepares to embark on its 10th season, the Lord opened the door to expand their mission with a brand new division that will take the gospel beyond the community and into the world. Turning Pointe Dance and FYDC are proud to launch FYDC Missions, traveling to El Salvador, Vail, CO, and Colorado Springs in Spring 2024.

Turning Pointe Dance: What inspired FYDC Missions?

 Mimi McKinnis, Director, FYDC: We talked a lot last season about the character of “Faithful” in The Pilgrim’s Progress, and about how faith is something we need to pursue. It’s not something that will retain its strength if we don’t exercise it, and it won’t just fall in our lap. Heading into our 10th season, I was praying a lot about the company, about the next 10 years, and about our mission. Fidèle translates to “faithful.” So while the Lord has blessed us so much in growing this company into what it is today, I don’t want the next 10 years to rest on that growth and success, or go through the motions of doing what we always do. I want to answer the upward call of our faith and make a greater impact in His name. As the details of our 2023 season and production were falling into place, I met with Ms. Tina several times to share my heart and vision for what this could be. Lots of meetings and about a year or so later, FYDC Missions has officially launched!

TPD: What will each mission entail?

 Ms. Mimi: Each mission will consist of devotions and Worship Workshops, held in conjunction with a 30-40 minute performance of a separate traveling production. Our goal is to use the arts as a demonstration of His Kingdom around the world, and to show how beautifully the gospel and the arts can intertwine. Each workshop will include praise dance instruction, impactful improv and activities designed to encourage participants to engage with their Heavenly Father and creatively use the arts to serve Him with reverent honor. The performance will put those concepts on display, a lot like we’ve done with performances from our repertoire of worship pieces around the city. The traveling production will be a larger-scale version of those local outreach opportunities.

TPD: Where will you carry out missions this season?

 Ms. Mimi: We’re kicking off this division with three missions in the Spring of 2024. In addition to serving where our feet are and hosting a VBS-style camp right here in the city, we’ll be traveling to minister to students in Vail, Colorado, and spending the week of Spring Break in El Salvador—a trip that Turning Pointe carried out biannually before the pandemic derailed international travel. Ms. Tina and I are both excited to get this extension of both the studio and the company’s heart beating again!

TPD: So will everyone be expected to be on the Missions Team? How will this new division impact the rest of the production season?

 Ms. Mimi: The regular season will be business as usual. We’ll still hold Spring and Summer auditions, have Intensive Week in July, then rehearse Saturdays July through November, when we’ll stage our original adaptation of “Bring Her Home.” New and returning students can have that be their FYDC experience, and we’re thrilled to have them be a part! Students who want to apply for the FYDC Missions Team will fill out a separate application to turn in at their company audition, and missions training and performance rehearsals will begin after the holidays. So simply put, students of FYDC don’t have to join the Missions Team, but students who wish to join the Missions Team do need to participate in the regular season.

TPD: Why do students need to be in the production, too, instead of just signing up for missions?

 Ms. Mimi: Over our regular 17-week production season, we pour a lot into our students. We put on a powerful show in His name each year, but what we build in preparation is so much more than the end result. We assign students to prayer groups where they build relationships, encourage one another, and pray over their castmates throughout the season. We work through (and dance out) devotions and Biblical character studies. We work to cultivate hearts of worship from kickoff day to the final curtain. Each mission should shine His light to the best of our ability. Anything worth doing is worth doing well, right? By fostering a love of Christ, a love of the arts, and a spirit of unity in Him during the season, we’ll be better equipped with a stronger Missions Team to take His word into the world.

TPD: Besides participating in the regular season, what are the requirements for being on the Missions Team?

 Ms. Mimi: Students need to be 14 years old by the date of the production, this year by November 11, 2023. They also need to be enrolled in at least one class in Turning Pointe’s 2023-24 school year session for a few reasons. First, for health and safety purposes, this will ensure that we have the most up-to-date information on file for each student since the Missions season will take place after the regular FYDC season is over. Second, every Turning Pointe class incorporates prayer and a verse/devotional focus of the month. Not only does this keep Christ as the center of each class, but it creates a unified focus across all dance styles and skill levels. When we know what’s being poured into each student, we’re better prepared to pour out His word together—especially since we’ll no longer be together in weekly production rehearsals..

TPD: What impact do you hope to make with the launch of this new division?

 Ms. Mimi: We’re called to go forth and make disciples of all nations, so my prayer is that the impact will reflect that calling, from our own Team in our own city to children and aspiring artists around the world. By carrying out the traveling performance and worship workshops together, we can use our God-given gifts to transform the performing arts into a reflection of God’s creativity and give others the tools to do the same.

 For students on our Missions Team in particular, my prayer is that they’ll be built up as gospel-driven leaders, equipped to live with the conscious intention of using their gifts in the arts as a means of ministry. I want to provide them with the experience of working as Christ’s hands and feet in their communities and beyond, building authentic relationships with the people they serve and the teammates they serve alongside.

 TPD: Where can interested students find out more?

 Ms. Mimi: Everything is on our website at www.FideleYouthDanceCompany.com/Missions. We also have brochures with all the company information for 2023 at the Turning Pointe Dance front desk, or anyone can reach out to FideleYouthDanceCompany@gmail.com anytime! I also encourage everyone to follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram and YouTube) for the latest and greatest information. It’s a really fun and easy way to follow each season from start to stage to schools overseas!

A Beginner’s Guide to Musical Theater

Ah, the theater. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll cheer, you'll sing; it's an artistic experience unlike any other. But how do you go from aspiring performer to Tony Award winner? Can you turn your classes into casting for your favorite show? We’ve got you covered. From Vaudeville to the modern stage, read on for all-things Musical Theater — and why Turning Pointe Dance offers the best options for Musical Theater training in Colorado Springs.

 What is Musical Theater?

 Musical Theater is a dramatic division of performance that conveys a story with acting, singing, dancing, and dialogue. Each character, lyric and line work to move the story forward, capturing the mood and emotional aspects of each production.

 Dating back to the European operas of the 18th century, theater performance has been captivating audiences for hundreds of years, with the Broadway productions we know and love taking hold of American culture in the early 1900s. Today, around 40 new shows premiere on Broadway in New York City each year, and many of the classics have been made into blockbuster motion pictures (with several more in the works).

 Why take Musical Theater classes?

 In addition to building self confidence and communication skills, Musical Theater classes can help produce a well-rounded performer, offering training in voice, acting, and dance. Students will learn and develop skills in a wide variety of movement and vocal styles, ensuring class is always interesting and fun.

 More than that, Musical Theater classes allow students to view music and the arts as a whole as a career, not just a hobby, and gain valuable life skills like speaking up, teamwork and physical stamina. By learning to memorize steps and lines, students also develop personal responsibility, and learn to be held accountable to their commitment by castmates and crew members.

Why Turning Pointe?

 1. Turning Pointe is a Christian-based dance studio that provides training opportunities for students through weekly classes, summer intensives and performances with its varied divisions. We offer year-round training through weekly classes in dance, acting and voice. Classes are available for students of all ages and levels, with school year classes offered September-May and a six-week summer series in June-July.

Our expansive curriculum, developed exclusively for Turning Pointe, is designed to give all performers at any point in their theater training a place to begin and to grow, and each Musical Theater Program class performs in either the annual recital or musical showcase.

2. Turning Pointe’s youth theater production company, Starz Theater Company, is designed to offer theatrical training, dance technique and vocal foundations in a safe environment that fosters personal growth in the world of the arts. Now in their 11th season, STARZ produces two large-scale musicals for performers ages 9-18, and two theater training intensives per year.

 The heart of Starz Theater Company is to build positive culture, uplifting community and bright futures as they strengthen well-rounded performers and young leaders who grasp an understanding of the power and purpose of the arts. They continue the vision of Turning Pointe Dance, which is to be a faith-based center for the arts in our community that empowers students with grit, grace and gratitude for the arts and for His Kingdom.

 At Turning Pointe, our long-term goal is to see students flourish in their gifts and be equipped to go into every man's world by training the whole person body, mind and spirit.

How to Get Started

 Ready to give it a try? While registration for Turning Pointe’s 2022-23 school-year session has closed, there are still plenty of ways to get started in Musical Theater TODAY.

●      Sign up for a class in our six-week Summer session, held June 12-July 21. Musical Theater classes include training for all abilities in voice, acting and dance, for students age 7 and up. Check out this Summer’s schedule at the link above… registration opens March 1!

●      Attend one of STARZ Theater’s Young Performer Summits, designed to be a place for students to strengthen their Triple Threat skills (singing, dancing and acting) and accelerate their growth as a performer.

●      Audition for STC’s production of “Frozen Jr.” April 21-22! On stage July 21-23, auditions for this production are open to students ages 8-18, and will consist of both vocal and dance tryouts. Not ready to audition just yet? Follow STC on social media for details on purchasing tickets to see the show and be inspired from the audience.

●      Looking for a smaller commitment for younger students? Aspiring performers ages 3-7 can get started with a three-day mini camp! These themed camps are the perfect way to give theater and dance a try in a fun, low-commitment environment. Students attend classes and participate in fun activities, then show off their new skills in a parent performance on the final day.

 Whether you’re gearing up for your 10th season on stage or still just a Broadway baby, there’s something for every stage of learning Musical Theater at Turning Pointe. To learn more, visit STARZTheater.org, or attend their informational meeting at Turning Pointe Dance this Saturday, February 25, at 11:15 a.m.

A Beginner’s Guide to Ballroom Dance

Have you ever found yourself glued to an episode of Dancing with the Stars thinking… boy, that looks like fun!? Or maybe you’re looking for a fresh way to spend date night or time with your family. Whether you’re wanting to expand your dance training to a new and challenging genre, looking for a fun social activity, or you’re just trying to master a few steps for a wedding or special event, we’re here to help. Consider this your complete guide to getting started in ballroom dancing — and why Turning Pointe Dance offers the best options for ballroom dancing in Colorado Springs.

What is Ballroom Dance?

 Ballroom is a partnered style of dancing, seen across social, competitive and formal settings. Partners dance together to perform predetermined step patterns that are characterized by the rhythm of the music and distinguished by various postures and techniques. One dancer is designated as the “leader,” while the other dances as the “follower.”

 Under the umbrella of traditional ballroom dancing, there are Smooth (or Standard) dances and Rhythm (or Latin) dances. In addition to subtle differences in technique, the Smooth dances are characterized by their effortless travel across the dance floor while maintaining a closed dance position, and are typically more elegant in style. Rhythm dances are generally performed with smaller steps onto straight legs, with the use of open dance holds and flashier movements.

Why take Ballroom class?

 For beginners and pros alike, ballroom dancing can be a great way to let loose and groove to some music with partners and friends alike. It stimulates your brain, improves flexibility, balance, coordination and memory, and did we mention it’s SO much fun?! Taking a ballroom dance class can add exercise, social activity and stress relief to your week, all while building the skills of teamwork, communication and step/movement retention.

 And why leave it to the new students? Dancers who are already thriving in other classes can benefit from adding ballroom classes, too. Some of the most famous ballets include a pas de deux (or duet), and ballroom is a great place to build those partnering skills in a fun environment. Is musical theater your thing? Nearly every Broadway musical features a style of Ballroom dance, from the prominent Salsa dancing of In the Heights and Chicago’s “Cell Block Tango,” to West Side Story’s “Dance at the Gym” Mambo, or Hairspray’s swing dancing and “Miss Baltimore Crabs” “rock-step-cha-cha-cha.” If you’re looking to meet a requirement with an elective class, build your performing resume or just want to try something new and fun, you can do it all with a ballroom class.

Why Turning Pointe?

 1. Turning Pointe Dance is Colorado Springs’ premier faith-based dance studio, committed to providing excellence in dance and theater instruction while cultivating hearts of worship and nurturing creativity. Each of our dance classes incorporate prayer and verse of the month, keeping the focus of class time on the Lord. Ballroom students at Turning Pointe won’t just learn how to lead and follow within traditional ballroom technique, but also how the Lord leads each of us if we’ll only learn to hear our Leader’s cues and practice being a strong follower. Partner dancing can be scary. At Turning Pointe, we encourage students to dance with the Father as we teach partnering in a modest and appropriate way.

 2. Turning Pointe offers three ways to try ballroom dancing. Our school year session class gives students the opportunity to perform in the Spring recital, while solo lessons offer individual, one-on-one instruction with a professional teacher. If either of those options are a little too daunting, students can set up their own small group class with friends and family to meet with an instructor on a regular basis, or in preparation for a wedding or event.

 Regardless of the method you choose, Turning Pointe’s ballroom students begin by learning the step patterns and techniques for the six basic ballroom dances: Waltz, Foxtrot and Tango (Smooth); Cha-Cha, Rhumba and East Coast Swing (Rhythm). Other dances can be requested for solo and small group lessons, or will be taught after the appropriate skill progression in class.

How to Get Started
Are you or your student ready to give ballroom dancing a try? While registration for the 2022-23 school year session has closed, there are still plenty of ways to get started! Email a member of our front desk team at info@turningpointeschoolofdance.com to set up an introductory or recurring solo lesson, or set up a small group session with some of your closest friends and family members. Once you’re hooked, you can sign up for the 2023-24 school year session beginning June 1!

2023 February Newsletter

Why Dance at Turning Pointe?

New years always seem to bring about big decisions—from new commitments to schedule changes, new activities, and the way we’ve resolved to spend our time. And let’s face it… there’s a lot of options out there for 2023. But if you’ve decided to give dance a try this year, or even this fall or over the summer, well… there’s still a lot of options out there. Let us help you narrow it down with a countdown of our five favorite reasons to call Turning Pointe “home!”

5. You’ll receive quality instruction

 Turning Pointe Dance has developed and implemented a progressive curriculum designed to develop each student’s abilities at a safe and productive pace. Each level progresses through its applicable monthly skills, encouraging and instructing students to meet targets in technique, concepts and etiquette.

 In addition, Turning Pointe Dance is YPAD (Youth Protection Advocates in Dance) Certified, meaning our staff receives training, testing and opportunities for continued dance education and professional development to protect and develop a healthy and safe studio environment. Our instructors are background checked and First Aid/CPR certified, and serve as mentors, leaders, and role models in and out of the classroom.

4. You have options

 Whether you’re an aspiring professional or just looking for a few nights a week to engage in movement and activity, Turning Pointe has an option for you. Our classes begin as early as preschool with a Twirl Division developed to introduce a balance of focus and fun, spatial awareness, flexibility, coordination, balance, expression, and music. Our Enrichment/Recreation Divisions instill our carefully instructed curriculum with an in-studio performance at Christmas time, and a formal recital in May. Our Training Division teaches structured pre-professional development in classical ballet, while our Musical Theater division, Youth Performers Summits and STARZ Theater Company work to develop the next generation of Broadway performers.

 Looking for a smaller commitment? Younger students can sign up for a mini camp or Discover Dance workshop, while more advanced students can take on a leaps and turns or non-recital technique class. Turning Pointe offers development and instruction for students age 2 to adult in the styles of pointe, Irish, hip hop, jazz, Acro, contemporary, modern, tap, worship, ballroom dancing, hula and so much more. 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!

3. We’re a Safer Studio™ 

 Turning Pointe Dance focuses on a hierarchy of measures to create a Safer Studio™ environment, beginning with requiring all students and staff who are ill to stay home, followed by frequent hand cleaning, good hygiene practices, amplified cleaning, and making circular and facility adaptations to minimize the spread of germs. Our staff is held to a standard that supports our mission and core values, including best practices regarding viewing windows, social media use and keeping the studio secure.

 We aim to help our students achieve excellence in dance and in life. That is our More Than Just Great Dancing® philosophy, and at this time in history, it’s more important than ever before. Dance meets the imperative student needs for community, socialization, friendship, mentors, physical activity and more. Our friendly and faith-centered environment allows each and every student to safely experience all that dance has to offer, including intellectual and academic development, and social-emotional and physical support.

2. We’ve Proven Ourselves in Our Community

 We know this city offers plenty of choices, but only one was voted “Best of the Springs” for eight of the last nine years. Each year, the Colorado Springs Gazette opens voting to determine the best of the best in a variety of categories, and we’re honored to have been voted as the gold standard in Dance Studio for Adults, and Dance Studio for Kids the last seven straight years.

 Voting is NOW OPEN for 2023, and we’re honored to be nominated as Best Dance Studio for Kids, Best Dance Studio for Adults, Best Musical (Beauty and the Beast), Best Musical (The Music Man), and Best Theater Company (STARZ Theater Company). We are committed to providing excellence in dance and theater instruction, and look forward to serving the city for many years to come.

1. We’re proud to be Colorado Springs’ premiere faith-based studio

 Our vision is to be a faith-based center for the arts in our community that empowers students with grit, grace, and gratitude for the arts and for His Kingdom. Our long-term goal is to see our students flourish in their gifts and be equipped to go into every man’s world by training the whole person body, mind, and spirit. We use Christian and inspirational music throughout our classes and choose music that fits both the wholeness of our endeavor and the culture we are trying to create (which reaches beyond just dancing). We carefully choose costumes that are age appropriate, beautiful but appropriately modest, yet fun that both parents and children love, and our choreography is appropriate for audiences and dancers of any age. Our professional staff members are great Godly role models for students, and each of our dance classes incorporate prayer and verse of the month, keeping the focus of class time on the Lord.

 More than anything, we encourage you to come and experience the JOY at Turning Pointe! Your last day to register for the 2022-23 school year session is January 31, so drop into any class this week as a free trial to see the Turning Pointe difference for yourself! (Just be sure to check in with the front desk first!)

 Discover Dance Days kick off in April, along with registration for all of our summer classes and camps. Thinking ahead to the 2023-24 school year? Fast track registration for fall classes begins June 15!

‘Go Go Go, Joseph!’

“Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.”  

– Genesis 37:3-4

 This weekend, the curtain will open on Jacob and his 11 sons in the land of Canaan, as STARZ Theater Company presents Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat January 13-15 at the ENT Center’s Shockley Zalabak Theater. It’s a traditional scene one would expect to see in the re-telling of a biblical story.

 “And then comes the hoedown,” Laura Bergen, Artistic Director for STC, explained.

 The show, which originally debuted in London’s West End in the early 1970s, follows the Genesis story of Joseph’s coat of many colors, and the brotherly jealousy that sold him into slavery in Egypt—which, much like the curveball of a hoedown, is depicted shortly after as a tap dance.

 “That makes the audience realize that they really can’t predict what they’re going to see next,” Bergen, who also serves as the show’s choreography lead, continued. “It’s a really fun adventure that’s tied into this really powerful story. The message within it all is still something a lot of kids can relate to. There’s this feeling of hopelessness, but then there’s something that’s beyond that because God is faithful. It’s a really cool blend of the power of the traditional story of Joseph and the thrill of not knowing what’s coming next.”

 Audiences can expect to see a variety of musical genres on display, from country-western to a French-style ballad, a 1950s swing dancing number and hip hop-style Broadway jazz.

 “There’s even a little bit of ballet en pointe thrown in,” Bergen said, “so the show really has a lot of every dance style in it.”

 “Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote the production to where it has all these very unexpected twists, like a hoedown in what should be the saddest moment of the show,” she continued. “There’s a lot of opposites. You would expect Pharaoh, the leader of the land, to be a very prim and proper ruler, and instead it’s an Elvis impersonator. It’s like whatever you’re expecting these characters to be, he (Lloyd Webber) has written it to be almost the exact opposite. It makes it so interesting, and very entertaining.”

 And while the talented cast will make it look effortless, putting together a show with an entertainment value of this magnitude is no easy feat – and one STC achieved in just a matter of weeks.

 “We started rehearsals at the end of October, and we put the whole show together in eight weeks,” Bergen said. “It’s a two-hour show, and the entire thing is music – there are no spoken lines.”

 The cast and crew hit the ground running to learn all the vocals, all the choreography, and all the staging within the iconic songs in eight weekends, then had just a few weekends to spare to put everything together.

 “It’s been a pretty fast-paced season for sure,” Bergen said. “It’s a whirlwind, but in a way, it’s fun because you gain momentum. You get to rehearsals and you can’t look back and go over things you’ve already done, you just have to move on and roll forward. The energy that that pace brings to a show is great because everything is so exciting.”

 What’s more, students cast in the production needed to be well-rounded enough to pull off the gamut of numbers within the show–an element which Bergen credits to STC’s home and the theater program at Turning Pointe Dance.

 “One thing that this show has made me grateful for, over and over, is all of the amazing training that the kids in our cast have had,” she said. “Most of this show’s cast have trained at Turning Pointe, at least in some capacity, and it speaks to the students’ level of commitment to their training, and to the quality of the training they’ve received across the board here. It’s so much fun as a choreographer, because these kids are up for anything.”

 Audiences have five chances to catch a performance this weekend, beginning Friday, January 13, at 6 p.m., followed by a 1 p.m. matinee on January 14, which will be translated into American Sign Language by students of the Pikes Peak Community College Interpreter Preparation Program. The 6 p.m. show on January 14 will welcome the company’s alumni, while the 6 p.m. show on the 16th will celebrate the cast’s senior students set to graduate this year.

 “This whole season has been really fun,” Bergen said. “I’ve never choreographed a show that’s quite this varied in the styles that it needs, and it has been the best time. It’s a biblical story with a few fun twists to it that the audience might not be expecting. We’ve really just had the best time, and I think the audience will, too.”

 For more information, including performance details, photos, merch and Starburst orders, head to http://www.starztheater.org/ticketsjatatd-1. To purchase tickets, visit https://tickets.entcenterforthearts.org/4014.

2023 January Newsletter

Turning Pointe Top 5: Reasons to Dance in 2023

With 2022 now almost completely behind us, it’s time to set our intentions for a brand new year. Once we look back with gratitude for His grace, we shift our gaze forward and set our goals for the next season with eager hope and anticipation. Some of us might hope to take on new challenges, while others aim to carve out more personal time. Whatever your resolutions are, we’re here to help you dance to a blessed 2023!

Resolution #1: Try Something New

It’s been scientifically proven. Trying new things not only helps us to conquer our fears, but it also allows us to expand our minds and learn—both about the something new, and about ourselves. Then there’s the rush! There's nothing quite like—or as memorable as—the thrill of a new experience.

 If you’re considering a return to dance in 2023, or want to get into a studio for the very first time, Turning Pointe strives to be the perfect space to gently foster your God-given abilities. We pursue being a unique dance studio with a fun, relaxed atmosphere for your family, providing structured classes and proper technique at the same time.We specialize in beginners of all ages and offer training through pre-collegiate levels!

 Already a student? Try something new January 2-7 during Free Trial Week! You never know which new genre will challenge you in joyful ways you never saw coming.

Resolution #2: Get/Stay in Shape

 Did you know that dancing reduces your risk of heart disease even more than a regular walking routine? Or that dance is one of the few means of exercise that strengthens as it stretches and improves memory? Wrap your fitness up in fun with weekly dancing, or give our new Ellové class a try!

 The Ellové Technique® is a conditioning and cross-training class taught by certified dance specialists and educators. The pure techniques of ballet, yoga, fitness, and Pilates are set to music in a seamless movement sequence that improves strength, flexibility, and control. Incorporating principles of dance medicine and science, The Ellové Technique reduces injury risk by targeting muscle imbalances, refining alignment, increasing endurance, and practicing safe stretching techniques. Give it a try during Free Trial Week, January 2-7, and sign up by January 15 to secure your spot!

 
Resolution #3: Resolution: Spend More Time with God

Psalms 149:3 says, “Let them praise his name with dancing…Praise him with tambourine and dance…” In 2 Samuel 6:14–22, David danced before the Lord with all his might, providing us with a wonderful example of what it truly means to surrender to God in worship. Even if you’re not signed up for a Worship class, each of our dance classes incorporate prayer and verse of the month, keeping the focus of class time on the Lord.

 Unplug from the busyness of the world and commit to dancing before Him during your designated class time. No distractions, no other nagging tasks… just you and the Lord, praising His name with dancing!

Resolution #4: Spend More Time in Fellowship

 Year after year, when we ask our students about their biggest takeaways from the dance year, the friendships and spiritual bonds formed in the studio are among the brightest highlights. In addition to devotions and class time, students at Turning Pointe pray together as they learn to hone their craft, encouraging community and fellowship that extends beyond the classroom and into lifelong memories.

 Meet new people with similar interests and shared learning experiences by enrolling in dance, or strengthen your existing relationships with a weekly ballroom dancing night, Mommy and Me class, Dance with Your Hero event or Mother/Daughter Tea!

Resolution #5: Have More FUN

 In a time when the weight of the world seems to feel heavier and heavier, the importance of having fun is greater than ever… and it’s pretty impossible to dance and stay in a bad mood! When we dance, our brain releases endorphins, which can trigger neurotransmitters that create a feeling of comfort, relaxation, fun and power. Music and dance can help us shake off our days and focus our hearts on glorifying God as we challenge ourselves in a fun and exciting way.

 Come experience the JOY at Turning Pointe! We are committed to providing excellence in dance and theater instruction while cultivating hearts of worship and nurturing creativity. What are you waiting for? We have a class for everyone!

All About “The Nutcracker”

For most of us, Christmastime is synonymous with The Nutcracker. It was likely our first (and sometimes only) exposure to classical ballet, and with good reason! This beloved holiday tale has delighted audiences for more than a century. But did you know it wasn’t always so popular? Or that the musical score was composed around 75 years after the original story was written? Read on for this week’s TP Top Five: Fun Facts about The Nutcracker, with a BONUS Top Five: Nutcracker activities to do at home this holiday season!

Five Fun Facts about The Nutcracker

 1. In its initial debut in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1892, The Nutcracker ballet wasn’t a hit with audiences or with critics. While the music took off with popularity right away, the ballet production didn’t find success until almost 100 years later. (And it didn’t premiere in the United States and other western countries until the 1940s.)

2. The New York Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker uses about 500 pounds of paper confetti to create the iconic snowstorm, splits 500 bobby pins among its performers, and features 150 different costumes (including the Sugar Plum Fairy’s tutu, which uses seven different layers of tulle in the skirt, and Candy Cane costumes with 144 jingle bells a piece).

3. While most of us know her as Clara or Claire, the eldest Stahlbaum who saves the Nutcracker prince is depicted with many names, depending on where in the world you’re seeing the performance. In the original story, she’s named Maria or Marie, and Clara is the name of one of her dolls. In Germany, she sometimes goes by Marichen. In Russia, she was given the name Masha.

4. The Nutcracker Suite was composed by Peter Tchaikovsky, who also composed the music for Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. Tchaikovsky passed away at the age of 53, in November 1893, making The Nutcracker the last ballet he ever composed (and tragically he didn’t live to see its success).

5. The Nutcracker is based on a story written in 1816 by E.T.A. Hoffman called “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.” The story is set around a family’s Christmas Eve party in Germany, where children are often given nutcrackers as holiday gifts because they’re believed to be good luck.

Five Fun Nutcracker Activities to do at Home

 1. Nutcracker Story Time
If you have a copy of this beloved classic handy, grab your favorite music-playing device and gather around for story time! Read the book aloud, pausing to play some iconic musical selections from the story’s famous scenes. Kids (and adults) are challenged to interpret each piece differently, according to the story and the mood/tempo of the music, then freeze where they are to hear the next part of the story.

2. Waltz of the Snowflakes
Recreate this classic scene with your own paper snowflakes! There are lots of great tutorials out there on Pinterest and YouTube, so pick your favorite and get to work on your very own winter wonderland. Then waltz away with your handiwork!

 For older students: Learn the choreography linked above, or try your hand at making one of these paper snowflake ballerinas.

3. Paper Crowns
Why not add some headpieces to your at-home Nutcracker production? Much like the snowflakes, there are plenty of step-by-step tutorials for making paper crowns out there, with lots of different styles to suit each role. Create a crown worthy of the Nutcracker Prince, one for the Mouse King, and even a tiara for the Sugar Plum Fairy.

 For older students: Incorporate a King of Kings devotion.

4. Family Movie Night

Did you know you can watch The Nutcracker ballet from the comfort of home? If a live performance isn’t in the cards this year, you can stream the ballet, performed by the National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Mari El, right here on YouTube. Throw on your paper crowns, grab your favorite Christmas pajamas and make a night of it with your favorite Land of Sweets treats!

5. Bake some Sugar Plums

Speaking of sweet treats, why not add the famous fairy’s namesake to your holiday menu? There’s plenty of recipes out there on the internet (these look delicious), and this treat is a candy that’s naturally sweet. It’s a classic Christmas snack we bet you’ve never tried, so get in The Nutcracker spirit with a brand new cooking tradition.

Turning Pointe Top Ten: Christmas Gifts for Dancers

The holidays are right around the corner and we’re here to help you find the perfect gifts for all the dancers and aspiring performers on your shopping list. No matter their dance style of choice, level of experience or number of years in the studio, this week’s TP Top 10 has something for everyone. Go directly to the source through the links below, or use these ideas as a springboard to create gifts all your own!

1. Resistance Bands

 Resistance bands, stretch bands, Therabands… No matter what you call them, they are essential for any dancer looking to build healthy flexibility and strength in the new year. Perfect for pointe preparation, increasing mobility and improving jumps, releves and basic alignment, these bands are the perfect addition to any student’s arsenal of training tools.

We Recommend:

 Bloch Resistance Band

 Why We Love It:

 Made by a trusted name in the dance and theater industry, this band comes in three different weights to accommodate different levels of strength.

2. Dancewear

 Everyone loves a new piece of clothing or a new accessory to add to their classwear rotation, right? Whether it’s a cute leotard, athletic pants, cover ups or leg warmers, a new piece of dancewear is always appreciated. Check out our dress code and apparel policies to see what your students need for class this year, then have fun styling the perfect look for 2023!

We Recommend:

 The Ballerina Boutique

 Why We Love It:

 Avoid any holiday shipping delays and support the local community! The Ballerina Boutique’s  goal is to make sure customers receive the perfect fit in all their dancewear, providing hig- quality products at reasonable prices.

3. Theater Tickets

 Nothing inspires a student more than seeing a performance live on stage. Perfect for the dancer who already has plenty of things, a theater experience is a gift they’re sure to remember for years to come. Check out which shows are coming soon to Colorado Springs or Denver, then save the date for an afternoon or evening sure to ignite their dreams.

We Recommend:

 Starz Theater Company presents: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

 Why We Love It:

 STC will culminate their 10th season with the Biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colors. Set to music composed by Andrew Lloyd Weber, the story follows Joseph, the 11th and favorite son of Jacob, who is blessed with vivid dreams that foretell the future.  A truly timeless Old Testament tale, Joseph is appropriate and entertaining for all audiences and groups. It’s performed hundreds of times a year by schools across North America, the U.K. and around the world, and you can see it next month at the ENT Center!

4. Notebooks/Pens

 Journaling and notetaking can be used to deepen dance training and artistic discovery. It can  offer a therapeutic outlet, build confidence through goal setting and progress tracking, organize important notes, corrections and exercises, and even be used to build devotions and Bible study around each month’s study verse. Even if your student already has paper and pens, a separate, special dance journal can be a great addition to their dance bag.

We Recommend:

 The Dance Journal (Etsy)

 Why We Love It:

 This digital download is affordable and provides pre-designed pages that are fully customizable upon request. Just print the file and put them in your favorite 6 x 9” book or binder to get 2023 classes off to a strong start!

5. Studio Merch

 Looking for dance gifts that can be used outside the studio? Get more bang for your buck with some Turning Pointe, Starz or FYDC Merch! Representing Turning Pointe and its companies with branded items can inspire unity among students, demonstrate a commitment to their mission and values, and allow for more mileage and use than class-specific items.

We Recommend:

 Checking out available items in the studio lobby (in addition to the online logowear store).

Why We Love It:

 While the website is fast and convenient, there are often more items to be found in person. Snag an “Easily Distracted by Broadway Musicals” hoodie, Turning Pointe water bottles, STC beanies, and FYDC socks, and more! (You can even get 15 percent off now through December 3!)

6. Foot Rollers

 For hard working performers, these portable devices can be used anywhere at any time to soothe aching and tired feet. Does your student have multiple classes in a row? Or head straight from work or school to the studio? Having a foot roller handy in their dance bag is an easy way to alleviate tension, prevent injuries and keep their feet happy and healthy.

We Recommend:

 Suffolk Foot Roller

 We We Love It:

 The perfect size to toss in your bag, the Suffolk Foot Roller comes in multiple colors and allows each student to control the amount of pressure applied. When pressed between the bottom of the foot and the ground, this foot roller massages out any pain or soreness, helping with a quicker recovery to get you back up on your feet.

7. Water Bottles

 It’s essential to drink water while dancing, and bringing your own bottle allows you to stay hydrated without disrupting the class with multiple trips to the water fountain. Having a nice water bottle is better for the environment, and it’s a one-time purchase that can keep your dancer healthy for years.

We Recommend:

 Personalized Water Bottles (Etsy)

 Why We Love It:

 In addition to the many colors and sizes to choose from, these personalized bottles can be engraved to further set yourself apart from the other water bottles in the classroom. (It also features a straw-top lid for fewer spills and faster water breaks!) Choose a size, a color and an inscription, then customize it further with a Turning Pointe, Starz or FYDC sticker.

8. Garment Bags

 Every student needs a good dance bag, and a garment bag can be a unique twist on a classic dance gift. Recital season will be here before you know it. Make sure your student is prepared to bring home their costumes and keep them nice until the big day!

We Recommend:

 Kendall Country Garment Bags (Amazon)

Why We Love It:

 They’re waterproof, come in multiple sizes and colors, and even include pockets for shoes, tights, accessories and hair supplies. What more could a performer want?

9. Classes/Camps

 What does every dancer want? To dance, of course! Gift enrollment in a mini camp, convention, workshop or special event like Dance With Your Hero (February 11) or Mother Daughter Tea (May 6).

We Recommend:

 Younger Students: Mini Camps

Older Students: Dance Revolution, Ignite or Starz Young Performers Summit

 Why We Love It:

 From first steps to pre-professional training, Turning Pointe has opportunities for everyone. Our youngest students can enroll in a mini camp to give dance a try or enjoy an extra fun, short-term commitment, while older, more advanced students can experience Ignite or attend a convention with Dance Revolution. Interested in seeing what our performing companies are all about? Sign your student up for a Starz Theater Young Performers Summit or the FYDC Mini Camp held each Spring. Ask the front desk staff for details!

10. Photos/Keepsakes

 Each time we ask our students about their favorite parts of class, we never fail to celebrate the friendships and community made throughout each dance year. Why not document those connections with a special frame, photo book or album?

We Recommend:

Mixbook (for photo albums/books)

Customizable Photo Frame (Etsy)

 Why We Love It:

 No matter where their classes take them, these gifts will give them a way to always look back on their time and the lessons they learned in the studio. Create photo books to commemorate senior solos, special performances, stage productions or dance seasons, or follow the link above to display a photo complete with their solo or class recital song.