DanceWorks Kenora needs your help in planning for our Fall 2020 dance classes. In order to be more flexible for the 2020-2021 dance year our current plan is to offer all classes as a Fall session registration (September to end of November or early December) which gives us the option to make changes for Winter depending on the requirements and local conditions at that time.

Please help offer the best dance class options for your changing needs by telling us if you plan to dance this Fall and the type of classes (online, in-person, and dance styles) as well as the scheduling (days and times) that would be the best fit for your family.

This information will also help the studio in creating our Fall schedule. With smaller class sizes and increased cleaning we are looking for ways to maximize our schedule and minimize dancer crossover which may involve shorter classes, grouping dancers by level for multiple classes, offering synchronous online and in-person classes, etc.

Wondering about our COVID-19 precautions? Our COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan and a short video of the COVID-19 procedures can be viewed at the “COVID-19 Procedures” page. Our current policies are also listed on the website under “General Policies”.

With our region’s move into Stage 3 of Ontario’s re-opening plan we are excited to announce our summer class programming! Registration will open at 3:00pm on Saturday, July 18. Payment is required to confirm your spot.

There is a max of 6 dancers in any group and classes will require a minimum of 3 (preferably 4) to run.

DanceWorks Kenora – Summer 2020

Teen Dance Fundamentals
July 21 to 23 – 1:00 – 4:30 pm
ballet, jazz, and modern basics for those with limited dance experience
Age 11 and up – $97.35 +HST

Mini Dance
July 21 to 23 – 9:00 – 11:30 am
OR
August 18 to 20 – 1:00 – 3:30 pm
dance, rhythm, and creative movement for young dancers
Age 5 to 7 – $70.80 +HST

Ballet Basics
July 28 to 30 – 1:00 – 4:30 pm
ballet fundamentals, creative movement, and more (age 7 should have danced previously, no experience for age 8 and up)
Age 7 to 10 – $97.35 +HST

Jazz Basics
August 4 to 6 – 1:00 – 4:30 pm
jazz fundamentals, creative movement, and more (age 7 should have danced previously, no experience for age 8 and up)
Age 7 to 10 – $97.35 +HST

Tap Basics
August 11 to 13 – 1:00 – 4:30 pm
tap fundamentals, creative movement, and more (age 7 should have danced previously, no experience for age 8 and up)
Age 7 to 10 – $97.35 +HST

Dance Conditioning & Stretch
July 21 to 23 – 6:00 – 7:30 pm
for those looking to get their body ready to get back to dancing (can bring their own mat if desired)
Age 11 and up – $35.39 +HST

Ballet and Modern Intensive
July 28 to 31 – 6:00 – 9:00 pm
ballet and modern technique (for experienced dancers)
Age 11 and up – $115.04 +HST

Jazz and Tap Intensive
August 4 to 7 – 6:00 – 9:00 pm
jazz and tap technique (for experienced dancers)
Age 11 and up – $115.04 +HST

Notes on our summer cleaning and class procedures:

• Masks are to be worn when entering and exiting the building but can be taken off while dancing.
• Drop-off and pick-up only. Ms. Erin will greet dancers at the green door.
• Dancers will sanitize their hands when they enter and place their shoes and personal belongings in a bin and then proceed to one of the marked dance spots on the floor. If working at the barre each dancer will have their own distanced spot.
• Teachers will wear masks at class start and end times and at times during class where they may be subject to reduced distance. They may remove their mask when standing in their own distanced dance square.
• At the end of class dancers will put their masks back on (if they chose to take it off for class) and take their bins through to the art studio where they can put their shoes on and wait for their parents to arrive for pick-up.
• We have had a UV Air Purifier installed in the studio HVAC to improve air quality.
• The studio will be cleaned (bathrooms, doors, barres, floors, etc) after each group.

When we closed the studio for March Break we had no idea that it was the last time there would be dancers in the studio for the rest of the season. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we made the transition to online programming, including pre-recorded and live Zoom classes, and stayed connected through social media and studio challenges.

While we couldn’t have our typical performances at the Kenora Festival of the Arts and our Year-End Recital we still wanted to recognize and celebrate the 2019-2020 dance year. So we’ve put together a Year-End Video & Playlist which is a compilation of in-studio rehearsal videos and dance at home photo and video submissions.

We hope you enjoy!

Thank you to all of our dancers, families, friends, and supporters. We hope to be back in the studio and dancing together soon!

As we wait and see when we can re-open and what the exact safety procedures and protocols will be required due to COVID-19 we have created an “Expression of Interest” for Summer 2020 programming. If your family might be interested in summer dance classes, camps, intensives or workshops please register your interest at the link. You can tell us more about what you would be interested in and will be on our priority list to receive information on any programming that we are able to offer.

We continue to wait and see when we can re-open and what safety procedures and protocols will be required due to COVID-19.

As we wait we have created an “Expression of Interest” option for Summer 2020 programming. If your family might be interested in summer dance classes, camps, intensives or workshops please register your interest at the link below.

You can tell us more about what you would be interested in and will be on our priority list to receive information on any programming that we are able to offer.

Buy One & Get One 50% Off

Sale ends on Thursday, June 25.

Take advantage of the sale savings and feel good knowing that your purchase will also help the studio through these challenging times.

Whether you have a dancer in the family or not, show your support of our studio through the purchase of DanceWorks Kenora clothing.

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Send a message on social media, an email to info@danceworkskenora.com, or even a text to Erin to purchase. Payment accepted via e-transfer or credit card.

Want to look at sizes? Wondering about pickup times? Erin will be at the studio the following hours this week (and we can make arrangements outside of these hours if needed).

Tuesday, June 23 – 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Wednesday, June 24 – 3:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Thursday, June 25 – 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Hi dance families,

Thank you all for your patience as we have adapted to the COVID-19 situation. Normally, we would collect the costumes from each dancer after the evening show of our Year-End Recital but this year is obviously a bit different. The drop-off times for costumes and the procedures that we will follow to make sure this happens safely are listed below. Please try to bring your costumes back during these times. If necessary a second round of times will be arranged. Reminder: Unreturned or damaged costumes will result in a costume replacement fee of $80 (plus HST) for each costume.

Costume Return Procedures

• Make sure you have all parts of the costume including any accessories.
  (Do not return tights if they were provided with the costume).
  
• Pull in to the parking spots in front of the building. Stay in your vehicle.
  
• Ms. Erin will be at the studio and waiting by the green door (if she’s not there, please wait a moment or call/text 807-464-3666).
  
• Ms. Erin will bring a box to your vehicle for you to put the costume in and will take your name to check off the return.
  
• If another vehicle or drop-off is happening please wait patiently in your vehicle.
  (Please be mindful of the traffic flow in our parking area and be sure not to block our neighbouring businesses.)

Costume Return Times

• Wednesday, May 27 – 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
  
• Thursday, May 28 – 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
  
• Friday, May 29 – 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Reminder: Unreturned or damaged costumes will result in a costume replacement fee of $80 (plus HST) for each costume.

Hi DWK families,

For the procrastinators out there, the deadline for the DWK Dance at Home Challenge has been extended to Monday, May 25 at midnight. No more excuses! Take a video of you performing your class routine – in costume with your hair done – and send it in by MONDAY, MAY 25 to be entered in a draw for a $300 credit towards next year’s dance class tuition!

Want to put on your costume and dance but don’t want to perform your entire routine? That would be great too. You won’t be entered in the draw but Ms. Erin would love to see your freestyle moves.

Also, congratulations to the winners of Studio Challenge #3 – Ara Kakis & Maelle Nabb. They’ve each won a DWK hoodie and sweatpants as well as an 8×10 of one of their dance class group photos. Ms. Erin loved seeing everyone’s entries and they are all going into the Year-End video that is underway.

In the meantime, you can see the DWK Pass the Slipper video on Facebook or Instagram or at this YouTube link: DWK Dance at Home – Pass the Slipper

PS. The gallery link for your dance photos will be sent out tomorrow and a costume return process is also coming soon. Thank you for your patience with these items as we work through what changes are needed to our normal processes and ensure they are done in the safest way possible.

Hi DWK families,

A reminder that Studio Challenge #3 ends on Friday, May 8th.

Get your text, picture, and video responses in by midnight on Friday! Entries can be sent in via e-mail, text, social media, or FlipGrid.

Ms. Erin has loved seeing the responses so far. While we can’t be together and won’t be having our usual Recital it feels good to still hear from you, to see your studio support, and to see you dancing at home.

Studio Challenge #4

We hope dancers are also practicing for what will be the final studio challenge of the season. Dancers that send in a video performing their class routine, in costume and with proper hair, will be entered in a draw to win a $300 credit towards next year’s dance class tuition! The number of class credits awarded will depend on the total number of entries. Get practicing! (Need to review your dance? The links for the choreography videos are in FlipGrid for each class). Entries are due by Friday, May 22!

We’d also love to see you dancing at home in your costume, even if you don’t want to perform your entire dance. You won’t be entered in the draw but Ms. Erin would love to see your freestyle dance moves anyways!

Costume Return

Some of you have been asking about costume return. We are still working out the best procedure and plan for this as we want to make sure we avoid creating crowds and maintain social distancing. We will be in touch soon with details on drop-off dates, times, and procedures.

Hi DWK families,

I hope everyone continues to be healthy and safe at home.

Zoom Online Classes

The April Zoom class schedule continues through this Saturday with the same links as sent out previously. The schedule will be changing for May and that will be sent out this weekend. If you have any suggestions on class times or styles please let me know! If you haven’t been joining the Zoom classes but would like to start please feel free! We do new exercises quite often so you don’t have to worry about not knowing the steps and it’s a great way to connect with your fellow dancers. Remember, dancers can do any style – even if it is one that they don’t normally take.

Colouring Contest Winners

Congratulations to Azalea for winning the “Amazing Artist” award. Her entries in the colouring contest were fantastic! She has won a copy of Inglenook Studio’s “My Kenora” and “Lake of the Woods” colouring books as well as a DWK t-shirt.

Random draw winners, who have won a DWK t-shirt, also included Addaleena, Alyah, Ariella, Ellie, Elyas, Laura, Leia, and Maelle.

Congrats everyone and thanks for participating.

Studio Challenge #3

The next studio challenge is all about your love of dance and being part of the dance studio community. Every 10 points earns you one entry to win DWK clothing and an 8×10 print of one of your dance class group photos! Thanks to Colleen Serban for contributing to this draw prize. (PS. Thank you to everyone for your patience on the dance photos as they took a backseat to other pandemic related rescheduling, etc. The gallery link is being prepared now and we should be able to send that out to everyone soon!)

You can see an example of Ms. Erin’s “Pass the Slipper” video posted on the DanceWorks Kenora Instagram and Facebook pages.

Recital Update

While we had originally hoped to delay Recital and to at least be able to bring in each class individually to video their routine and create a Recital DVD we now know that just isn’t going to be possible in any time frame that makes sense. I am so proud of the dancers and the amount of work that they put in during the year and I am sad that they will not be able to perform with their classes and to showcase their progress together.

However, while we can’t dance together I am encouraging dancers to start practicing now for what will be the final studio challenge of the season. Dancers that send in a video performing their class routine, in costume and with proper hair, will be entered in a draw to win a $300 credit towards next year’s dance class tuition! The number of class credits awarded will depend on the total number of entries. Get practicing! (Need to review your dance, the links for the choreography videos are in FlipGrid for each class)

Hi DWK families,

I hope you all continue to be well and are staying healthy. 

Online Classes Continue

The April schedule of Zoom classes continues. Dancers can access these live classes with the same links as sent last week. We love seeing the dancers and getting to say hello to everyone. If you haven’t taken a Zoom class yet please know that you can start at any time. Dancers continue to be welcome to join any class at their level (so you can try taking a Jazz class even if you normally only take Ballet, or try a Hip Hop class even if you normally only take Tap, etc).

As well, the FlipGrid classes have been updated with new topics and activities. The FlipGrid links were sent out previously but can also be found at any time in your “Schedule” within the DanceWorks Kenora portal.

Ms. Erin loves seeing all of you that are continuing to dance at home! It feels good to dance and to share that joy with others. Please continue to take Zoom classes, post videos in FlipGrid, or send in your images and videos privately. 

Studio Challenge Winners

We have randomly selected the winners of our first DWK Dance at Home Studio Challenge!

Congratulations to Jaycie, Emelia, Hans, Addaleena, Ireland, Azalea, Addison M, Ariel, Emery, Clare, Kiley, and Kirsten!

Each dancer wins their choice of either DWK sweatpants and a t-shirt OR a DWK hoodie.

Colouring Contest

Our next studio challenge is ready – it’s time to get colouring! Click here to download the colouring pages (created thanks to Irene at Inglenook Art Studio) and make sure you send in one or both of your completed images by midnight on Friday, April 24 to be entered in the next draw. Each completed colouring page gets you an entry to win a prize pack that includes Inglenook Studio Colouring Book and DWK merchandise!

If you aren’t already, make sure to follow DanceWorks Kenora on Facebook and on Instagram to stay informed and up to date. Our latest weekly warm-up (#5) will be posted later today and we also post links to a variety of free online classes (being offered by professionals around the world) happening each day in our Facebook and Instagram stories.