MSD - Christmas Break

Wishing our dancers and their families a very Happy Christmas and wonderful Holiday Season!

A reminder our studio and offices are now closed for the holidays. There will be no classes and emails will be answered when we return from the break.  Classes resume Tuesday, January 8th, 2019. 

We hope everyone enjoys the holidays and look forward to seeing everyone back at Irish dance classes in 2019!

Thank You!

MSDSA - Value Village Fundraiser

 

VALUE VILLAGE FUNDRAISER 

We are booked for Saturday, January 26^th at 11:30 at the Pembina location Value Village.

Things to remember:

1. Notify Jackie 204-781-3143 or jackiederkson@hotmail.com  if you will be dropping off items. We need to know who to be waiting for.
2. Estimate how many boxes or bags you will be bringing to the back at the large overhead doors. Please provide this information by January 18. (Just an estimate for expectation)
3. We have 1 hour to complete our drive, so please be prompt.
4. Encourage friends, family, coworkers to contribute! The more we get the more our children benefit from this easy fundraiser. 

The staff will stack the carts, people dropping off just need to park and unload and move for the next person dropping off.

***Note that they changed their rates:

• 15 cents per pound for housewares: kitchen and décor items, games, toys puzzles- Lets load up on these-they are heavy and will benefit us the most!!
• 5 cents per pound for soft goods which include: clothing, boots, shoes, accessories, bags, knapsacks and household linens
• 2 cents per pound for books and media items like VHS, records, tapes, CDs etc. No encyclopedias or library books please
• 5 cents per item for large items with one side measuring over 18” or 45cm (Kijiji is another option)
• No furniture please

Thank you for your continued support of our Student's Association MSDSA

McConnell School of Dance

Parent Viewing Dates

 

PARENT'S VIEWING DATES

Since September we have been working hard with your children to learn their Irish dance steps, correct technique, and the love of Irish dance.  Now it’s time for you to get a first-hand glimpse into what happens in your dancer's class.  We are excited to announce our first Parent Viewing Dates for 2019!

Recreational Division

Saturday, January 19th, 2019

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019

Performance Division

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019

Please mark the dates on your calendar so you don't miss the opportunity to watch your dancer's progress in class!  To make the experience a positive one for everyone including parents, teachers and especially the dancers, we have a few general do’s and don’ts suggestions.

Here are the do’s…

Do attend! The doors will be open at the beginning of class and you're welcome to stay for the entire lesson. In some cases, classes will be combined.

Do share with your dancer how excited you are to see what they’ve been up to and to show off their new skills. Write parent viewing days on the calendar, set a reminder in your phone and let your dancer know that this is a special opportunity for you to see what they’ve been working on.

Do take photos and videos, but please be respectful of teachers, other dancers, and parents who may not want their photos and videos posted on social media. Focus the lens on your child – you’re here to see them!

Do save your comments and questions for the teacher until the end of class.  You will have an opportunity to discuss any concerns you have with the instructor then!

Do participate if asked. Some teachers may have organised something for the parents to join in with and we promise it will be fun!

Do listen to the teacher’s corrections of your dancer and others as well – this will help you understand what your child is working on in class and encourage them to practice at home.

Do recognise that an audience may be intimidating for some dancers and be very positive and supportive to all students throughout the viewing. The best way to do this is to smile! 

Do clap for all of the dancers at the end of class! They’ve worked very hard and deserve some applause.

Now for a few dont's…

Don’t check your phones or other electronics. Use them to take pictures and videos but please wait until after class to check your emails, take a call or respond to text messages.

Don’t be a distraction. Talking to your child, correcting your child, speaking over the teacher or asking your child to pose for a picture are all distractions to your dancer, the other dancers, the parents and the teacher. We want to show your dancer’s maximum potential to you and we can’t do that if they’re distracted. This is your turn to sit back, enjoy and let your child do all the work!

Don’t stay away because you have an older dancer – viewing week is not just for our littlest dancers and your dancer (no matter their age) may be just as excited to show you what they’ve been working on in class.

Don’t bring your dancer’s siblings and extended family in to watch. Viewing takes place in the studio and with too many people, the studio may get very tight. While we encourage just parents to attend parent viewing we absolutely encourage aunts, uncles, grandparents and other family members and friends to attend the year-end recital. As a reminder, if younger children must attend, be sure to bring an activity to keep them occupied so not to disturb the dancers.

Don’t chat with or whisper to other parents during the class, if you have a specific concern speak with the instructor privately away from the other students and parents.

Don’t bring food into the room, but not to worry, water or covered coffee mugs are fine. 

Don’t be surprised or intervene if your child receives a disciplinary instruction during the class (i.e. asked to stop talking or to pay attention); every class comes with its own expectations and structure and the teacher will remind students of this when necessary in the context of the added distraction of an audience.

Don’t give disappointing glances. Everyone learns differently and every dancer in the room will have their own strengths and technique they need to work on. Try to remember that they are working very hard and some steps and techniques will take longer than others.

And Don’t Forget…

We look forward to seeing you at Parents Viewing Dates!

Thank you,

Folklorama 2019 Registration

FOLKLORAMA - UNITED KINGDOM PAVILION 

McConnell School of Dance Student's Association  sponsors the United Kingdom Pavilion Folklorama (RBC Convention Centre) and McConnell dancers perform Irish, Welsh, and English styles of dance in the show.  Our instructors, parents, and family members volunteer their time to organise and run the various areas of the pavilion (administrative, show, bar, kitchen, cultural area, admissions, and volunteers).  The pavilion start up funds are raised through fundraising events (Pancake Breakfast, Mom's Pantry, St. Patrick's Fest, etc.)  All proceeds from the pavilion go directly to our non-profit organisation in support of our dancers.

We invite all dancers to take part in Folklorama!

We ask all dancers (Recreational, Competitive, and Performance)  to please register for Folklorama by no later than January 8th, 2019.  

FOLKLORAMA REGISTRATION is available on-line, in the member's area of our website CLICK HERE

UNITED KINDOM PAVILION 2019

We are very pleased to announce our application for the 2019 festival has been accepted and we are excited to sponsor year 6 of the United Kingdom Pavilion!

Dates - Aug 4th - 10th, 2019 

Location -  RBC Convention Centre

Folklorama is a great experience for dancers who have the opportunity to take part in a professional with live music. It's a great team building time for dancers who build life long friendships.  We invite all Recreational Division dancers to take part in the festival.  

• Dancers wishing to perform at Folklorama take classes during the months of June & July (Wednesday & Thursday evenings) and attend monthly workshops throughout the dance season.   
• All dancers participating in Folklorama are required to perform in all 7 nights of the festival.
• Dancers perform Irish, English, Scottish, and Welsh dancing at Folklorama.
• Dancers perform only their most practice dances at Folklorama as the standard is very high. Dancers who are struggling may be asked to take additional classes to assist with their technique.
• Younger children may not perform in the later shows, depending on their age and ability to handle the rigours of performing.
• Dancers require a school costume for Irish performances at Folklorama.  Additional English, Welsh, and Scottish costumes are provided by our Student's Association who sponsor the pavilion.

MONTHLY WORKSHOPS

• Sat, Jan 26
• Sat, Feb 23
• Sat, April 13
• Sat, May 11

WORKSHOP PRACTISE SCHEDULE

4:30 - 6:00 PM - Beginner, Novice, Preliminary, Performance Level 1 & 2

5:30 - 7:00 PM - Intermediate, Adult, Performance Level 2, 3, 4

WORKSHOP FEES

There are no fees for workshops, our instructors are volunteering their time in order to insure dancers are adequately prepared for Folklorama performances.

SUMMER LESSONS & PRACTISES

Folklorama dancers will attend Wednesday Folklorama practices in addition to Thursday evening Irish Dance technique (Competitive Division Classes)  

Wednesday Practices

• Wednesdays - June 12, 19, 26
• Wednesdays - July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 

WEDNESDAY PRACTICE SCHEDULE

• 6:00 - 7:30 PM   Beginner, Novice, Preliminary, Performance Team 1 & 2
• 7:00 -  9:00 PM   Intermediate, Adult, Performance Team 3 & 4?

Thursday Lessons

In order to adequately prepare Irish dancers for performances in front of our large audiences at Folklorama, we ask everyone attend Thursday evening Competitive Classes for the months of June & July.  Dancers should enrol in at least 1 Level Class (1 - 5) plus 1 Ceili Class (Under 12 or Over 12), depending on age.

• Thursday - June 13, 20, 27
• Thursday - July 4, 11, 18, 25

THURSDAY PRACTISE SCHEDULE

• 5:30 - 6:30 PM Level 1 & 2  (Beginner, Novice, Preliminary)
• 6:30 - 7:00 PM Ceili Under 12 
• 6:30 - 7:30 PM Level 3 (Intermediate)
• 7:30 - 8:00 PM Ceili Over 12
• 8:00 - 8:30 PM Set Dances
• 8:30 - 10:00 PM Level 4 & 5 (Advanced)

 

FOLKLORAMA FEES

WEDNESDAY FOLKLORAMA FEES (June & July)

There are no fees for Wednesday evening practices.  Our instructors are volunteering their time for Folklorama rehearsals. With this in mind, we ask all dancers family or friends please provide a minimum of 6 hrs volunteering per night during Folklorama.

 

THURSDAY LESSON FEES (June & July)

All Competitive Division classes are based on a discounted hourly rate (plus tax);

 

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• Fees for lessons are applied through our Student Portal on the 1st or 15th of the month (June & July).  

VOLUNTEERS

Our pavilion is run and organised by our Instructors, MSDSA Board members, dancers, parents, and friends of the organisation.  It's an incredible amount of work for those who chair the various areas of the pavilion (Coordinator, Finance, Food, Bar, Volunteers, Entertainment, Bus Tours & VIP's, Cultural Area, and more) For some, the work begins in September and becomes a full time job in the summer months coming up to the festival.  The pavilion requires 100 - 150 volunteers per night in order to run successfully and fulfil all the requirements from Folklorama. We cannot operate the pavilion without the support from our dancer's parents, family, and friends and we appreciate the work everyone does to help us sponsor one of the largest and most successful pavilions in the festival.  

• We ask all dancers to please provide at least 6 hours of volunteers from friends or family for each of the 7 nights of the festival.  

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ARE YOU INTERESTED IN ORGANISING AN AREA OF THE PAVILION?  

If so, please contact us!  

Your support is greatly appreciated by our school, Student's Association, and our dancers.

Nationals - Hotel Bookings

 

CRN NORTH AMERICAN NATIONAL OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

For those who are travelling to Nashville to compete in the North American Open Championships...

Great news...the block of rooms set aside for the competition has been FILLED as we have quite a few schools coming from Ireland to compete!  We are able to open up another block of rooms but we need an estimate of how many rooms are still required from schools.

If you have not yet booked your room and you would like to stay at the Sheraton Music City Hotel, please email info@mcconnelldancers.com ASAP to confirm you need a room.

Please note, there is a Facility Access Fee for those who do not stay in the hotel (see below for more details)



Dates: February 16 - 18, 2019

Hotel Location: Sheraton Music City Hotel located at 777 McGavock Pk, Nashville, TN 37214

Room Rates and Reservations

Rooms are $169 plus taxes 15.25% and $2.50 city tax per night (U.S.)

Call 888-627-7060 To receive the special rate for our group

GROUP NAME: CRN North American Championship



FACILITY USAGE FEE

The success of the 2019 North American Open Irish Dance Championships depends on the attendees booking the contracted hotel block at our host hotel. CRN will be unable to meet contracted room obligations if attendees stay in any hotel outside our contracted room block. The risk of incurring monumental financial penalties (attrition fees) increases with each attendee who stays outside of the host hotel.



PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING:

 A daily facility access fee will be charged to all attendees to view the competitions that do not book within the contracted block.

Booking individually, directly or through a travel agent will not meet this requirement so please be sure to follow the instructions when booking your guest room accommodations.

Please note that in order to avoid the facility fee charge, one must book within the contracted North American Open Irish Dancing Championships Guest Room Block.

Attendees making reservations elsewhere will not be considered a part of the Irish Dancing Block and therefore be charged the Facility Access Fee to view the competitions.

STRICT SECURITY WILL BE IN PLACE TO ENFORCE THIS POLICY

If you have any questions, please email info@mcconnelldancers.com