Dear Menlo Park Academy of Dance Families,
Hoping this finds you all safe and in good health and spirits. We are in our 7th successful week of online classes, keeping our students positively engaged in learning and enjoying their dance community. My sincerest thanks to you all for your continued loyalty and support of our school. I am excited to bring you some uplifting news about our Spring and Summer events at the studio.
SAVE THE DATE! Due to the continued shelter-in-place and social distancing guidelines, we will be taking the unprecedented step of performing our beloved traditional June Recital in the form of a DANCE FESTIVAL via Zoom on SATURDAY JUNE 27TH.
Online lessons will continue through June 26th and each class will have their choreographic presentation recorded on Zoom. The recording will take place during class time which will then be presented in a video broadcast via Zoom on Saturday June 27th. There will be live interactions with faculty during the video presentation, and the opportunity for students to be recognized and highlighted for their 5 year, 10 year and senior graduation awards. We are working with a professional team of technical advisors on the logistics to make the Dance Festival an enjoyable culmination of dance for your entire family. More details to follow, including start time, show performance order, and the opportunity to make a donation in lieu of purchasing tickets.
COSTUMES that have been ordered for the classes up to and including level III will be available for curb-side pick up during the week of May 25th. Students will have the opportunity to wear their much longed for costumes for a class dress rehearsal, during the class recording and then again during the video broadcast. You will be receiving an email from the MPAD Office with further details of costume pick up.
FIVE & TEN YEAR ACHIEVEMENT AWARD recipients will be acknowledged this year as always. If this is your students year to receive an award, please send their name and class to [email protected] no later than May 16th.
The SUMMER INTENSIVE & JUNIOR SUMMER INTENSIVE will now take place in July online via Zoom. The programs will be scaled down so as to give our students more freedom to enjoy less computer time over the summer. Many of your favorite guest teachers will be once again joining us, including Erin Yarbrough (Smuin Ballet), Valerie Harmon (Milwaukee Ballet), Leslie Larson (Ballet West). Jazz, Contemporary, Musical Theatre and PBT classes will also be offered. More information to follow on how to register for the Summer Intensive (Intermediate & Advanced levels) and the Junior Summer Intensive (must have completed Ballet III or Ballet IV or Ballet V).
SUMMER CLASSES will be offered as usual during July and August for all levels – Pre Dance through Advanced, also via Zoom. A schedule and registration will be posted on our web-site soon. As always with our summer classes, students may sign up or drop in for single classes or by the week.
We hope that by continuing to offer online Zoom classes throughout the summer, our students have something viable and consistent in their lives. It will also ensure the future stability of the studio by helping cover the leases until we start our 2020-21 school year schedule of classes. We are awaiting further direction from our local government and the California Governor as to how to proceed with Fall classes, but please know that we remain diligent in our efforts to continue with our tradition of guiding and nurturing your students in their artistic endeavors, while keeping them safe.
My deepest gratitude for your patronage of Menlo Park Academy of Dance.
Sincerely,
Miss Sarah
Please contact the MPAD office via email if you have any questions: [email protected]