Dear Future Dancer…

We are excited to hear you are interested in our Brainerd Just For Kix Studio. I am sure you have a lot of questions. We welcome you and hope to have you dancing with us soon.

Our basic premise is to treat dancers the way we would like our own children to be treated…with kindness. We will push them, challenge them and teach them to dance to the best of their abilities, while having a lot of fun along the way!

CLASSES OFFERED: We offer hip­hop, kick, tap, lyrical, jazz, ballet and special sessions such as father/daughter classes. See the class options sheet with a description of styles. Jazz and lyrical classes have a prerequisite of either ballet or kick. All other classes can be taken stand­alone.

DANCE SEASON: Our regular dance season runs from September to the end of April sometimes into May depending on the year. Skills and technique classes are offered in May, June & July as well as an Intensive Training opportunity also in the summer. Just For Kix youth day camps and high school camps are held right in Brainerd each year.

STAFF: We feel blessed to have such a great staff. We have had many staff members with us for more than ten years. Our instructors’ styles and strengths balance one another. Your children are fortunate to have so many great teachers to choose from.

STUDIO LOCATION: Our beautiful studio is located on Lake Forest Rd. in Baxter. Turn at Boulder T ap House. We are behind and across the street from “The Arrowood Lodge.” We know you’ll love it!

ABOUT THE STUDIO: We have 4 practice rooms with beautiful floors created specifically for dancing. Typically all 4 rooms are busy!!

THE STUDIO STORE: Has dance apparel, beverages and snacks. (open during studio/class hours)

OFFICE: Our office is located on the corner of College Rd and Dogwood Rd, in Baxter. We are open normal business hours, 8­4:30, Monday through Friday (closed on major Holidays). NO CLASSES ARE HELD THERE.

OFFICE PHONE: 218­829­7107 STUDIO PHONE: 218­828­1127 (answered during studio/class hours)

BRAINERD BONUS: Did you know that Brainerd is the HUB for all 200+ Just For Kix youth programs? It all started here in Brainerd and there are now over 20,000 dancers enrolled annually. Brainerd dancers benefit greatly from this, since there are often guest teachers, training and extra opportunities available.

EXPOSURE: I personally feel that the exposure we get from the vast number of teachers and dance backgrounds we work with make us stronger. For example, each summer we work side by side with a staff of 50 college age students and adults. The staff comes to us from a wide range of college teams and studios. All of the various training methods are shared. I feel our dance knowledge grows each summer and is brought back to share with our students. Staff members also often attend conventions and classes for continued enrichment.

QUESTIONS: If you have questions on ANYTHING, do not hesitate to call. Ali or I would personally be happy to take your call, but if I am not available, please feel free to talk to our wonderful staff. We are here to serve you. [email protected] or a [email protected]

PRIVATE LESSONS: we do not push these but they are avaiable on request. If you pay for them online our system does not notify us. Please contact Ali Geraets to schedule. a [email protected]

SOLOS: We have a lot of dancers who compete solos at our TWD competitions in the spring. If you have interest in doing a solo please contact a [email protected]

LEVELED CLASSES: When dancers reach 2nd grade we separate them into two levels so we can make sure we are working them at their level and they are getting the best instruction possible. As they get older we have auditions/try­outs for our placement classes. They are typically held in the spring every year for all dancers 3rd grade and older (so this will place them for their 4th grade year and up). They will re­audition every year so they could change from level to level. They are not necessarily set in one level forever.

TOGETHER WE DANCE, or TWD is the name of the Just For Kix dance Competitions that our teams enter. When kids reach 2nd grade they will compete. We typcially participate in 1­3 events per year and most involve travel. There is an extra expense for competition entry fees. (See the rate sheet.) If your dancer is unable to attend any competition, notice should be given to the instructor(s) well in advance for numbering purposes.

DATES AT A GLANCE A list of all main events are given in the fall. They are sometimes even available in the spring. Show dates, comeptition dates and important events will be listed. It is a MUST for long range planning to make sure you have this information. Please keep in mind that some dates may be subject to change.

CALENDARS/NEWLETTERS: There will be four per season. Sept/October, Nov/Dec, Jan/Feb, and March/Spril newsletters. They are posted the week before the end of the month, bimonthly. We typically send an email to remind you to download. They are online under h ttps://www.justforkix.com/danceclasses/brainerd­mn/News/Events. We suggest to BOOK MARK THIS.

REMIND TEXTS We use these texts to keep you informed of last minute changes, weather, etc. You must subscribe yourself . See below on last page.

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS: BASE LEVEL CLASSES:

Teeny Kix ‑This is a short term Core dance session for dancers ages 2‑5 years. The class will incorporate and introduction to ballet, kick, jazz, movement and stretching. This class will learn one routine per session. Typically sessions are 5‑8 weeks.

Tiny Kix ‑ T his is a Core Dance class for dancers 2‑5 years old. T his is a season long class which will incorporate and introduction to ballet, kick, jazz, movement and stretching. This class will learn multiple routines per session.

FIRECRACKERS‑ K and 1st grade dancers. This is a combination of JAZZ and KICK and is a one hour class. They have 30 minutes of each style incorporated into one class. They switch teacher halfway through the class. 30 minutes of the class will focus on precision kick and stretching. 30 minutes will focus on jazz, hip hop and ballet. (Ballet basics may be covered in both classes.) It is priced higher than a typical hour class as it involves more prep and offers them a more jam packed hour.

Wee Kix –. 2nd and 3rd grade kick class

Mini Kix ‑4th & 5th grade kick class

Middle Kix ‑ 6th & 7th grade kick class

S enior Kix‑8th‑12th grade kick * This class competes in senior showcase

Twinkler Jazz ‑ 2 nd & 3rd grade jazz class (pre‑requisite of Kick or Ballet)

Shining Stars Jazz ‑ 4th & 5th grade Jazz Class (pre‑requisite of Kick or Ballet)

Showstoppers Jazz‑ 6 th‑8th grade Jazz Class (pre‑requisite of Kick or Ballet)

Starmakers Jazz‑ 9 th‑12th grade Jazz Class (pre‑requisite of Kick or Ballet)

Wee Hip Hop‑ 2 nd‑3rd grade hip hop.

Mini Hip Hop ‑ 4 th‑5th grade hip hop.

Starmakers Hip Hop ‑ 6th‑12th grade hip hop.

Wee Lyrical/Ballet combo ‑ 1 st‑3rd Grade Lyrical/Ballet Combo. They will spend half their time working on ballet technique and the other half on Lyrical.

Mini Lyrical ‑ 4 th‑5th grade Lyrical.

Middle Lyrical ‑ 6 th‑8th grade Lyrical.

Starmakers Lyrical‑ 9 th‑12th grade Lyrical.

Mini Ballet‑ 4th‑5th grade ballet technique class. (Non‑performing)

Thursdsay Ballet Classes ‑ 4th‑12th ballet technique class. (Please follow guidlines of which class to be in or ask instructor if you have questions.)

Mini Tap‑ 2nd‑5th grade Tap. Tap Troupe ‑ 6th‑12th grade Tap.

Stretch & Strength ‑ 4 th‑12th grade. This is a non‑performing class that focuses on on strength and flexibility.

Special Session ‑ These classes are normally 6‑8 weeks long. Special sessions can be all different kinds of classes from father daughter to Tumbling for dancers. These will be advertised in our newsletters with instructions on how to register.

Thursday Ballet Classes‑ These are either required or extra depending on the level and class you are in. Please ask instructors for details if you have questions.

PLACEMENT CLASSES (BY AUDITION ONLY) Sparklers‑ (Placement Level) 2nd‑3rd grade combo Kick and Jazz. If your dancer is placed in this class they are required to take both classes.

Starlites ‑ (Placement Level) 4th‑5th grade combo of Kick, Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet & Stretch and Strength. If your dancer is placed in this class they are required to take all 5 classes.

Shooting Stars ‑ (Placement Level) 6th‑8th grade combo of Kick, Jazz, Lyrical & Stretch and Strength. If your dancer is placed in this class they are required to take all 4 classes.

Rising Stars ‑ (Placement Level) 6th‑8th grade combo of Kick, Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet & Stretch and Strength. If your dancer is placed in this class they are required to take all 5 classes.

Dream Team Jazz/Lyrical ‑ (Placement Level) 9th‑12th grade combo of Jazz, Lyrical & Ballet. If your dancer is placed in this class they are required to take all 3 classes.

Elite Jazz/Lyrical ‑ (Placement Level) 9th‑12th grade combo of Jazz, Lyrical & Ballet. If your dancer is placed in this class they are required to take all 3 classes.

Dream Team Hip Hop ‑ (Placement Level) 6th‑12th grade hip hop.

Elite Hip Hop ‑ (Placement Level) 6th‑12th grade hip hop.

Style Descriptions

We have a broad offering of class options at our studio. I hope you are as excited about the opportunities available as we are. We have listed style descriptions below to help you when deciding which classes will fit your dancer best.

CORE KICK CLASSES: Core Kick classes are the basis of our program. These classes meet 30 to 90 minutes per week. The base of the class is precision kick, which continues to be a very competitive and popular style of dance for high school dance teams throughout the state. Core kick classes for dancers in 2nd grade and up will compete during the season.

JAZZ CLASSES: These classes will focus on technique and jazz skills. Dancers will also learn a jazz style routine. Technique, skill progression, flexibility, strength building, and expression will be focus areas of this class. Dancers must also be enrolled in a kick or ballet class as a prerequisite for jazz classes. Jazz dance developed alongside jazz music in New Orleans in the early 1900s... Some scholars and dancers, especially Swing and Lindy Hop dancers, still regard the term jazz dance as an umbrella term which includes both the original and the evolved versions: they refer to the theatrical form of jazz dance as modern jazz. What is jazz? It’s a classic American dance style, yet these days, most of us have a difficult time defining it—because jazz refuses to be pinned down. Instead, it changes over time, interacting with the other styles it meets along the way. The result: fusions like Latin jazz, street jazz and Afro­jazz. Most of our Jazz classes will compete.

LYRICAL CLASSES: Lyrical dance is a style of dance created by merging ballet and jazz. Lyrical dancing is performed to inspire movements that express strong emotions the choreographer feels from the lyrics or feeling in the chosen song. Because lyrical dancing focuses on the expression of strong emotion, the style concentrates more on individual approach and expressiveness than the precision of the dancer's movements. The emer gent lyrical style has a relatively recent history and a genesis based on the coming together of ballet with rock/folk/pop/alternative music and a variety of jazz styles and modern dance. Dancer, teacher, and choreographer Suzi Taylor, who holds regular classes at Steps on Broadway in NYC is considered by many to be an early mother of lyrical dance, having emphasized a unique brand of musicality and expressiveness which influenced many future teachers and choreographers. We also sometimes incorporate contemporary into our lyrical classes. Most of our lyrical classes compete.

BALLET/TECHNIQUE: These classes are designed for dancers to work on flexibility, strengthening, center /core work, and ballet technique. This style is the basis of all dance and provides the strength and technique dancers need to excel. We tell all of our dancers Ballet is the foundation to every other style they will do. If your child is serious about dance, Ballet is a must. Ballet is an artistic dance form performed to music using precise and highly formalized set steps and gestures. Classical ballet, which originated in Renaissance Italy and established its present form during the 19th century, is characterized by light, graceful, fluid movements. Most of our ballet classes are non performing. Cindy Clough always says. “Ballet to a dancer is like weight lifting to the football player. You need it to excel.”

HIP HOP: Is the fun and a fast growing style of dance. Hip­hop dance refers to street dance styles primarily performed to hip­hop music or that have evolved as part of hip­hop culture. It includes a wide range of styles primarily breaking, locking, and popping which were created in the 1970s and made popular by dance crews in the United States. Most of our Hip Hop classes will compete.

TAP: a dance performed wearing shoes fitted with metal taps, characterized by rhythmical tapping of the toes and heels. Tap is fun and energetic! Great for working on musicality (which is important in all styles of dance).

SPECIAL SESSIONS: Each Fall, Winter and Spring we offer short­term dance sessions. Watch for fliers to be emailed out and posted on the website too. These are optional, extra classes that dancers can participate in.

Why are Core Kick or Ballet classes a requirement for Jazz & Lyrical Classes? Our Core classes by definition are the fundamentals. It is in the core classes that the students learn the basics that will be required to move further in our other class offerings. Our jazz & lyrical classes are the next step. We expect the dancers taking these classes to already have an understanding of the basics. We do not want these classes to be a repeat of the fundamentals but rather a continuation for dancers who wish to take their dancing to the next level. By making the core classes a requirement, it assures the dancers in these classes are dedicated as they have made a commitment to additional studio time. This allows the instructors the ability to move along at a more rapid pace, knowing that what they are teaching is being reinforced in classes offered at least one other hour per week. The increase in dance time, allows the dancer to further their flexibility and strength that is necessary to master more difficult skills.

We live to serve. If you have questions. Call or email us. c [email protected] or a [email protected] 218­829­7107

Enthusiastically,

Cindy Clough Brainerd Studio Director