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summer classes - now enrolling

6/13/2018

 
Four weeks of classes this summer - try something new or improve on  what you know!
Princess Camp, Creative Movement, Kindergym, Try-It,   Level 3-5, and more…
and we are air-conditioned!                                                                                                                                                                                             …read more

summer dancefest!

6/13/2018

 
Friday, June 15, Monday June 18 - Thursday, June 21, 2018
Begins Friday with foot percussion classes

Nic Gareiss 
Dance the Tune - a mix of tap and clogging with foot percussionist extraordinaire 
Nic!
Ellie Grace
clogging & body percussion - a special guest teacher friend of Nic!

Beginners & Adults welcome to these classes!
Also welcome to Salsa & Swing classes Monday - Wednesday
​and 
Barre Conditioning on Monday!

Level 2-6 Experienced Dancers -

All above classes plus Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern & Musical Theater!
…read more

upcoming deadlines and events

5/14/2018

 
  • Wednesday, May 23:
    - Early Recital ticket sale - 5-6:30pm at HIS Place. Immediate family only!
    - Deadline for T-shirt orders - order online, or mail in form with check.
  • Highland Festival Parade - Saturday, May 26. Line up at 9:30 at Euclid Field
  • Last week of classes - Tuesday, May 29-Friday, June 1. June 1 schedule in Handbook!

costume fittings - this week!

4/30/2018

 
April 30 – May 3

At the beginning of each class, costumes will be handed out and tried on quickly
so we can finish class by practicing their dances.


All students must wear basic leotard and tights so costumes can be pulled on in the dance studio!  Parents are welcome to come for fitting.

Pink or Tan tights preferred - black is hard to see legs & lengths.

Dancers will not be allowed to take costume parts to the bathrooms to dress.
Boys should also wear something snug and/or be prepared to take off shirts.

Chris Santana (our seamstress) will be on-site to make quick alterations, or to mark so parents/students can make adjustments. It is your choice as to who will complete the alterations, but please let us know whether you want to do your own alterations or have Chris do it.  Chris can take more complicated alterations to fix and return before Photo Days on May 11 & 12.  


Very basic, reasonable costs:  sew straps $2; hem/shorten $5; take in at sides $3; other, more complicated alterations to be determined.  Please pay cash or check to Chris Santana.

Be sure to sign up for Ash Lin Photo times   on the clipboard in the studio! There is no obligation to buy the photos, but we create a complete composite of all our dancers each year and don't want to leave anyone out.

recital news

4/16/2018

 
It is time to start getting ready…
  • Download and read the Recital Handbook. It has all the information for Recital, and for the deadlines ahead. Lots of hints and suggestions to help you plan for the busy time ahead.
  • Download the  various order forms for photos, practice music CDs/MP3s, performance DVDs,
    ​t-shirts as they become available, so that you can have what you  need in time for the performances.  
To do:
Costumes are coming! - week of April 30-May 3
  • Handout and sittings are at the beginning of each class. A seamstress will be on-site to make quick alterations or mark. Complex alterations will be returned in time for Photo Days.
  • Now is the time to check the costume book at the studio for required tights and shoes, and to be sure that your dancer(s)’ shoes fit! Bottoms Up in Lansing is open until May 21. Find them on Facebook or call them at 517-349-0158. There  is a 30% discount sale now, and an additional 10% off for cash payment.

Recital Photo Days - Friday May 11 and Saturday May 12 at the APA Studio
Sign up for your time/day at the studio. Download the order form here. See the Handbook for more information on group photos, etc. There is no obligation to purchase, but we'd like 

Early Recital ticket sale - Wednesday, May 23 5-6:30pm at HIS Place
This is a good time to get blocks of seats for family. See the Handbook for complete info.

Last week of classes - Tuesday, May 29-Friday, June 1
Monday class make-up is on Friday - schedule in on page 8 of the Handbook.

march/april news

3/12/2018

 
Arts United! 
Wednesday, March    21   with Alma College, United Way, APA and many others in our community! 
To donate, visit  www.UWGIC.ORG/ARTSUNITED, and for more info!

Several couples from our community have been working on fun dances and many artists are participating!
Kathy Francis – coached Kevin Fitzgibbon & Craig Zeese
Telli Luneack – coached Darcy Hodges & Jeff Naessens
We also have donation buckets at APA and Alma Hardware!  No donation is too small!
  
5:30pm – VIP show – special performances, VIP seats - $50
Contact Alma College Heritage Cente at    463-7304, 1-4pm  for VIP tickets.

  7:00pm – General admission show - $5.  Doors open at 6:30pm.
Because of the involvement of Francis Performing Arts Co 1, Kathy and Kate Troxell, 
classes are cancelled on Wednesday, Mar 21 with two exceptions:
• Kindergym 5:30-6:00 is being held. 
•   FPA Junior Company rehearsal is being held 4:30-6:30.    All other classes are cancelled.

Spring Break   - March 26-30
Classes resume April 2.

New!  Adult Beginner Tap
Mondays 6:00-6:45pm.  This is a basic beginner class!
Begins April 2-May 21 if enough interest!  $65/8 wks

Recital Artwork – Emoji / Emoticons!
We need artwork design for our recital T-shirt and  programs!   You win a free T-shirt if your design is used!  There are a couple ideas/submissions posted so far!

Gratiot County Community Foundation Grant Awarded!
APA just received notification that the grant proposal submitted for September 2018 for “Ballet for the Schools” at Alma College has been accepted!   More info to come re: selected dances and dates!  
This will be the fifteenth production of this kind presented to the public schools by APA!

kindergym session 5

3/12/2018

 
This will be the last session until summer.

Kindergym 3-6 year olds

Mondays         5:00-5:30                  $35/6 weeks
April 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30, May 7 (6 wks)
 
Tuesdays        5:15-5:45                  $35/6 wks
April 3, 10, 17 &24, May 1 & 8 (6 weeks)
 
Wednesdays    5:30-6:00                  $35/6 weeks  
April 4, 11, 18 & 25, May 2 & 9 (6 weeks)
 
There will be a limit of   ten    students registered in each class.  
Students registered in previous sessions will receive priority enrollment. 
Students should wear comfortable “gym” or dance-wear that they will not get tangled in. 
Barefoot is best for Kindergym, so no special footwear is needed.

Download the   enrollment form   and get signed up!

kindergym session 4 dates

2/2/2018

 
Kindergym 3-6 year olds
Mondays         5:00-5:30                  $25/4 weeks
February 26, March 5, 12 & 19 (4 wks)
(No other APA Classes Mar 21 – Kindergym only being held)
 
Tuesdays        5:15-5:45                  $30/5 wks      _____
February 20 & 27, March 6, 13 & 20 (5 weeks)
 
Wednesdays    5:30-6:00                  $30/5 weeks  
February 21 & 28, Mar 7, 14 & 21 (5 weeks)
(No other APA Classes Mar 21 – Kindergym only being held)
 
There will be a limit of ten students registered in each class. 
Students registered in previous sessions will receive priority enrollment. 
Students should wear comfortable “gym” or dance-wear that they will not get tangled in. 
Barefoot is best for Kindergym, so no special footwear is needed.

Download the enrollment form and get signed up!

february/march news

2/2/2018

 
  • Monday, Feb 19, President’s Day – no classes

  • Wed, March 21 – Kindergym only  – All other classes cancelled
    March 21 – Arts United is a huge community event that APA is very involved with! 
    We hope you will all get involved in this fundraiser for United Way of Gratiot & Isabella counties!
    VIP performance at 5:30pm – Instructor Kate Troxell performs
    General Admission performance @ 7:00pm – Francis Performing Arts Co 1 performs and
    Kathy Francis coaches Team Kevin Fitzgibbon/Craig Zeese;
    Telli Luneack coaches Team Darcy Hodges/Jeff Naessens.
    Join the fun and donate to one of our teams to win!  uwgic.org/artsunited
    Because this involves so many of us, classes are cancelled that evening except Kindergym, which will still be held.

  • Francis Performing Arts Co 1 and Instructors take our annual Chicago trip Feb 16-19!

  • Leah Seals Modern Workshop – Friday, February 23 -  Levels 3+

  • Nic Gareiss Workshop – Friday, March 2 -  All levels, including beginners!

august 2017

8/3/2017

 
Dear APA Families,
​Whew! What a year! The recital feedback has been wonderful, and I’m glad everyone enjoyed the Cinderella Ballet so much! Kreider DVD’s can still be ordered (forms available on web site) and those should be edited and ready to mail to you by the end of August. If you didn’t pick up your Ash Lin photos during dress rehearsal, they can be picked up at Ash Lin Portraits, 130 W. Superior, Alma. Call 466-2100 to check their hours. Make sure you check the Morning Sun and Academy of Performing Arts Facebook page for a wonderful article on APA and Leah Seals and Emily Ratkos who are dancing professionally! Very exciting! And we’ve had some “young” summer classes, with a few more coming up!
 Week of August 7
Cinderella Ballet Camp – Mon-Fri (5 days), 9am-noon, $90, including materials. A true ballet camp for 6-8 year-olds, Pre-Ballet & Ballet 1 level! Princesses will have a ballet class each day, do Cinderella dances, fun crafts, hair & make-up, sewing, and a visit from Cinderella herself, and of course pictures in Cinderella’s carriage!

Dance with Simone – For older students, Level 2-4 and up! Mon-Thu (4 days), 5:30-8:30, $80. Simone Boos is an Alma College alum, former APA instructor, and is a favorite guest teacher! She loves teaching Ballet, Jazz, Modern and Conditioning, and will give dancers a taste of all! You’re sure to improve!

Week of August 14
Dance with Marissa Relitz
$10/1 class; $8/ea for multiple classes. Also an Alma College alum, Marissa will be teaching:
Mon, Aug 14 – Level 4 and up – 5:30-6:30, Ballet – 6:45-7:30, Tap
Tue, Aug 15 – Level 5 and up – 5:30-6:30, Ballet – 6:45-7:30, Tap

Pilates For Teens and Adults
If you have any experience in exercise classes or dance you are welcome!
​Tue, Wed, Thu – Aug 15, 16, 17 – 9:00-10:00am Only $3/class! Come give it a try! Sample these Pilates classes with APA alum Sara Dupree who is in the process of getting her Pilates certification!
 Fun Local Summer Events!
August has some fun things scheduled! APA dancers will be involved! More info to come!

Third Coast Dance Company – Aug 5 at 7:30pm; Aug 6 at 2:30pm at Shepherd high school. Kristen Bennett’s new dance venture! Seven APA dancers join students from other local dance studios to perform with Third Coast Dance Company!
GCP Kids Theater – This weekend and next: Aug 4, 5, 11 & 12 at 7:30pm; Aug 6 & 13 at 2:30pm
Party on State Street! – On our block! Two bands: Giles Country & Foolish Dreams. Aug 17 at 4-11:00pm
Car Show on Superior Street – Aug 24 at 1:00-3:00pm in Alma
16th Annual Lucky MacDuck Day – Fundraiser for the Pine River Arts Council
 2017-18 Calendar available
Open Houses August 23 & 31st – with Bottoms Up Dancewear Sale, Wednesday, August 23, 1-6pm.
Classes begin September 18.
Recital dates are  Saturday and Sunday, June 9 & 10., 2018
Big News! APA is upgrading to Online Registration with CompuDance this year! If your email is in our system, you will receive an email with information on “how to”! You can enroll for classes online and it will include online payment credit/debit card options. (We will not be able to do credit/debit in the studio; only online.) There will be an Online Bulletin Board for info all year; this will be available with a Parent Portal from CompuDance for only $10 for the entire year. That membership fee will also give you access to special discounts (LuLaRoe & more) and enter you into a $500 CompuDance dance tuition scholarship lottery which will be drawn by CompuDance on September 15.
 In the meantime, we are busy working on the Fall Schedule! Enjoy your August!

​Kathleen Francis, Director
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