Lisa Hammond in Scotland with Scorpius Dance Theatre

Lisa Hammond (an instructor at Desert Star Dance) has been performing with the local modern dance company Scorpius Dance Theatre for the past three years and recently had the opportunity to travel overseas on an exciting performance trip!  Scorpius travelled to Scotland in August to participate in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the largest arts festival in the world and takes place every August for three weeks in Edinburgh, Scotland. Each year thousands of artists and performers converge in the Capital city to present their work. Genres include theatre, comedy, dance, musicals, opera, live music, exhibitions and other special events.

The Fringe Festival began as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival - a festival created to enrich European cultural life after WWII. Back in 1947, it seems some theatre groups arrived uninvited to the event and staged their own performances. This turned in to a trend and eventually a festival of it’s own when the Festival Fringe Society was created in the 1950s. It now boasts thousands of performances in hundreds of venues over several weeks. https://www.edfringe.com

The Booking Dance Festival is a “festival within a festival” held annually at the Edinburgh Fringe and is produced by Jodi Kaplan of New York. This year the dance festival featured a roster of diverse dance companies performing in a showcase format. In attendance were seven modern dance companies including BodyStories: Teresa Fellion Dance,  Synthesis Dance Project and Dzul Dance (all from New York City), Jessica Miller Tomlinson and Thodos Dance from Chicago, special guest Metamorphoses from Mozambique, Africa, and Scorpius Dance Theatre of Phoenix, Arizona. 

https://www.facebook.com/BookingDanceFestival?directed_target_id=0

Scorpius performing at the Fringe Festival

Scorpius Dance Theatre is a contemporary and aerial dance company offering an excellent contribution to the arts community with it’s interesting blend of humor, drama, and movement. Each year they perform several presentations in the Phoenix area as well as other cities. The most famous being their annual presentation of “A Vampire’s Tale” held at Phoenix Little Theater each fall. An original creation about (you guessed it) a vampire. It’s a cult classic around Phoenix. To find out more about Scorpius visit their web site at: http://scorpiusdance.com

Lisa Hammond has been an instructor at Desert Star Dance since it's inception in 2003. She teaches junior ballet and lyrical classes, tumbling, teen jazz, lyrical, and contemporary and is the co-director of Desert Star Dance Senior Company. To find out more about Lisa, go to our web site at: http://www.desertstardance.com/desert-star-dance-staff.html

Calendar of Events at Desert Star Dance

DESERT STAR DANCE CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2013

Fall Classes have begun and many classes are filling up. See our full fall schedule at:
http://www.desertstardance.com/arizona-dance-classes.html

October 22, 2013

Desert Star Dancers will be performing at the Phoenix Suns pre-season game against the Oklahoma City Thunder! Interested in going with us? You can get a great deal on tickets by calling us at (480) 813-7828 or email us at desertstardance@gmail.com.


October 26, 2013 from 10:15-10:35am

Chandler Day of Play. Come out and see our dancers at this fun event encouraging physical fitness for young people! 
http://www.chandleraz.gov/Default.aspx?pageid=805

October 2013 Exact Date TBD

WE ARE MOVING OUR LOCATION! See our previous blogpost for more information!
http://desertstardance.blogspot.com/2013/08/desert-star-dance-is-moving.html

Our new location will be: 

1020 E. Ray Rd. in the Safeway Center at the Provinces.   The building is actually on McQueen between Ray Road and Orchid Lane (next to Papa Murphy’s). Stop by and take a look! Demolition has already begun and construction will begin shortly. See our recent posts to find out more!

November 9, 2013

We will be performing at the annual “Rock the Block” Downtown Chandler Block Party. This event is a family friendly day filled with music, food, and entertainment from around the Chandler area - including Desert Star Dance! 
http://chandlerblockparty.com

December 6, 2013 - Time TBA

Gilbert Night of Lights - All companies will perform at this event. 

http://www.gilbertaz.gov/nol/default.cfm#.UhUQSxblcuo

 

December 7, 2013 at 5:00pm                                

Chandler Tree Lighting - Several of our classes will be performing at this event in Chandler at the Tumbleweed Park! Come join the fun! Here is a link to their page. http://www.chandleraz.gov/default.aspx?pageid=165

 

 

SPRING EVENTS

January/February 2014 - Exact Date TBD - Pre-game Performance at Phoenix Suns game.

February 28-March 2, 2014 - Cathy Roe’s Ultimate Dance Competition

March 2014 - Ostrich Festival (tentative)

June 13 and 14, 2014 - RECITAL 2014

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https://twitter.com/Desertstardance
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Desert Star Dance is Moving!

After 9 years at our current location, Desert Star Dance is relocating! Our new home will be one mile South at 1020 E. Ray Rd. in Chandler. The actual location is off McQueen Rd. between Orchid Lane and Ray Road.

The new location is incredibly close to our current one and will not pose an inconvenience for currently enrolled families and students.  As a matter of fact, the new location is going to be AWESOME!

The Safeway Center at the Provinces is a fully occupied center with lots of great shops and restaurants to serve the busy families of Desert Star Dance.

Safeway has a great deli as well as a Starbucks inside! Yay! You can always get some grocery shopping done while your child is in dance class. So convenient! There are two restaurants directly across from the studio location which include Rosati's Pizza and Hot Wok Feng Chinese Food. There is also  a Papa Murphy's Pizza right next door! There are many other businesses in the center that will provide convenience for Desert Star Families - Water 'n Ice, Nails of the World, Cactus Valley Pool Supply, Dollar Tree, Postal Connections, The Provinces Dental Care, Lifequest Chiropractic, Wells Fargo Bank, Catalina Cleaners, and  many more.

The map to the right shows the new location to be exactly one block South on McQueen Rd. in the Safeway at the Provinces Center. (The purple pin represents our current location and the red our future home) The proximity of the new location keeps it easy for any families attending Desert Star Dance for it's location. Perhaps we will be even closer to some of you!

On the left you will find a layout of the floor plan for the new facility for Desert Star Dance at the Provinces. The new facility will still have three dance rooms but much larger in size. The smallest being 22 by 38 and the largest being 31 by 44! There will be a larger lobby with a bigger office space for our staff as well as a lounge area and cafeteria with sink, refrigerator, and vending machines. There will be a drinking fountain as well.

We hope you are as excited as we are for this new chapter at Desert Star Dance. We are so pleased to be able to move to a facility that will better serve our dancers and their families. If you have any questions regarding the move please call us at (480) 813-7827.

Mariah Spears from SYTYCD at Desert Star Dance!

Mariah Spears and DSD dancers

On Saturday August 10, 2013 Desert Star Dance had the pleasure of a master class with dancer Mariah Spears, a top 20 dancer from this season of "So You Think You Can Dance". She was eliminated from the competition on Episode 11 which aired on July 23, 2013. She was billed as a hip hop dancer on the show but is an accomplished contemporary dancer as well. Mariah is from right here in Chandler, Arizona.

The class at Desert Star Dance was an hour and a half hip hop class. Over 30 dancers attended ranging in age from 8 to 21. The students were so excited to get the chance to take class from Mariah and enjoyed the experience of dancing with their home town dance hero.

Mariah Spears

She taught a hard hitting hip hop piece and followed up with a Q & A session where she shared some of her feelings and experiences being on a national television show. The class was fun and energetic and the choreography current and accessible. It was a pleasure watching her work and interact with young dancers. She was very gracious and open towards the students and answered all the questions the kids had for her during the rap session. She even took the time to take individual photographs and sign autographs after the class, creating appreciative fans out of her students. She had a very loving attitude toward everyone and made them all feel special with her big hugs.


I had the pleasure of chatting with her when she arrived to grab a little lunch before her class. She was cramming in master classes at several studios around the East valley on her visit home before returning to Southern California. I did not get the sense that Mariah was here teaching to make a buck, but rather to give back to her community and allow the dancers from her home town area to celebrate her success. She has an easygoing attitude but is a hard worker. She is a real pleasure to be around. She is smart about her future and is continuing her higher education after her stint on SYTYCD rather than abandoning her studies to pursue career goals. A smart move. No doubt her career will be a successful one no matter what. She has the undeniable force of talent and dedication that equals success in any industry.

Mariah is originally from Chandler, Arizona where she danced since the age of 2.  She is a well trained dancer in all dance styles and received some of her training from our very own ballet instructor - Aaron Gilbert! She is headed back to Southern California to continue at Chapman University. We wish her the best of luck in all of her endeavors and hope to see her next time she returns to the Valley of the Sun.

Balance

Well,  we subjected ourselves to another dance competition this past weekend. Yes, it's true. And you know what that does to me... I get that annoying urge to voice my opinion. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on who you are) I have a forum for that! :)

Ok, it was early in the year for competition, but we usually do this with what we can salvage from last season's numbers. We are in the early stages of our year and aren't quite unified and defined yet but I think it's good to get a look at the current cast of characters, let them perform, and decide where we go from here.

I don't take my students to competition to "win". I go to showcase our work, give the kids a chance to enjoy performing, and perhaps get some valuable feedback. I usually come away with that, and I also get a chance to see what other dance studios in the area are doing. I definitely experience some positive things - getting to be with the families I serve and seeing my students dance. However, on occasion I  leave feeling like an outcast or the red headed stepchild.  That's fine because I get a renewed sense of who I am, what my studio philosophies are, and why I teach dance in the first place.

I don't come from a pageant background and did not grow up when studios were teaching the stuff I see at competitions today. Some of this stuff looks to me like a cross between acrobats, contortionist movement, pageantry, and over the top facial expressions mixed with a few turns and jumps. They are dressed in thousands of rhinestones and little else. (must cost a fortune for very small items!) It looks a little bit like Cirque du Soleil style stuff and it is quite amazing, but it doesn't appear to be a lot of dance.

Now, I also notice the huge patronage it attracts and many times for somewhat conservative (in everyday life) folks. When I see that, I think "Is that what I'm supposed to be doing?", "Is that what kids should be learning at dance?", "Am I doing the wrong thing?" "Should I be pushing for more from my students?" "Do I need to offer more gymnastics classes?". Then I stop myself and realize there are many people who want their kids to dance and don't want to be a part of that particular culture. That's what I'm here for!

My students come out and they look like students. They look like children doing dance. They do not look like professionals or the Peking Acrobats. (I did a show with them once - amazing!) They have days where my company students don't dance, they may be on the cheerleading squad, or softball team, and they have time to do their homework and play with their friends! They still have dance class to enhance their life and if they want it... they can still become amazing dancers and go on to become professionals. Like DSD alumni Austin Brue currently on scholarship at the Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, or Kristyn Nurkka who is living in LA and pursuing her dreams of professional dancing. I have lots of former students who have gone on to work in the entertainment field or have become dance educators. I know my staff and I am capable of training a professional but we leave it up to the student to make that choice once they become teenagers or graduate from high school.

I am not writing this to knock any other studio or say what they are doing is not valid. I do have an opinion that it might not be totally healthy physically and emotionally, but they have their own philosophy and reasoning for doing what they do. I can't say I totally understand it, but I think in every sport, art, etc. there is always this side of things. The extreme... when my son was in soccer, there was the recreation league and the "Arsenal" league. The big guns.. practice every single day, travel games, and so on.

At Desert Star Dance, I hope to find the middle ground. Somewhere between recreation and insanity. I hope to be a place where kids can feel a sense of belonging, learn the art of dance, strive for excellence and still have fun. I want them to develop their skills steadily without burning them out. I see the other studios winning tons of awards at these competitions and my ego says "I need to change.. I need to win... I need to push harder" and then I come to my senses and remember why I'm doing this and what my ultimate goal is. It is to help kids become better people and teach them about the art and joy of dance. I go against the tidal wave that is turning dance in to sport and the TV culture of reality shows focused on competition. I'm not saying competition isn't important in the dance world - everyone feels compelled to compete, but sometime it squashes the creative aspect of dance. Even the hip hop dance world is about the "battle",  but for kids there is an important element - BALANCE.

Ann Bode - DSD Director

Ann Bode—Desert Star Dance Director

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Ann studied with Dee Dee Arnone of the San Francisco Ballet. She later moved to Los Angeles and received a scholarship to Dupree Dance Academy. She began her professional career traveling with the dance troupe “The Dancin’ Machine”. She toured the US, Europe, and even Africa. After the tour, she moved to Las Vegas to dance in the award winning production show “Splash”.

Splash was the most popular show in Las Vegas in the 80’s and 90’s and played at the Riviera Hotel for over 20 years. Ann was featured in the show for seven years, after which she headlined at the Desert Inn in “Showstopper” as the lead singer/dancer. During this time she also choreographed and danced in several of her own night club acts, and performed in many corporate shows. She also appeared in several television shows, commercials, and movies, but her love was for live theater.

Upon retiring from the stage, Ann went on to become the dance and casting director as well as the costume coordinator for KR Entertainment. She managed and directed over 200 dancers in Reno, Las Vegas, and Japan. She also oversaw the budgeting and administration of millions of dollars worth of costumes and helped bring to life a myriad of incredible designs from the drawing room to the stage.

Ann started Desert Star Dance in December of 2003 running classes out of a local health club. While operating with no studio to call home, DSD began to grow. Eventually, Desert Star Dance found a home in Gilbert at it’s current location. It has grown from 40 students to 250. Ann is thankful for the blessings God has bestowed on her through Desert Star Dance. She knows that the success of Desert Star is due to the group of talented teachers and front desk staff that create the warm friendly atmosphere at the studio. Ann is also thankful for the wonderful students and families that study at the school. She would personally like to thank them for choosing Desert Star!

Studio Policies

ENROLLMENT
It is required that all accounts have a credit or debit card on file. Please sign up for automatic payment.

This payment is debited on the 1st of each month. Final date for tuition payment is the 10th of each month. You can pay with cash, check, or credit card. Tuition not paid by the 10th will be run on the credit card on file. Tuition is non-refundable or transferable for any reason.

There is a $30 per student or $45 per family annual registration fee. This fee is non-refundable for any reason.

WITHDRAWAL
Withdrawals must be submitted in writing by email to our front desk. Please send an email to desertstardance@gmail.com at least one week before the 1st of the month to avoid being charged. If withdrawal is not received in writing before tuition is due,  you will continue to be charged. Tuition is non refundable.

MAKE UP LESSONS
 All make up lessons must be made up during the month they were missed and in a class other than your regular one. Make up classes may not be applied towards tuition. No refunds will be made for classes missed for any reason. Please submit in writing if you are dropping a class by sending an email to desertstardance@gmail.com.

COMMUNICATION
The school will communicate with you through email. Please check your email and our blogs regularly for updates. Email addresses must be on file and current with the front desk.

STUDENT CONDUCT
Unruly behavior, inappropriate language, or disrespectful behavior towards teachers will not be tolerated at Desert Star Dance or at any of our events. There is no food or drinks (except water in a closable unbreakable container) allowed in studios. There is no gum allowed anywhere at Desert Star Dance.

There is NO MOBILE PHONE or device use allowed by students in the dance rooms.
Students found using their phones during class time will have them confiscated until the end of class.

CLASS LENGTH/SUBS 
All classes may be 5 minutes less than our schedule states in order to allow for class changes and teacher bathroom breaks. The school reserves the right to provide a substitute teacher if the regularly scheduled teacher is unable to teach class.

DRESS CODE
Required dancewear and dance shoes must be worn in class. Please ask for the dress code for your particular class or consult our web site. Failure to wear required dancewear may result in students being asked to sit out of class. Students are not permitted to wear jeans, hard soled shoes, or jewelry.
http://www.desertstardance.com/dress-code.html

CARE OF STUDENTS
The school is not responsible for providing before or after class care for students or siblings. Parents with students under the age of 5 should remain at the school during class unless prearranged.
Please pick up your child before the studio closes. The studio closes at 9:05 pm Monday through Thursday, 6:05pm on Fridays, and 1:35pm on Saturdays.

INJURIES
Parents, guardians, and students waive the right to any legal action for any injury sustained on studio property in any activity before, during or after class time. A waiver must be signed on our registration form prior to entering any class.

LOST ARTICLES
Desert Star Dance is not responsible for any lost or stolen articles. We do have a lost and found in our lunch room. Please check there for items left at the studio.

RECITAL
In order to participate in our June recital, a costume deposit and production fee are required. These payments are not refundable for any reason. Costume deposits are due in January. Costumes do not include shoes, tights, or accessories. Information is imparted throughout the year.

PHOTO RELEASE
We ask that you sign a waiver where the school is hereby granted permission to take photographs of the students to use in any promotional materials that the school creates. We also ask that the school be able to copyright such photographs in its name.
If you have any questions or concerns please notify us. If you would like to speak with the director, you can email Ann Bode at desertstardance@cox.net. Thank you and we look forward to providing a fun and safe environment for your child to learn the art of dance!