• Over the next weeks to come, it is my goal to teach your child the ~ love of dance ~ drama ~ tumbling ~ (depending on what you signed up for!); build confidence & self esteem; gain knowledge & appreciation for the art, and to get them use to a classroom atmosphere. Each week we will be starting with warm ups and then continue working on our dance routine(s). If you have any questions or need anything at all through the term, please give me a call. 

• Keep our children safe! – For children that are 9 and younger, each child’s parent, or caregiver needs to walk their child to the classroom to insure their safety to & from class. Please make sure to make eye contact with me, so that I know & see that your child is transferred safely back & forth. I will not let them go unless I personally see you. This is to ensure that your child is safe at all times.

• Parents are allowed to watch the first and last class only, this allows the child to depend upon me, focus’ the class, and gives you that well deserved brake.
  • If your child hesitates in participating, that is okay, and fully natural, I did the same thing when I started dancing, and I was eight, standing behind a tree, crying to my mom that I did not want to go! Just encourage & love, & over the next few weeks they will grow to love it, and be saying bye bye as they walk through the door. The parent watching policy is first and last class only. However, being a mom myself I have come to understand that it might take a few weeks to adjust your child to the class room atmosphere, and to me, a new person. For some of you this will be a process, and others it will not be. However you would like to progress your child in being independent in the classroom is up to you. Here are some options that I have found most effective in the past. 1) Sneak out the door when they are not looking 2) Send them to class with a teddy bear, or something from home to make them feel comfortable. 3) Remind them that they will see you again, after getting a stamp in class. 4) Play peek a boo at home, and/or drop them off with a friend, and pick them up a short term later, to get them trusting in that mom or dad will always come back. 5) Tell them you love them, hand them to me, walk out the door, and if they do not cry, all is good, if they do, I will sit them down by the mirror to let them watch the class, and tell them when they are ready they can come and dance with me, the crying usually only lasts for a few moments and then they will join in the fun. Whatever makes you, and more importantly your child comfortable… Feel free to ask me any questions. The goal is to get them independent in the classroom atmosphere.                                  

• Dance Clothes - You can find dance clothing at the Leotard, off of MLK. Also Target & Payless Shoe store is great for cost effectiveness. I ask that your child always wears loose, comfortable clothing that they can move freely in. Although dance clothes are not required, they are recommended. In place of ballet shoes, any imitation will due. (slippers, dress up dance shoes)
  • Ballet – ballet shoes, tights, and leotard, hair in a pony tail or bun
  • Hip Hop – loose clothes ( no jeans ), socks, hair in a pony tail
  • Tap – loose clothes that allow me to see their feet, tap shoes, hair in a pony tail
  • Creative Movement – loose clothes (no jeans ), socks, hair in a pony tail

• About your Teacher - I have been teaching dance & drama for 18 years, I am married to a wonderful husband and have three great children.(13 yrs, 11yrs, & an almost 2 year old)  Look me up on facebook (Valerie Dawn Bowder Cooper) or myspace (rhythmofmyheart@msn.com)
  • I teach many dance & drama classes at the Conestoga and Garden Home Recreation Centers, I also run a performance team, and a musical production company, at the Garden Home Rec Center. If you are interested in performing around town, at the county, and state fairs, Portland Rose Festival, the Zoo, in parades, and more, then please see me about the Fast 4Ward Performance Team. (this is for ages 4 to adult) If you are interested in staring in a musical, learning about acting, singing, dancing, stage movement, just how to be a star, then you would be interested in On the Stage. (this is for ages 3-6, 7-10, & 11-14)