Sunday, April 25, 2010

MAY NEWSLETTER

THREE WEEKS AND COUNTING...
I can’t believe May is already here. This has been a good year at SOF, and the last in this building! (Pray as we finish all the paperwork for closing and break ground for the new facility.) We have had so many supportive families and God continues to be a major part of what is going on here. You have one of the best staffs anywhere!!! NO DOUBTING THAT!!!
Please make every effort to BE AT EVERY CLASS between now and the end of the year. This is “crunch time” for us and we need everyone of you here to make rehearsing dances go smoothly. We will not have regularly scheduled classes the last week (May 10-14) due to dress rehearsals, and other school-end activities. So that means only TWO weeks of classes!
COSTUMES still coming in this week. We will get them to you ASAP.
Many of you still owe April TUITION. Statements have gone to you who have balances. Your business is important to SOF and we do appreciate and need your part. Thank you! All balances must be paid by May 14 for concert participation. We need your help financially too. We had over $4500 in accounts outstanding as of the middle of April. And May is now due. Please honor your commitment and pay your balances ASAP.
Please see the lobby wall or check out www.sofstudents.blogspot.com for your REHEARSAL TIMES. You need to make every effort to be at the Dress Rehearsals that week. Thank you for making adjusted time in your schedule for this! Dress Rehearsals are vital!!
On May 8th we will be taking group and individual PICTURES at the SOF studio. (Picture time is also online and in the lobby; envelopes with prices will go out first week of May.) Remember, even if you do not intend on buying individual pictures, we need you for the group picture that will hang in the lobby!
“WHAT EXACTLY DO WE WEAR for the picture and for the concert?”, you ask. Please ask your teacher if unsure…... Ballet students wear ballet or theatrical pink (not white or a strong color pink) FOOTED tights with their costume. If you are wearing tan, make sure you get LIGHT SUNTAN. Some of you will need a nude/black leotard (older kids/company girls). No nylon ballet shoes. If your class has more than one costume, your class and your teacher will help decide which one to wear for the picture on picture day. All hair needs to be in a bun with no bangs (pulled away from face if hair is very short), unless told otherwise. Hair requirement is for both picture and concert!! We want to look our best!!
SPELLING of you/your child’s name needs to be checked in the lobby for the program by May 5.
FOR THE CONCERTS, please be at the Grand Theatre no later than 30 minutes before the Concert is scheduled to start. That way everyone can get their seats and no one is panicking. Do realize that the Grand will be selling tickets at the door and that could slow down admission. So buy yours NOW at the Grand Theatre ticket box office or by calling 770-386-7343 M-F 9-5!We look forward to your part in the 2010 Spring Praise Concert! God will be Glorified!!!

Tickets ON SALE NOW for Concerts
Don’t forget to get your tickets now for our Spring Praise Concert featuring the SOF Dance Co., and the SOF Dance Studio students, THAT’S YOU!! Tickets will be $10 per person, per show. Children who take up a seat will need a ticket; children in adult’s laps do not. Dancers do not need a ticket. Please do not try to use a ticket of one show to get in again to a different show. Each show is obviously color coded. Tickets are on sale at the Grand Theatre ticket office 770-386-7343 (their new policy). Those of you who sold/purchased ads will get complimentary tickets to any show. See Tonya tech week to pick your tickets up.
We will have a limit of 500 tickets per show, so make sure you get yours early. Shows could possibly sell out, so parents, get yours NOW!
Volunteers for the show will receive free tickets, so look for our sign up sheet on the wall if you would like to help us out! It takes a lot of people to make these shows go off so well. Thank you in advance for your help and cooperation with these tickets!

UNDERWRITER DEADLINE THIS WEEK: Sat. May 1 at 12noon!
We are still accepting ads through Sat., May 1st AT 12 NOON! (Date extended!) If you are still intending on placing an ad, we would most gratefully accept it! We have only received a few ads to date, but know many of you were planning on placing one! This is always a great marketing opportunity for your business! Or a great place to show pride in your child’s accomplishments in dance for the Lord!


Fall Registration is ready to begin!!!

Again this year, we will have our early registration for the 10-11 year during the month of May. If you decide to go ahead and register, you will need to pay a discount registration fee of only $25 rather than the $30 rate. This is for the FIRST STUDENT of each family. Add $5 for each additional family member.
Don’t forget you can register completely ONLINE! Forms can be filled out online and submitted directly to our office. Payments can also be paid online! Know that any registration is not considered valid until payment is received. So if you want a particular class, be sure to register NOW (either in the studio or online). We also have registration forms available in the lobby. (After May 31, the fee goes to $30 for first student). Current students may register NOW!! Some prime time classes will fill up before the end of May. Some classes may NOT be offered depending on enrollment levels, but if you want it, sign up for it now!!!
The color leotard system for each class level will be continued this year. A few discounted NEW leotards are available in the lobby (navy and black). However, once they are gone, we are not ordering more. We love the leotard color system because it allows for more uniformity in the classes and helps give the kids a sense of accomplishment when they are promoted to the next level. You will be able to choose other styles to wear to class, but you need to have your child dressed in the appropriate color each week. We are a great dance studio and we want to portray our excellence even down to our everyday classwear. Listing of colors is available at the studio and online. Ask the office for referrals of local and online dancewear retailers.
The new expanded (because we will have FOUR ROOMS) schedule is posted in the lobby and on the web and recommendation notes are going out to most of the students this/last week. We hope that these recommendations will assist you in your planning. We will also be accepting registrations anytime over the summer.
Please call if you have questions. Fall schedule begins AUGUST 9th (pray the building is DONE)!
But take advantage of the discount and keep your spot for next year! We don’t want to miss a single one of you! Some classes will fill up before the end of May! Girls who auditioned for company have already received your letters for class registration. Please contact the office if you have questions. If you are interested in placement and did not audition, please see Ms. Theresa or Ms. Julie.

FLOWER SALE FOR DANCERS

We are able to provide flowers for you to purchase for your special dancer. This way you won’t have to make an extra trip Concert day to pick up last minute flowers! Presales are required. Order forms are in the lobby and are available ONLINE. All proceeds from the sale will go to help support the Steps of Faith Dance Company (our outreach ministry) and the Nativity Ballet. Thanks for your support!

CONCERT VIDEOS WILL BE AVAILABLE

Professional videos will be shot at all three concerts. Each DVDs is $25 (add $5 for direct shipping/otherwise shipped to SOF). You may place your order at the concerts. Checks will be made payable to the videographer.
NO OTHER VIDEOGRAPHY (home video) WILL BE ALLOWED during the concert. Due to your digital screen, we can see them and they show up in the professional video ! You are welcome to videotape dress rehearsals. No flash photography please during concerts.

Thanks for your support of our Applebees’ Pancake Breakfast on April 24! We raised around $1300 to help pay for company costumes and company ministries!!!

CLOSING DOORS...OPENING NEW ONES….

Since 2002 we have been in this great building. It has served us well, however, God has bigger plans for us. And by taking a BIG step of faith, my husband and I are investing in a building of our own for Steps of Faith Dance Studio LLC and Steps of Faith Dance Company Inc. Are we nervous? Sure! Do we trust God is going to provide even in this crazy economy? You bet! See, it is God’s economy, and not our own. So if He has a plan, we follow. I pray that each of our are led to follow us into our new building and the growing ministry He has planned. Please continue to lift us up, as we close (hopefully this week), and break ground SOON!!! And for a QUICK building process as we NEED our new place in August!!!!!~Julie
PS. Should have up sign soon: 65 Walnut Grove Rd, Cville 30120

SOF Yard Sale!!!! Saturday June 5th
Proceeds benefit Steps of Faith Dance Company. You can retain up to 50% of your earnings, and not have to work that day! If you want to get in on the selling or to volunteer, contact Ashleyanne Hensley, at gab-bodo@hotmail.com.

SUMMER PROGRAMS are SET
SOF’s Summer 2010 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.
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 $150. June 7-11 for 3-5yr olds , June 14-18 for 3-5yr olds; July 12-16 for ages 6-10, July 19-23 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 14-July 9 (ABC also July 20-22). 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 10. 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 $50-155 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! ! 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!
NEW: SOLACE For Summer Dance Intensive for Teachers/Adults, check out www.steps-of-faith.com/solace on Saturday and Sunday, June 12-13!





All accounts must be cleared/arranged in order for participation in Praise Concert! Late fees have been added to accounts that are past due. Please take care of this matter so that we can keep providing the quality Christian dance instruction you desire.


My prayer for SOF…..

Dear Lord,
May all we do bring Glory to You. May all we say be uplifting in your eyes. May SOF prosper ONLY because she is Yours. May our Concert be specifically a fragrant Praise offering to You. May you use what we do to bring someone closer to You, and to knowing Who you really are. Please forgive us when we fall short in Your eyes, and lead us to fulfill our mission abundantly. May you bless all of the families and people involved in SOF in Jesus’ holy name. May all the businesses and individuals who support us prosper because they were willing to sow a seed. Thank you for letting us play a small part in your Kingdom work….
Amen

CONGRATULATIONS TO ANNA GILBERT, SOF GRADUATE...

for winning Belhaven University's "Freshman award for outstanding artistic achievement"!!!!