Prestige Dance Studio In The News!

cedar rapids dance classes, marion dance classes, dance studio, preschool dance classes, competition team

Have you seen the news lately? We are proud to say that Prestige Dance Studio has been in the news quite a bit this last month! There are so many great things happening at our studio and the Cedar Rapids and Marion communities are taking notice. In case you missed these exciting features, we have done a quick round-up for you. We love being able to share our passion with new families!

Market After Dark returns this Saturday in Cedar Rapids– The Gazette

This article was all about getting Cedar Rapids pumped up for Market After Dark. The “lighted ballerinas” mentioned in the article are our Prestige dancers! This was such a cool performance for our dancers that we have done it 2 years in a row. Our performance was a huge success, we had so much fun and are so proud of our dancers. You can watch the performance below. Be prepared to be amazed!

Prestige Dance Studio Debuts Marion Venue– The Gazette

This article by The Gazette celebrates the opening of our Marion location and Miss Jess’s success as a business owner. During our 5 years serving the Cedar Rapids community, Prestige has thrived and we are so proud of all Miss Jess has accomplished. We love getting a glimpse of what it’s like to own a dance studio. This article is inspiring for anyone who has dreams of opening their own business. Way to go Miss Jess!

Cedar Rapids Mom Blog Facebook Live Feature

Miss Jess spent some time with the Cedar Rapids Mom Blog a couple weeks ago. During this LIVE recorded video, you will learn what sets Prestige apart from other dance studios in the area. You will also get a tour of our Cedar Rapids location and see some of our dancers rehearsing. It is a GREAT way to see what Prestige is all about. Check it out below!

https://www.facebook.com/cedarrapidsmomsblog/videos/450997425419875/

We are so happy to be in the news this month and share our passion with our community. Thank you to The Gazette and to the Cedar Rapids Moms Blog for featuring us, we had so much fun spending time with you both.

Interested in learning more about Prestige Dance Studio? We are still accepting enrollment in classes with spots available. View our Cedar Rapids Schedule and Marion Schedule and register today!

Are You Ready To Perform?

Dance Recital Cedar Rapids and Marion Iowa

Recital is getting close, can you FEEL the energy in the air? We sure can! Students, teachers, and families are working hard to make sure the performance goes on without a hitch. Our teachers have been busy in the classroom making sure dances are perfect.  We wanted to share a few tips that you can do outside of the classroom so that your dancer is ready to perform come recital!

Dances

  • Encourage your dancer to start a dance journal if they haven’t already. After class, they can write all their notes and changes in the journal. We find that dancers do a much better job remembering corrections when they write them down.
  • Practice your dances at home! Practice videos for our 2018 recital dances will be uploaded as they are available. Visit our Vimeo site at: https://vimeo.com/prestigedancestudio to access them.

Costumes

  • One of the most important things you can do before the big day is to label your costumes. Put your dancer’s initials on each costume’s tag. There is nothing worse than losing a costume or taking home someone else’s by accident!
  • Take a few moments before you go to the theater and get things in order so they are easy to find. This includes tights, shoes, accessories, undergarments, etc.

Hair and Makeup

  • Know the specifics. You can find the hair and makeup details on our recital page.
  • Practice before recital week. If you are new to recital hair and makeup make sure you practice a few times. There is a tutorial video here and you can always ask teachers for more guidance if needed.

We cannot wait to see our dancers shine on stage Sunday, June 3rd 2018! With any questions that pop up, please remember all of the recital details can be found on our recital page. Our teachers and staff are also available to help before and after classes.

Spring Back To Dance

Spring Dance is so much fun, find the best ways to jump back into dance after break

Did you have a relaxing spring break? We hope you and your dancer got a chance to recharge because we have an exciting couple months coming up! Between competitions, community performances, and recital, spring dance is going to get FUN! Before things get crazy, this is the perfect time to check in with your dancer to make sure they are ready for it all.

To spring back to dance, you will want to take inventory or have a chat with your dancer about the following:

  • Do their dance clothes still fit? A change in season is the perfect time to try on dance clothes and shoes and make any purchases if necessary. At Prestige, we have a ton of styles to choose from along with shoes and tights. Make sure to take a peek at the dress code before buying any new dance apparel!
  • Are there any lingering injuries? If your dancer has been complaining of pain during the winter months and it still hasn’t improved, now would be the perfect time to get evaluated by a medical professional. Here is a great article talking about the distinction between pain and regular muscle soreness.
  • What is the plan for summer? We have an AMAZING line up for summer dance along with some super fun camps and intensives. If your dancer has been talking about trying a new style, summer is the perfect time! It is also a great time to try out a larger class load before the craziness of fall kicks in. You can read more about all we have to offer this summer in one of our blog posts!
  • How about the fall? We know it is barely spring but the fall will be here before you know it.  Our fall schedule and recommendations will be posted and emailed the week of March 26-30. Priority registration will start the first week in April. Now would be a great time to talk about the activities your child would like to try. It’s also a great time to talk about the amount of dance they would like to take on and if they are interested in auditioning for one of our performance teams.

We hope you enjoy the rest of your Spring Break and are just as excited as us to spring back to dance! We have some exciting things happening at the studio and can’t wait to see it all come to life!

Why We LOVE Our Prestige Dance Families!

Why we love our Prestige Dance Studio families! WE have the best dance studio environment in Cedar Rapids!

Teaching dance comes with many perks. Doing what you love, seeing growth within your students, challenging your own creativity, getting exercise while you work, the list goes on and on. But one out of the giant list of perks stands out FAR beyond any other. It is having the privilege to get to know so many dancers and families. We thought February was the PERFECT time to tell you why we love our Prestige Dance families so much!

Our dance families are kind and supportive of one another. Time and time again, we witness first-hand our dance families helping each other. Whether it is giving a dance friend a ride home, helping a dancer do their makeup at a competition or listening to a dance parent talk about their long week, you are there to support each other. It is beyond inspiring to watch and learn from your kind gestures week after week. We know that your kindness is not only inspiring us but also your dancers!

We also know and love that our dance families make dance a priority. We appreciate it so much that our dancers and their families come to class excited and ready to learn week after week. It takes a lot of sacrifices for parents to allow their children to follow their passion and we want to thank you. Although your dancers may not always say it, we know they love that too.

Finally, we could not end this post without acknowledging how much FUN our dance families are! We love that we get to spend time with you all. Each time we have a Prestige Dance Studio event, we leave feeling energized and excited all because of the positivity you bring. We could not be happier teaching dance we are SO lucky to share our passion with some AMAZING dance families. Thank you for all you do for your dancers and for just for being you!

Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us here at Prestige Dance Studio!

 

Meet Miss Jess

In 2013, Jess founded Prestige Dance Studio to share her passion of dance in a safe, technically sound and creative environment with the Corridor. Jess has been honored with choreography and most entertaining awards at competitions throughout the nation. Backed by Jess’s love of the performing arts and her 12 years of professional instruction experience, Prestige Dance Studio offers fresh and innovative styles that are unparalleled in the Cedar Rapids area.

Although many of the students at Prestige have gotten to know Miss Jess in class and in the hallways, we thought it was a good time to dive a little deeper! Her passion for dance education is unparalleled in the Cedar Rapids area and she is beyond proud of all that her dancers have accomplished in the last few years.

Find out much more about Miss Jess below and the next time you see her at the studio feel free to stop and say hello!

Meet the owner of Prestige Dance Studio in Cedar Rapids, IA

 

 

Best Of The Web: Gift Guide

Perfect list of gifts for this christmas. Dancers will love these options in Cedar Rapids IA

 

 

 

 

Ready or not, the holidays are quickly approaching! Our families here at Prestige are busy shopping, attending special performances, baking cookies, and doing all the other great activities this time of year brings. Have you completed your holiday shopping yet? Do you have anyone on your list that you are completely clueless as to what to get them?? You can take a good sigh of relief because we have put together our best of the web: gift guide edition! We are sure that you will get re-inspired and find some great ideas, no matter who you are shopping for!

For The Dancer:

Last year, we put together the ULTIMATE gift guide for dancers. There are some amazing ideas that your dancer is SURE to love! We also found another great list from Dance Advantage. We would LOVE to get our hands on the Ballerina Cookbook listed in their post! Also, don’t forget that you don’t have to go very far for your dancer. We have so many great stocking stuffer and dancewear options right here at Prestige!

For The Creative:

If your loved one likes to explore art, DIY projects, and crafts, they will love anything from One Handcrafted Life’s creative gift list. For younger crafters, Martha Stewart has some GREAT ideas! Just reading these makes us want to start a new project!

For The Athlete Or Sports Fanatic:

Staying active is a very popular goal for the upcoming New Years Eve. Give your loved one a leg up by giving them something on this list from Very Well. They have some great message and stretching gifts that your dancer might enjoy as well! If sports are more their thing, try checking out this list from CNN. We mean, who wouldn’t want an NFL ugly sweater? hehe!

For The Professional:

If your gift recipient is hoping to push themselves and grow in their professional life this year, choose any of the books listed here on Inc! We are feeling inspired already, have you read any on their list??

For The Stressed

We mean stressed in the BEST way possible of course! For anyone who needs a little rest, relaxation, and calmness, there is nothing better than using a gift to help bring them there! This list from Out Of Stress made us feel more relaxed by just READING it hehe!

Has inspiration struck yet?? We hope so! What gift are you the MOST excited to give this year?? Tell us below, we would love to include it in our web round-up next year! At Prestige, we hope you enjoy this holiday season to the fullest and savor every moment of picking out the PERFECT gifts for your loved ones.

 

 

How To Avoid Burnout

Great advice for dancers in Cedar Rapids, IA on how to avoid burnoutLike young athletes, dancers have to be aware of and take steps to avoid burnout. The dance season is very long compared to other activities. We run from August to June and only take a short break before we jump right back into things for the summer session. It’s basically a year-long activity that is extremely demanding on the mind and body. As many of our Prestige dancers know, some of our dancers are in the studio for hours and hours every single week. We are approaching the mid-year mark and want to help our dancers avoid the dreaded burnout this year. Although we can’t control when burnout may strike, we can take steps to reduce the risk.

  1. Stay focused on goals. When you are tired, sore, and overwhelmed it is easy to forget why you are doing all of this in the first place. Try writing down one main goal and keep it somewhere visible.  By seeing your goal daily on a post-it note on your mirror, in a journal by your bed, on your school planner, etc. you will be more likely to remember the WHY. This will help push you through the more difficult times.
  2. Get feedback from teachers. Sometimes burnout can come from being frustrated. “Why didn’t I get the solo?” “Why is my teacher so hard on me?” “Why can’t I nail my turns?” Sometimes, dance is HARD. Like, really hard! We don’t always leave class doing things perfectly and that can make a dancer want to give up! By checking in with teachers on what can be done differently in class, you get answers. You won’t waste time on negative self-talk and you won’t get to that place of wanting to give up.
  3. Rest. Rest is SO important for dancers. Like we mentioned earlier, dance is demanding on the mind and body. If you start feeling overwhelmed or more stressed out than normal, make an effort to go to bed early (instead of going on your social media hehe!). When you have time off during your busy season, take that time off to rest instead of filling the space with other activities. We promise you will feel refreshed and ready to get back to work!
  4. Talk to your parents and dance teachers. If you start feeling overwhelmed or run down, don’t be afraid to say something to your parents and teachers. Your parents want you to stay healthy and positive and your teachers want that too. We can all work together to figure out a plan to get you back on track.

So what do you think? Can you make it through this year without reaching the point of burnout? By following these steps we are confident you will! We are also super confident that you will do AMAZING things this year,  we are already off to a great start!

 

 

Black Friday Dance Apparel Sale!

Dance Apparel Sale for Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Who is ready for some serious holiday shopping?! At Prestige, we could not be more excited for the holidays and of course shopping is part of that! We know that Black Friday is one of the biggest times to steal some amazing deals. It also is a busy day/weekend! Here at Prestige, we wanted to give you a chance to maximize your break by spending time with family and friends. We also know that your dancer would be THRILLED with some Prestige dance apparel for the holidays. So, we decided to give you some amazing Black Friday discounts a bit early. That way you get the best of both worlds!

Our dance apparel is the perfect holiday gift or stocking stuffer. Not only will your dancer love feeling even more apart of the Prestige dance family but they will also get a TON of use out of it! We know many of our dancers pretty much live in our hooded sweatshirts hehe. All of our products are top of the line quality and will move with your dancer, not against them.

Spend $50, Get $10 Off

Spend $100, Get $25 Off

Spend $150, Get $50 Off

*Only valid for in-stock items. Dance shoes and gk tumbling leotards not included in the sale*

We have dance shorts, leotards, bra tops, sweatshirts, spirit socks, long-sleeved shirts, and sweatpants (dance shoes and gk tumbling leotards are not included in sale) available for purchase in a variety of different sizes. Your dancer is sure to love our apparel and what better time to pick it up than during a Black Friday Sale! Pop by during the times listed below and grab your gifts before they are gone because this sale is only for in-stock merchandise.

Tuesday, November 14th from 4:30pm-7:00pm

Thursday, November 16th from 4:30pm-7:00pm

Click on the slideshow below to check out the amazing product options, we can’t wait to see what you choose!

[foogallery id=”2390″]

 

How To Share Your Love Of Dance With Friends

Share dance with friends! Free trial classes for cedar rapids dancers! Our Prestige dancers are SERIOUSLY passionate and that is one of the things we love most about our dance family. For a lot of dancers, it may start to feel like you have a whole secret life at the studio that your non-dance friends know nothing about. We want that to change! Doing something you love is great but it is an even better feeling to be able to share it with the people who are closest to you. That’s why we wanted to give out some excellent ideas to help your children share their love of dance with friends.

  1. Have a dance-themed sleepover. Get out the old dance costumes, pull out the dusty disco ball, and get ready to boogie! Your dancer can make a special playlist with all their favorite songs and help you clear a “dance floor” in the living room.  Your children’s friends will have a BLAST dressing up and dancing the night away together. Oh and don’t forget to have snacks and refreshments ready because your little dancers will need to refuel frequently hehe!
  2. Make up a dance together. Instead of playing that video game, make up a dance instead! There will be COUNTLESS laughs and giggles coming from the dance room for hours, it’s a guarantee. They may even put on a show for the parents later if you are lucky!
  3. Watch a dance-themed movie or musical. This may give friends a little perspective into what your dancer goes through at the studio. I mean really, who doesn’t like a musical?!
  4. Invite them to a performance. Friends will get a front-row view into what it means to be a dancer. They will sit in awe watching the result of all the hard work your dancer put in. It also feels GREAT as a dancer to step into the auditorium knowing you have your “crew” there to support you!
  5. Invite them to try a class at Prestige. If your non-dance friend is interested in learning more, what a better way to show them what it’s like than having them TRY it! Of course, we recommend having them try a class that matches their ability level. That may not always be the same class that your dancer is currently enrolled in. Our trial classes are FREE and we are still accepting enrollment in most of our classes up until October 31st.

Have any other ideas to share the love of dance with friends? We would love to hear about them!

To share dance with your friends, click here for more information on our free trial classes . We can’t wait to get to know your friends! 

How to ROCK your Parent Observation Week

Parent Observation

With Parent Observation Week right around the corner here at Prestige Dance Studio (October 16th-22nd), we thought we would spend a little time talking about what you can do to ensure a successful week.  I mean, not to put too much pressure on you parents out there but it really can influence what happens next in your dancer’s career. Don’t sweat it though! Prestige has your back. We want you to ROCK your Parent Observation Week, so here’s how:

  1. Talk about it before you arrive at class: Don’t throw off your dancer! Kids like predictability and perform better when they know what is going to happen. Surprising your dancer at the studio can send them into a spiral of doom. Nerves and too much excitement aren’t usually processed very well by a young dancer. Instead, a couple days before class just start talking about it. Mention that you will be in the room and that you get to see all the hard work they have been doing.
  2. Be positive: This goes from the moment you start talking about Parent Viewing Week until you (eventually) stop talking about it. Your dancer wants nothing more than for you to be proud of him/her. So get excited for them to show you what they know.
  3. Listen and watch: During class, keep your ears open for any important information from the teacher (sometimes information about upcoming events are discussed) and really watch your dancer! This is their moment, don’t get distracted by your phone (unless it is to take that adorable picture of course!).
  4. Have realistic expectations: If your dancer is not the “best” dancer in class, don’t be disappointed! Instead, focus on if they are having fun and if they are learning new skills. Those things are much more important.

That is all it takes to ROCK your week! We can’t wait to see you there!

Parent Observation Week: Monday, October 16th- Sunday, October 22nd.

Parents will be invited in for the last 10-15 minutes of class. Cell phones or tablets should be left in the lobby or put on silent. We encourage you to take photos of your dancer but ask that videos of class time not be shared on social media.