Dear Young Dancer Families,

This is the first of many vital emails you will be receiving about the upcoming Young Dancer Program Performance Series happening May 18-23, 2024. In this email, you will find the show assignment(s) for your dancer(s) classes, as well as some important reminders about the rest of the performance season. Please read through this email in entirety so that you and your dancer are prepared for the months to come!

NOTE: eXit SPACE operates under the assumption that all students are performing as it is an important part of the season programming and the experience of learning dance as a performing art. If your dancer is not able to perform, you must let us know by no later than January 14, 2024.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

FIND YOUR DANCER'S SHOW(S)

• The following lists are NOT IN SHOW ORDER.
• Some upper-level classes are performing TWICE or THREE times; please double check to make sure you know all dates/times your dancer is performing.
• ACRO classes are not performing in the recital this year; we will be reaching out about an in-studio showing shortly.
• Show time is approximately one hour and dancers are expected to be at the theater for the full two hours (arrival is one hour before the show for a mandatory dress rehearsal).

SHOW #1 Sat, May 18 at 4:30pm (dancer call time/drop-off: 3:30pm at NOD Theater)

• Modern Four Bri Monday 4:00 PM
• Ballet Four Annie/Bri Wednesday 4:00 PM
• Modern Three Hayley Wednesday 4:00 PM
• Jazz Four Lauren Thursday 5:30 PM
• Jazz Three Tyra Thursday 4:00 PM
• Hip Hop Five/Six Rodrick Tuesday 8:00 PM
• Ballet Three Annie Tuesday 5:30 PM
• CADET Company | thePROGRAM
• SQUAD Company | thePROGRAM

SHOW #2 Sun, May 19 at 10am (dancer call time/drop-off: 9am at NOD Theater)

• Ballet One Miranda Monday 6:00 PM
• Combo Kara Monday 4:00 PM
• Creative Movement Miranda Saturday 9:00 AM
• Jazz Four Lauren Thursday 5:30 PM
• Modern Four Bri Monday 4:00 PM
• JUNIOR Company | thePROGRAM
• SQUAD Company | thePROGRAM

SHOW #3 Sun, May 19 at 12:30pm (dancer call time/drop-off: 11:30am at NOD Theater)

• Ballet Four Bri/Annie Wednesday 4:00 PM
• Combo Miranda Saturday 10:00 AM
• Creative Movement Miranda Monday 4:00 PM
• Jazz Five Lauren Thursday 7:30 PM
• Modern Two Tyra Saturday 9:30 AM
• JUNIOR Company | thePROGRAM
• SQUAD Company | thePROGRAM

SHOW #4 Sun, May 19 at 3pm (dancer call time/drop-off: 2pm at NOD Theater)

• Combo Miranda Monday 5:00 PM
• Contemporary Five/Six Virsavia Tuesday 6:30 PM
• Creative Movement Miranda Saturday 11:00 AM
• Jazz Six Tyra Thursday 7:30 PM
• Modern One Rose Wednesday 5:00 PM
• SENIOR Company | thePROGRAM

SHOW #5 Sun, May 19 at 5:30pm (dancer call time/drop-off: 4:30pm at NOD Theater)

• Ballet One Miranda Monday 6:00 PM
• Creative Movement Miranda Tuesday 4:00 PM
• Creative Movement Rose Friday 3:00 PM
• Hip Hop One/Two Rose Friday 5:00 PM
• Jazz One Rose Wednesday 4:00 PM
• Modern Six Marlo Monday 4:15 PM
• SENIOR Company | thePROGRAM

SHOW #6 Mon, May 20 at 7pm (dancer call time/drop-off: 6pm at NOD Theater)

• Ballet Five Annie/Bri Tuesday 4:00 PM
• Hip Hop Three/Four Rose Tuesday 4:30 PM
• Jazz Two Rose Wednesday 6:00 PM
• Modern Five Tyra Monday 4:15 PM
• Pre-Pointe & Pointe Bri Wednesday 7:00 PM
• Hip Hop One Rose Friday 4:00 PM
• SQUAD Company | thePROGRAM
• JUNIOR Company | thePROGRAM

SHOW #7 Tues, May 21 7pm (dancer call time/drop-off: 6pm at NOD Theater)

• Ballet Six Bri Thursday 5:30 PM
• Ballet Two Miranda Tuesday 5:00 PM
• Jazz Three Tyra Thursday 4:00 PM
• Modern Three Hayley Wednesday 4:00 PM
• CADET Company | thePROGRAM
• SENIOR Company | thePROGRAM

SHOW #8 Wed, May 22 at 7pm (dancer call time/drop-off: 6pm at NOD Theater)

• Ballet Four Bri/Annie Wednesday 4:00 PM
• Ballet Three Annie Tuesday 5:30 PM
• Hip Hop Five/Six Guest -- Tuesday 8:00 PM
• Jazz Three Tyra Thursday 4:00 PM
• Modern Three/Four Tyra Saturday 10:30 AM
• Modern Two Kara Monday 5:00 PM
• CADET Company | thePROGRAM
• SQUAD Company | thePROGRAM

SHOW #9 Thurs, May 23 at 7pm (dancer call time/drop-off: 6pm at NOD Theater)

• Ballet Five Annie/Bri Tuesday 4:00 PM
• Ballet Six Bri Wednesday 5:30 PM
• Contemporary Five/Six Virsavia Tuesday 6:30 PM
• Jazz Five Lauren Thursday 7:30 PM
• Jazz Six Tyra Thursday 7:30 PM
• Modern Five Tyra Monday 4:15 PM
• Modern Six Marlo Monday 4:15 PM
• Pre-Pointe & Pointe Bri Wednesday 7:00 PM
• JUNIOR Company | thePROGRAM
• SENIOR Company | thePROGRAM

PERFORMANCE TICKETS

Our very own NOD Theater on Capitol Hill seats roughly 110 audience members and our ticketing system ensures that each family gets at least two tickets to see their dancer perform. Physical tickets or email receipts are not required to get into the performance. You will check in by name at Will Call on the day of the show!

Family & Sibling Tickets

• Each family will automatically receive two tickets to each show that their dancer is in (NOTE: this is not the case for classes performing 2-3 times; for classes performing more than once, families will receive a set of tickets to one of the performances). You will be auto-charged $20 per ticket on February 1 and can expect to receive an email confirming the purchase of your tickets, show time(s), and date(s).
• Siblings: If a dancer has a sibling that also takes class at eXit SPACE and they are not in the same show, they will be given a complimentary ticket to the show their sibling is in and vice versa; this ticket will show up on your receipt on February 1.
• You will not receive additional tickets if you have more than one dancer in the show or if your dancer has more than one piece in the show.

Two-Household Families

We understand that families come in all shapes and sizes! If your family is split into two households, please let us know by emailing miranda@exitspacedance.com before January 17 so that you are guaranteed 4 tickets to each show your dancer is in.

General Ticket Sales

If you would like more than the allotted tickets assigned you you, you can purchase additional tickets on a first-come-first-served basis when general sales open on February 15 at 9am on the eXit SPACE ticket sales page. Some shows have been known to sell out in minutes; please plan accordingly!

COSTUMES

For those of you who are new to our performance series or haven't danced with us since before the pandemic, we have a rather unique approach to costuming, and we're excited to bring share it with you!

Rather than ordering costumes for each dancer as many studios do, at eXit SPACE classes work together to develop a costume theme, resourcing costume pieces from their closets at home. Teachers for CM/Combo classes have the option of sourcing tutus and/or bowties from our costume collection at the studio, and level 1-3 teachers have the option to order unique accessories that complement their vision and tie the costumes together.

Sometime after the second Family Watch Week (March 4-9, 2024), we will have a designated week for costume/accessory gathering/decorating and, later, a dress rehearsal week when dancers bring their costumes to class for a final costume check-in.

We take this approach for several reasons... 

1. First, as a community, we are committed to sustainability in dance and seek to uphold a commitment to recycle and re-use rather than participate in the throwaway culture of fast fashion in costuming. According to the World Economic Forum (2020), fast fashion is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions, contributing to air pollution, water consumption, and landfill usage in an unprecedented capacity. Dance costumes are very frequently plastic-heavy and worn once by most dancers; we have 300 dancers in our program, some of whom take 5-6 classes a week… imagine how many costumes we can save from the landfill this year alone!
2. Second, we aim to reduce the financial impact on families and increase the economic accessibility of our studio. This approach to costuming reduces the $60 per class costume fee down to $0-15 per class accessory fee – thereby easing the financial burden on our dance families. Creative Movement, Combo, and level 1-3 students will be auto-charged $15 per class for the accessory fee on April 1.
3. Third, well-rounded dancers are multidisciplinary artists with training in elements of production, choreography, and costuming. Our dancers are true creatives and we hope that the Spring Performance Series may serve as a true visual representation of that creativity.

PERFORMANCE SEASON ATTENDANCE EXPECTATIONS

Dancers will be learning choreography for the performance in the New Year, therefore, attendance is particularly important January – May. The more dancers are absent from class, the less time they have to get material in their bodies and the less time their peers have to practice with them in the space. For dancers in more advanced classes, safety also becomes a concern when dancers are missing class and then jumping in after weeks off. Please make an effort to get your dancer to class on time and as close to every week as possible!

RiseUP: FEATURING thePROGRAM DANCERS

JANUARY 19-21, 2024

eXit SPACE offers an exclusive program for dancers who are ready to seriously focus on their dance training and future. The Pre-Professional Program is a curriculum-based program designed for the dedicated dance student. Dancers are between 8 and 18 years of age and rehearse anywhere between 6-14 hours per week! This year, we have 40 pre-professional program dancers, 4 companies, and an incredible show that features their artistry as dancers. Be inspired by these young artists as they take the stage and shine!

RiseUP: Featuring thePROGRAM Dancers | January 19-21, 2024 @ NOD Theater

January

GET TO KNOW SOME OF THE DANCERS!

Shea (she/her) | SENIOR

Shea, 18 years old, is proud to be in her 3rd and final year of thePROGRAM at eXit SPACE and a member of the Senior and Select Company; between modern, turns/leaps, ballet, pointe, jazz, rehearsals, and being a class demo, she spends around 15 hours a week at eXit SPACE. Shea's dance training began at the age of 6 and she has since trained extensively in jazz, ballet, modern, hip hop, and contemporary from both local and national artists including Tyra Kopf, Marlo Martin, Mike Esperanza, and Joseph Schanbeck.

Her favorite memories in dance have been competing and performing with her closest friends as well as having the opportunity to compete her self-choreographed solo and duet last year. Going forward, her goal is to pursue nursing in college although she will never stop dancing! Outside of dance, Shea enjoys spending time with her friends, listening to music, and traveling! 

Noelle (she/her) | JUNIOR

Noelle (Nono) is 14 years old and is on her 4th year in thePROGRAM and 10th year at eXit Space and is currently in the junior company. This year she is taking 2 ballet classes, one modern, one jazz, one acro, one leaps and turns and Program rehearsals so she spends about 11 hours at the studio. Noelle started dancing when she was 2 years old and since then has trained in lots of various styles. Some teachers she has been taught by include Jackie Nowicki, Mike Esperanza, Noelle Price and Marlo Martin. Some of her most notable memories of dance have been the M3 method at Celebrity Dance Convention, performing at competitions, and getting to spend time with her company. For now, her goal is it stay in the program until she graduates, then pursue dance in college and after. Then possibly teach at studios. Outside the dance studio Noelle loves spending time with her family, especially with her sister who’s also in thePROGRAM and reading. Noelle enjoys thePROGRAM very much and is excited for the rest of the year.

Rowan (she/her) | SQUAD

Rowan, 14 is excited to be in her 4th year of thePROGRAM at eXit SPACE and a member of the Squad Company; between Jazz, Modern, Ballet, Hiphop, Leaps and turns, and rehearsal, she spends 12-13 hours a week at eXit SPACE! Rowan's dance training began at the age of 3 and she has since trained extensively in many styles from both local and national artists including, Tyra Rose, Marlo Martin, Mike Esperanza, and many many more. Her favorite part of dance so far has been expressing her emotions through movement and has learned through doing many solos that it's more important to her that she connects with the audience versus getting every move right. Going forward, Her goal is to build up endurance, and become a stronger, more well rounded dancer. Outside of dance, Rowan enjoys skiing, hanging out with friends, listening to noah kahan, and cooking.

Anise (she/her) | CADET

Anise, 10, is a passionate dancer in her 2nd year with thePROGRAM at eXit SPACE and proudly part of the Cadet Company. With 9 hours a week dedicated to classes and rehearsals, she's fully immersed in her dance journey.

Starting her dance adventure at age 6, Anise's training has focused on jazz, ballet, and modern dance. Her dance highlights include performing at NODT Theater, bonding with her Cadet Company, and drawing inspiration from the program's older dancers.

Anise's future aspiration is to become a Senior member of thePROGRAM and to push the boundaries of her dance artistry beyond adolescence. Ultimately, she dreams of bringing her dance expertise back to her homeland, New Zealand, to pursue a fulfilling artistic career.

Beyond the dance floor, Anise enjoys biking, skiing, drawing, reading, and writing. Above all, she cherishes her friends and family, who provide unwavering support in her journey.