- 2022 Tutu Fun Run for Darby’s Dancers February 1, 2022
A big THANK YOU to all the wonderful community members who supported this fundraiser for Darby's Dancers, our program that provides dance classes to children with special needs. February 22, 2022 was the picture perfect morning to stroll around Santee Lakes in Santee, CA for a beautiful 2.2 mile fun run! 125 participants as well as some extra family members, children, and bystanders dressed up in tutus for this amazing event.
At approximately 9am, racers took their marks, while Jack, one of our amazing Darby's Dancers, shouted Ready, Set, Go!
It was incredible to see so many families and groups come together to support this life-changing program. We even had the Santana Cross Country team come out to run the course. They helped to guide everyone from the top of Lake 5 down to take 2 laps around Lake 3, then straight up the west side of the Lakes to the finish line waiting for them at the North end of Lake 5.
Later some of the Darby's Dancers danced for a cheering crowd of racer and supporters. Some of the Expressions Dancers who are on Performing Company performed solos and our Smile Squad (EDMC's Community Performance Group) danced for the crowd to celebrate this wonderful event and the growth of Expressions' Darby's Dancers Program!!!
If you are a supporter of Darby's Dancers, we've created this badge just for you. Right-Click the image below to save it as your phone's backdrop or profile photo!
- January Newsletter January 3, 2021
2021 is off to a great start! We have the power to make this year a great one, and we believe it will be!
This month we will be focusing on Self-Awareness in our classes! Talking with the dancers about what it means to know yourself, your behaviors, and your own unique needs!
Looking ahead to Spring Recital 2021: A Time to Dance! We believe now more than ever, is a time for us to DANCE!
We selected this theme, which is based on the scripture from Ecclesiastes “to every thing there is a season...a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance,” because we believe it is a time to dance! We want ALL our dancers to be a part of this return to the stage.
We recognize that there are still a lot of unknown factors for the spring. However, one thing we do know is that we can get our students on stage and we can provide a wonderful experience! Our Winter Showcase is proof-positive that we are headed in the right direction! Due to the changing landscape with our costume suppliers, we have a deadline of January 15 for students to opt-in to our Spring Recital. After that date, we cannot guarantee that we can obtain costumes on time. There is an opt in form in your weekly email to fill out if your dancer plans to perform for you in the big show!
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- January 4: Classes resume
- January 4-9: All Classes are on Zoom for the first week of January!
- Join in the fun in the Dance Family Facebook Group with EDMC's Funniest Home Videos all week long
- Also, it's Pajama Week!
- January 11: In-studio classes resume in cohorts
- January 15: Last day to opt in for our SPRING RECITAL
- January 16: Dance Descendants Camp 1:00-3:00pm Ages 5-9
- January 22: Spring Recital Q&A Meeting
During this time of heightened Covid cases and the need for additional caution is imperative, our studio remains fully tech-enabled to allow for flexibility for students and families who need to stay home. All classes have the ability to live stream into the class. Zoom links are included in all weekly email communication to our families. There is no need for your dance training to be To keep all our students and staff healthy, please review our Safer Studio™ policies and Health Screening procedures. Remember, when it doubt...Zoom it!
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- December Newsletter December 10, 2020
Expressions' Value of the Month: Gratitude! During dance classes this month, our instructors will focus on teaching this important value of expressing thanks for all that you have and everything that others do for you.
Nutcracker Re-Imagined and Children's Winter Showcase is now going to be a Live Stream Video Production! We are so excited to be able to have the kids perform on a real stage at the Kroc Theater in La Mesa. Ticketing and Viewing options and more details will be emailed to all participating families in your weekly emails.
Thank you to all the families who donated to our Santee Santa's Gift Card Drive. Together we raised hundreds of dollars for local families in need this holiday season!
- November News November 5, 2020
Expressions' Value of the Month: Generosity! During dance classes this month, our instructors will focus on teaching this important value of finding joy in giving and caring for others. Parents can continue the conversation at home to inspire children to give freely and serve others. Our Dance Family Facebook Group will have some great ideas for families throughout the month, as we all move into the holiday season!
Thursday, Nov. 5th @ 7:30pm - DANCE FAMILY CHAT
During this chat, we will discuss in-studio dance classes and Spring Performance plans. All students in performing classes are eligible to participate in spring performances! Please REGISTER AHEAD OF TIME with the link in your Friday Email!
Monday, Nov. 16th - SPRING RECITAL COSTUMES ORDERED AND FEES CHARGED
Spring Costumes already?!?! YES! Custom-made costumes take multiple months to construct and deliver. As all dance studios have a Spring performance, our costume companies have cautioned us that if we don't get our order in by Thanksgiving, they cannot guarantee that we will receive our costumes in time for our June performance. So YES, we are already planning for some amazing spring performances for your dancers to look forward to and YES, we do need to bill for the costumes on November 16th.
Nov. 16th-21st - November Express Yourself Week - 80's Theme
Nov. 23rd- 29th - Thanksgiving Break - Studio Closed
Santee Santas donates toys and money to local families in need every year during the holiday season to help bring joy and happiness to our community. Expressions Dance has been a donation center for the charity for years, and our annual Winter Children's Showcase allows children to experience the joys of giving to Santa to help other children in need. Last year our dance families donated 213 toys!!! This year, due to the ongoing pandemic, gift-giving to this charity will look a little different, but can still have a great impact on both the charity and the donors. We have been asked to replace our regular donation of unwrapped toys with gift cards of various amounts for retail and grocery stores.
Please consider donating a gift card this holiday season. Our giving tree will be displayed inside the dance studio starting November 2nd through December 12th (date of the Winter Showcase). The first 100 families to donate will receive a very special EDMC Christmas Ornament made by our very own National Honor Society for Dance Arts students.
- Thank you for donating to Darby’s Dancers! September 22, 2020
Thank you EDMC Dance Family for your generous donations to help our Darby's Dancers program continue to bless the lives of children in our community! Thanks to YOU, our dance family, we have been able to cover the cost of dance classes, costumes, and shoes for local children with special needs and abilities since 2018! With your donation today, we hope to continue this amazing program, and our community thanks you for your generosity!
The amount of love that has been shared with us is incredible. We are inspired by all our students every day, but our Darby's classes bring an extra level of joy, achievement, and inspirational power, that we just can't live without! Here are a couple extra special words of encouragement, and proof that your donation dollars help to change lives forever!