What a fantastic start of the dance season it has been so far!! I can't believe it's already the end of NOVEMBER! This will be a pretty lengthy email, but we have a lot of things in the works, so grab your favorite beverage and calendar and lets get to it.... !

Fun Fact: Only 4 more Saturdays until Christmas!!

We are still taking new student registrations in classes with open spots, so please let your friends know that there is still time to sign up!

We also have several 6 week programs that will start up again soon: Adult HipHop, Shining Stars, Divas & Dudes, Leaps and Turns, our AcroArts Level program and more! Be on the lookout for more info !

2022 Spring Performance DVDs:

Finally! Thank you for your extended patience with the show videos. We did get the first drop off of DVDs and will be sorting and sending out pickup information as soon as possible. The video company had several issues over the summer with equipment/editing and then a family illness that set them back and extended their editing/delivery time. We will be going down the list in order of purchase for pickups and continuing through the next couple dropoffs. Thank you again for your patience!!

PARADE:

A Parade specific email was sent out earlier this morning for those who signed up for the 69th Annual Colonial Heights Christmas parade being held next Tuesday, December 6th. Thank you to everyone who is participating! We have over 200 taking part at this point and are so excited to showcase our dance studio home to the tri-city area. Our older dancers have been practicing hard over the last month and we've had dance mom volunteers rhinestoning over 50 brand new parade costumes!!

It is not too late to sign up to be a float rider. Just send a quick email or come by the front office and we will give you all the details you will need to join us next Tuesday.

The Christmas Parade "after party" will be directly after the end of the parade. Meet us back at the studio for some hot cocoa and snacks to celebrate a job well done !! Click the SignUp Genius below if you'd like to volunteer to party prep or bring some goodies for the kids!

SignUp Genius LInk:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B4FA9AD2AA3FD0-genia

Parade Pre-Order Sweatshirts should be in this weekend. We will send out an email once they are counted, sorted and ready for pickup. We will have a VERY limited quantity of extra sweatshirts available on Monday (first come, first serve).

Spring Performance 2023 Costumes:

Teachers started measuring students for costumes in early November during classes. If you feel like your child was absent/sick during the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving break, send us a quick email so that we can check status of their measurements.

More information will be sent out in the new year about costumes, Spring Performance, Picture Week and ticket information.

A FEW GENERAL REMINDERS TO NOT FORGET!! Please....

* ... have the correct attire and shoes for each class. Students learn the best when they are dressed for success and have all the necessary tools.

*...write name or at least initials on all dance shoes and items being brought into the classrooms, including water bottles. There is a Lost & Found basket found under the bench in the "dancer hall".. please check this periodically or if something has been left or misplaced. Unclaimed items are donated every couple of months.

*... have warmups/jackets/sweaters on the students when waiting outside to enter the classrooms when it's cold outside. Warm bodies stretch easier and have a lower risk of being pulled. It's starting to get colder outside, so layering over dance wear will keep the bodies warm through their warmup time and they can peel off the layers as needed. The building is not insulated and with 3 studio doors opening at the same time, it can be chili at the start of class, so please have them dressed warmly.

*...try to have young students use the restroom right before leaving the house if possible or bring them in to use the restroom right before class if needed. That should help with restroom breaks needed in the middle of classes. This is especially directed towards our preschool age through about 6/7 year old classes, as they like to "visit" the restroom and use the soap and smell goods...LOL. Once one child goes... they ALL want to go, so it does take away learning time from class.

*...tag us in your social media posts! FB, Instagram and TikTok !

#growingupGJDC #weareGJDC #GJDC2022

Last PARADE PRACTICE for Dancers: (9 and up) Saturday, Dec.3rd/9am-10:30am. Please be dressed to dance outside, bring sneakers and jazz shoes. If parade fees have not been paid by Saturday's practice, it will be pulled through your account portal ($35).

Colonial Heights Christmas Parade - Tuesday, December 6th, 7pm. Studio CLOSED. Sign up sheets are still available to all GJDC Families who are interested in riding the float. *Please see previous parade email for more details about lineup, etc. We encourage all GJDC dance families to participate with us OR come and cheer us on!

Winter Break - December 21-January 3rd, 2023 - Studio CLOSED

*Please note this may be different from school systems' winter breaks.

January 4th, 2023 - Classes resume!

February 2023- Party Hearty Week/Bring a Friend

More details to follow! <3

March 20th - International Day of Happiness

Spring Break - April 3-8, 2023 - Studio Closed

Picture Week - Tentative April 17-22nd - No Regular Classes - Headshots & Individual Portraits

Spring Performance - Tentative May 11-13th, 2023

NOTE: We do NOT close for Parent/Teacher, Student holidays or half school days. We will always let you know when we plan to close for a holiday WELL in advance. We do usually follow ColHts/Chesterfield County Weather/Emergency related closings BUT we will ALWAYS post on FB/IG by NOON on that day and email along with list ourselves closed on NBC12 online, CBS6 and Channel8 News business closings when available.

Our lobby is OPEN and we have new GJDC merchandise coming out this week along with lots of clearance dancewear still available! Great for stocking stuffers and under the tree! Don't miss out and get ahead of the growth spurts!!

If you haven't gotten a picture by our new photo wall and neon sign, stop by and share with us on social media with the hashtag #growingupGJDC and #GJDC2022.

Monday-Thursday/4pm-9:30pm

Friday/4pm-8pm

Saturday/8am-12pm

(804)524-9391

Account questions and misc can also be emailed to us at DancinGJDC@aol.com.