God Bless Texas Round Up
All of the Dancin’ School families join up to host a high kickin’, toe tappin’ Texas festival on Saturday, March 5 from 12:30 – 5:30 pm in the studio parking lot. This annual event benefits the Star of Hope Homeless Mission and the Joy Ministry which supports students with special needs and their families.

Last minute reminders:
Check your dancer’s performance times, list of donations and volunteer times.
Buy your 50 Advance tickets. No waiting in lines. Use them for food and activities. With your purchase, you are automatically entered into Lone Star Grand Prize Drawing.
Dress Code: Western wear celebrating our Texas Roots. Ballet Shoes for Ballet, Tap Shoes for Tap, Sneakers for Hip Hop and Boots for Jazz, Young Primary and Ballet/Tap Classes.
Buy an Ad to support your dancer in the program.
Invite your friends.
Enter to be Cowgirl Princess and Rodeo Champ. Get a punch at an activity  booth on your 5 pointed star. Once your star has 5 punches, turn it in at the Ticket Booth to be entered into the drawing. Winner will receive a designer western hat, trophy, presents check to the Star of Hope, reigns over next year’s festival and 50 tickets to next years event.
Parking is available at the Hilcroft Medical Center next door.
Please bring your own folding lawn chairs. There will not be audience seating.

God Bless Texas Photo Contest
At Dancin’ School, we are truly proud of our dancers every week. Especially, when they work together for a worthy cause. Parents, this is your chance to win a FREE Summer Semester (3 Classes each week) at Dancin’ School by sharing your pride in your children! Just follow the instructions below:

1. E-mail us a photo of your child at the God Bless Texas Festival (past or upcoming) with “God Bless Texas Photo Contest” in the subject line. Send your photo to CookieJoeDance@hotmail.com. Please include your name, your child’s name, and a contact phone number. (Only the child’s first name will appear on FaceBook.)

You may enter only one photo per child. However, you may enter more than one child per family into the contest. Photos can have more than one child featured however only one will be entered into contest as the award can not be divided.

2. We’ll upload the photo into the God Bless Texas Photo Contest Facebook photo album!

3. “Like” Cookie Joe’s Dancin’ School on Facebook if you haven’t already.      (http://www.facebook.com/cookiejoedance)

4. Tell all of your friends to “Like” your photo in the God Bless Texas Photo Contest album. (Your friends will have to “Like” Cookie Joe’s Dancin’ School to be able to Like your photo.) The photo with the most “LIKES” by March 31, 2011 will win a FREE Summer 2011 Semester. Good Luck.

God Bless Texas Schedule 2011
Saturday, March 5 (Program A at 1 pm)
Ballet
Saturday 12 Ballet 1 Tran    Waltz Across Texas
Tuesday 4 Ballet 1/2 Tran    Waltz Across Texas
Thursday 6 Ballet 1 Cookie    Waltz Across Texas
Monday 5 Ballet 2/3 Tran    Galveston
Tuesday 6 Ballet 2 Tran    Galveston
Tuesday 6 Ballet 3 Cookie     Together, Anything’s Possible
Wednesday 7 Ballet 3 Tran    Together, Anything’s Possible
Monday 7 Ballet 4 Tanya     My Wish
Tuesday 6 Ballet 4 Marisela    My Wish
Tuesday 7 Adv. Ballet Marisela    I Hope You Dance
Saturday 11 Advanced Ballet Marisela    I Hope You Dance
Tap
Saturday 12 Tap 1/2 Cookie    Houston
Tuesday 5 Tap 3 Cookie    If You’re Gonna Play in Texas
Tuesday 8 Tap 3 Cookie    If You’re Gonna Play in Texas
Jazz
Saturday 2 Young Primary Cookie    Boogie Back to Texas
Saturday 10 Young Primary Cookie    Boogie Back to Texas
Thursday 4 Ballet/Tap Tran    Deep in the Heart of Texas
Wednesday 4 Hip Hop Cookie    El Tejano
Thursday 8 Hip Hop Cookie Joe    El Tejano
Saturday 11 Ballet/Tap Tran    Deep in the Heart of Texas
Saturday 9 Ballet/Tap Cookie    Deep in the Heart of Texas
Monday 4 Jazz 1 Tran    Why Don’t We Just Dance
Tuesday 5 Jazz 1 Tran     Why Don’t We Just Dance
Tuesday 7 Theater Dance Tran    Hello Texas
Monday 4 Jazz 2 Cookie    Boot Scootin’ Boogie
Wednesday 7 Jazz 4 Cookie    God Bless Texas
Wednesday 7 Adv. Jazz Roxanne    God Bless Texas

Saturday, March 5 (Program B at 2:30 pm)
Ballet
Wednesday 5 Ballet 1 Tran    Waltz Across Texas
Friday 4 Ballet 1/2 Tran    Waltz Across Texas
Saturday 10 Ballet 1 Tanya    Waltz Across Texas
Thursday 6 Ballet 2 Tran    Galveston
Thursday 7 Ballet 3 Marisela    Galveston
Saturday 9 Ballet 2 Tanya     Galveston
Thursday 6 Ballet 3 Marisela     Together, Anything’s Possible
Saturday 9 Ballet 3/4 Marisela    Together, Anything’s Possible
Thursday 7 Contemporary Ballet Cookie    My Wish
Monday 7 Ballet 4 Tran    My Wish
Tap
Friday 5 Boy’s Hip Hop/Tap Cookie    You’re from Texas
Wednesday 5 Tap 1 Cookie     You’re from Texas
Wednesday 6 Tap 4 Cookie    Cotton Eye Joe
Wednesday 6 Adv. Tap Roxanne    Cotton Eye Joe
Jazz
Monday 10 Ballet/Tap Cookie    Boogie Back to Texas
Thursday 4 Young Primary Cookie    Boogie Back to Texas
Tuesday 10 Ballet/Tap Cookie    Boogie Back to Texas
Saturday 11 Hip Hop Cookie    El Tejano
Tuesday 4 Ballet/Tap Cookie    Deep in the Heart of Texas
Thursday 5 Ballet/Tap Cookie    Deep in the Heart of Texas
Friday 5 Ballet/Tap Tran    Deep in the Heart of Texas
Wednesday 6 Jazz 1 Tran    Why Don’t We Just Dance
Monday 6 Jazz 2 Tran    Boot Scootin’ Boogie
Friday 6 Jazz 2/3 Cookie    Boot Scootin’ Boogie
Monday 6 Jazz 3 Cookie    Hello Texas
Tuesday 7 Jazz 3 Cookie    Texas Cookin’
Thursday 7 Jazz 4 Tran    Texas Cookin’

God Bless Texas Program:
12:30 pm – Welcome (Invocation, Texas Pledge, National Pledge, National Anthem)
1:00 pm – Dance Program A
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm: Beat the Pro with Ryan Pontbriand of the Cleveland Browns
2:15 pm – Live Auction at Stage Area
2:30 pm – Dance Program B, Singer Dominque Paulos
4:00 pm – Star of Hope Representative & Joy Ministry Representative Speak
4:15 pm – Close of Silent Auction in Naome’s Niche (Studio 1)
4:25 pm – Raffle Drawings (Lone Star Grand Prize – Semester of Summer Dance (2) and Revue Package, Cowgirl Princess & Rodeo Champ)
4:30 pm – Stephen Gittens, Trick Cyclist
5:00 pm – Dunk the Teacher!! Finale

Spring is In, We are Out
Just a reminder that Dancin’ School will be closed for Spring Break starting Monday, March 14 – Saturday, March 19. Have fun, practice your dances and wear sun screen.

Summer Classes
Dancin’ School offers a six week summer program for all of the dancers who are serious about their dance training. All company members are required to dance during the summer. If you hope to be in a company someday, want to advance to a higher level, or those ballet students who aspire to dance en pointe someday, all need to continue their training the summer. From the time we finish the revue to the first class of fall is three months. In this time, the muscles have lost their motor skills that were so hard to gain during the spring therefore a dancer has to virtually start over. It takes just as many weeks to get “it” back.

Early Bird Gets the Prize
We are so blessed by the influx of new students this year. We hope everyone feels welcome and was able to get into       the class of their dreams. If we continue to grow at this rate, there is a strong possibility that there will be a waiting list   for our more popular classes and times. We want to be sure and that each dancer gets into the class  that works best for their schedules. If you want to be sure that there is a spot for you in the class of your preference, we strongly suggest that you take advantage of this pre-registration opportunity. Early registration will guarantee your spot in the class. Come in during the Pre-Registration Days to sign up and pay the $25 Family Registration Fee to save your spot. Plus, you will receive a $15 credit on your account if you prepay your Summer Session or Prorated August Tuition. You will  receive a $25 credit when you prepay for both Summer Session and your Prorated August Tuition. Valid until Saturday, May 14 at 7 pm.
Monday, May 9 (11 am – 12 noon*, 1 pm – 4 pm*, 5 pm – 9 pm)
Tuesday, May 10 (10 am – 12 noon*, 1 pm – 4 pm*, 4 pm – 9 pm)
Saturday, May 14 (9 am – 12 noon, 3 pm – 7 pm*)
*Multiple staff available to register students. Almost no wait.

The 2011 Dancin’ School Revue
We are excited that so many of you are participating in the 2011 Revue at the Wortham. We know that this is the first   time for many of you. The Dancin’ School staff is committed to presenting the most professional and entertaining production possible. This takes a lot of planning, cooperation and finances. We have a structured plan that has been in place for 35 years and has been so successful that the Houston Ballet staff and company send us letters of congratulations. We thank you in advance for adhering to all the rules and helping us continue to build our stellar reputation among the major arts organizations in the theatre district of downtown Houston. As a reminder, each family will be charged a Performance Fee. It is due by April 1st at 7 pm. If you would like this fee charged to your AutoPay, please contact Ms. Debbie at the front desk.

$100 for One Performance Show and $150 for Two Performance Show
Performance Fees are charged by Family not Student.

Each family will receive 4 tickets to each show your child is featured in. Tickets will be distributed on Saturday, April 16th starting at 1:30 PM. Additional tickets will be available for purchase on Monday, April 25 starting at 5:00 PM. All the parents of new students MUST attend a New Parent Meeting before tickets will distributed to the family. Starting April 4th, you will draw a number which designates the order in which you will choose your seats on tickets day. Only those families who have paid their fee will be allowed to get tickets for the show. New families must attend a Mandatory New Parent Meeting also before tickets will be issued.

Mandatory New Parent Meeting
We are excited that there are many new dancers and families added to our family. There is a lot of information for our new performers and parents. All New Parents must attend the New Parent Meetings even if you have been in a performance for another studio. Every studio runs differently; therefore, it is mandatory. We know everyone is busy but it is our mission to have the best show with as little confusion and misunderstandings as possible. We offer many choices for you to attend for your convenience. No children under the age of 10 are allowed at the meetings. Please make arrangements before hand. We appreciate your time and patience. We would like to invite all of the parents even if you’ve been here for years to attend the meeting. Sometimes your input could be helpful and you just might hear some things you forgot.

The Week of April 11 – 16
(Meetings last about an hour and starts sharply on the hour. Latecomers will have to reschedule.)

Monday: 10 AM, 4 PM, 5 PM, 6 PM, 7 PM
Tuesday: 10 AM, 4 PM, 5 PM, 7 PM, 8 PM
Wednesday: 4 PM, 5 PM, 6 PM
Thursday: 4 PM, 5 PM, 6 PM, 7 PM
Friday: 4 PM, 5 PM, 6 PM
Saturday: 9 AM, 10 AM, 11 AM, 12 Noon

Calling all Moms
Would you like to be backstage with your little one for the Revue? We are now taking names and auditioning for Room Moms and other stage help. We are limited on the number of Room Moms needed. Once you have given us your information and which class you’d like to help with, we will narrow down our candidates. Room moms will be required to attend any of the Mandatory Room Mom Meetings on Saturday, April 2 (1 – 2 pm), Tuesday, April 5 (4 – 5 pm), Wednesday, April 6 (4 – 5 pm) or Saturday, April 9 (1 – 2 pm). In appreciation, all of the moms selected as backstage volunteers will receive a $20 credit on their account.

Ticket Day
The tickets for the 2011 Revue will be distributed on Saturday, April 16 beginning at 1:30 pm. You must present your Performance Contract with your ticket number that you received after paying the Performance Fee. YOU MUST HAVE THIS VOUCHER TO SELECT YOUR TICKETS. Extra tickets will be available for sale at $10 each on Monday, April 25th at 5:00 pm on a first come first serve basis. The proceeds of this sale benefit the Star of Hope.

Company Auditions for the 2011 – 2012 Performance Season
For all those who would like to have more performance opportunities and would like to help others, come and audition for our non-profit performance dance company. AADC, Fortune Cookies and Ballet Grace are required to take a technical ballet class and choreography class during the new season. THE JAZZ CO. (the Sr. Jazz Co., Jazz Co. 2.5, Jazz Co. II, Jr. Jazz Co. and the Jazz Bits) are required to take one technical jazz class, one technical ballet class and the choreography class during the new season. Check the CookieJoeDance.com website for dates and times of auditions. All company members are required to take Summer Classes.