Sunday, December 18, 2011

The most FUN time of year!!




We have been having SO much fun this month with our holiday themed lesson plans!! It is our favorite time of year - as well as our students. We just wanted to take a minute and let you know how thankful we are for all of you......our student's families. We feel very blessed to be given the opportunity to work with your little ones. Thank you! We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and many blessings in the upcoming year!!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Happy Fall Y'all

With the leaves changing and a chill in the air, we are enjoying the change in season here in Charlotte. We are excited to still meet new faces each week with new registrations. We are growing like pumpkins on a vine. Here's a fun pumpkin pantomime for the spirit of the fall. Enjoy!






Jack o' Happy

This is Jack o' Happy (make a happy face)
This is Jack o' Sad (make a sad face)
This is Jack o' Sleepy (make a sleepy face)
This is Jack o' Mad (make a mad face)
This is Jack in broken pieces small. (open up hands)
Baked in a pie he's best of all. YUM, YUM! (rub tummy)

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Off to a great start!!

We are off to an amazing start here in Northern Virginia! September flew by so fast, it feels like we were just having registrations and now classes are well underway. Our classes are filling up fast but we have a few openings left, so don't let your child's friends miss out!!

Speaking of time flying by-One of coolest things about being with certain schools for so long is getting to teach the younger siblings of some of my former students. I remember when some of these dancers were in the infant room and now they are in classes with personalities and voices, it is so fun to watch these dancers grow. Before I know it, it will be the last class before they go off to kindergarten!!

It is such a pleasure to teach your children and introduce them to the arts, even for a short period of time, thanks for giving me that joy everyday!!

Happy Fall,
Jenn Delfin- Northern Virginia

Monday, September 19, 2011

Ballantyne Preschool of the Arts

We are excited to be a part of the Ballantyne Preschool of the Arts. The new preschool's curriculum combines traditional education with the arts. Children are taught math, science, reading, writing and social skills in a creative environment that integrates visual arts and the performing arts of dance, drama and music. LPCW's curriculum fits in nicely with their education objectives. We are thrilled that an opportunity like this is being provided for preschoolers in our area. It gives them an exposure to the arts while learning. How much fun!! We look forward to an exciting year here.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Dancing is AWESOME!


Things are going great here in the Triangle!! We have been having so much fun in our first week of classes! I love meeting all the new students. We have a great group a little movers!
Today, one of my four year old friends told me, "Mrs. Summer, this class is my favorite part of the day! Dancing is AWESOME!" I have to agree with her, dancing is always my favorite part of the day too!




Tuesday, September 6, 2011

And We're Off!!!

We are getting off to a great start in the Charlotte region. DEMOS, DEMOS, DEMOS!! Every child enrolled at all of our Charlotte centers will have a chance to try out our classes this week. We already have children registered and our classes are filling up fast, so don't miss out on the fun!! We are starting out our year with the wonderful "Wizard of Oz". This is bringing much excitement. For example, we stretch in our straddle position with "Storm Rocks". We rock from side to side in the terrible tornado with Dorothy and land like the house in the middle for a really good stretch. So, "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" to LPCW. We are thrilled to be starting our 2011-2012 year.

Look for us soon on the Charlotte Mecklenburg School's approved vendor list. We could be coming to a school near you!!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Chesterbrook Academy Open House!



I love Open Houses!! This past Saturday I was at the Open House for Chesterbrook Academy in Chalfont, PA. Current and prospective families were able to see our dance class in action! It was great showing off some of the many fun things we do in class each week. A couple of our current students showed up to lend a helping hand and show some of the parents what they love to do in class! I hope everyone who joined us had a great time and I look forward to seeing some of our new dancers signed up for class with us this fall!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Where did the summer go??!!!!!








It's hard to believe that we only have 3 weeks left in our summer program!! The time has flown by and I guess that's because we have been having SO much fun!! We have been learning many new things....from the names of our muscles to the Mexican Hat Dance (we love that one!). While we are sad to see the summer end we are getting everything ready and gearing up for the fall when our regular dance season begins. Beginning in August be on the lookout for our registration poster at your school so you can sign your little one up for a year of unparalleled learning and fun! Hope to see your child in class this fall!!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Summer Olympics!!

Summer is going well in Northern Virginia! Its so great to be able to beat the heat inside, but still have fun activities to get our students moving.

One of my favorite summer themes is the Olympic theme we work on in July. Even though it's not Summer Olympic season, its always fun to remind the dancers of the special events and incorporate them in our dance classes. The students really enjoy the torch run and runners stretch but the crowd favorite seems to be the "broad jump" when we have a friendly competition to see who has the longest jumps. I am always so impressed at the athleticism this dancers have! We might even have some of these dancers premiering in the 2028 Olympics!

Happy Summer,
Jennifer Delfin, Northern Virginia

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Summer Dance!

Summer is officially under way in the Philly area! Our New Jersey centers had their first classes this week and we are so happy to see so many new faces joining us!!


Our dancers LOVE our Winnie the Pooh theme. We have so much fun dancing with Pooh and his friends! We are learning how to dance with our whole bodies and the children are having a great time making happy and sad and bored faces to go with some of the Pooh character dances. It is so great seeing them become the different characters and making up unique dances for each one. Our favorite dance so far seems to be the Bouncy Tigger Dance!! More fun to come next week!

Young Actors Workshop!

For this blog I wanted to focus on the Young Actor's Workshop program. I spend so much time talking about our Little People's programs in Northern Virginia that I forget to mention how awesome the Young Actor's Workshop classes are in this region.

The Young Actor's Workshop offers theatre classes to students ages 6-12 that are taught by trained professionals in the acting and theatre. This summer we are offering a number of week long acting camps in local schools taught by Miss Christine; a Theatre major at Shenandoah University. This summer Miss Christine will take her onstage expertise and share it with our students while using our time-tested curriculum. We are so excited to have her on board and knows she has so much to offer your actor.

The Young Actor's program is steadily growing in Northern Virginia and we offer classes all around the region. Please contact us see if its being offered in your school!

Happy Summer!
Jenn Delfin, Northern Virginia

Monday, June 20, 2011

Let's Go, New Jersey!



Our New Jersey centers started their LPCW summer classes today!!! We are ready to get the ball rolling and get summer officially started. Don't wait too long! Space is limited and classes fill up quickly! Please don't hesitate to email or call with any questions.


Summer has gotten off to a fantastic start in Lehigh Valley! It's so exciting to see so many familiar faces as well as a whole group of new ones! We are having such a great time learning how to stretch our muscles, explore movement, and find out just how creative we can be!

Happy summer, everyone!!!

Monday, June 6, 2011

"I Feel Like I'm Flying When I Dance"

"Hey Miss Annie! I feel like I'm flying when I dance!"

These are the beautiful words that ended our school year curriculum a couple of weeks ago, and they've stayed with me since. They came from a student who continues to inspire me and who is able to make you feel instantly better just because she's there.

I feel like I'm flying when I dance ... how true this is! Through the arts we are able to escape our every day lives and go into a special magical place where anything is possible. Watching students during class you believe anything IS possible. You can see them flying like a kite, becoming a terrible dragon, and even leaping over an entire river. Dance helps us tap into our creative thinking and therefore become whatever and whomever we like. Watching the children's learning/thinking/moving process in an LPCW is magical, and the glorious words from one of our students prove that ... I feel like I'm flying when I dance.

Lets all learn to fly with our children. Summer classes start this week and it's not too late to join the experience!

Friday, June 3, 2011

A year in review

Wow! I can't hide my shock when I look at the calendar and see it already June!! The fall session flew by in Northern Virginia.

It was quite the eventful year; we welcomed a new baby to the LPCW family, lost almost 2 weeks of classes due to snow and closed the year with the wedding of one our instructors. Despite all of this we still managed to have a great session and all the parents and dancers have been so patient as we continue to grow.

It was so nice coming back and doing registrations the last couple of weeks, seeing all of you and hearing your well wishes. I can't wait to get back to teaching this summer and seeing how much we have learned.

Believe it or not, summer classes start next week and summer camps start at the end of June! Look for information at your child's school and don't forget to register.

Happy Spring!
~LPCW, Northern Virginia~

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

What a Blast!





Summer is just around the corner! Yay!

We had soooooooo much fun during our "parent informances" this past week! It was so wonderful to see so many smiling faces. All of the children were so very excited to show their loved ones all of the exciting material they have been working so hard on. We had parents, grandparents, and siblings all there to watch our classes, and everyone did a fantastic job! It was such a privilege to watch all of the little stars perform.

Just a reminder, everyone! The fun may have just ended for our school year session, but the summer program is just around the corner! We have 10 weeks ahead of us full of nothing but fun, learning, and movement!

"Dancing is like dreaming with your feet!" ~Constanze

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Registrations in Central New York!


What a FANTASTIC start to summer here in Central New York! Lots of new centers in this area are now offering our curriculum to their students, and how happy they are to express themselves creatively through the arts with LPCW!

LPCW has been in Central New York for a year now and we've done nothing but grow and grow. Not only are we offering classes in the Syracuse area; but we're expanding to Elmira, Corning, and Ithaca! The support of the arts in this area is great, and I couldn't be more thankful for all of the great response and positive feedback about what our program brings to the arts community.

We are so thankful for the chance to teach young children the joy of dance and theatre and look forward to many more years of learning and growing through the arts! It all starts when we're kids ... lets get them involved now!

Thanks Central New York for your passion for the arts!

Monday, May 30, 2011

Why I would choose LPCW Summer Camp...

I am not a parent, not yet. I will be a parent soon enough. Going from school to school, you notice different activities your child can be involved in, especially over the summer. My husband and I started thinking about what we would want our little boy to be involved in as he gets older. Of course, the first thing that came to mind was "he can do whatever activity he chooses". If he likes baseball, great; if he likes music, pick an instrument little man! This summer I have seen soccer, gymnastics, computer, and music. All of those activities are enriching to a young child. Each activity provides something that will educate and nurture a young mind. Little People's Creative Workshop offers such a great combination of all of the above mentioned activities. Dance and theater are proven to be a great self-esteem and self-confidence builder. Each class focuses on fine tuning the loco motor and non-loco motor skills. Dance will do the obvious such as increasing flexibility, balance and coordination. Most importantly it nurtures the creative mind of a young child. The Little People's Creative Workshop nurtures the entire child. Like I said earlier, I am not a parent, not for another two and half months. Though I will not be enrolling my little one in activities for another two to three more years, I know that my little one will be attending an LPCW each week! Of course, only if he wants to but, I have not met a child that did not want to:)

What a special week!! All of our special "Parent Informances" went off without a hitch!! Every single dancer gave their best performance and relished in their special moment in the spotlight when taking final bows and curtsies. Thanks to everyone in the Charlotte Mecklenburg region for your support of our theatre arts family. We have had an awesome year!!

As the weather heats up, we are looking ahead to summer. We have already started with our registrations and classes start next week June 6th. Check out some reasons to get your child in our award winning program!! Below are some of the benefits of young children involved in dance and the arts, taken from National Dance Education Organization (http://www.ndeo.org/).

-Children move naturally. They move to achieve mobility, they move to express a thought or feeling, and they move because it is joyful and feels wonderful.



  • -Physical Development- Dance involves a greater range of motion, coordination, and strength than most other physical activities. Dance utilizes the entire body and is an excellent form of exercise for total body fitness. Young children are naturally active, but dance offers an avenue to expand movement possibilities and skills.


  • -Emotional Maturity- Children enjoy the opportunity to express their emotions and become aware of themselves and others through creative movement. Movement within a class offers a structured outlet for physical release while gaining awareness and appreciation of oneself and others.


  • Social Awareness- Children learn to communicate ideas to others through real and immediate mode of body movement. Children quickly learn to work in a group dynamic.


  • Cognitive Development- Young children will create movement spontaneously when presented with movement ideas or problems that can be solved with a movement response. Movement provides the cognitive loop between the idea and the solutiion.

DANCE IS A POWERFUL ALLY FOR DEVELOPING MANY ATTRIBUTES OF A GROWING CHILD.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Positions Open in NC Triangle....

We're giving a quick shout out---we are looking for a dynamic teacher for the NC Triangle area region for this summer!  We've had a great response with our classes and are in need of an instructor!  If you or someone you know would love to spend the summer working with young ones in dance---contact us ASAP.

Have a great Monday!

Monday, May 9, 2011

It's almost summer!!!!



We are leaping into summer and getting so excited!! Maybe it's because we live at the beach but you can just feel the excitement in the air! We are finishing up our regular dance season and preparing for parent observation at the end of the month (the kids are all so excited to show mom and dad what they have learned!). We hope to see you there. Also, don't forget to sign your little one up for our 10 week summer camp beginning June 6th. Its a great way to give your child something fun and new to do over the summer break!

Friday, May 6, 2011

It's finally warm again!



What beautiful weather we have been having lately! I know we are all so glad to see flowers blooming and sunshine beaming! We have been having such a wonderful time in dance class. The children have been working so hard and are so excited to show everyone what they have accomplished! This has been a fantastic year. We've been working so hard and everyone has learned so many exciting things. I know we are all sad to see the end of such a fun dance year, but we are definitely ready to show off our moves!

Sunday, May 1, 2011

A New Month, New Movement

As we jump into May, I can't help but feel excited about what we have to offer. The kids will begin working on a new lesson plan. This month we will begin to plan for our parent observation day. I hope that every parent will ask their child about what they learned in their LPCW classes. Maybe even have them show a few things before the "big day". It's always fun to have Mom, Dad or even Grandma get involved in a little dance or theater at home. Can't wait to see you at observation day.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

National Dance Week!

Spring has finally arrived in the Philly area and we could not be happier! This is always a great time of the school year for our dancers to start thinking about what they have been learning each week in class. We decided to celebrate National Dance Week by showing off for our classmates one thing we learned in dance class that we are most proud of! Our students showed off everything from backbends to tendus and passes and leaps to plies! Each student really thought hard about what they wanted to showcase as their "best" dance and they all did great! The parents will be getting a picture of their dancer showing off his/her "best" dance soon and I know everyone is very excited to see how the pictures turned out!!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Gearing Up For Summer!

Our last month of classes is about to begin, and that can only mean one thing ... Summer classes start in only a couple of weeks!

Summer is a great time for kids to join LPCW! What a great way to add the arts and some structure to our children's summer. We still offer classes each week, but at a nicely reduced rate. Children and parents alike love this!

It's not too late to sign up and have your children start learning and living through the arts. Let their creativity soar!!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Parent Observation is Coming Up!

LPCW Parents~

Our spring parent observation or "Informance" will be coming up soon!  Be sure to mark your calendars for the week of May 21-27 at your child's regular class time.  Students are getting excited about inviting you to come and see a special class---showing off what we have been learning since January!  Hope to see you then!

Monday, April 18, 2011

Free Local Events for Families...

Now is a great time to start researching what will be going on in your community for summer family fun!  Many communities host 'Music in the Park', or 'Movies on the Lawn' or 'Theatre in the Park' type events for families that are free.  These are wonderful opportunities for your children to experience theatre and music at a great price:  FREE!!  Check your local papers or call your local chamber of commerce or tourism office.

Many National Landmarks host great art events for families in the spring and summer---any that are surrounding you are great ones to check!

Happy Spring!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Fun for You & Your Children....

Check out the Eagle Cam at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens!  You can get an up close look at three eaglets and their parents in the nest.  It is a live cam--and so fun to watch.

The past few months we have been working on tempo--one of our exercises was 'Birdie in the Nest, Birdie Out of the Nest'; so your children will have a neat connection with what is going on inside this real nest!  Enjoy!  {Warning:  it has been known to be addicting to watch this cam!}

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Eastern NC Summer Info....

Summer is almost here!  We are gearing up for a great summer program here in Eastern NC---not to be missed!  In addition to our weekly classes offered onsite at daycares and preschools, here are extras being offered in Greenville, NC for Summer 2011:

Weekly Preschool Community Dance Classes at the Music Academy:  Wednesdays, 11:30-12:15, June 8-August 10  (for students not in daycare or preschool during the summer)

Preschool Dance Camps:  weeks of June 20-24 & July 18-22, 9am-12pm each day at the Music Academy on Red Banks Rd.

2011 ACTING CAMPS FOR AGES 6-14:


Half-Day Camps:


Lights, Cameras, Action!:  June 20-24, 1-5 pm each day at The Oakwood School

Phantom of the Theatre:  July 11-15, 1-5 pm each day at The Oakwood School

Theatre Rocks!: July 18-22, 1-5 pm each day at The Oakwood School


Full-Day Camps:


Acting Campservatory #1:  August 1-5, 9am-5pm daily at the Music Academy

Acting Campservatory #2:  August 8-12, 9am-5pm at the Music Academy

_______

Don't miss the exciting summer---give us a call today to register your child!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Flowers in Bloom

There is excitement in the spring air in the Charlotte Mecklenburg region. Just like the flowers are blooming, our students are blossoming into beautiful dancers. They are mastering those last few skills before showing them off for our special "Parent Informances" in May. They can't wait to show what we have been up to since January. Mark your calendars for May 23-27 during your child's regular dance day and time. Hope to see you there.

ps- Don't forget your cameras!!

Monday, April 11, 2011

Young Child's Creativity....

The movie Monsters, Inc actually came from a 30 year-old man's drawings that he did when he was 3!  Don't discount your young child's early creative endeavors----they could lead to big things! And always be sure to encourage them--we were all meant to be creative.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Young Actors Filming.....

Turning the science room into a movie studio!  Young Actors Workshop is our acting program for ages 6-14.  We have a blast!  Check out these great pictures of one of our acting classes working on the filming of their spring presentation yesterday.  Screen acting is very different from stage acting--we have been able to work on skills that we are unable to spend much time working on when rehearsing for the stage.  Each scene has to be taken from several angles---grueling work!  A local filmmaking student worked with us and is filming our spring project that we will be presenting as a movie night in May.  Join in the fun---we have several great acting camps, workshops, and classes that we will be offering this summer.  Check with the director of your region to get a schedule!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Successful Creative Parenting.....

Taken from Joanne Bath's studio notes:

Joanne Bath
THE P's OF SUCCESSFUL PARENTING:

Positive Parental Involvement
Play
Posture for fun!
Practice things together
Positive environment
Praise
Participation
Peers
Play music
Persist



THE C's OF SUCCESSFUL PARENTING:

Cheer
Congratulate
Change
Conquer
Challenge
Contemplate
be Considerate
be Consistent
be Creative
be Calm
be Cognizant
be in Control
be Confident

Monday, April 4, 2011

Ballet in Cinema!!! Not to miss!

Be sure to check out www.balletincinema.com!  This is a great opportunity to see professional performances at wonderful prices! See if there is a cinema in your area that will be showing one soon.  These are not old performances--they are shown in the theatres sometimes within hours of the stage performance!

Many of these are even shown LIVE!!!  Your children will love them!

Friday, April 1, 2011

This Weekend W/ Your Kids.....

Do something fun and creative with your children this weekend!  Here are a couple of fun ideas:

MEMENTO STEPPING STONE...

With a small bag of cement mix just enough to go into a large pot saucer.  Before you pour it in line the saucer with plastic wrap.  Pour the mixed cement in and then have fun adding fun mementos from a vacation, trip, fun hobby, etc.--small toys or trinkets work great.  After 24-48 hours it will be ready for your yard/garden!

NATURE WALK BRACELET:

Take a wide piece of masking tape and put it around each child's wrist with the sticky side facing out.  Take a nature walk and as they find fun treasures they can stick it on their "bracelet".  When you get home they can put it up on a bulletin board as a special reminder of their fun time with you!

Enjoy your weekend---be CREATIVE!!

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Summer is Coming.....

Summer Workshop fun..check out the costumes we made!
With the beautiful spring weather comes visions of wonderful summer plans here at LPCW!  Be sure to contact your area's director to find out all the wonderful offerings available for Summer 2011......we have workshops, camps, classes, birthday parties!  It is going to be the best summer ever----don't miss it!

Summer is a great time to continue learning; creativity is always needing to be nurtured in young children---and dance and theatre are wonderful ways to do that.  Physical fitness and agility, creative thinking, critical thinking, and expression---just a few of the skills that are covered in this art form.

We hope to see you soon for Summer 2011!

Monday, March 28, 2011

20 Years Later.......

Being involved with teaching dance to young children brings back all of the wonderful memories of when I was that age and learning to dance.  20 years later, the skills and simple techniques that I learned at that young age are still useful for me today.  The other day while my hands were full of groceries, I balanced a 12-pack of diet cokes on my leg while I fished my keys out of my purse to open my car door.  The balancing act was entertaining for the people around me, I'm sure, but I was proud of myself for making it work.  I didn't drop a thing!  Imagining an invisible straight line going down the center of my body in order to keep myself balanced is something I learned from my dance teacher when I was 3 years old, and I will never forget it.  The lessons we learn at that young age follow us into adulthood and become part of who we are and how we think.  So, acquiring the ability to think creatively and exercise that ability through movement in dance is one of the best things a child can do at that age.

~ Southern New Hampshire University Student/LPCW Dance Teacher

Monday, February 28, 2011

Marching into Spring









It's getting closer and closer to spring and up here in Central New York the snow is beginning to melt (hope I didn't jinx it!) but our love for the arts is growing and growing! It has been so wonderful to watch the students growth through the arts. This month while posting pictures for parents who have students in class I decided to take a look back at pictures from their first class in September ... My goodness! What growth and development! In the beginning "parallel first" was a new concept that took quite a bit of effort to execute correctly. Now, when we stand up on our carpets the student's feet magically know where to be! Terms like "Tendu" and "Echappe" are now part of the children's vocabulary. These classical ballet terms may not be a part of our children's every day use, but soon as they step into class they know exactly what it is, how do do it, and how to pronounce it! Their ability to grow and learn is just amazing and usually it passes us right by. How wonderful it was to go back, critically look at, and appreciate just how much our children learn, and want to learn each day. I'm so thankful for the role that the arts play in this magical development!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

SCHOOL OF THE MONTH

Congratulations to Carolina Montessori, Charlotte Mecklenburg's current school of the month. We have really enjoyed adding them onto our list of schools this year. They have outstanding parent involvement and feedback, which makes our jobs with LPCW easier and fun! Ms. Norma, the director, also plays a key part in our success at Carolina Montessori. She always helps getting the dancers to and from class and helps us keep a great line of communication to the parents. LPCW prides itself on being self sufficient without having the get director's involved during their busy schedules, but Ms. Norma's help is greatly appreciated and valued.

As you can see above, the dancers were super excited about being school of the month. Their enthusiasm for LPCW is contagious! Congratulations Carolina Montessori, you earned it. Thanks so much for being a part of out theatre arts family!!



Quote from Carolina Montessori Student (when learning the names of our muscles):
Ms. Stephanie, good thing we are working on our muscles I begin my training next month to be a super hero!!

Monday, January 10, 2011

New Beginnings!


I love welcoming in the New Year. Yes it's sad to leave the memories of the past year, but sometimes it is nice to have a fresh start. Everyone has been so eager to get back to dance class over the past week. The excited "we missed you" hugs have been great. An awesome way to greet 2011! We have been hard at work getting ready for our Parent "Informance" at the end of January. We have been reviewing our favorite lessons and dance steps from previous months as well as adding on a few new things. It is nice to see what the classes have mastered so far, and see them work so hard to accomplish the new stuff. Sometimes learning new steps can be challenging. For example, we have added on PAS DE CHAT meaning "step of the cat". A student asked, "Are you sure cat's jump like this?" She was having a hard time getting the knee knee jump to work. In time, this step along with others will be conquered and then we will move onto the next stepping block to ensure that we are growing and learning. So as we are welcoming in the New Year, look back on what has been accomplished and feel proud, but be excited for what new things are on the horizon and the obstables we will have to conquer that make us stronger.

Happy New Year to you all!


LPCW student mentioned above pictured mastering 1-2-3- Balance.