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!

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!!

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!

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!

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!").

"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!

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!