Sunday, September 12, 2010

Two Weeks Under Our Belt

I can't believe we are already two weeks into our Fall classes! Things have been going so well it seems like we didn't even have a Summer break.


Summer classes finished up on a great note! We had so many new students carry over from Summer classes that our classes are thriving this Fall. I feel like I say this each year but we have more sections of each class than we've ever had. We are even offering classes on the weekend this year.


Over the Labor Day weekend dancers had the wonderful opportunity to perform on live television for the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon. Dancers made the trip to Cedar Rapids and performed 'Supermassive Blackhole" from the spring show. The performance went great and the students had fun being broadcast all across eastern Iowa.

It is hard to believe but we are already preparing for our holiday performances. Holiday music has been filling the studios for two weeks now. The performances will be here before we know it. Student's will once again be taking part in the Sartori Festival of Trees this year. A select group of students will take part in this performance. All Kinetic Energy students will take part in our annual Concert of Joy. This performance will take place December 10th-12th at Strayer-Wood Theatre. Invite everyone you to to the concert that is guaranteed to get you in the holiday mood.

Enjoy the remainder of the week and head over to the website to check out all the updates!

Friday, July 30, 2010

Busy, Busy, BUSY

July has been such a crazy busy month. We kicked the month off with a strong showing in Summer classes. With over 30 classes running this Summer, everyone has been keeping busy just with that schedule alone.

The second week of July we spent sweating away at our booth at the Buchanan County Fair. With hundreds of people visiting the fair, we were able to promote our program in the Independence area. We had a drawing during the fair for one free month of classes and the lucky winner of our drawing was Karen Priebe. Congratulations Karen and we look forward to having you in class!!


We revisited the drama involved with the 2008 flooding at out Independence location. We nervously watched as the Wapsipinicon River crept ever closer to the studio. We did sandbag but luckily the river didn't get us as we only got a little water in the basement but not enough to cause problems.

We have added many new classes to our schedule for the Fall. Due to overwhelming demand, we have had to add sections of our Creative Movement classes, and our 7-9 year old Ballet/Tap and Modern/Jazz classes. We have already added new sections of Pre-Ballet but may be adding more to all locations. We have added a new class for all those fitness fanatics out there. Fusion Fitness will take place Monday and Thursday nights in Cedar Falls and will work on circuit training, interval training, strength training, aerobic exercise and flexibility while visiting such styles as Afro Dance, Kickboxing, Capoeira and Yoga.


We are finishing up the last day of the month with our Baton Camp. Student's from all locations have come to take part in the fun day. Ms. Emily, featured twirler at ISU, joined us for the day teaching all the twirlers new tricks and a routine just for the parents. The students enjoyed playing games and perfecting their skills during the six-hour camp.

On a lighter note, I would like to share with you a new invention underway at Kinetic Energy. One of our 5-year-olds is working on a product called "sticky underwear". Yes, that's right. It took a 5-year-old to come up with the idea to make "sticky underwear" that sticks to your leotard so your underwear does not hang out of your leotard legs. Although this will help overcome to growing fad amongst the younger students, we have also decided "sticky underwear" may not be the best name for the product! A work in progress!!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Rolling Through July!

Wow! July is half over and I can't even figure out where it went. We are well into our second week of summer classes and keeping busy with many outside activities.


On July 3rd we took part in the 150th year of the Independence 4th of July parade. We had a very full float of dancers for the parade. This year we were very lucky to have beautiful weather for the parade (unlike last year when it poured the entire parade) which also led to record numbers of people watching the parade. The students had fun throwing candy and waving at their friends and family...but also enjoyed petting the horse prior to the parade as we waited to move.



This past weekend I had the pleasure of judging the Jesup Farmer's Day Bill Riley Talent Show. There were approximately 20 performers ranging in age from 5 to 18. There were performers who did gymnastics, dance, sang, and played musical instruments. The winners for the junior division was a group of four girls dressed as characters from the Wizard of Oz who performed a dance/gymnastics routine. The winner of the senior division was a vocalist who sang a French opera song. The competition was a great display of talent in Northeast Iowa.


This week began our second full week of summer classes. Our first round of Prince and Princess Camps started this morning with nine young dancers pretending to be Snow White, Cinderella, Belle and many more of their favorite princesses! We are also excited to have our 2008 graduate Ms. Nicole with us all summer teaching a weekly jazz class and an improv camp later this summer. If summer continues like the last two weeks, it's going to be a sensational summer!

Monday, June 21, 2010

The End Of Another Year!


Wow, another year is almost in the books. This is the last week of classes for this year and I feel like we just started!


The past month has been very busy at Kinetic Energy. The first weekend in June was full of recital activities. Both performances went off without a hitch and were big hits with the audiences. The dad's dance continued to be a big hit in the show along with the instructor solos. We also saw a solo from our 7th year graduate Olyvia! The Gallagher-Bluedorn always provides a wonderful venue for all ages to dance.


The week after the recital we were busy at work with Pre-School visits. A to Z Learning Center brought five groups of students for a dance field trip at Kinetic Energy. In all, there were about 80 students that came to visit that week.


We capped the year off with a stellar Student Appreciation Day at Island Park this past Saturday. We had approximately 90 students and family members join us for hamburgers, hot dogs and ice cream. The day was topped off with the students favorite water fight! Many buckets and two coolers full of water were gone through before everyone was drenched. The search for a park next year with a closer water source has already begun.

This year has been a great year with many memorable moments. There are so many exciting things already in store for this summer and fall. Summer classes begin in just a week and Fall classes are getting very full! We hope to see everyone very soon!

Monday, May 10, 2010

The Twirler's Creed

This weekend the Kinetic Energy Competition Baton team took part in the 2010 Miss Majorette of Iowa competition. The following was given to the Kinetic Energy twirlers from their coach and ISU's feature twirler, Ms. Emily Bright. I just wanted to share it with everyone!

The Twirler's Creed

The contest last for moments
though the training taken years
It wasn't the winning alone
that was worth the work and tears
The applause will be forgotten
the prize misplaced
But the long hard hours of practice
will never be a waste
For in trying to win you build a skill
You learn that winning depends on will
You never grow by how much you put in
So in any new challenge you've just begun
Put forth your best and you've already won

You Know You're A Twirler When...


A long skinny object that finds it's way into your fingers gets twirled around.

When someone mentions the animal "Cougar", you think of your twirling shoes.

You are the only one in your school that has calloused and cracked hands.

In Ballet class you can do pirouettes better to the left then the right (and no one else knows why).

At your school dance you unconsciously do an illusion in the middle of your groovin'.

While watching a movie you are always occupied by listening to the soundtrack ("This song would be great for a show-twirl!").

Sunday, April 25, 2010

"Update The Blog Ms. Jackie"

As I have so kindly been reminded by Martha "you said you would update the blog." I am updating the blog!! Things have been so busy around Kinetic Energy since the last post I just haven't had time to sit and write the happenings.

One very cool thing that happened at Kinetic Energy at the end of March was we hosted the 2010 Capoeira Batizado. This was a very exciting event as all three Kinetic Energy Capoeira students received their new cords. Mr. Alan also received a new cord that evening. This event brought mestre, professor and aluno from Brazil, New York, and Des Moines to Kinetic Energy. The studio housed about 50 capoeiristas that evening.

We also had another fun filled Parent Observation week the 5th-8th of April. I always feel each time we have Parent Observation that we have a record number of parents attend. This is such a fun time for students and parents, alike, as it gives the students the chance to show mom and dad their new recital dance. It also gives mom and dad the chance to see how their child has progressed in class since October.

This past weekend our Competition Baton team embarked on their first competition of the season. Four twirlers traveled to Davenport to take part in the 2010 Iowa State Baton Twirling Championships. The four girls competed in individual events such as basic strut, best appearing and solo. For a complete listing of how each girl did, watch your local paper for an upcoming press release. Although the day proved to be long, the girls had fun cheering each other on, eating snacks, playing the computer and listening to their Ipods. The team will compete again on May 8th in West Des Moines at the Miss Majorette of Iowa Competition.

Right now we are in the middle of pictures at all three locations. Last week pictures were taken in Waverly all week. This week the photographers will visit Cedar Falls and then off to Independence the following week. Please let us know what you think of Trefz Photography. We've really enjoyed working with them and hope you have too.

One last note...Our summer and fall schedules have gone out and let me just say things are filling quickly. We already have a couple classes that are full and still have not released registration to the public. This is the last week classes will be held for current students so make sure you get your registrations in this week.

Enjoy this interesting Spring weather we are having and see you soon!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Tap, Tap, Tap

A little comic strip for a good laugh...



A student quote for an even bigger laugh...

"Ms. Debra I practice my stomp time steps to 'Pants On The Ground' from American Idol."

Enough said!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Just Laugh

Another week has gone by and I'm amazed at how time is flying. The end of the year performance will be here before we know it. Our instructors have been very ambitious and most of the year-end music has already been picked out and has been echoing around the studio. I can not wait to see what the performance unfolds to be. The students are very eager to begin their new dances as well.

This past week has been a week full of very funny moments. Last Monday little 5-year-old Lauren educated Ms. Sadie and me on the difference between nylons and dance tights. 'Nylons can not be worn to dance class cause dance tights are very strong. Nylons are what old ladies wear and are very delicate.' We got quite the laugh out of Lauren's description. Never will we forget the difference again!


Ms. Magee and I also had a very entertaining baton class. We have discovered if all else fails draw a very complex picture depicting what the students should be doing in hopes they will understand! Just kidding...we did go over the move but I was very proud of Ms. Magee's very detailed picture of a 'flash'. If she doesn't make it as a dancer she can always become an artist!


I also had a surprise waiting for me Monday when I arrive at the Independence studio. A small portion of the hung ceiling had fallen down and was hanging very low over the mirrors. One of the lights did crash down before the end of the ordeal but it was a fairly quick fix once the maintenance guy arrived. All has returned to it's proper place now!

I would also like to congratulate Ms. Abi on being selected to take part in this year's "Dancing with the Cedar Valley Stars" so if there are any dad's out there interested in taking part you might get Ms. Abi as a partner.

I'm leaving this blog entry with a quote that took place tonight in class from one of our five year olds "We can't do grande plies cause it makes my butt stick out." Love it!

Thursday, January 7, 2010

One Week, One Snow Day

Well, so far 2010 has been just as difficult in the weather area as 2009 was. The start of snow fall made the the end of Wednesday classes a little bit difficult and forced us to cancel classes (yet again) for today. The wind is really picking up so I think it's best if we all just stay tucked in.


The first week back of class has been very busy. We welcomed about ten new students into our program this week. Kinetic Energy always gets an influx of new students in January as many parents give lessons as presents. We also welcomed the Capeoira Club to Kinetic Energy this week. They will be training at Kinetic Energy several nights a week.


We had a very beautiful surprise arrive Monday evening. Holly and her mom, Beth, had two very beautiful watercolor pictures made for Kinetic Energy. The exciting part of it all is that the dancers in the pictures are Kinetic Energy students. I was very surprised and will treasure these pictures forever. Please make sure you check them out next time you are in as they are being housed at the Cedar Falls studio right now.


The website has been updated with lots of new information. Almost every page was updated. Head over and join us on Facebook if you have it. We will be posting fun pictures and videos there as the year moves on. We are also gearing up for "Bring A Friend Week" in February. It's always a crazy time for Kinetic Energy but the students enjoy it a lot. My favorite is when the older kids bring their dad's and Ms. Debra makes them do floor barre in ballet. Poor dad's!

One week down and I'm going to end it on the note Jannah proclaimed on Monday in the middle of class..."Ballet RULES!"

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Happy New Years!

Wow, another year has flown by here at Kinetic Energy! And what a year it was! 2009 brought many great ventures at Kinetic Energy.

One of the biggest ventures in 2009 was the addition of the Independence location. After finding the perfect location and two very eager-to-work teenagers, the remodeling project took no time at all. We took possession of the building March 1st and opened the doors April 1st with a very busy Open House. Independence got their first exposure to Kinetic Energy during summer classes held in July and August. Fall classes kicked off very strong with classes on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

We kicked off the new school year with a big remodeling project at the Cedar Falls studio as well. Staff and students both were getting tired of the "white" walls so we decided to add some color in the form of 'Reflecting Pool'. One of our mom's spent several hours giving the studio a make-over and the students loved it. Now they are trying to convince me to put little Nemo's on the wall...it hasn't worked yet but who knows what 2010 will bring!

September and October flew by as everyone got back in the routine of classes and preparing for another great year. We welcomed more students through the doors of Kinetic Energy this year than we've ever had. We went from offering 37 classes during the 2008-2009 year to offering 50 classes for the 2009-2010 year! Wow!!

November became crunch time in getting ready for the Concert of Joy. We sadly were unable to take part in the Festival of Trees this year so we had all students perform in our own holiday show the Concert of Joy. In preparing for this, a select group of dancers were invited to perform with the Wartburg Symphony in their rendition of Swan Lake. Kinetic Energy dancers performed six full-length pieces from the ballet.

Although the weather did frighten us the week before the Concert of Joy, it did go off on time this year. The students and staff put on two wonderful shows at the Strayer-Wood Theatre in December. The theatre was filled with songs like "Mr. Grinch", "Rock This Christmas", "Run, Rudolph, Run" and many other holiday favorites. The following week we celebrated the successful shows and played some 'reindeer games' in preparation for our holiday break.

So here I sit, break coming to an end and headed back to classes in less than 48 hours. Break was wonderful but I'm ready to get back to work. We will take a month or two to focus on technique before we begin working on our year-end dances. This years theme is 'Oh, The Places We'll Go' and the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center will be filled with a wonderful selection of songs depicting different places around the world.

I look forward to the adventures 2010 holds for Kinetic Energy! Best wishes to everyone this year and watch for many more blog entries this year. This is my New Year's Resolution (well one of them) for Kinetic Energy...make sure I share more of the exciting happenings with everyone! Hold on to your hats cause there is never a dull moment!