TDA Day promises to be slightly chaotic and lots of fun. Here’s how it works…Arrive early and think about where you would like to sit in the Chabot Theater for the June Concert (see map). Before you arrive at the studio to purchase your tickets, determine what side of the theater you want to sit on…also, determine how many tickets you will need and what section you’d like to sit in. The tickets are $10, $13, and $17 each. The balcony and far sides of the orchestra level are $10. The middle orchestra level tickets are $17. The back and inner sides of orchestra level are $13.

If you’ve never purchased tickets for the concert before, you’ll want to read the following… At the studio in Livermore, there will be two overhead projectors that display available seats on the wall behind the cashiers. While you are waiting in line, you’ll be able to see what seats are available and – more importantly - what are not. To help keep the line moving as fast as possible, please have your selection in mind when you arrive at the table.

2. FALL 2004 REGISTRATION: After purchasing your tickets, head on over to the registration table for Fall 2004 classes. Staff members will be available to help you select the appropriate class(es) for next year. Why would you register now for classes that are not starting for another four months? There are two reasons: 1. Registering early ensures your dancer will get the class she/he wants next year. 2. Registering early entitles you to a $15 credit (valid on TDA Day ONLY) toward the purchase of your dancewear at Tiffany’s Dancewear. When you combine the $15 credit with the 15% value menu discount, most dancers will save about 30% on their dancewear for next year!!!

3. DANCEWEAR SELECTION: After registering for classes for next fall, you will receive a $15 credit toward the purchase of your dancewear…but ONLY if you order your dancewear on TDA DAY. Additionally, if you purchase one of our Value Menu items, you will receive an additional 15% off. In most cases, dancers will need to purchase ballet shoes, tap shoes, one TDA leotard, tights and a skirt. Don’t worry about ordering the wrong size shoes, leotards or tights. If, when you take delivery of your dancewear, something does not fit exactly right, you may exchange it for the correct size. Please complete the dancewear order form beforehand to help keep the line moving. We’ve included a dancewear order form with this newsletter so you may select your items before arriving at TDA DAY.

Concert Volunteers

***MEETING NOTICE*** Mandatory Meeting May 3^rd, 7pm at the Livermore studio for all backstage volunteers.

All Certified Concert Volunteers, with the exception of baked goods donors, may purchase tickets on Friday, April 23rd at the Livermore location from 9am - 1pm. You may also register for Fall Classes at that time. If you would like to volunteer, please check the bulletin boards for sign-ups. For Pleasanton parents, please call the office at 925-447-5299 for volunteer jobs other than "backstage” moms.

Purchase A Star

…for your dancer – Recognize your dancer in the June Concert program. See attached order form.

Place An Ad

…in the June Concert program. For those of you that have a business in Livermore, Pleasanton, Fremont and/or Walnut Creek, consider placing an advertisement in the June Concert Program. Over 3000 people will see your ad in two days!

BAD TRIP Is Not So BAD Anymore!

We altered the route of BAD TRIP to make it a little easier for riders who are not Tour de France type of cyclists. The new route is as follows.

June 21	SF – Santa Cruz	75 miles
June 22	Santa Cruz – Big Sur	70 miles
June 23	Big Sur – San Simeon	66 miles
June 24	San Simeon to Pismo Beach	60 miles
June 25	Pismo Beach – Santa Barbara	90 miles
June 26	Santa Barbara – Ventura	41 miles
June 27	Ventura – Santa Monica	46 miles

Also, we’ve included a Pledge Form for those of you who don’t want to ride, but still want to support the riders. No donation is too small (or too big, for that matter). Even if you can only spare $5, your money will go towards the development of 10 pre-professional dancers from all over the world. These dancers will train right here at Tiffany’s Dance Academy, and they will perform for free at schools, community centers, senior centers, and hospitals. After one year, the dancers will be capable of dancing with professional dance companies worldwide!

10 Host Families Needed

Perhaps you are an empty-nester, or maybe your oldest kids left for college and there is a void in your home. Maybe you just happen to have a young dancer in your family that would love to have an older, very talented pre-professional dancer living in your home. If you would like to let a pre-professional dancer live with you in your home for one year, please contact Paul Henderson or Steffon Long at (925) 447-5299.

Tiffany’s Dancewear

Grand Opening

Tiffany’s Dancewear is scheduled to open for business on TDA DAY, April 24^th. Our goal is to provide Tiffany’s Dance Academy dancers with quality ballet, tap and jazz shoes, leotards, tights and skirts at a fair price…without driving all over the tri-valley. You’ll also be able to pre-order your special TDA leotards for next season starting now!

June Concert Post-Party

Please join us in celebrating the end of another wonderful season of dance. After the evening performance of the June Concert, we will fiesta at CASA MEXICO in the Chardonnay Shopping Center, next to the Livermore studio. They will have a buffet or set menu in order to serve us as quickly as possible. We hope you can join us!

Livermore Parking

Neighboring businesses have asked us to obey the designated 20 minute parking limit in the spaces located directly in front of the studio. We ask that you park in the second row if you are staying longer than 20 minutes.

June Concert Survival Packet and June Concert Information

All families will receive a copy of the “Survival” packet on TDA Day when they purchase tickets, however in order to give all families concert info, times, days, etc as early as possible, we will have a preview copy of the “Survival” Packet in a binder in both the Livermore and Pleasanton locations. We hope this helps families plan ahead. Please let us know if you have any specific questions.

Dancer Evaluations and Summer and Fall Level Recommendations

This year we are going the extra mile to provide you with valuable information about your dancer’s progress this season. All dancers will receive an evaluation completed by his/her teacher. Copies of the Summer ’04 and Fall schedules will be made available sometime between April 5^th and April 20^thso you can determine what classes to enroll in for next season. Evaluations will be given out in class. If you have not received one by April 20^th, please let the office and/or the teacher know.

Injury Prevention - By Steffon Long

I wanted to write this month's column on the historical relationship and developmental relationship between classical ballet and jazz- however seeing the number of young dancers sitting under barres, up against walls and even on each other with ice packs attached to various parts of swollen anatomy I've decided to share a few brief thoughts on injury prevention.

My first injury occurred when I was a scholarship student at American Ballet

Theatre School, it happened during Madam Perijslavics class. It was a series of quick light steps going diagonally across the floor. I hadn't a clue about most of the steps I was attempting to do, but being a very ambitious dancer I dove into it like an idiot who sees the swimming pool is empty, but wants to show his friends he can do a double back flip into the water. And the faster I moved the more entwined my legs became - -I could not have told you if I was leading with my right leg or left leg if you offered me a million $$$$$ - and suddenly there was this huge cracking, snapping noise and I looked around to see where it came from - only in looking around I realized I was looking around from laying down. I snapped my ankle so hard they heard it during a concert at Lincoln Center. And these were the days when 100 people wanted your place in that scholarship class - -and my lovely teacher - -sympathy? NO! Did she stop the class and get help? Of course not! She waved frantically at me to get off the floor and get out of the way. I literally crawled out of the studio on my hands and knees with my tail held tightly between my legs. Lesson here: I did not know what I was doing; I did not take the time to study the steps before I attempted to do them. I did not watch the dancers who knew how to do the step before I attempted to do them.

The brain prepares the body for movement. Dancers who do not keep their brains focused 100% of the time while they are in class or in rehearsal on the work at hand are the ones that are most likely to become injured. Think before, during and after you dance - about what you are about to do and how you will do it; think while you are dancing - let nothing distract you from your work; think after you have danced - what could you have done better?

This brings me to warming up. It is in fact not the teacher's responsibility to warm you up. It is our responsibility to teach you technique. You should arrive in class warmed up. This does not take very long and goes a very long way in injury prevention. Arriving at class time without having prepared your body and mind for the class is unwise. It's never too early to begin this pre-class ritual of checking in with your body and mind and getting ready to dance. There is always somewhere in the building where you could do this.

A basic simple warm up should do the following:

1] Increase your body temperature, blood flow, heart rate and rate of breathing. One great way of doing this would be to jog or walk briskly all the way around the outside of the complex of buildings, say two times, while waving your arms vigorously-making sure that you are wearing shoes appropriate for the activity. I can assure you that if you did this you would accomplish all the above and not be in anyone's way.

2] Explore the range of motion in your neck, shoulders, back, hips, knees and feet to increase suppleness.

3]stand on a school book or a narrow block of wood -first on two feet, then on one foot - think of things that you can do that will test your balance, timing and muscular control.

For myself, I begin teaching each class that I teach more than 1 hour before I actually begin teaching the class. I feel a responsibility to myself, to my students, to my employers to be prepared mentally and physically to give my best. I have yet to walk into a studio at the Academy and see all of the dancers calmly warming up, getting their mind's ready and leaping up to their feet when I say "OK, let's start". I expect the absolute best from myself, and I expect no less from any of you! You are your best source of injury prevention.

Personal Stuff
-Technology - HP IPAQ 4415 PDA – add Street Atlas 2004 with a wireless GPS Power Pack to instantly know where you are and where you’re going anytime.

- Hardback. Fiction. "3rd degree". Author James Patterson-continuation of series. Quick & Entertaining
-Best Lawn Care: have Oscar do it. Reliable, priced fairly.

-3 easy steps to success

Grand Opening

Personal Stuff -Technology - HP IPAQ 4415 PDA – add Street Atlas 2004 with a wireless GPS Power Pack to instantly know where you are and where you’re going anytime.

Personal Stuff
-Technology - HP IPAQ 4415 PDA – add Street Atlas 2004 with a wireless GPS Power Pack to instantly know where you are and where you’re going anytime.