Need some ideas for the dancer in your life? Take a look at the following ideas for dancers – from useful gifts such as dancewear, bags, and at-home conditioning or gifts that inspire including tickets for performances or extra training opportunities or gifts that show their DWK studio pride. There’s something for every age, level, and type of dancer.

Tickets to See a Live Performance

We are lucky to live in a time when you can watch dance online anytime but there’s nothing quite the same as attending a live dance or theatre performance. Some of the prominent Winnipeg options include:

• Royal Winnipeg Ballet – rwb.org
• Rainbow Stage – rainbowstage.ca
• Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre – royalmtc.ca
• Manitoba Theatre for Young People – mtyp.ca

DanceWorks Kenora Apparel

Let your dancer or your dance family show their studio pride with DanceWorks Kenora t-shirts, tanks, hoodies, or sweatpants. Take advantage of winter 2019 sale prices on our DWK apparel and check out the limited clearance section in studio. All prices include HST.

• Youth
  • Charcoal Black T-Shirt (S, M, L) – $20
  • Royal Blue T-Shirt (S, M, L) – $20
  • White Hoodie (S, M, L, XL) – $40
  • Sapphire Hoodie (S, M, L, XL) – $40
  • Black Sweatpants (S, M, L, XL) – $25
• Adult
  • Berry T-Shirt (XS, S, M, L, XL) – $20
  • Teal T-Shirt (XS, S, M, L, XL) – $20
  • Royal Marble Tank (XS, S, M, L, XL) – $25
  • White Tank (XS, S, M, L, XL) – $25
  • Black Marble Tank (XS, S, M, L) – $25
  • White Hoodie (S, M, L, XL) – $40
  • Grey Hoodie (XS, S) – $50
  • Black Sweatpants (S, M, L, XL) – $25
• Clearance Section
  • Limited sizes and items – $5 each

Contact info@danceworkskenora.com or chat with Erin at the studio to purchase.

Dance Accessories & Books

Books or movies about dance, DVDs of live performances, dance accessories, at home training and conditioning equipment, and more. Check out Ms. Erin’s Idea List on Amazon for gift ideas for the dancer in your life.

Dancewear

A dancer can always use another pair of tights, a new bodysuit/leotard, or even a dance bag to hellp them keep their dance gear organized. Not sure what exactly your dancer might need? Give them a gift certificate and let them choose.

• Winnipeg Stores
  • Harlequin – The Dance Store
  • Mallabar Dancewear
  • Dance Plus
• Other Canadian Retailers
  • inspirationsdancewear.com
  • theshoeroom.ca
  • dancewearcentre.com

Summer Training

Give the gift of summer dance with a DanceWorks Kenora gift certificate or the gift of dance at a summer program outside of Kenora. Dancers age 9+ can greatly benefit from the experience of an outside summer program – they learn from new teachers, in a new environment, and make like-minded friends.

There are many summer intensives and camps for dancers to choose from. Professional level intensives typically require auditions but many programs are open enrollment with placement classes at the start of the camp to group similar level dancers. Examples include the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School’s Dance Intensive or International Music Camp’s Dance Program. If you’re looking for a recommendation for your dancer please ask Ms. Erin.

At Home Training with a CLI Studios Student Account

Want to learn from top choreographers such as Kathryn McCormick, Teddy Forance and Nick Lazzarini? DanceWorks Kenora has partnered with CLI Studios this year to give our students access to take online master classes from world-renowned choreographers. Read more at clistudios.com

This training program is available for current dancers at the Junior or Senior level at DanceWorks Kenora. Cost for access until the end of September 2020 is $50+HST. Contact Erin at info@danceworkskenora.com for more information or to sign-up.

Gifts we do not recommend you give your dancer…

• Pointe Shoes
  Dancers must be given approval by their teacher before buying pointe shoes and must go for a personal fitting. Pointe shoes can be damaging if dancers are too young, have not trained properly and do not have the strength and technique required for proper use.
• Foot Stretcher
  Not necessary to use a foot stretcher to achieve the classical line. Using a foot stretcher can overly stretch ligaments and lead to instability and does nothing to help dancers gain the strength and control to maintain the pointe range.
• Leg Stretch Bands / Flexistretcher
  Static stretching and forcing your body into a stretch are often the least effective methods of increasing flexibility and can encourage dancers to push past their safe stretch. These can be useful for some but their utility is often limited and dancers can achieve this range and line without this tool as well.

We hope everyone enjoyed their Fall Break Week and had a good Halloween. We are now back into the swing of things at the studio. As we move from Fall into Winter please keep the following studio news and updates in mind.

Proper Dance Attire is a Requirement
A reminder that an important part of dance class is coming to class prepared with the proper attire, hair, shoes, and a water bottle. You do not play hockey without your equipment and your skates or show up to soccer without your shoes, shin pads, and uniform. The proper attire for dance is just as important and while Ms. Erin gives families a break at the start of the dance year to allow time to order online or make a trip to Winnipeg it is expected that by November all dancers are coming to class with the appropriate clothing, shoes, and hair. Please double check the dress code requirements for each class under the FAQ on danceworkskenora.com (these are guidelines only for Adult classes but are requirements for all child and teen classes).

Parent Viewing Week – December 9 to 14 
You are invited to attend your dancer’s class(es) for the week of Monday, December 9th to Saturday, December 14th to see what the class has been working on so far this year. Parents and well-behaved siblings are invited to observe class to see what the dancers have been learning. Please be mindful of our limited studio space and keep the number of observers per dancer reasonable (our spring performances are the time to invite extended family and friends). Also, if you are attending an early evening class please be sure to park in a way that does not block access for any of our neighbouring businesses.

Tuition and Payments
Don’t forget that monthly payments are due on the 5th of each month. Accounts that are behind in their payments will be receiving reminder statements to the email address on file. You can check your payments and fees at any time through the DanceWorks Kenora portal.

Attendance is Important
An important part of dance training is regular attendance at class. Did you know that you can view your dancer’s attendance through your portal account? Makeup classes are encouraged for dancers that have missed classes – particularly for those in the Primary, Junior, and Senior levels. If you are unsure what class would be a good fit for your dancer as a makeup class please check with their teacher. Dancers that have missed more than 3 classes during the Fall session will be receiving an email with details on attendance requirements in order to be included in the spring performances for their class.

Registration is open for Winter Session
Most youth classes run as full year classes but for the youngest dancers and the adults you can now register for Winter classes. These include Parent & Tot, Creative Movement, as well as Adult and Gentle classes. View the details on each class online at danceworkskenora.com or register through your portal account.

Important Spring Dates
Please be sure to mark these dates on your calendar. In the new year classes will begin to work on their routines for our spring performances. The skills and techniques they have worked on in class will be used in the creation of a group routine. The planning for these performances begins now for the teachers – please notify the studio ASAP if your dancer will not be available for one or both of these performances.

• Sunday, March 8th, 2020 – Picture Day
  • Picture Day at the studio will run from approximately 10:00am to 4:00pm. Dancers should plan to be at the studio for approximately 1 hour to have their class and/or individual pictures taken.
  • Please let Erin know if there is a time of the day that does not work for your dancer – if this is known in advance it can sometimes be worked into the schedule. Once the schedule is set it will not be changed for conflicts.
• Saturday, April 4th OR April 18, 2020 – Kenora Festival of the Arts (Date TBD)
  • All Dance Foundations, Primary, Junior, and Senior level classes are entered in the Kenora District Festival of the Arts adjudicated dance performances.
  • This is a chance to perform and receive feedback from the adjudicator as well as a chance to watch other dancers and classes perform.
• Friday, May 8 & Saturday, May 9 – DanceWorks Kenora Year-End Recital
  • Our year-end performances will take place on Saturday, May 9th and will include a matinee and evening show for all dancers.
  • Dress Rehearsal will take place on the evening of Friday, May 8th (younger dancers will rehearse earlier so they are not up too late for 2 nights in a row).
  • All dancers in Creative Movement, Creative Movement & Tap, Dance Foundations, and the Primary, Junior, and Senior levels will be performing.

A reminder that this week is Fall Break Week at DanceWorks Kenora. The studio is closed and there are no classes from Monday, October 28 to Sunday, November 3. Classes resume as usual on Monday, November 4.

Enjoy the short break and have a happy Halloween!

Hello DWK families,

We hope you are settling into your fall and winter schedules. Most dance classes have now had 2 weeks of classes and it feels good to be back at it – to see the familiar faces and to greet the new families. Please review the following news and studio information to make sure you are up to date.

Mini-Session Classes Start This Week – Adults Can Dance Too!

Parent & Tot and Adult classes at DanceWorks Kenora start this week! These classes are always a lot of fun. Never taken a dance class before? Don’t be afraid to try – classes are welcoming to all levels with variations given, if needed, to accommodate different skill levels. Already have a dancer in the family? Don’t forget your multi-class discount applies on a family basis.

Adult classes offered include:

• Adult Ballet & Modern (Wednesday 8:30-9:30pm)
• Adult Hip Hop (Friday 6:45-7:45pm)
• Gentle Ballet (Wednesday 2:00-3:00pm)
• Gentle Jazz & Tap (Tuesday 10:00-11:00am)
• Essentrics & Pilates (Wednesday 6:00-7:00pm)

Minimum numbers are required for classes to run.

Late Registrations Accepted

We accept late registrations in classes that have openings. Know a friend or family member that would like to join? Send them to our website – danceworkskenora.com – to review class information and register online or have them reach out to Erin at info@danceworkskenora.com

Dance Attire

Don’t forget to review the DanceWorks Kenora Dress Code to ensure you have the proper attire for each class. If you don’t have the correct dance attire for the start of the year please wear clothing that allows for a full range of motion and thin socks. All dancers should bring a water bottle to class and long hair must be tied back. You can look for used gear in the DWK – Buy & Sell for Dance Gear group on Facebook.

Hip Hop dancers, please remember that there are no outside shoes allowed in the studio. Please be mindful that other classes dance in bare feet or thin slippers and we need to keep the studio floor clean and safe for all dancers.

Tuition Fees & Payments

Tuition fees for classes are posted to your account and can be viewed through your portal at any time. Monthly credit card payments will be processed on the 5th of each month or you can also pay monthly by providing post-dated cheques to the studio. Cash, cheque, credit card, or e-transfer can be used for lump sum payments. If you have applied through Triple Play or other funding sources please make sure that Erin is aware.

DWK Ensemble Fundraising

The DanceWorks Kenora Performance Ensemble is now using FlipGive to raise funds towards travel and competition costs. If you want to help support the competitive dancers you can become a member of our FlipGive team. The team earns cash back when you shop online or buy gift cards for partner retailers. A little bit of cash back on all your regular purchases can really add up! Join our team at flipgive.com/f/1061989 or by searching for DanceWorks Kenora Performance Ensemble at flipgive.com

Upcoming Dance Conventions

There are two upcoming dance conventions – one in Steinbach and one in Winnipeg – that are great opportunities for dancers to challenge themselves, to work in different styles, and to learn from different teachers. DWK Performance Ensemble dancers will be attending and any other DWK dancers are invited to attend as well. Follow the links for more information on the classes and pricing.

Maximum Impact Dance Convention – Steinbach, MB

• Sunday, October 20 in Steinbach, MB
  
• Ages 8+ can register for the full day or for individual classes.
• Registration is done by the individual through Dance Manitoba at dancemb.org/maximum-impact-dance-convention.html

Triple Threat Dance Convention – Winnipeg, MB

• Saturday, November 2nd and Sunday, November 3rd
  
• Ages 7+ can register for one or for both days. Registration is done through the studio, contact Erin by October 1st if your dancer is interested in attending.
  
• View more information at triplethreatdance.com/
  

Contact & Information

If you have questions please contact Erin at info@danceworkskenora.com or by texting or calling 807-464-3666. Please note that emails or text messages are Ms. Erin’s preferred methods of contact as they are easier to respond to quickly in between classes or after classes in the evening.

The answers to most questions can be found either on our website, in the portal or on one of our social media pages. Stay up to date and informed at the following links:

• Website – danceworkskenora.com
• Portal Access – DWK Portal Login
• Facebook – DanceWorks Kenora
• Instagram – @danceworkskenora
• Facebook Group – DWK Buy & Sell
• Facebook Group – DWK Dance Families

We know some of you have been waiting…the 2019-2020 class schedule is now posted! Returning dancers can also see their class placement recommendations within your family’s portal account.

Registration opens for returning students on August 3 and opens to the public on August 10, 2019. Early bird discounts of an additional 5% off all class tuition runs until August 15th (and multi-class discounts of 10% to 30% off always apply).

Helpful Links:

• DWK Portal Login
• 2019-2020 Class Schedule
• Class Descriptions & Levels

Enjoy the rest of your summer and we can’t wait to see you back at the studio in September!

(PS. I know many of you are still patiently waiting for your photos from last year. Colleen is back to work and has been working on all of the orders. As soon as we have a firm date on their availability for pickup we will let you know. Thank you again for your patience and understanding of the situation.)

The DanceWorks Kenora 2019 Year-End Recital is on Saturday, May 11 at the 7 Generations Event Centre. Join us at 1:30pm or 6:30pm for a showcase of the dancers’ hard work and effort over the dance year. Our show includes over 30 dance performances from all ages and levels in the styles of ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, and hip hop.

Buy Your Recital Tickets Online

Recital tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for youth (12 and under) and seniors (over 65) and can be purchased online in advance or with cash at the door. Tickets are general admission.
Online ticket sales start at 12 noon on Friday, April 26 and end at 12 noon on Friday, May 10.

It is highly recommended that you purchase tickets online in advance. There are no guarantees of tickets still being available at the door. Purchasing online also lets you take advantage of multi-ticket discounts of $2 off every ticket when purchasing more than 3 tickets.

2019 Recital DVD

The recital will be professionally videotaped and digital downloads ($25) or DVD’s ($30) will be available to purchase. Place your order by sending an email to info@danceworkskenora.com. Accounts must be up to date in order to receive a DVD. If your account is overdue please contact Erin in order to arrange a payment plan.

Volunteers Still Needed!

We still have a number of open volunteer positions that need to be filled in order to ensure these events run smoothly! Please consider volunteering your time. (If you are a parent volunteer you can watch your dancer perform from backstage.)

Hi DWK dance families,

Our 2019 Year-End Recital is fast approaching! Below is the link the detailed information packet for dancers and their families.

Please read through the detailed information carefully. It should provide the answers to any of your recital related questions. If you still have questions after reviewing you can reach Erin at info@danceworkskenora.com or by calling or texting 807-464-3666.

Tickets
Online ticket sales will begin Friday, April 26th at 12 noon at danceworkskenora.com.  It is highly recommended that you purchase tickets online in advance. There is no guarantee of tickets still being available at the door. Buying online also lets you take advantage of multi-ticket discounts of $2 off each ticket when purchasing 3 or more tickets.

Photos & DVDs
Photography and video are not allowed. Photography and lights from electronics can be very distracting to the dancers and often block the view of your fellow audience members.

The recital will be professionally filmed and a copy can be purchased by sending an email to info@danceworkskenora.com

• Digital Download – $25 (including HST)
• DVD – $30 (including HST)

Volunteers are needed to make these events run smoothly. Please consider volunteering your time in one of the front of house or backstage positions. View the available positions and shifts and sign up to volunteer!