The Nativity: Dec 20/21 at the Grand

The Nativity is only a few weeks away! And tickets are already selling at a quick pace. We have added back a third show this year after almost selling out two shows last year! My prayer is that since we are not doing a Christmas Concert this year, is that you will bring your SOF student to see this production! Children learn so much by watching large scale productions like this! And we promise a wonderful and blessed time with your family!
This year, we have added a wonderful pas de duex (dance for two) with Mary and Joseph! It is beautiful and breathtaking! We have four alumni dancers returning for a special performance: Laura Mitchell, Abigail Lloyd, Jessica Tarlton, and Mary Binkley! Many dances have been updated and we have a few new costumes as well! And of course, SNOW! We love having the snow again!
Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Group discounts are available for 12 or more people. We will have tickets to sell at the studio, over the phone by credit card, online through our website and paypal, or at the Grand during our rehearsals Dec. 15-19. We will also hope to have some tickets available for sale at the door, as long as we are not sold out.
Celebrate with us at the Nativity at the Grand!!

Staff Changes in January

Miss Ashley Wilson (our Wednesday teacher) will be leaving as a instructor after this month to concentrate on her gift of choreography. We appreciate all she has done for SOF over the last five months and wish her well!!
Miss Natalie Jones will be returning to teach most of those classes. Miss Natalie was originally scheduled to teach for us this fall, but had plans to move to Texas. Luckily for us, she did NOT move and is able to come back! She has been a favorite SOF teacher for the past three years! Welcome back Natalie! She will be teaching Jazz/Tap 2, Wed530 Preballet, YC Jazz, and Wed at 7 Ballet/Tap.
Miss Jessica Tarlton, who taught for us in 05-06 will return to teach the Wed3 Jazz/Tap 1 class and the BTJ, as well as the tap portion of Tap/Jazz 2! Jessica is a dance student at KSU, and danced in our company for many years! Welcome back Jessica! We are thrilled to get two familiar faces back at SOF!
Please make sure to wish Ashley the best!

New student or change of classes for January?

NEW REGISTRATION FOR Winter/Spring Semester CLASSES
We have opened our registration again for students starting in January. If you are already in a class, and are not planning on changing or leaving your class, you do not need to do anything. However, if you are interested in changing classes, adding another class, or if you do not plan on returning in January, please let us know by December 12. New registration ends January 29th for Spring. Now is the time to let your friends know it is time to join us for the Winter/Spring semester, and participation in our Spring Concert.
Class additions could happen over the next few weeks, so be on the lookout, and check the website often. If you want to switch classes, (if space permits) you will get first choice if you respond immediately. See Tonya or the lobby wall for answers to your questions and to make any changes.

Christmas In Studio Performances

It’s hard to believe that our Christmas performances are so close! We are excited about doing them at the studio this year, and getting to combine it with a special Party for each class!!! Hopefully this will make it more memorable and special. Please make sure you have signed up to bring a little something to help us out. SOF will supply a special cake for each class!!!
For the class performance, please make sure your child has her/his class leotard or specified outfit to wear (your teacher can tell you), so that the class is uniform for pictures everyone will be taking. There will be no professional videography or pictures taken, so please make sure to bring your own cameras and snap away!!! Make sure your daughter has her hair secured in a bun for the performance for ballet classes, and secured away from the face for all other classes. Make sure they have the appropriate shoes too.
The plan is to have the first part of classtime to be a warmup and review for the students. Parents/friends will be invited into the classroom about 15-30 minutes into the class for the performance. Then ALL are invited to stay for the party. The party will last til the end of classtime, so that the next class can begin. The exact times of things could change subject to what your teacher feels is best, so please be aware.
Friday classes will be having their parties/performances on Dec. 12th; Monday through Thursday classes will be having theirs Dec. 15-18th.
We are looking forward to this new format for the Christmas, and hope you enjoy it as well. Please make sure all accounts have been cleared by the last class of the semester.

Christmas In Studio Performances

The holidays are coming!!!! And each class is working on a Christmas dance to show you their last week of classes before our holiday break. We are so excited to see the dancers learning so much and developing their talent for the Lord. Please mark your calendar to bring your camera and video cam. (You can take all the pics you want!!) We will also be serving a Christmas party to everyone there too (cake, drinks, and snacks). The first half of the class will be review and warmup, and the second half parents and friends will be invited in for the performance and party!!! Dates for this are Friday, Dec. 12-Thursday, Dec. 18. Please have your child wear their class leotard, clean tights and neatly secured hair for the performance.

Mexico Mission Trip by Sr. Company

Plans are underway for the Sr. Company’s mission trip to Mexico City/Toluca, Mexico in late May/early June of 2009. Kim DeRueter, dance mom at SOF, has family in the area and grew up in Mexico, and was able to get us in contact with the perfect people to help accomplish our mission there! Ms. Julie was able to make a site visit in October to help the planning process. God was so much a part of the trip. She could see doors opening up for ministry opportunities that were clearly God’s providence! Please be in prayer for our girls, and a few members of Act 1 who will join us, as well as a ministry team from Oakleaf Church who will also be ministering alongside us. If you can, you may also contribute financially toward the trip, either as a group or towards individual girls fundraising goals. Thanks for all your prayers from our SOF family! May God be glorified in this awesome mission trip!!!

Changes for 2009?

Changing classes in 2009?
Let us know if you are interested in dropping, adding or changing classes in January. Otherwise, you will continue in the same classes as planned through May. We are in the process of analyzing our schedule to see if we need to make any changes/additions. We are limited to what we can add/change due to our limited studio time. I am willing to listen to any suggestions to improve your experience here! New registration begins this month. If you have friends who want to join us in January, this is the time for them to reserve their spot. SPACE IS VERY LIMITED! Please speak to Tonya or send me or Tonya a note through the payments box of any changes/suggestions!

SOF Bags and longsleeve shirts

Back by popular demand, we will offer SOF dance bags, and long sleeve t-shirts! Order by Nov. 17th, and they will be available on the Christmas Concert...just in time to make perfect gifts!! This year we are offering:
* Extra Large Navy Sport bag w/shoe pocket, with SOF logo, and dancers’ name ($42)
* Large Navy Duffle bag (like year’s past) with SOF logo, and dancers’ name ($36)
* Small Pink Nylon backpack, perfect for younger dancers, with ballet shoes, “Steps of Faith” and dancers’ name ($15)
* White, long sleeve shirts embroidered with “Steps of Faith” arched over ballet shoes. ($15 for sizes XS child to XL adult, 2XL/3XL extra charge).
See order forms in lobby. Remember to add 7% sales tax for the vendor. Make checks payable to SOF. Company members will be able to order company jackets and sweatsuits. See office or Julie.

THE NATIVITY Dec 20-21

The Nativity
Posters and tickets, and invitation cards have been printed and are ready for distribution! Tickets will be on sale at the studio and not at the Grand Box office. The show is the weekend before Christmas. (December 20/21) and a great way to focus on the holiday season! We need your help in posting them all over town, so please ask the office staff for posters you can post for us. We need your help at getting the word out about our Christmas outreach! Tickets can be bought over the phone with a credit card by calling the studio.
We have included a few treats to the show this year, including the return of our Alumni Company (including SOF teachers Miss Ashley, Miss Rachel, Ms. Julie, and true alumni Laura Mitchell). We have increased the number of shows back to three this year, since we almost sold out of two last year!! Tickets should still be a hot commodity!!
Tickets are again $10 each this year in advance, and $12 at the door. Group discounts are available: 12 or more sold to one group, tickets are only $8.50 each. We do have a school show on Monday, Dec. 15th at Trinity School. This is a closed performance but we covet your prayers.
If you or your business in interested in becoming an underwriter, let us know. (SOF Dance Co. is 501C, so your donations are tax deductible). Your name will be listed in the program as Sponsors. Prayerfully consider a donation if God gives you the means. All proceeds of the show (after covering our costs) will go to support our dance company’s mission work in the years to come. Let’s all get excited about this awesome opportunity to teach our community about the TRUE meaning of the season! JESUS! We want to see everyone there!! Come and support your dance company and studio!!

Wish List

As the year begins to come to a close, we wanted to let our families know of some items we could use (our wish list), that would help make things at SOF easier for rehearsing dances and for our outreach efforts, as well as make our lobby more comfortable for our dedicated parents. (We will provide receipt for tax purposes). Thanks for your help!

**New or gently used couches and chairs for lobby.
**Mountable small TV for lobby (pref w/DVD player)
**Family friendly DVDs for lobby
**Children’s books for lobby.
**iPod hookup/cord for stereo system
**Gently used dance shoes (any size/kind) for borrowers and for sending to Africa. (leotards are good too).

Christmas at the studio

As you already know, we are doing things a little differently this year for the holiday. In years past, we have held an informal Christmas concert at a local church. Due to the facility no longer being available, and many other financial factors, we have decided not to have the Christmas concert, but to have in-studio performances instead this year. This is for all classes NOT participating in the Nativity (more on that below).

You and your family are invited to come and watch a short performance by your dancer in the classroom, and then be part of a “class party”, complete with cake, drinks, snacks, and Christmas music! These performances will be at the same time as your regularly scheduled class. Dates for specific classes are:
Monday, Dec. 15 for Mon3 and Mon4 w/Christina classes
Tuesday, Dec. 16 for Tues1130 w/ Julie, Tues1230 w/ Julie, Tues 2:15 w/Anna, Tues3 w/Anna, Tuesday7 w/Rachel (formerly Dominique*) and Tues8 w/Rachel (formerly Dominique*), Wednesday, Dec. 17 for Wed3, Wed430, Wed530, Wed615, Wed7 all w/Ashley, and MomNMe w/Christina
Thursday, Dec. 18 for Thur330 w/Christina, and Thurs430 w/Rachel
Friday, Dec. 12 (NOT 19) for Friday tap classes and Teen ballet class

All classes participating in the Nativity will not have the in-studio performances, due to their participation in the Nativity. Also, these classes will have several dress rehearsals at the Grand between Tuesday Dec. 16 and Friday Dec. 19 (2-3 rehearsals for non-company classes, 3-5 for company levels). We will have those times for you by the first of November.

We do ask that you have your correct class leotard as soon as possible, no later than the in-studio performances, so that the children look uniform for all the candid picture taking you all will be doing!!! If you would like to assist in these parties, please let Ms. Tonya know.

As we do every year, we will be taking orders for Steps of Faith Dance Bags, and sweatshirts in the coming weeks. They make excellent Christmas presents for your dancer!! Calendars that feature our company dancers will also be for sale soon too (see back for more details).

Thank you all for your participation and dedication to our studio and ministry here. We appreciate all of you! Please contact me or Ms. Tonya with any questions…. sof@bellsouth.net or 770-606-0506.

*Ms. Dominique was no longer able to come each week to teach on Tuesdays due to the drive from Lithonia. Ms. Rachel, our Thursday HipHop teacher, has graciously taken over her classes. We plan to have Dominique come back to teach Master classes and choreography!

SOF in Africa

Ms. Kelsey is now living in Uganda, as many of you know, and she has recently been able to begin teaching dance there! The kids there had been praying for a dance teacher, and God provided Kelsey. Here are some pictures that her mom and dad took when they visited last month...

Relay of Life TONIGHT

Come join us as we join the battle to find a cure for cancer at Bartow County's annual Relay for Life at Dellinger Park. Our Sr. Company and Sr. Appr. Company will both be performing tonight between 9 and 930pm on the main field. It is going to be crowded, so make sure you get there early and take the shuttles! Dancers who are dancing tonight need to be there at 8pm.

See you all tonight!!

Ms. Julie

September Update

NEW TEACHERS...
We are excited to welcome TWO more new staff members!
Dominique Dickerson is our new Tuesday HipHop teacher. Her sweet spirit and unique choreography are reason enough to take her class! She drives all the way from Lithonia to be part of our team! Rachel Truitt is teaching on Thursdays in HipHop and Jazz, including the upper company levels. We are going to add to her schedule soon to optimize her versatility in ballet and kids classes too! Praise God for bringing SOF the PERFECT teachers! Blessings to Natalie as she determines her next step as she leaves us!

I also want to add that I, as the director (and I have heard SO MANY good comments from you), have been so pleased with EVERY staff member we have! We have master teachers in all subjects! Cartersville/NW Ga. is blessed to have these women: Theresa Shampine, Ashleyanne Spinks, Christina Alexandersen, Anna Gilbert, Ashley Wilson, as well as Dominique and Rachel! Remember to thank your teacher today!!!

NEW YEAR...
It has been an exciting year already. We have so many new faces from all over the area, some coming from as far away as Marietta, Calhoun, and Canton to get only what you can get at SOF!! Registration is still underway and, we can take new students through Sept. 30.
Plans are underway for our Nativity Ballet in Dec., and the Spring Concert in May, as well as our instudio performances for Christmas. More details will be coming next month.
Please feel free to contact me (the director, Julie) anytime with any questions or concerns at sof@bellsouth.net or call 404-316-8546. We are honored to have you all!!


CLASSES ARE FILLING UP FAST!
If you have friends interested in SOF this year, we still have some space for them, but they need to register NOW. We will continue to take registration for classes through September 30 or until we are full. If you are in a full class and are interested in a smaller class size, we still have some available. “Less Full” classes are (other classes are still available):
-Preballet Tuesday 215, (Anna)
-Preballet Thursday 245 (Rachel) TENTATIVE
-Ballet/Tap Monday 3pm (Christina)
-Ballet/Tap Wednesday 700 (Ashley)
-BTJ Wednesday 300 (Ashley)
-Jazz/Tap Wed 300 (Ashley)
--New Ballet 1 on Thur at 330—(January start)
-Jazz/Tap 2 Wed 430 (Ashley)
-Beg. Tap Friday 545-630 (Julie)
-Teen Ballet Friday 430 (Theresa)
-HipHop (middle/high schoolers) Tues 8-9pm (Dominique)
-Adult Ballet Wednesday 800 (Ashley)
-Adult Tap Thursday 830 (Julie)
We add classes if we can (studio space is limited) when needed, and a teacher is available. Thanks for being part of this great ministry!


T-shirt, everyone?
All students registered at Steps of Faith receive a SOF t-shirt. They will be ready by the end of September. This year, we are using the theme to reflect this year’s Spring Concert theme. (It is still under construction!) Family members and former SOFers may purchase extra shirts at $10 a shirt on a first come, first served basis starting October 3rd. Quantities will be limited.

PAYMENTS....
If you are using this post each month instead of our paper version, be sure you get your payment envelope at the studio as well. Tuition is due each month by the 10th of the month. Thanks in advance for your timely payments. (You can also pay online through our website (takes you to our paypal site).

DATES TO REMEMBER....
Sept. 5 Sr.Co./Appr. perform At Relay for Life/Dellinger Park 9pm
Sept. 10 Tuition DUE
Sept. 20 Full Company Performance at Roselawn Arts and Crafts Festival at 11-11:45am
Sept. 23 Sr. Company perform at KSU's Baptist Collegiate Ministries
Looking ahead…..
Nov.25-28 Thanksgiving Holidays (Monday classes only that week)
Dec. 12-19 Christmas instudio performances during classes
Dec. 20/21 Nativity Ballet at Grand Theatre (Sat/Sun)
Christmas Break Dec 20– Jan. 4
May 16, 2009 Spring Praise Concert
May 29-June 8 Sr. Co. Mexico Mission Trip

News from August...

Welcome to our Twelfth Year at SOF!
We are excited to bring you another great year of dancing and fun at Steps of Faith Dance Studio! Yes, it is time for dance to start back and we are excited! There are a lot things going on around here and we are glad you are a part. We are looking forward to giving you and your family the best instruction and loving service possible! If you ever need anything, please let us be of service to you!
Our office manager, Tonya Veitch, will be working every afternoons to answer your “office” needs. Tanya Rucker is now our Project Coordinator and will be in charge of fundraising events as well as other projects needed in the office. Theresa Shampine returns as her position as instructor and Ballet Mistress and my Assistant Director. Miss Ashleyanne and Miss Christina are both returning this year!! I (the newsletter author) am Julie Reeves, honored to be the Artistic Director and instructor, under my boss, Lord Jesus Christ. We are sad to announce that Miss Natalie will be leaving us at the end of the month to return to Texas. She has been instrumental in our program the last three years, and we will miss her terribly.

New instructors this year include Ashley Wilson, and Anna Gilbert. Ashley is new to us this year and takes over Miss Natalie’s Wednesday schedule. She has been dancing at another Christian dance studio and has been teaching around the NW Ga area. Miss Anna is our own gifted Senior Co. dancer and has been trained to teach by our staff.
If there is anything we can do for you to make your experience here at SOF better, please don’t hesitate to let us know! You may always drop a note in the payments box next to the office window!
*****Oh, t-shirts will be ready NEXT month! Every registered dancer receives one! (Extras will be available for sale in October!)
Be sure to check out our WEBSITE: www.steps-of-faith.com! Registration and payments can be done ONLINE! Forward our web address to anyone you think would be interested in a great dance studio! God’s blessings and grace be with you during this new year!!

HERE WE GO.....

NEW TEACHERS...
We are excited to welcome TWO more new staff members!
Dominique Dickerson is our new Tuesday HipHop teacher. Her sweet spirit and unique choreography are reason enough to take her class! She drives all the way from Lithonia to be part of our team! Rachel Truitt is teaching on Thursdays in HipHop and Jazz, including the upper company levels. We are going to add to her schedule soon to optimize her versatility in ballet and kids classes too! Praise God for bringing SOF the PERFECT teachers! Blessings to Natalie as she determines her next step as she leaves us!

NEW YEAR...
It has been an exciting year already. We have so many new faces from all over the area, some coming from as far away as Marietta, Calhoun, and Canton to get only what you can get at SOF!! Registration is still underway and, we can take new students through Sept. 30.
Plans are underway for our Nativity Ballet in Dec., and the Spring Concert in May, as well as our instudio performances for Christmas. More details will be coming next month.
Please feel free to contact me (the director, Julie) anytime with any questions or concerns…770-606-0506

Ready, Set, GO!

Tomorrow we start our Fall session at Steps of Faith!! How exciting!

We have a bunch of new students and several new teachers! If you havent signed up, now is the time!!! Many classes are getting full already, as we have a tight schedule with only two dance rooms. Like I said, I'll add Saturday classes again if enough people will commit to that day!

See you this week!!!

Ms. Julie

Dance Wear INFO

As you get ready for classes this fall, I thougt I would go over dance wear needs. We have a class designated leotard system at place at SOF. Make sure you have your class designated leotard. Any style is fine. Older girls need to be aware of modesty. Nude undertards are required for all company level dancers for performances.

There is a very limited number of leotards available at the studio for sale. Call for specific info. Our leotards are only $15 while supplies last. (lots of pink leotards still available.)

Here is the list of class colors:

MomNMe: Black or pink
Preballet: Pink
Ballet/Tap: Light blue
Ballet Prep: Lavendar
Ballet/Tap/Jazz: Royal blue
Tap/Jazz: Royal blue or Black
Ballet 1 and 2: Purple
HipHop: Black
Teen ballet: Navy
Young Company, Young Apprentice: Burgandy TANK leo
Sr. Apprentice, Sr. Company: Black TANK leo

All students in ballet need canvas or leather ballet shoes (not nylon Target ones); jazz and hiphop shoes need to be black (any style); tap shoes need to be black ribbon tie for all combo tap classes... for Beg/Int and Int/Adv tap classes with Ms. Julie, please have tan character shoes. Adult tap uses black shoes. Modern classes go barefoot (or small foot thongs), and pilates students need a mat.


Other Local dancewear merchants are:
DanceWearHouse in Acworth: http://www.dancewearhouse-apparel.com/
CenterStage II in Marietta: http://www.centerstageii.com/
Spirit Gear & Apparel at 30 E. Main Street in Cartersville 770-382-7468

You can also order online at http://www.curtaincallforclass.com/. Make sure to enter in our studio name.

Fall is almost here!

It has been a fantastic summer at Steps of Faith! We have had a lot of new faces (teachers and students), and the dancers have worked really hard! Several of our ladies "went away" for summer intensives at American Ballet Theatre and at Ballet Magnificat, and we cannot wait to hear their stories as well!

Now is the time to gear up for our fall schedule that begins in only a few weeks, August 11th.

We are NOT having an open house/registration day this year. We have found most of you just want to register "whenever", so we have made online registration available! You may also pop in the studio during our limited office hours too! We already have well over 120 people signed up for the fall, and I have heard of many more of you planning to come! Please sign up now, as most classes are still available.

Tonya will be available at the office Mondays and Thursdays from 930-1pm til August 1st. And as a prep for classes beginning, she is working Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 12-7 (Open House day at the schools), Thursday, Aug. 7 from 2:30-7, and Friday, Aug 8 from 2:30-6. Regular office hours (Monday-Friday) will begin Monday Aug. 11 when classes start!

Don't forget to get your dancewear for the fall: DanceWearHouse in Acworth, Spirit Wear in Cartersville, or CenterStage II in Marietta. You can also order online at www.curtaincallforclass.com (log into our school for class info). Remember each class level has its own color leotard. Any style is fine.

Can't wait to see you all soon!!!!

Ms. Julie

Summer is taking off!!

Our summer at SOF is starting out great!! We have 10 little ones in our DanceCamp this week with Miss Natalie, and they are loving it!!! (DanceCamps in July for little ones is almost full...so sign up now if you are interested!)

Next week we start our ABC Summer Intensive for ages 6-8, and we already have 6 coming!! (Not too late to sign up for summer programs!) And then we begin our Summer Intensive for ages 8 and up on June 16th. I am personally so excited about this summer! I've enjoyed my time off, but miss seeing all "my girls"! I got to fill in for Ms. Theresa for one of her "pick-up" classes for our Sr. Apprentices and Sr. Company last week, and had a blast!

I hope you are all enjoying your summer break! Hope to see many of you soon!!!

Oh, Blessings to Ms. Kelsey HARRIS, who is moving to Uganda, Africa tomorrow! I love you and will miss you dearly! Please join me in praying for her and her new husband as they begin their married life together in Africa! She will be returning to the States in 1 year!!!

Julie

What a Great Day!

Thanks to all of you who helped make last Saturday so much FUN!! I want to esp. thank all the volunteers and coordinators of the Encore Room, where the little ones waited before and after performing! Those kids were SO HAPPY when they got to the stage, and I know it was from all the fun they had in the Encore! Kaye Ellington and Tonya Veitch coorindating many volunteers and crafts! What a great idea! They told me it was the best year we have had with the kids back there! And we could not have done it without our wonderful parent volunteers! Bless you all!!

Great job dancers! You ALL did a fantasitc job and I am honored to be you director!

Everyone, enjoy a few weeks break, and I hope to see you ALL either this summer or this fall back at SOF!

Love, Ms. Julie

It's almost here...

Our Spring Concert is almost here!! All the costumes are in, and the dancers are putting their finishing touches on their dances! I have a little more musical editing to do, and we will be ready.

Make sure you have all you need (shoes, tights, leotards, undertards/nude leos for some of you) for the performance! Make sure you have purchased your tickets too!

Summer and fall registration is underway, and I am receiving your online registrations everyday! So don't get let behind, register now. I know that one of our preschool classes for the fall is almost full already!!!

Don't forget, no regularly scheduled classes at the studio next week... And PICTURES are THIS Saturday at the studio!!!

Here comes the wildest week of the year.....

Website now allows payment online

After a LONG day on Monday, I was able to set our website up to be able to accept payments online through Paypal. You do not need to have a paypal account to pay this way. Hope it is another benefit that helps out our families! Let me know if you have any problems with it!!!

So check it out.... www.steps-of-faith.com/payonline

WalkAThon was great!!!

Dear SOF Family,

Thanks to all of you who came out to the first annual WalkAThon Saturday! God moved the rain out just in time for our event! We have lots of great pics, including Ms. Tanya Rucker rollerblading!!!! We had about 50 people come out, despite the threat of rain. Special thanks to Ms. Tanya, Ms. Tonya, and Wes Moore for all their help that morning....

As of that day, we raised over $4000 for SOF and her dance ministries!!! Thank you all for "sowing a seed" into God's work at SOF! Congratulations to Lauren Veitch for raising the most money at $618, winning her the top prize! (Elizabeth and Mallory Ellington, and Katelyn Cameron also won top prizes!)

Thanks to all our local businesses who donated prizes: Tonsmiere Studios, DanceWearHouse, DMorgans, Jittery Joes, CenterStage, Open Door, Southern Exposure Tanning, Meg Pie! Be sure to thank them next time you are at their stores!

If you still have money to turn in, it is still not too late!! I know the weather and other commitments kept many of you away, and many more wanted to participate.

Again, THANK YOU to all of you for making this first year a HUGE success! We already have a lot of plans to make next year even bigger and better!

WalkAThon THIS SATURDAY

I am already hearing of great things about our WalkAThon this weekend. We have great prizes for the most money raised: 1st place is $250 gift certificate to Tonsmiere Studio, 2nd place is a $100 shopping spree at DanceWearHouse, and 3rd place is a $50 Dinner at D'Morgans!!! On top of that, we have LOTS of prizes for the day-of. So you need to participate to be eligible!! Many thanks to our local businesses for helping us out (includes Jittery Joes, CenterStage, and many more)!

Remember, this money is for our ministry work at SOF through our Dance Company and the studio. We have a goal of $10,000! (Tanya reaches for the stars!!), and if 100 people raise $100, it is possible!! I hear AnnaBeth Nida is already up at $170!!!

To get the coolest tshirt ever, remember to raise at least $25!

See you Saturday... Registration (turn in money) begins at 8:30, and the walk begins at 9am... all at Dellinger Park. The picnic following the walk will be "dutch treat", as we are saving the money raised for ministry.

New Web design

Have you seen our new web design? It is awesome!! You can even register ONLINE!! I am working on getting a paying system online through Paypal. It should be ready in the next week or so. So nevermind that the "pay online" button doesnt work... I know.

Oh, the new fall schedule is up for your viewing pleasure!!!

Julie

Dress Rehearsal Schedule

Here is the listing of Dress Rehearsals for our Concert. Remember, we run very much on time, so please do not be late. We are looking forward to it!!!

DRESS REHEARSALS AT GRAND
May 13-16, 2008
Tuesday, May 13:
1:15-1:30 Tuesday 11:30am Preballet-Julie
1:30-2:00 Tuesday 12:30pm Ballet/tap-Julie
3:00-3:30 Monday 3pm Ballet/tap-Christina
3:30-4:00 Tuesday 3:15 Ballet/tap-Julie (also Anna Gilbert)
4:00-4:30 Monday 4pm Ballet/tap-Christina
4:30-5:00 Tuesday 4:15 Ballet 1-Julie
5:00-5:35 Sat. BTJ-Natalie
5:35-6:00 Sat. Ballet/tap-Natalie
6:00-6:15 Feeling So Fly, Co. HH-Natalie
6:15-6:45 Apprentice Pointe - Theresa
6:45-7:30 Silent Night 911/Co. Trainee - Theresa
7:30-8:15 Apprentice Modern -Ashleyanne
8:15-9:00 Company Modern - Ashleyanne
Wednesday, May 14
3:15-3:45 Wed 4 Jazz/tap 1-Mary
3:45-4:30 Young Apprentice Ballet - Julie/Mary (4:15-4:30 YA/YC together)
4:15-5:00 Young Company Ballet -Theresa
5:00-5:30 Young Company Jazz -Mary
5:30-6:00 Apprentice Jazz -Julie for Natalie
6:00-7:00 Co. Pointe (Carry your Love) - Theresa (6:30-7 Co/Appr together)
6:30-7:30 Appr. Ballet (Boast No More) - Theresa
7:30- 9:00 Quartet (Vivaldi, Feeling So Fly, Faithful to Me, Thankful) Theresa/Julie
Thursday, May 15
3:00-3:15 Thursday 2:45 Preballet-Natalie
3:15-3:45 Thursday 3:30 Ballet/tap-Natalie
3:45-4:!5 Thursday 3:30 Ballet Prep - Mary
4:15-4:45 Thursday 4:30 Jazz/tap 2 -Natalie
4:45-5:15 Wednesday 5pm Ballet 1 - Mary
5:15-5:45 Tuesday 7 HipHop -Natalie
5:45-6:00 Wednesday 645 Preballet - Mary
6:00-6:45 Co-Now and Forevermore - Julie
6:45-7:15 Co-Set Me Free - Julie
7:15-8:00 Co-There is a GOD - Julie
8:00-8:30 Adv. Co.- Skin is Burning- Julie NEW DATE
8:30-9:00 Adult Tap - Julie
Friday, May 16
3:!5-3:30 Friday 3:15 Preballet - Kelsey
3:30-4:00 Wednesday 3 Ballet/tap - Kelsey
4:00-4:30- Friday 4 HipHop - Kelsey
4:30-5:00 Friday 5 Teen Ballet - Kelsey
5:00-5:30 Tuesday 5:15 Ballet Prep - Julie
5:30-6:00 Friday 5 Ballet 2- Julie
6:00-6:30 Tuesday 6:15 Tap - Julie
6:30-7:00 Adv. Co - Forget about the Boy - Julie NEW DATE
7:00-7:45 Co. - Come to Jesus - Theresa
7:45-8:30 Adv. Co. - Believe - Theresa (Wes M. and Emma H. too)

Picture Schedule

I realize these lists are hard to read, but this is the only way it would post. You can always come in or call for clarification if needed. Pictures are on MAY 10th at the SOF studio!

CLASS PICTURE TIME for Sat. May 10th"at SOF
( written below in this format: TIME of class, NAME of class, Picture time on May 10th)
TUES 1130 PREBALLET 9:00 AM
SAT 930 BT 9:15
TUES 1230 BT 9:30
TUES 315 BT 9:45
TUES 415 BALLET 1 10:00
SAT 1030 BTJ 10:15
TUES 515 BALLET PREP 10:30
THURS 830 ADULT TAP 10:45
FRI 500 BALLET 2 11:00
TUES 615 ADV TAP 11:15
YOUNG APPRENTICE 11:30
CO TAP 11:45
APPR BALLET 12:00
CO BALLET 12:15
YOUNG CO BALLET 12:30
THERE IS A GOD 12:45
THURS 245 PREBALLET 1:00
MON 300 BT 1:15
THURS 330 BT 1:30
MON 400 BT TBA
THURS 430 JT 2:00
THURS 330 BPREP 2:15
TUES 700 HIPHOP 2:30
WED 400 JT 2:45
WED 300 BT 3:00
WED 500 BALLET 1 3:15
FRI 315 PREBALLET 3:30
WED 645 PREBALLET 3:45
FRI 400 HIPHOP 4:00
FRI 500 TEEN BALLET 4:15

Concert Appearances (not in order of show)

2008 Concert Assignments
**This NOT the order of appearance.**
Saturday, May 17th at The Grand Theatre
12:30 Concert: Company Ballet - Quartet,Company Modern, Apprentice Ballet - Boast No More, Monday 3:00 BT, Monday 4:00 BT, Tuesday 12:30 BT, Tuesday 6:15 Adv. Tap, Wednesday 3:00 BT, Wednesday 4:00 JT, Wednesday 5:00 Ballet I, Wednesday 6:45 PB, Thursday 3:30 Ballet Prep, Friday 3:15 PB, Friday 4:00 HipHop, Friday 5:00 Teen Ballet, Co - Carry Your Love, , Co Trainee - 9-1-1, Co - Now/Forevermore, Co - Come to Jesus
4:00 Concert: Company Ballet - Quartet, Apprentice Ballet - First Glance, Apprentice Modern, Tuesday 11:30 PB, Tuesday 3:15 BT, Tuesday 4:15 Ballet I, Tuesday 5:15 Ballet Prep, Tuesday 7:00 HipHop, Thursday 2:45 PB, Thursday 3:30 BT, Thursday 4:30 JT2, Thursday 8:30 Adult Tap, Friday 5:00 Ballet 2, Saturday 9:30 BT, Saturday 10:30 BTJ, Co - Carry Your Love, Co Trainee - 9-1-1, Co - There Is A God
7:30 Concert: CO Ballet - Quartet (Pointe, HH, Modern, Tap), CO Tap - Forget About The Boy, CO Modern - Where I Belong, Appr. Jazz - Sky Falls Down, Appr. Modern - Joy of a Child, YA Ballet - My Offering, YC Ballet - Why, YC Jazz, Adv. Tap - The Walk, Skin is Burning, There is a God, Now & Forever, Set Me Free, Come to Jesus, Believe, Carry Your Love, Boast No More, First Glance, 9-1-1

Summer Programs

SOF’s Summer 2008 is going to be a another busy one! Make plans now to join us for DanceCamps, or our Summer Dance Intensives. Registration is NOW and forms are available in the lobby and online. (See the "Summer Programs page" on our website for more info....)
DANCECAMPS will be taught by our own Miss Natalie and, Miss Mary, and are like a “VBS” of dance and meets M-F: Cost: $115 or $145. June 2-6 for 3-5yr olds; June 9-13 for 6-10yr olds; July 14-18 for ages 6-10, July 21-25 for 3-5yr olds. . These DanceCamps are full of fun, food and faith! (Crafts, too!!) These DanceCamps fill up, so register NOW!
SUMMER DANCE INTENSIVES (must audition or be in current SOF class for placement): for serious dancers ages 6 and up as well as our Company dancers meets 3-5 times a week. Weeks are June 9 -July 11. Each level will only be offered a limited number of the five weeks, so please note on registration form available dates. Placement auditions for dancers not currently in the company program will be held on June 12. If alternative audition date is needed, contact us. There will be FIVE levels of classes this year (4 company and 1 pre-company/ages 6-9), and cost is dependant on level (which meets for different number of hours per week). Cost ranges from $45-150 per week. And a 10% discount will be applied for anyone signing up by May 15! (You can take one, two, three or four weeks!). Each week will feature similar classes and schedules. Guest and resident teachers in our upper levels will be teaching ballet, modern, drama, jazz, dance lectures, and other exciting classes to our company levels. We are again offering a combined level for our pre-company dancers (ages 6-9). Our loving staff will be teaching those younger levels and will include ballet, tap and/or jazz as well as some surprises along the way. NON-SOF dancers are very welcome and can return to their studios after the summer! The goal of the intensive is to actually help you IMPROVE your technique over the summer instead of simply trying to maintain it! Company members will be required to take a minimum of two (three weeks for upper levels) as a company requirement. See Ms. Theresa /Ms. Julie for more information!
If you are currently in Ballet 1, Ballet 2 or Young Apprentice, you will be having a placement audition for summer and for 08-09 SOF Company on Friday, April 18th. Current Young Company, Sr. Apprentices, and Sr. Company will have their placement audition during regularly scheduled class on Monday April 21st. Audition information will be handed out during class.

Fall registration is coming SOON

Steps of Faith is having our early registration for the 07-08 year during the month of May. If you decide to go ahead and register, you pay a discounted registration fee. Registration forms will be available at the end of April. NEW: Registration is now available ONLINE on our new website: www.steps-of-faith.com. Simply click the link to register and it will take you to the fill-in form. It will be emailed to us. (It is already working, so give it a try!!) Payment will make the registration valid, so be sure to mail a check or call with credit card info. You may also register in the studio like normal. Make note that fall classes will begin on AUGUST 11th!
We will again have the colored leotard system for classwear, however, you will be able to choose your own design/style this year.
We will have a schedule of classes ready by mid April. You will be pleased to know that many of your favorite staff is returning! However, we are losing Miss Kelsey and Miss Mary for hopefully just another short time. Miss Kelsey is getting married at the end of May, and is moving to Africa to join her husband. They will return to Georgia in December. After much prayer, Miss Mary has decided to do another DTS (discipleship training program) in dance with Dance Revolution in Dallas TX. Ms. Theresa is coming back in full force and Ms. Julie is keeping her schedule!! Miss Natalie, Miss Ashleyanne and Miss Christina will also be returning to teach. Anna Gilbert, a teacher in training, will be assisting us fill in the gaps by taking on a few preschool classes. I am thrilled to have such a loyal and dependable staff! Please pray for them as they continue to minister here at SOF!
For the best selection in classes, register in May. We will be sending out a note to each student from their teacher in late April indicating which class level they should register for next year to assist you.
Ladies and young men who are interested in auditioning for company (who are not currently in the company) will be notified which level they have been placed after their summer intensive participation. Current company girls will be placed in their new company level at the end of April after their auditions, but before the intensive. You will be notified of your new placement by April 28th.
We are sending out a letter to our mailing list letting them know of our registration dates, so if you know anyone who would like to receive more information about us, all we need is a name and address.
Be sure to take advantage of the discount and keep your spot for next year! We don’t want to miss a single one of you! We will be promoting many of you to the next age/level class. You will not want to miss all the new stuff you will learn next year! We hope that you and your family will continue to be part of this marvelous ministry!

WALK A THON is HERE

LEAPS IN THE PARK on Sat. April 19th

Please pick up your fundraiser packet at the office! Start collecting donations NOW!!! You may turn in your donations anytime between April 7-19th! We would like to get an accurate count of participants (so we have enough tshirts!!), so please let the office know if you are participating! Registration is at 8:30, walk begins at 9:00, lunch around 11:30!!!

We are so excited that so many of you are already talking about how much you have raised! We still have SO many packets still left untouched! We need everyone's help to keep this studio and ministry going!!!

Underwriters Still Needed for Concert

Our exciting Spring Concert is fast approaching! If you or a business you know might be interested in helping sponsor our Concert, please let us know as soon as possible! We need to raise about $4000 to pay for the Grand and the programs! Sponsor forms are available in the studio lobby. We have examples of last year’s programs available, too! Thank you to those of you who have already spread the word this year!
Remember, we are ASKING that every family try to sell and/or buy at least one ad. This keep us from having to charge high ticket prices at the door. (Sponsors receive free tickets as a thank you. Note: 1/8 page=3 tickets, 1/4 page= 6 tickets, 1/2 page = 9) (Remember that your donation above the ticket value is tax deductible!) Sponsorship is what makes this Concert and this ministry to our Lord possible! We already have a few businesses and individuals committed to making this a spectacular worship event for 2008! Thanks for spreading the word about our concert and don’t forget to mention what a great marketing opportunity this is for local businesses! Please join us in helping make this Praise Concert a GREAT reality! Praise God for opening all the perfect doors! Remember, our deadline for the program ads is APRIL 30th!! (Don’t forget our best wishes boxes for only $45-you can go in together with someone else AND you can put a picture of your dancer in it!) WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!

Important Dates for students

12:30PM, 4PM OR 7:30PM? On May 17:
Many of you are asking which concert your dancer will appear. That information is posted on the lobby wall NOW! Sr. Co and Appr. Companies will appear in all three. Tickets are on sale April 14: $7 each. The evening show will feature the companies’ full repertoire, so if you dance earlier, come back to the evening show to experience this inspiring show! Come back later on this blog to get your class' times....

DRESS REHEARSALS May 13-16:
We will have dress rehearsals at the Grand Theatre on Tuesday-Friday, May 13-16. Each class will be given 15-30 minutes (sometimes more) to rehearse their dances on stage. We will have rehearsals somewhere between 3pm and 9pm for most classes (and in the morning for the morning classes), and yours should coincide, as much as possible, to your weekly class time of day. Be looking for the schedule in the coming weeks. There will be NO regularly scheduled classes that whole week (Monday-Sat.) to allow you time to get to the Grand. Companies may have called rehearsals at the studio on that Monday, May 12th, TBA.

PICTURE DAY May 10:
As you may have noticed, picture day was moved to May 10th. This was to insure all the costumes would be here in time. Some costumes are coming the first week of May, so please be patient. We took pains to make sure we had the costumes we needed, and on time! After they are sorted and labeled, you will get to take them home!
So on Saturday, May 10, we will meet HERE at SOF for professional pictures by Tonsmiere Photography. You will be able to purchase groups and individual shots of your dancer, and a percentage of all sales will go to SOF‘s ministry. We very much want EVERYONE to be in the group pictures (even if you do not intend on buying any) so that your class’ picture will be complete when I hang it on the studio wall! WE NEED ALL OF YOU! It’s so exciting to get to see your faces on our wall year after year. This schedule is already posted in the studio, and will be posted here shortly.

Dress Rehearsal schedules will be posted no later than April 7 in the lobby.

Welcome to our Newest Information System from SOF

This is our newest way to make sure you, part of our SOF family, receives all you need to know about what is going on at Steps of Faith.

Monthly Newsletter info will be published here as well as pertinent listings like, picture times, which concert you are performing in, and dress rehearsal times. We will also do occasional reminders for special events and registration info.

If you would like to subscribe to this blog, please feel free to do so!