HEARTBEAT STUDIOS Newsletter June 2008

What an eventful year we have had during our 2007/2008 school year.  We extend our sincere appreciation to every student and parent at Heartbeat for giving us the opportunity to share the joy of the performing arts with you and for being comfortable enough to call Heartbeat your, “Second home.”  The teachers truly love each student and care deeply that they have been a positive influence for them.  Along with providing excellent dance education, we strive to help the young dancers become good people. 

Listed below are very important reminders for all students.

• All students should have received a copy of the rehearsal and photo schedules.  If you did not receive a copy, check at the front desk or on our website. 
• Dress Rehearsal Dates at Heartbeat: May 30th “Cotton Club”, June 2nd “Beauty & the Beast”. 
• Dress Rehearsal Dates at Eastview High School:  June 3rd “Cotton Club”, June 4th “Beauty & the Beast”.
• Photo day at Heartbeat:  Sunday, June 1st. 
• Special rehearsal for Munchkin and Child level dancers in “Be Our Guest” (tea cups and tea pots) on Saturday, May 31st at 9:45am at Heartbeat. 

• All student accounts MUST BE PAID IN FULL NO LATER THAN JUNE 1st. There is no payment grace period extended for June’s tuition therefore June tuition is due on June 1st.  Dancers must have their accounts paid in full in order to participate in the recital.  (Remember that the tuition for June is ½ of your regular monthly tuition).  We thank you kindly for your cooperation. 

• Parents of young dancers in the Beauty and the Beast show are encouraged to take their children to Heartbeat’s Cotton Club performance on June 7th at 7:00pm.   Seeing Heartbeat’s advance levels, dance companies, teachers and guest artists perform is good for the young dancers’ education and inspiration.  The Cotton Club is full of collaborative production pieces that are spectacular! 

• Summer session enrollment is now open for an incredible array of classes, camps and master classes.  We highly encourage dancers and actors to continue their training during the summer for continuity and advancement in skill level.  The summer session is also the time that Heartbeat holds auditions for its dance and acting companies and the Timberwolves Beat Squad.   A very busy and exciting performance season awaits Heartbeat’s companies! 

Heartbeat in Barcelona, Spain.
Heartbeat’s teachers, Deb, Kristin, Levi and Carlos, plus 22 dancers and parents, will be heading to Barcelona, Spain in July to study dance and participate in Barcelona’s first international dance festival.  Dancers and teachers from Heartbeat’s partner studio in Tokyo and dance friends from Paris will meet up with Heartbeat’s group to participate in the festival.  Check out website:  www.taponbarcelona.com to read more about the festival and see Heartbeat staff listed as instructors/performers.  The spark that ignited dancers in Barcelona to organize the festival was Heartbeat’s outreach and invitation to them to establish a cultural exchange program and partnership much like our partnership with Yukiko Misumi’s studio in Tokyo. 

Heartbeat at the Mall of America.
On Sunday, May 25th, Heartbeat’s Sr. Tap Company and tap instructors will perform in the main rotunda of the Mall of America in honor of National Tap Dance Day.  Tap dancers from around the metro area will perform from 12:00 noon to 4:00pm.  Heartbeat’s scheduled performance time is approximately between 1:45-2:00pm. 

Heartbeat’s Fall Schedule.
Heartbeat’s 2008/2009 school year session schedule will be available by our June recital dates and on line at www.heartbeat-studios.com.  Please feel free to contact Heartbeat if you are uncertain as to which level you or your child should enroll. 

This year has been an incredible year for Heartbeat!

• We were again selected as the home of the fabulous MN Timberwolves’ Beat Squad Youth Dance Company.  The Beat Squad not only performed monthly at the Target Center, they were also guest artists at numerous public events and corporate fund raisers including working with the Casablanca Orchestra (CBO). 
• Heartbeat celebrated its 10th anniversary with a stellar performance on Jan. 5, 2008.  Professional dancers, Jason Samuels-Smith, Dianne Walker, Yukiko Misumi and Vox Medusa Dance Company joined the stage with Heartbeat’s dance companies and actors to make the celebration an evening to remember. 
• Heartbeat’s Jr. and Sr. Academies self-produced their own show, Body Language, at the Hennepin Stages Theater in Minneapolis.  We are extremely proud of this talented, creative and responsible group of dancers under the direction of Kristin. 
• Heartbeat’s Sr. Hip Hop company and the Beat Squad were featured artists at the Caponi Art Park on May 10th. 
• Heartbeat’s Sr. Rockette Company and Jr. and Sr. Hip Hop Companies were featured performers at the Harlem Globe Trotter’s game. 
• Heartbeat’s Sr. Academy students performed at Vox Medusa’s New Year’s Eve event at the Solera Café in Minneapolis. 
• Heartbeat’s Beat Squad and Hip Hop Companies performed at the University of Minnesota. 
• In July 2007, Heartbeat was selected as the only dance studio in the USA to represent our country in London at the 400th anniversary celebration of the sailing of settlers from Kent, England to Jamestown, VA.  While in London, Heartbeat’s dancers also performed at Sadlers Wells - London’s counterpart to NYC’s Carnegie Hall.  A group of 40 dancers and parents participated in the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

A little history behind Vox Medusa’s performance in Heartbeat’s “Cotton Club” show on June 7th.  As some of you are aware, Deb and Kristin lost a dear niece/cousin, Alana Lysholm, to brain cancer last December at the young age of 32.  Alana was not only a brilliant scientist; she was a gifted dancer who used dance to help her cope with her illness.  Alana almost finished choreographing a beautiful modern dance piece but had to stop because of her health. Fortunately, Alana’s mother video taped one of her choreographic sessions and captured the work in progress. It is from this video that Kristin has finished the dance for her beloved cousin.  Vox Medusa dancers, Kristin Freya, Tona Dove, Sheila Casey and Nicole Grandstrand will perform, “Alana’s Echo” during Heartbeat’s “Cotton Club” performance.

Thank you for choosing Heartbeat for your/your child’s dance education.  We are honored to take you on this life-enriching journey!  Our door is always open to you for comments, suggestions and just plain friendly talk!