Header 03-01-12
Dear TDC Families,
 
What a whirlwind the last week has been for families, schools, community leaders and local businesses. As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve on a daily basis, we wanted to take the opportunity to provide clarity and share some exciting updates.

We want to thank everyone who has reached out by way of email, text, direct messages and calls to offer support. Your partnership at this time, more than ever, is so appreciated. As you know, TDC is on an unplanned spring break this week and every one of the More Than Just Great Dancing® Affiliated Dance Studios around the world are now closed. 
 
We are all in uncharted water, which is requiring a level of flexibility and adaptation like never before. Many of you are now homeschooling your children and balancing working from home - We have a new-found appreciation to those who have done it that way all along! 
 
After time to process and consider all that has happened in just 2 weeks, we are at peace (and even excited!) about the plan we are developing to finish our season STRONG!
 
TDC’s "Finish Strong" Campaign
Currently, we have 2 monthly tuition installments and 8 weeks of service delivery to complete. TDC relies on enrollment and tuition in order to honor all of its commitments to staff and teachers and other community small businesses. We are committed to fulfilling our promises to your dancers and to our employees as well. Thank you for your continued support!

This week past week, our teachers were working very hard on dance choreography and preparing resources for your time at home. This week we are going to jump right back into instruction with... TDC Online!
Starting tomorrow our new virtual learning platform, TDC Online will offer a variety of recorded and live stream classes PLUS a ton of amazing bonus material to keep kids happy, healthy and safe while we wait for things to bounce back in our community.

In the coming weeks you will have access to: 
  • Weekly live stream classes and continued choreography
  • Correction and connection time with teachers
  • Pre-recorded enrichment videos
  • Pre-recorded recital practice videos
  • Access to all show-ready recital music
  • Links to national free content
  • Downloadable Coloring pages and activities
  • Opportunities for optional one-on-one instruction with out teachers and other national guest artists

I don't want to give away all the surprises, but you are going to LOVE all the weekly updates and extra opportunities built into this virtual learning platform to create connections between teachers, students, dance friends, and even parents! ( And you might even see my furbabies Tippy and Hugo dancing online too :)

Many dance studios in our organization have already started virtual classes this week and the users RAVING!. Parents have been grateful for the break in the monotony of being isolated at home and the kids have been thrilled to see their teachers and dance friends again. Check out some of their happy faces! Kids NEED normalcy and access to the things that bring them JOY and PASSION now more than ever. They need to be active, engage their minds and connect with their classmates and teammates. We are committed to making that possible! 
We will operate our virtual classrooms until we are able to return to the studio or until we finish out our season on May 22nd.

As a bonus to our students and families we will extend our season into the final week of May and 1st week June at no added cost to you.
 

Tech Week
We are designating Monday, March 23 rd - Thursday, March 26 th as “Tech Week.” Just as we rehearse on the stage before the recital, we need some time to test the technology and work out the kinks before returning to our full class schedule on Saturday, March 28 th .

During Tech Week we are offering a variety of online classes for all ages in various styles. We are even hosting a family Zumba class! We invite students and families to try some classes and work out the tech on their end as well. Our staff will be available to provide support during this process so that everyone is up and running when we get back to our regular classes on March 28 th .

This is an iterative process that will take time to be fully realized, so please be patient as we boldly yet tentatively spread our distance learning wings and learn to fly. We will appreciate and honor your feedback as we get underway. We are sure that there will be hiccups, yet at the same time I have been unbelievably impressed with the teaching staff’s willingness and even excitement about plunging in and finding creative ways to support our students and families while we are all socially separated.
For the security of our online classes, and safety of our students Zoom links for classes will be emailed to you and posted in our FB forum, The Dance Corner Families. Please don't share them outside of the TDC community.

Please look for an email with all the info on how to Log in by 2pm Monday, March 23rd!


RECITAL

So, the natural question is, "What about the Spring Recital performances? "
 
Great question!
 
Given the conditions between the National State of Emergency, indefinite closure of schools, bars, restaurant, and retail, and the CDC's current recommendations for social distancing and ban on assembling in groups more than ten, we are pushing pause on making any decisions about recital at this time.
 
NOW, while we don't know exactly what will happen with recital yet, we WILL do some sort of celebration and the kids will wear their costumes to finish our 26 th season strong. It goes without saying that we are a long way from knowing what that will look like right now. We are thankful for your patience and support.

TDC FAMILY, This is time for ALL f us- teachers, parents and students alike- to work together to FINISH STRONG!

We are so grateful for your support always and especially NOW. Your commitment to helping your kids and the teachers finish strong (and safe!) is so appreciated! The next 8 weeks truly are going to be "More Than Just Great Dancing!"

With appreciation,
Miss Carrie and team

P.S- Please take a look at the video below for sneak peek at our online learning platform launching tomorrow. We can't wait to see you in class this week!