TUITION is due next week for Period 7 - February 25 through March 23

THE FIRST REHEARSALFOR THE TAZWOOD DANCE COMPANY SPRING CONCERT for secondary dancing roles will be held on Monday, March 3, 7:15 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center of Illinois Central College. There are roles for children first through eighth grades in our High School Musical section. All children will be accepted and they will be grouped together according to age and ability. The children will be dressed in school clothes. This will be especially fun because it seems all of the children are really fond of this music.

Those in the show will rehearse on Monday evenings from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. beginning Monday, March 3. The show performances are April 24 at 9:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., April 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m., and April 27 at 2:30 p.m. If you have any questions, please ask Mary or call the Company at 367-9754. This is always fun for the children and a really good experience.

FUND RAISER FOR TAZWOOD DANCE COMPANY As many of you know, the TazWood Dance Company, a nonprofit, has always run on a very tight budget. I think you might also know that we are fiscally sound and run the Company in the black. Well, we have a problem: Unfortunately, the December 2006 opening night (Friday) of A Wintry Mix was cancelled due to a blizzard. This was the first time we ever had to cancel a show. Then, this past December, the Saturday night performance had only a small audience because of an ice storm we had the same day. It would seem the weather has not been kind to us. We are just now seeing the result of those nonexistent or poor showings - and are extremely short on money. As a result, we are conducting a special fundraiser.

Angie Kimbro is helping Merrilee Studios to hold a Pampered Chef Catalog Fund Raiser. Orders will be accepted from now through March 27. Catalogs and order forms are available at the front desk. Completed orders can be turned in to the receptionist at the desk or to Angie Kimbro. Cash, checks, and credit cards will be accepted. Checks should be made payable to Angie Kimbro. Orders will be available for pickup the week of April 14^th. TazWood Dance Company will receive at least 20 % of the total orders, excluding tax.

The TazWood Dance Company would really appreciate any help you can give us.

SOLOS, DUOS TRIOS FOR THE DANCE RECITAL IN THE SPRING OF 2009 - PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS

For your child to be eligible to do a solo, duo or trio in next year’s dance recital (2009), he/she must earn three points during the summer classes and then continue to earn three points during each pay period of the 2008-09 school year. Points will be assigned to each type of class taken.

• The core subjects - tap, ballet, jazz, and tumbling - will each count for one point.
• All of the other classes count for a ½ point each - pointe, hip hop, modern, theatre dance, acting, and clogging.
• Each Mini Camp will count as a ½  point.
• The All Day Camp will count as 3 points.

The reason for this change is that students who wish to do a solo, duo, trio, should be taking at least some of the core subjects, the ones that actually make you a dancer.

In addition, every student who wishes to do a solo, duo, trio in next year’s dance recital (2009) MUST be enrolled in a ballet class during the 2008-09 school year. (Boys are exempt from this ruling, but they MUST be enrolled in a jazz or tap class.)

The reason for this is that ballet is what makes all of the other dance forms look good. If a child is really serious about being a good dancer, ballet must be a part of the education. 

SUMMERTIME CLASSES AT MERRILEE STUDIOS BEGIN THE WEEK OF JUNE 2 AND RUN THROUGH JULY 31. (CLASSES WILL NOT BE HELD THE WEEK OF JULY 14-18 BECAUSE OF DANCE CAMP.) MOST CLASSES WILL BE ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS, MORNINGS AND EVENINGS, BUT THIS IS NOT SET IN STONE.

PREREGISTRATION FOR SUMMER CLASSES GIVES YOU AN INPUT TO THE DAYS AND TIMES OF THE CLASSES.

PREREGISTRATION BEGINS WITH THIS NEWSLETTER AND ENDS APRIL 10.

REGULAR REGISTRATION FOR SUMMER CLASSES BEGINS APRIL 14.

CORE CLASSES OFFERED

All age & grade requirements are based on the 2007-08 school year and age as of June 1, 2008

• Tap for preschoolers through adults
• Ballet for preschoolers through adults
• Jazz for first graders through adults
• Pointe (approved by Mary)
• Hip Hop for second graders through adults
• Tumbling for preschool and older
• Modern for fourth grade and up and must be also enrolled in a ballet class
• Theatre Dance for second grade and above and must be enrolled in a ballet and/or jazz class

SPECIAL CLASSES FOR THE SUMMER ONLY

All age & grade requirements are based on the 2007-08 school year and age as of June 1, 2008

• Adult Beginner tap, ballet, and jazz classes
• Ballet class for the serious students - a 1 ½  hour complete ballet class (advanced levels only) and taught by Mary.
• Pilates mat class for twelve year olds through adults taught by Mary. This class will firm your abs and make you more flexible. This class will be thirty minutes in length.  It will also include stretching and additional conditioning.
• All Boys Tumbling Class for boys first grade and older and taught by Dan.
• All Boys Ballet Class for boys at least 8 years of age. It will be a FREE class.
• High Level Tumbling Class for those who can do back handsprings by themselves and taught by Dan.
• Acting Classes will include two levels: 1^st to 4^th grades for 1½ hour class per week and 5^th grade and up for a 2 hour class per week. They will be taught by Alan Walker. Alan is an adjunct theatre director, sound designer, and choreographer.  He studied acting at Center Theatre Training Center and Second City in Chicago.  He went on later to study at ICC and ISU.  He has traveled the country playing comedy clubs and appeared on An Evening at the Improv (Comedy Central).
• Beginner Clogging classes will be for third grade through adults. They will be taught by Courtney Smith. Courtney clogged for about 5 years and performed with a clogging group.

SPECIAL CAMPS AND MINI CAMPS FOR THE SUMMER ONLY

All age & grade requirements are based on the 2007-08 school year and age as of June 1, 2008

Mini Camps for 5-7 year olds only

• Princess Camp To include dance, stories, crafts, and games relating to your favorite make believe princesses, 9-10 a.m., June 23-27, taught by Lida, $50
• Storybook Camp To include dance, stories, crafts, and games relating to your favorite fairy tales and stories, 9-10 a.m., July 21-25, taught by Lida, $50

Mini Camp for 7-9 year olds only

• Mini Cheer Camp Including cheering, dance team moves, tumbling for cheerleaders including mounts, 1-2 p.m., June 16-20, taught by Courtney and Dan, $50

For those who have completed first grade through high school

• All Day Dance Camp 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., July 14-18, taught by Mary, Dan, and one other teacher, $165 (Because this camp is so popular, a $50 nonrefundable deposit must be paid by June 1 to hold your child’s place in camp.) This camp includes ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, and modern techniques plus dance history, nutrition talks and DVDs.  The children will be grouped according to age and ability.  The camp will culminate with a performance on Friday, July 18

PREREGISTRATION FOR MERRILEE STUDIOS SUMMER CLASSES 2008

ACCEPTED THROUGH APRIL 10

Preregister now and you will have an input to the days and times of your child’s classes. Regular registration begins April 14.  Because I have had problems with email notifications of classes, you will receive a written  list of your child’s class times, teachers, and costs in the studio, no later than the last week of classes in May. Costs are based on our present rate scale, but for 2 four week periods (8 weeks).  Take the present cost and double it for the 8 week period.

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