5 Recital Tips for Dance Parents

Can you believe it?! Recital 2021 is just 3 short months away!! Here at the studio, we are gearing up to celebrate on the dance floor! Check out our earlier blog post to learn all about our recital theme this year, Celebrate Good Times! 

With the excitement brewing over here at the studio, we’d like to take a moment to make sure that all that excitement doesn’t turn into stress for our dance parents! We know that recital can be a lot of information. Especially for new dance parents, it can feel overwhelming. 

Whether you are a returning dance parent with years of recitals under your belt, or you’re experiencing your child’s very first recital this year, it’s our goal to make things as easy as possible. So we’ve put together a list of our top 5 tips for a smooth, successful, and joyful recital!

5 Recital Tips for Dance Parents:

1. Be sure to read your Positions emails!

This one is at the top of our list because it is simply the KEY to making sure you stay in-the-know. Over the next few months, our recital details will continue to take shape and we’ll be updating you every step of the way. ALL important information will go straight to your inbox.

If you haven’t marked your calendar yet, be sure to pencil in our photo day, dress rehearsal, and performance day in now! Access these dates HERE. 

2. Handle your costumes with care!

• Keep them hanging up inside their garment bags, away from pets and children.

• We know the kids will be tempted, but don’t let your dancer wear their costume around the house until AFTER recital. 

• Hang tutus upside down in the bathroom for a few days as shower steam flattens the wrinkles. 

• Keep small accessories and hair pieces with each costume in a bag or other safe compartment. 

• Be sure to save an extra pair of tights for recital day, or double check that yours don’t have runs or holes. 

3. Encourage your dancer to practice their routine at-home and perform for family members!

This is one of the BEST ways to limit pre-show jitters and nervous mind-blanks on stage. Practicing their routine at home without other dancers to follow ensures that they REALLY know their choreography well. In addition, getting used to having a set of eyes on them can make them comfortable in front of an audience before the big day! Plus, it’s fun for YOU to see their progress!

4. Practice doing stage make-up and hair before the big day! 

Getting your dancer’s hair and make-up looking stage ready can be one of the biggest challenges for new dance parents. We’ve got some tutorials for you! Click HERE for a great tutorial on ballet buns. Click HERE for a stage make-up tutorial. Dress rehearsal is a great time to try out these techniques, so be sure to leave some extra time and practice doing it exactly how you will for recital day!

Pro Tip: Be sure to secure hair pieces with PLENTY of bobby pins, as they can easily fall off on stage. 

5. Organize everything the night before so you can really cherish the special moments with your child. 

A stressful recital day can take away from the magic that you and your child will feel on their performance day. Trust us, you’ll want to have plenty of time for pictures, smiles, and hugs. Pack your bag the night before, organize costumes, and plan your day out. Thank us later!

Putting this list together already gave us the warm and fuzzies that we feel EVERY single year during recital time. It is truly a magical time for all of our dance families. Parents, prepare to be amazed by your child’s bravery, beauty, and skill when they take the stage. 

To stay updated on ALL things recital over the next couple of months, be sure to check out Recital 2021 Info Page on our website. It’s our one-stop-shop for all of our recital information. We will continue to update it as details take shape. As always, contact us if you have any questions

We LOVE Babylon Businesses! 5 Local Gift Options for Valentine's Day!

Here at Positions Dance Studio, we LOVE our Babylon community! Every year, Babylon brings us fun activities, amazing opportunities, and of course our treasured dance families. Our studio wouldn’t be the same without the support of our dancers, dance parents, and other local businesses.

This February, we want to spread some love back to the community that supports us year after year. So we’ve rounded up some local businesses that are offering GREAT gift options for Valentine’s Day, and we can’t wait to share! We’ve even got a fun surprise at the end of this list! 

6 Local Gift Options for Valentine’s Day:

1. Roomors

Looking for the perfect jewelry piece or gift item for your loved one? Roomors has some beautiful options and is offering a Valentine’s promotion right now! Get a $10 gift card with your jewelry purchase of $75 or more through February 14th. They’ve even partnered up with another local business to offer Cookie Pies from Baked with Grace, the perfect sweet treat to throw into your gift! Stop by their store today! 

2. Elevation Fitness 

Treat yourself or a loved one to a relaxing massage or personal training session at Elevation Fitness, located right here in Babylon. A great gift option for someone who is focused on health or working through a stressful time, massages from their licensed therapists will be sure to put self-care at the forefront this Valentine’s Day! 

3. Girasole Salon

Super sweet promo alert! Between February 7-14, purchase a $100 gift card from Girasole Salon and receive a FREE bottle of wine! This upscale local salon will leave your loved one feeling fresh, and wine makes the perfect gift even better! Contact the salon to purchase today! 

4. Bubble East

Have you checked out Bubble East’s gift shop and clothing?! Click here for tons of gift assortment options, and be sure to check out their Instagram stories for clothing, sweet treats, and other great gift ideas! 

5. Ooh La La Boutique

One of our favorite local boutiques is running a 25% off Valentine’s Sale! Check out Ooh La La HERE! Our favorite item is this super cute pullover that would be the perfect gift to unwrap on the special day! 

6. Self Love Workshop at Positions Dance Studio 

Drum roll please! We couldn’t leave OURSELVES off this list! :) While February is a great time to cuddle up with your loved ones, it’s also the perfect time to focus on loving YOURSELF. We’re excited to host a virtual workshop on February 18th dedicated self care! 

We’ve lined up a panel of experts to discuss body positivity, anxiety, gratitude, acupuncture, self-massage techniques and more! You don’t want to miss this! For just $40 per person, gift yourSELF with valuable techniques to help you live your best life. Click HERE to register! 

We’ve got some pretty awesome local business here in Babylon! After checking out this list, don’t you agree?! The many talented small businesses owners in our community are just one of the things we are feeling the LOVE for this February! 

From all of us here at Positions Dance Studio, Happy Valentine’s Day!

Get S.M.A.R.T About Your New Year's Dance Resolutions

January is the PERFECT time to work on setting goals. Coming out of 2020 madness makes our New Year’s Resolutions all the more important this year! We know our students have big dreams, and we LOVE encouraging them to reach for the stars each week in our dance classes. That’s why today’s blog is all about getting S.M.A.R.T about New Year’s Resolutions!

Have you heard of S.M.A.R.T goals? If not, check out this awesome article! George T. Doran coined this acronym in 1981 and it has since been widely accepted as the most effective way to set goals that actually get accomplished. 

Today, we’re taking you through the S.M.A.R.T acronym with a very common dance goal that we hear from our students ALL the time: improving flexibility. Flexibility is one of those skills that requires personal dedication and consistent work at home, rather than just in the studio. So we can’t wait to get clear on how to make it happen!

S is for Specific

The more detailed you can get, the better! Break your goal down into smaller pieces and choose one or two things to really hone in on this next year. This will help you stay focused on the vision!

Flexibility for Dancers

There are many different ways to improve flexibility, so it’s important to hand-pick one or two specific stretches that you’d like to make strides with. We always recommend working on splits because they are helpful for a wide array of dance moves. But if you have a specific dance move you’d like to improve on, ask your instructor for stretches that will lengthen the exact muscles you need for it!

M is for Measurable

Making sure your goal is measurable comes into play when you are tracking your progress. Goals take time to accomplish. Detailed tracking can help make small victories feel like big ones. 

Flexibility for Dancers

When stretching, the best way to quantify your progress is to use a measuring tape to measure your body’s distance within the stretch. For example, in a split, you can measure the distance between your pelvis and the floor. In a pike stretch, you can measure the distance between your head and your knees. Keep a log of your measurements to help track your progress!

A is for Achievable

This one is all about making sure that your goal is realistic by taking into account where you’re at now vs. where you want to be by the end of 2021. Make sure you can really make your goal happen!

Flexibility for Dancers

Everyone’s body is different, so it’s important to focus on the progress rather than the product when it comes to flexibility. Keep your goal centered around how many centimeters or inches you’d like to move, rather than a flat split. That way, you’ll make sure that it’s personalized and achievable for your own body. 

R is for Relevant

Making sure that your specific goal is directly related to a bigger picture goal is important. This will keep your motivation and focus on point when things get difficult. 

Flexibility for Dancers

It’s important to be aware of what achieving greater flexibility can do for you as a dancer. Maybe you’ll be able to hold your leg for 10 seconds on stage. Or maybe you will finally nail that toe touch you’ve been dreaming of. In addition, no matter what the stretch or dance move is that you’re working on, being more flexible will reduce the chance of injury. Win, win, WIN!

T is for Timely

Creating a timeline with checkpoints, reminders, and even deadlines will help you really take action. Make a plan and stick with it!

Flexibility for Dancers

For flexibility, stretching at home needs to become a consistent habit in order to see results. We encourage sticker charts or accountability checklists for our younger dancers who are working on forming the habit. Set a goal of stretching for 10 mins per day after dinner. Add a sticker to the chart when you make it happen! Measure your progress at the end of each week and watch yourself soar! 

While this list is centered around flexibility for dancers, these S.M.A.R.T concepts can be applied to ANY New Year’s Resolution, dance-related or not! We encourage our students and families to use the acronym for their own personal goals. We know you’ll thank us later!

Here at Positions Dance Studio, we are our students’ biggest cheerleaders. We love setting goals with them, helping them progress, and keeping them accountable from week to week. If your child could use that extra support, we’d love to welcome them in one of our weekly dance classes! Check out the schedule HERE and register today! 

Happy New Year, Positions Families! 2021 is going to be another fabulous year of reaching our dance goals with our favorite students.

6 Ways to Celebrate The Holiday Season With Dance

The holidays create such a special spirit among our young dancers and each year we LOVE being a part of their joy. While it’s a tough year for all of us, we are determined to make the most of it and create some holiday magic for our kiddos!

That’s why we’re dedicating this month’s blog post to celebrating the holiday season with DANCE! Dancers create special memories around the holidays. Between hanging a ballerina ornament, seeing the nutcracker, or doing a rockette-inspired kickline at the family party, we all have our own traditions! 

Looking for some extra holiday magic for your dancer this year? Ready to bring dance into your family’s holiday traditions? Check out these 6 Ways to Celebrate the Holiday Season with DANCE!

1. Shop ‘till you drop at our Dancewear Store!

It wouldn’t be the holidays if there weren’t special gifts waiting to be opened! Good thing we’ve got everything your dancer wants and needs right here at our Dance Store. We carry dance class staples, Positions logowear, small stocking stuffers and more! Check it out and hurry to our store today!  

2. Watch our Positions Dancers in their virtual performance of the Nutcracker. 

The Nutcracker is a part of every young dancer’s holiday wonderland! We share this classic tradition every year with our students. This year, our performance went virtual, live on our Positions facebook page. You can watch a playback of the performance HERE and be sure to like us on facebook to see more of our lovely dancers! 

3. Grab a kid’s ballet book for bedtime or join us for a virtual reading!

Storytime can be SO magical for kids! We recently did a virtual reading of Misty Copeland’s new picture book, Bunheads on our Facebook page. It’s our newest book that we carry in our store, so if you LOVE the story as much as we do, grab it as a gift.

Join us on Tuesday, December 22nd for a virtual reading of The Nutcracker! Just days away from Christmas eve, we can’t wait to share the excitement with our dancers!

4. Take advantage of our December Gift Card Special and give the gift of dance this year!

Have you heard about our awesome promotion?! From now through 12/24 when you purchase a gift card valued at $50.00 or more, you get an additional $15.00 gift card for you to keep OR gift! Positions gift cards can be used on class tuition OR in our store. Gifting a child with a new dance class can be the perfect gift for little ones who just can’t get enough dance!

5. Host a virtual watch party of a dance movie on Netflix.

There are dance movies GALORE on all the streaming services nowadays. One of our favorite holiday dance classics is White Christmas which is available on Netflix! This year, we are SO excited to watch Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker, a documentary of Debbie Allen’s groundbreaking production! Debbie Allen is a dance legend.

Did you know you can host a virtual watch party on Netflix? Check out this informational page. Viewers can chat virtually while watching at the same time. This would be great for family and dance friends to watch together, but from afar this year! 

6. Get crafty with some holiday ballerina decorations!

For those of us that enjoy a craft day with the kiddos, dancers love using their creative side! Check out these adorable ballerina crafts with snowflake tutus.

We hope this list helps you and your little dancers get into the holiday spirit! Pick one thing and roll with it… we promise it will create a treasured memory for your dancer.

From all of us here at Positions Dance Studio, Happy Holidays! We hope that amidst this difficult year, you can all find time to feel joyful with loved ones near and far. We are forever thankful for you, and we love seeing the holiday magic around our studio each year!

Perfect Price, Perfect Pair: November Dance Class Special!

Dance classes are like slices of pie on Thanksgiving, two is ALWAYS better than one! Yes, we know, we are a little biased! However, we aren’t the only ones who feel this way. Check out this AWESOME article that explains why knowing multiple dance forms makes you a better dancer overall! 

This November, we are running an extra special promotion here at Positions Dance Studio! Add a class before the end of the month and receive 50% off your first month’s tuition of the additional class! This is a great opportunity for your child to try something new or finally enroll in that class they’ve been waiting for!

So today on the blog, we are outlining which dance styles go GREAT together and why! The following class combos will help your child excel in their favorite style and compliment their training PERFECTLY!

4 Perfect Dance Class Pairings:

1. Ballet + Acro

While ballet and acro may SEEM like opposites at first glance, they rely on many of the same technical elements. Posture, body placement, control, and strength are at the forefront of both of these styles. These dance genres both require tight core muscles to keep your upper body held during difficult motions. Enrolling in one of these classes will undoubtedly improve the other! 

2. Hip Hop + Tap

Because Hip Hop and Tap are both American art forms that emerged within African American communities, they have similar qualities. Both rely heavily on rhythm and groundedness. Bent knees and a relaxed upper body are key to success in both dance forms. Most importantly, they both include a heavy emphasis on social connection. Taking both is a great way to become grounded and musically in-tune! 

3. Jazz + Leaps & Turns

Jazz and Leaps & Turns are directly related and a PERFECT combination for our jazz lovers! For many of our dancers, leaps and turns are their favorite part of jazz class, which is why we have a class that is totally dedicated to perfecting them! Ready to have the BEST leaps in your jazz routine at recital? Take Leaps & Turns and we will help you accomplish ALL your goals!

4. Hip Hop & Acro

Hip Hop and Acro is a common combination because many Hip Hop dancers mix style and flavor with the coolest stunts and tricks. Breakdancing, a form of Hip Hop, requires the same strength and agility that we practice in our Acro classes! Both forms are high energy and GREAT for the dancer who loves showing off their coolest moves. 

While taking one dance class is a GREAT way to start, we LOVE encouraging all of our dancers to branch out. Being versatile is so important for a dancer’s technique, but also for kids looking to get the FULL dance experience! Sometimes it takes two (classes) to tango around here… pun intended. 

Ready to take advantage of this super-sweet November Special?! Create the perfect class pair for your little ones by viewing our class schedule today! Be sure to hurry, this deal is only good until the end of the month! 

Happy Thanksgiving and remember, two slices of pie is ALWAYS better than one! 

Recital 2021: 3 Things We're Celebrating On The Dance Floor!

We’ve got BIG NEWS over here at Positions!!! We’re announcing our 2021 Recital Theme: Celebrate Good Times! 2020 didn’t give the world much to celebrate, which is why we are setting out to make 2021 the greatest dance party that you’ve ever seen! 

So what exactly are we celebrating? We can’t wait to share the news with our Positions families! 

3 Things We’re Celebrating on The Dance Floor This Year!

1. Positions Dance Studio Turns 50!!!

Can you believe it?! 2021 will be our 50th year in business here at Positions. What better way to celebrate this huge milestone than to hit the dance floor and spread the love?! 

Join us as we celebrate 50 years of stellar dancing, 50 years of building our Babylon community, and MANY more years to come! We are SO thankful for the support we’ve received through the years as it truly means the world. We can’t wait to continue the Positions legacy of being the best dance studio in Babylon, NY! 

2. An Amazing Return to the Studio

The year of 2020 has sure been whirlwind. We know the end of last season didn’t go as planned but things are ALREADY looking up here at the studio. We’ve returned to our facility for a safety-conscious kick off of our Fall 2020 Dance Classes! Our updated COVID-19 Protocols and our dedicated staff have made this year feel like a victory!

While we were dedicated to making the return happen, it’s our parents and students who made this comeback truly something to celebrate! Our students have entered the studio ready to learn and eager to dance. Dance parents have shown great amounts of cooperation and understanding as we work through this transition together. The smiles have been contagious. We invite YOU to join us for a victory dance at Recital 2021!

3. The Joy of Performing! 

While 2021 will be a year of GREAT celebration for us, we have to be honest… our end-of-year dance recitals are ALWAYS pretty festive. There is something about performing that makes a child feel special, and a dancer feel like they’ve accomplished something BIG! Getting the opportunity to perform means the world to our dancers and we can’t wait to share all the details as our plans for Recital 2021 take shape! It’s going to be an amazing show! 

Who will be celebrating on the dance floor with us?! It’s not too late to join the best dance studio in Babylon and save your spot for Recital 2021! Check out our Fall Dance Schedule and register today! Our 50th Anniversary show is going to be a celebration that you WON’T forget.

Fall Fitness: Self-Care Season

Happy Fall! We’ve survived our first (and hopefully our last) summer in a pandemic! On top of that, we survived a stay-at-home quarantine, and NOW the start of a socially-distant, masked school year. We’ve been through a lot!

This month on our blog, we are talking about self-care! Now that your kids are off to school and their Fall schedules are taking shape, it’s time to focus on YOU. This may be the first time you’ve experienced a kid-free house since March. So together, let’s make this Fall the Season of Self-Care! 

Ask any expert, and they will tell you that one of the best ways to care for yourself is to stay active and get those endorphins flowing. That’s why we are BACK and better than ever with the best Adult Fitness Classes in Babylon this Fall! Our classes are in-person with safety precautions in place such as limited class sizes and a pre-registration requirement. 

Who’s ready for some Fall Fitness?! Check out our class offerings and join us as we start a NEW Season of Self-Care! 

Yoga
We’re putting this one at the TOP of our list this Fall because it pairs your workout with breathing and meditation… the IDEAL self-care combo! Get a full body workout through a series of poses that work on flexibility, strength, and stamina. Class finishes with a guided meditation! 

Mindful Movement
Another class that is not only a great workout, but also PACKED with self-care goodies! This class improves core strength and flexibility and always concludes with breathing/mindfulness exercises to help you conquer your day! 

Power Vinyasa
If you’re ready to take your gentle yoga flow up a few notches, join us in this class as we move through our poses and rock out to a new, upbeat playlist each week! 

Barre Fitness
A ballet-inspired workout that will help you tone your legs, lift your glutes, and strengthen your upper body and core. We even offer Barre Express options that will pack your workout into 30 mins for those of us who struggle to fit self-care time into our schedules!

Cardio Strength
This class is a well-rounded, full-bodied workout that incorporates strength training, stretching, AND cardio.

Adult Dance Classes
Dance is our FAVORITE workout here at the studio, mostly because you forget that you are working out! It’s easy to get lost in the music and the fun dance moves while you focus on new skills and technique. We’re offering adult ballet, tap, and modern this Fall which is the perfect way to pencil in some me-time!

Pilates 
Pilates is a series of exercises designed to strengthen and lengthen the core muscles, a great way to care for your spinal health and posture!

Ready to join us during our Self-Care Season?! Here’s how to get started while helping us stay safe this Fall:

1. View the class schedule online! 

2. Find the class and time that work best for you! 

3. Click on your desired class and Pre-Register 

4. Pay for your class at our drop-in rate OR purchase a class card!

5. Head to the studio and get to sweatin’! Be sure to bring your own gear to class (mask, yoga mat, towel, and any props needed for class) due to our new COVID-19 protocols. 

6. Smile and pat yourself on the back as you conquer a self-care win! 

We can’t wait to see YOU at our Adult Fitness Classes in Babylon this Fall! 

4 Reasons Why Being in a Dance Class is SO Important Right Now

Being a parent during a pandemic is not exactly a walk in the park. When a child is hungry, you feed them. When a child is sick, you take them to the doctor. When a child experiences a pandemic, sees the world flipped upside down, and probably doesn’t completely understand why, you…? 

Well, if you’re feeling lost on how to support your kids right now, check out this great article from the Child Mind Institute that we stumbled upon a few days ago. It’s got some great tips! When we read it, we couldn’t help but realize that dance class just so happens to check off quite a few things on that list. 

Dance is amazingly beneficial for kids. We’ve known this for years, which is why we’ve chosen to dedicate our lives to it. But when we think about what kids NEED during a pandemic, dance class seems even more magical than ever before. We are SO excited to dance with your children this Fall, especially because we know they will need it more than ever before. 

4 Reasons Why Being in a Dance Class is SO Important Right Now:

1. Back to a Routine

Kids need structure in their lives, and with almost nothing normal these days, finding that structure is super difficult. That’s why a weekly dance class that remains consistent throughout the ENTIRE school year is so valuable right now. 

We guarantee that when you sign up for one of our Fall Dance Classes, your child will have something to look forward to every week. They will settle into a groove when they have that consistency in their lives. More importantly, when they have consistent activities and structure, they will be less likely to act out and need YOUR attention at home. 

2. Socialization

In the year of social distancing, all of us are feeling the negative emotional impacts of isolation and being apart from others. While we may not be able to help your kids feel physically closer with their friends, we certainly can help them feel connected once again. 

In dance class, the smiles are contagious. The community feel is automatic and comes about organically. When you’re in a room dancing together, you feel together, no matter how far apart. We can’t wait to help your kids bloom into the social butterflies that they were before quarantine!

3. Physical Activity

With many sports cancelled, and A LOT more use of technology over the past couple months, I think we could ALL use some move-your-body time. Here at Positions Dance Studio, that is what we do BEST! 

Send your kids to us this Fall for a full body workout and a feel-good endorphins boost. In class, we get our heart rates up while also utilizing muscle control and flexibility. Dancing really is the whole package. Not to mention our adult fitness classes! Come move with us this Fall! 

4. Supportive and Positive Adults 

We KNOW you’re already doing this at home. But parents are humans too, and it’s unrealistic to expect yourself to stay positive for you kids 100% of the time (especially during a pandemic). That’s where we come in. 

It’s our JOB to be there for your kids. Our goal is to bring our students unwavering and unconditional positivity. At dance, we’re here to build them up for their own sake, but also so YOU don’t have to be the only one doing so. We’re here for both you and your child, now more than ever. 

Are you ready to make all of this magic happen for your child this Fall?! We are too! We are now accepting enrollment for our 2020/2021 Dance Season. Click here to view the schedule and register today! 

Making this list got our warm and fuzzies going, simply because we LOVE what we do. It’s time for another great year of dance at Positions Dance Studio, and we can’t wait to bring your children all the things that they need MOST right now. 

How We Are Safely Returning to the Studio

Positions Families, the time has finally come! The moment we’ve ALL been waiting for: a return to in-studio classes at Positions! For months, our staff has been saying that we CAN’T wait to be back in the studio with our dancers. Now that we are preparing to do so, the excitement is building, but this big step is certainly not one we take lightly. 

During all the chaos these past couple of months, one thing has always stayed the same. Your safety is our number one priority. Our staff is busy transforming our facility and re-thinking our procedures to ensure that our students are safe when they walk in our doors. We are dedicated to you and our responsibility to the community. 

As we accept enrollment for our fall and summer classes, we have put together a new set of policies that we’d like all of our families to take note of. The studio experience may look a little different than years past, but we are confident that it will be a great one.  

How We are Safely Returning to the Studio: 

1. Limiting Class Sizes

To ensure that there is room in our studios for proper social distancing, our class’ capacity numbers will be smaller than usual. If classes fill and there are dancers interested in joining, we will open new classes to ensure that our families get the classes they need. 

With limited class sizes in mind, be sure to view our schedule and register before your preferred class time fills up! 

2. Now Requiring Pre-Registration for All Adult Classes

Adult classes are being offered in-person (outdoors) and on Zoom. Due to limited class sizes to allow for social distancing, we are utilizing a new software to ensure that our drop-in adult dance/fitness classes do not exceed capacity limits. We’ve made it easy for you! Just visit our website and click the registration link next to the class you’d like to attend. 

Those who previously purchase class cards will be able to reactivate them. Please contact the studio to unfreeze your account! Our Summer 2020 Adult Classes run from July 20th - August 28th. View the schedule today! 

3. Drop-Off Only Policy

For all students over the age of 5 years old, parents will not be allowed in the studio to watch class or relax in the lobby. You will have the option to remotely view class via the Zoom Links posted in the parent portal. Parents of preschool children may accompany them inside and occasionally check on class, but we ask that you rotate your time in the lobby. This change was made in order to reduce the amount of people in our space at any given time. 

4. Hand sanitizer and temperature checks at the door!

When arriving at our facility, your student will be greeted by a Positions staff member who will use a touchless thermometer to check the temperature of each dancer before. We’ve also added hand sanitizing stations at the entrance, which will be mandatory for all dancers to use. 

5. Now Requiring Masks to Enter

Students must wear a mask while entering or exiting the building. However, the mask is not required while dancing. Need a mask? We’ve designed special Positions Dance Studio masks for our dancers who are ready to enter in style! Stop by our dance store to get yours today!  

6. Now Requiring Props for Ages 5+

In order to keep our surfaces free from cross-contamination, all dancers ages 5+ are required to bring a yoga mat and hand towel to class. View our graphic below to double-check that your child has everything they need!

Positions Dance Studio is now offering special, branded back to dance packages! Take 20% off when you purchase all 3 items!

7. Socially Distant Dancing! 

We’ve prepped our studio from top to bottom - literally! Our dance floors are now equipped with floor stickers for our dancer’s feet, surrounded by individual, taped boxes. 6 feet apart, but dancing together! 

8. A Revamped Cleaning Schedule

Our staff will be sanitizing high traffic areas such as barres, doorknobs, and bathrooms between each class. Heavy-duty cleaning will be done at the end of the night to prepare for the next day of classes. 

As you can see, we’ve put great thought and detail into our back-to-studio planning. We’re committed to a safe return to the studio. The safety of our dancers, families, and staff is always number one on our list. Be well, and we can’t wait to see you at the studio!

It's Time to Celebrate our Spectacular Students

Wow, our 2019-2020 Dance Season has sure been one we will NEVER forget. A few months ago, we never imagined that we would be running a virtual dance studio, but here we are! As we close out the season, it’s time to celebrate our spectacular students the best way we know how: a performance!

When COVID-19 closures began, we said from the start that we were committed to making a performance opportunity happen. That commitment has remained rock solid, and we are SO excited to get our recital plans rolling! We know it’s going to be fantastic. 

As I’m sure you could imagine, going back to the drawing board and reimagining our end-of-year festivities was not an easy task. We share the disappointment with our families around not making it to the theater, but we are excited to make the best out of a tough situation! 

We are SO thrilled to share how we are celebrating our students this year:

In-Class Virtual Recital (June 20th-26th)

Our first Recital Opportunity is happening NEXT week, in-class on Zoom, at NO extra cost to you! We’ve loved getting the chance to continue teaching our amazing students virtually and can’t wait to see the screen sparkle with their costumes! We ask that students arrive to class in costume with proper shoes and tights. Hair and makeup is recommended to add a little glitz and glam! 

If you are looking for ways to make this day EXTRA special, we’ve got your covered with a few ideas! 

• Creating a DIY backdrop at home can make your child feel like ALL eyes are on them! We found this great youtube tutorial for a paper backdrop, but there are TONS of other youtube tutorials to check out!

• Recording the performance and hosting a family watch party to view the recital video

• A pre-performance photoshoot

• Surprising your child with flowers after their performance

• Sharing a celebratory meal with your child

Red Carpet Experience (June 26th, 27th, & 30th)

This year, we are offering our first-ever Red Carpet experience! Complete with professional recital photos, a private in-studio performance with 4 guests, a t-shirt, and awards, we know this option is going to make our students BURST with excitement. We can’t wait! 

After all the changes and chaos of this year, we are feeling extra elated about creating a celebratory experience for our students. Tough times make sweet victories even sweeter! We’d like to extend our deepest gratitude to our Positions parents for your continued support and flexibility. Recital 2020 is going to be SPECTACULAR!

Seeing the Silver Lining: Top 4 Takeaways of Online Dance Classes

Month number 2 of quarantine is almost complete and let’s be real… staying positive is not an easy task. If you let your mind start to wander too far, heading into worry-land happens pretty quickly. We get it and we’re here to offer support wherever we can. 

There is one positive thing that we all agree on at Positions: seeing your kids on zoom every week makes all of the madness disappear for a few hours. Not only do we love seeing their faces, but we’ve also been having tons of magical moments in class. While our online classes could never take the place of being in the studio, they are SO valuable during this time. 

Between our free and paid facebook groups, our LIVE classes on Zoom, and other fun initiatives on our public facebook page, we’ve completely dedicated ourselves to moving our programs online. As we witness our students learning in new ways and smiles flying left and right, we’ve been seeing the silver lining more and more. 

Check out the Top 4 Take-Aways of Online Dance Classes:

1. A Slice of Normalcy

Any sense of stability that your child was used to has probably shifted during this time. Schedules, schooling, social interaction, end of the year festivities… you name it, it’s probably been changed or non-existent. Which is why we LOVE providing our weekly classes. 

Your child sees their regular teacher just like normal. Your child can depend on the same class every week just like normal. Your child practices their recital dance just like normal. Your child reviews the same skills they were learning before quarantine just like normal. We hope this has lowered the levels of crazy at your house, even if it’s just for an hour each week! 

2. Staying Connected

One of the best feelings is when we unmute a child on zoom and they start exploding with stories and questions! We love watching as they finally let it all out. When we are all dancing together on the screen, everyone is reminded of the community we built at the studio earlier in the year. The kids feel like they belong again. We know they miss their friends and teachers, so we love giving them a chance to connect each week. 

3. Individual Attention

Besides dance class, when was the last time your child heard someone outside of their family say their name? It’s probably been a while. When we give our students corrections via zoom, we watch as their faces light up and they stand a little taller each time. It’s seriously magical!!

We recently read this article by the Institute for Family Studies that outlines 4 things that children need right now. Number one on their list is to feel heard. While our kids are muted, it may be difficult to accomplish this on Zoom. BUT, we do make them feel SEEN, which we would argue is EVEN better. It’s a good feeling to know that others are noticing you, seeing you, and investing in your success. 

4. A Creative Outlet

Even though your little ones might not understand the full capacity of the current situation, I think we all know they are feeling effects. When a child’s world gets turned upside down, it’s important to have a creative outlet. Just like our in-person classes, our virtual classes allow dancers to let go, forget about all the confusion, and dance it out! That has never been more important than right now! 

We hope this list gave you a glimpse into the warm and fuzzies that we feel during every Zoom class we teach. Their smiles are what remind us to stay positive during this time. 

While we know you might not get a “thank you” from your child after each Zoom class, trust us when we say that they are grateful. And from the bottom of OUR hearts, thank you. Thank you for your continued support during COVID-19. Thank you for supporting your child’s passions. Thank you for your flexibility and positivity. Our dance families are simply the best. 

COVID-19 Resources for Dance Families

Oof! Whatever you are stressed about right now…. just know, you are NOT alone. Between finances, health, and childcare, it’s just a lot. These are REAL issues, REAL concerns, and we are with you. We want to help. From our stuck-at-home family to yours, we are here to offer some positivity during this trying time. 

Even though it may seem harder than ever before, now is the MOST important time to make sure our students KEEP dancing. Why? Endorphins, of course! We can probably all agree that we need a few extra of those right now! 

Our Positions Staff has been hard at work this past month taking our dance classes TOTALLY virtual! If you haven’t yet hopped on zoom with us or joined our Facebook groups, don’t worry! We are still wrapping our heads around all this too! It’s not too late to join us. 

On top of what WE’VE put together for our current Positions families, we have been totally thrilled by the number of people and companies who have banded together to help. From live online classes to at-home workouts, we’ve compiled a list of amazing resources for our dance families! We also threw in some general resources for our parents who are suddenly expected to be teachers AND parents!

Check out these awesome resources for dancers and parents during COVID-19:

Exclusively for Positions Families:

• FREE Facebook Group for Current Positions Families - Contests, recital videos, and fun activities are posted weekly! Stay moving and connected in our Positions-only group!

• LIVE Classes on Zoom - Access your child’s Zoom Link via the Parent Portal. If you are new to zoom, this tutorial will help you get oriented. View the zoom class schedule on our website and we will see you on the virtual dance floor!

• Paid Adult Fitness Subscription Group - For $25, you can gain access to all of our at-home workout videos. At Positions, we don’t let quarantine stop us from reaching our health and fitness goals! Join us today! 

• Kids Yoga on Facebook Live - Are things a little crazy at home? We’ve got you! Join Miss Kelly for some relaxing Kid’s Yoga. Follow Positions Dance Studio on Facebook so you don’t miss a class! 

Dance Training:

Bored at home? Can’t get enough dance? On TOP of your Virtual Classes at Positions, we’ve found some extra classes that will help you stay moving! These classes won’t be taught by your Positions Faculty, and they won’t help you learn your recital dance, but they are great class supplements to take advantage of!

• Ballet Class with the Pros - A list of professional Ballet dancers that are offering virtual classes via Instagram/Facebook Live.

• CLI Studios - The industry’s leading online class outlet is graciously offering FREE classes during this time with your favorite choreographers. Visit the website for a complete schedule and get moving!

• DANCIO - Take class with the stars of dance from the comfort of your own home. They are offering a free 2-week trial.

• GAGA classes - Donation based Gaga classes through Zoom multiple times a day!

• STEEZY - Explore different urban dance styles like house, breaking, and popping. Free 7-day trial!

• Sugarfoot Therapy - Injury prevention workouts for dancers designed by a physical therapist.

Staying Active:

• BOKS - Free online fitness program for kids.

• CorePower Yoga On Demand - Parents this is for you! CorePower has released their online classes for free.

• Cosmic Kids Yoga - Yoga, mindfulness and relaxation designed specially for kids aged 3+

• GoNoodle - Keep your tiny dancer moving with these fun, free dance videos for the whole family!

• LES MILLS On Demand - Another great resource for parents to experience over 800+ workouts from home. They’re offering free trials!

Exploring Art:

• BroadwayHD - You can experience the magic of Broadway from home! They offer a 7-day free trial!

• Google Arts & Culture - Google has partnered with over 500 museums and galleries around the world!

• Met Opera - Every evening enjoy a FREE night at the opera from your couch! 

Virtual Learning:

• ABC Mouse - Reading, math, science, and art for ages 2-8.

• Kahn Academy - Free online learning and lesson plans for kids of ALL ages.

• LUNCH DOODLES with Mo Willems - Mo welcomes you into his studio at home and guides you through drawing activities using one of his favorite characters as inspiration!

• Raddish Kids - Healthy meal prep activities for families

• Scholastic Learn at Home - Day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing.

• Wild, FREE & Crafty - Free art lessons for kids and adults.

Stay informed:

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Stay updated and informed! The CDC recommends also following your local and state health agencies for additional information.

Whether you’re homeschooling kids, trying to work from home, or doing your best to keep your dancer active, we hope that you find these links helpful!

From all of us here at Positions Dance Studio, we are sending you warm and healthy thoughts. Together we will make it through this time, and we can’t wait to see you all back at the studio. Happy living room dancing to all of our students!

Positions Happenings: Take a Look at our March Newsletter

Now that our Positions dancers have finished LEAPING for Leap Day, it’s officially time to MARCH into March! Loving our cheesy puns? Don’t worry, we’ve got plenty more headed your way in the months to come! :) 

As we head into Spring, we’ve got TONS of fun coming up. Between Spring Musical, Recital 2020, and Summer Dance, Positions Dance Studio will be keeping you and your little ones busy for the next few months! 

Don’t miss a beat! We are sharing our March Newsletter to keep all the important and exciting details right at your fingertips! 

1. It’s Kindness Month at Positions.

During the whole month of March, we are celebrating kindness. Look for some special initiatives around the studio and activities in classes. It is our hope that our students know the value of kindness and continue to spread it within their community! 

2. Register for Summer Dance Today! 

Have you had a chance to check out our summer schedule? We have a FUN mix of classes, workshops, intensives, and camps on the schedule. Between our Positions Poppin’ Positions Summer Camp, our 6-Week Class Session, and our Rockettes Workshop, there is something for every child this summer!

Promo Alert: Use the code EARLYBIRD20 Get 10% off Summer Tuition when you register before April 30th! Don’t miss out on a summer of FUN! Get registered here today!

3. Spring Musical Tickets are On Sale Now!

Positions students will be presenting Frozen Kids at the Argyle Theatre. We are excited to see Elsa and Anna’s adventures come to life in this production! Our students have been working hard to put it all together and would love to see you in the audience.

Join us on April 26th at 2pm! Purchase tickets online today! 

4. Don’t miss our most recent Recital 2020 updates.

Have you added Recital 2020 to your calendar yet? We can’t wait to see our dancers take the stage on June 28th! Tickets go on sale March 15-18. 

We know our dance parents have a lot to remember! So we’ve created a Recital Info Page that keeps all the important info in one place. Below are some of the latest updates we’ve added to our website:

Show Order Details
Photo Day Schedules
Dress Rehearsal Schedule

5. Reserve your spot for Spring Meditation and Mimosas on March 22nd.

Join us for a special workshop on March 22nd at 12:30pm. During this relaxing class, guests will enjoy meditation, healthy snacks, and mimosas. 

Spring Mediation & Mimosas
Sunday 3/22 12:30-1:30pm
$30/ person (non-refundable)
Call 631-669-8612 to reserve your spot today!

6. Reserve your spot for our Foam Roll, Stretch, and Myofascial Massage Workshop.

Got aches and pains? Join us for this special workshop on March 27. Class will feature guided foam roll massages, stretches, and techniques that release stiff muscles. 

Foam Roll, Stretch, and Myofascial Release Workshop
Friday 3/27 8:15-9:00pm
$40/ person (non-refundable)
Foam rollers will be provided!
Call 631-669-8612 to reserve your spot today!

7. Spring Break is April 11-17.

The studio will be closed April 11-17. Enjoy your break! Be sure to make some time to rest and recharge before we head into recital season! 

8. Don’t miss Babylon Village’s 9th Annual Chinese Auction.

On Wednesday, March 11th at 6pm, join the community for a fun night of raffle, coffee, tea, and desserts! Learn more and purchase tickets here. 

9. Hurry in! The Everything Long Sleeved Sale ends on March 15th!

Be sure to stop by our dancewear store to take advantage of this awesome sale. All long-sleeved items are 35% off through 3/15. This is a great time to stock up on dance wear!

10. You’re Invited to a Hydrafacial Party on March 25th!

Deep Blue Med Spa has created an exclusive event for Positions parents and we could not be more excited! Add a little pampering to your life. At this event, guests will enjoy mini HydraFacial treatments, raffle baskets, demos, and exclusive offers. 

See you at Deep Blue Med Spa on March 25th at 7pm! Be sure to RSVP here. 

What an exciting list! We absolutely love offering such a wide variety of events, promotions, and opportunities for our dancers. Happy March, everyone. Don’t forget to spread kindness around the studio this month! 

Positions Happenings: Take a Look at our February Newsletter

Wait…. Where did January go?! Winter is flying by this year and we can’t complain. The season of LOVE is upon us as we head into Valentine’s Day! This month on the blog we are featuring our February Newsletter. We’ve got tons of exciting events and important studio updates for our dance families!

Read on to stay in the know about all our exciting dance events in Babylon:

1. Don’t forget to purchase your Paper Hearts! 

The hearts are flying over here at the studio! This month we are selling paper hearts! Proceeds benefit the Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition. Stop by the front desk to learn more and purchase.

Thank you in advance for your help in supporting this great organization!

2. Winter Break is February 17th-23rd

There are no classes this week! We are wishing all of our dance families a relaxing break. Take some time to restart and refresh as we head into recital season! 

Classes are canceled but we WILL be offering a Winter Break Camp for kids ages 3-10. See below for details! 

3. Join us for Mini Winter Camp on February 18th and 19th! 

Ms. Assante, from St. Joseph’s Nursery School, and Miss Kelly are teaming up again for another fun Winter Camp! On Tuesday, we are throwing a pancake and pajama party that you won’t want to miss. Wednesday will be a Mad Scientist adventure! 

Join us for one day or two! Camp pricing starts at $40 for one day and $70 for both days. Ages 3-5 will camp from 9am-11pm and ages 6-10 will camp from 11:30-1:30! Contact the studio at 631-669-8612 to register!

4. New Year, New You: Our Adult Fitness Contest ends on February 16th

We are in the final stretch before we announce the winner of our adult fitness! Don’t forget to get those classes in before the 16th! Whoever attends the MOST classes by this date wins a $50 Positions gift card. We believe in you, let’s tackle those fitness goals together at the studio! 

Review the adult fitness schedule here! We’d love to see you in class. 

5. Save your spot for Pinot Noir at the Barre! 

Sorry kids, this one is adults only! On February 17th, we are so excited to host a Special Event for just $30/person. This class will feature a barre workout to get you up and moving. After that, guests will enjoy a wine, cheese, and chocolate pairing class to make your workout even sweeter!

Call 631-669-8612 to reserve your spot! See you on February 17th from 7pm-8:15! 

6. Spend Your Summer With Positions Dance Studio!

Summer is the perfect time to work on technique in a stress-free and fun environment! Look for the summer dance schedule later this month. Take 10% off your tuition if you register before April 30th! 

7. Frozen Kids: Save the date for our Spring Musical! 

Positions students will be presenting Frozen Kids on April 26th at 2pm at the Argyle Theatre. Don't miss this family-friendly performance! 

Tickets go on sale February 28th. We can't wait to see our students shine!

8. Positions Dance Studio Evening at the Argyle Theater

Tickets are on sale now for Disney’s The Little Mermaid at the Argyle Theater and it’s a special night for Positions Dance Studio families on February 21st at 7:30pm. Be sure to grab your discounted ticket for $59 (normally $74)! Tickets for kids 12 and under are $35. Contact the studio to purchase tickets!

9. Mark your calendars for Recital 2020! SO exciting!

We know it’s early, but over here we are ALREADY busy planning for our fabulous June recital. Important dates for you to know include Dress Rehearsal on June 27th at 11am and Recital on June 28th at 11am and 4pm. 

Mark your calendars now so those dates don’t sneak up on you, and check back to the recital page of our website to stay in the know. It’s going to be a great show!

We are SO excited to be offering so many new events and workshops for our Positions families! Have an idea that you’d like us to add to the list? We’d love to hear from you! Contact the studio today! 

Positions Happenings: Take a Look at our January Newsletter

Happy New Year Positions families! We are SO happy to be back at the studio… those holiday cookies got the best of us this year. This month on the blog we wanted to feature our January Newsletter simply because it is PACKED with info that we would love all of our families to know. We’ve got a lot of great things coming in 2020 that we’re sure you will LOVE. 

Read on to stay in the know about all the exciting things happening at Positions Dance Studio:

1. New Year, New YOU. Adult Fitness is spicing things up in 2020!

We’ve got some updates for our adult fitness crew. Zumba is BACK on Fridays at 7:15pm. We are ALSO excited to announce our January Class Card Promo! During the month of January, buy 1 card and get 1 card half off OR buy 2 cards and get 1 FREE! 

If you have been on the fence about joining us OR are ready to tackle some health goals... we would love to see you! Our classes offer a supportive and fun atmosphere. All are welcome! Check out the Adult Fitness Schedule here. 

2. The studio will be OPEN on Martin Luther King Day.

Come dance with us! All classes will be running as normal on January 20th.

3. Save Your Spot for Moms & Mimosas

Calling all Positions moms! On January 26th, we are so excited to host a FREE Special Event for our dedicated dance moms. Meet at the studio for a morning of bagels and mimosas. While you’re here, we’ll give you all the information you need for Recital 2020. Call 631-669-8612 to save your spot!

4. Tackle those New Years resolutions and join our Winter Fitness Competition!

Competitors in our 2020 Fitness Challenge will compete to see who can attend the most fitness classes between January 16th and February 16th. The winner will receive a $50 Positions Gift Card!

This year, we set a few of our OWN fitness goals. We are excited about some healthy competition to get our motivation flowing. January 14th is the deadline to sign up, so hurry over to the front desk today! You’ve got this!

5. Join us for a HUGE Costume Sale!

Looking for dress-up clothes, accessories, or costumes for an upcoming dance routine? We’ve got what you need! Head over to the studio on Saturday, January 25th from 9am-2pm for brand new or gently used costumes. ALL items will be between $5-$25, cash only. Your little dancers who are obsessed with costumes will be in heaven! 

6. Save the date for our Winter Break.

The studio will be closed February 17-23rd. Enjoy your break, Positions families! We hope you relax, unwind, and spend time with your loved ones. 

7. Mark your calendars for Recital 2020! SO exciting!

We know it’s early, but over here we are ALREADY busy planning for our fabulous June recital. Important dates for you to know include Dress Rehearsal on June 27th at 11am and Recital on June 28th at 11am and 4pm. 

Mark your calendars now so those dates don’t sneak up on you, and check back to the recital page of our website to stay in the know. It’s going to be a great show!

What an exciting list! We are proud of all the things happening at Positions and we hope that our studio provides fun and positivity to all of our dance families. Happy New Year, and more importantly, happy dancing! 

Behind the Scenes at the Nutcracker

‘Tis the season! Candy canes, hot cocoa, and the Nutcracker of course! Here at the studio, we are busy preparing for this year’s production of the holiday classic and we seriously can NOT wait! 

The production includes dancers of all ages from Positions Dance Studio along with members of the Babylon community. Presented at the Argyle Theater, the show will take place on November December 8th and December 15th. That’s right, just a few more weeks until our wonderful dancers hit the stage! 

Today on the blog we are taking our readers behind the scenes and into the world of Nutcracker preparation! The buzz we feel at the studio is exciting and we couldn’t help but share! 

Here’s a step by step, behind the scenes guide to preparing for our special holiday performance:

Step 1: Learning Choreography

Our dancers have been learning dances and rehearsing for this show since September. The amount of material that these kids hold in their brains is super impressive. It takes time, and above all, TONS of practice, but once they have the dances memorized, we are always SO proud. Enjoy these pictures of our dancers learning material!

Step 2: Clean, Polish, and Perfect

After the dancers each have the choreography memorized individually, it’s time to make them look like one cohesive production, doing the exact same thing, perfectly in sync. Take a look at this picture below of our dancers hitting a pose. Can you spot the difference in foot positions? How about hand facings? These are the meticulous things we spot when cleaning our dances.

Step 3: Dress Rehearsal at the Argyle Theater on December 3rd starting at 7pm

This is when the backstage buzz begins! Our dancers get ALL of their pre-show jitters out during dress rehearsal. We make sure they are comfortable with spacing, as the stage is a lot bigger than the studio. They rehearse in costume to get used to the feeling. And most importantly, they become comfortable with the idea of an entire theater of people watching their every move! It’s quite magical to see their confidence grow. 

Check out this short clip of our dancers rehearsing The Mouse Battle scene. One of the mice is practicing in costume to test out the length of the cape. Costumes can really throw off a dancer on stage if they haven’t spent time rehearsing in them, so these things require practice and preparation!

Step 4: Hitting the Stage

There is NOTHING quite like seeing such a huge production finally come together. The kids’ faces light up as soon as they step on stage. We can not wait to hear the grand applause and congratulate our dancers on a job well done. Here’s a sneak peak of our Waltz of the Flowers dance. Get your tickets today to see the rest of this amazing production!

Do you have your tickets yet? We are SO proud of our dancers and the work they have put into this show. We can't think of a better way to kick off the holiday season than attending this special performance! 

Tickets are on sale now, so hurry over to and reserve your seats. Supporting these amazing kids as they perform this holiday classic will surely create lasting memories for you and your family! See you at the theater! 

Why We Are Thankful for the Arts

Happy Thanksgiving! It’s almost time for Turkey! This time of year always makes us stop and think about how lucky we are. It’s the season of giving, the season of thanking, and for us, the season of DANCING! 

For most of us here at Positions Dance Studio, dancing is more than just a hobby. It’s what lights us up and keeps us going. We know that some of our dancers already feel the same way, and some of them are still figuring out what dance means to them. The arts can bring so much magic to a child’s life, whether they are just hobbies or lifelong passions. 

Today we are sharing the magic as we list 4 reasons why we are thankful for dance:

1. Self-Expression

Do you ever get sick of using words to explain how you feel? Us too! The arts let us take a break from the hectic world and dig down deep. Instead of talking, artists can make a dance, paint a picture, write a poem… the list goes on! 

We are thankful that we had dance growing up. It gave us an outlet for self-expression that made common struggles a whole lot easier. More importantly, it helped us learn how to think through our emotions and use them in a positive way. Artists of all kinds are usually pretty good at this skill because we have a safe space to explore the most vulnerable parts of ourselves. 

2. Performance Opportunities

Take it from us, there is NOTHING quite like getting up on stage and presenting your most lively self to an audience. Performing artists (like dancers, actors, and singers) rehearse long hours for performances as short as a couple of minutes. Why? Because the spark that happens at the theater is usually enough joy to last a lifetime. 

Witness the spark for yourself in just a few weeks at one of the best dance performances in Babylon! Our Positions Dancers are busy rehearsing for this year’s production of The Nutcracker! We are watching closely as these young, growing dancers step out of their shells and gain the confidence to dance on-stage with real professional ballerinas. Get your tickets online today!

3. Creativity

In today’s world, finding a time and place to be creative isn’t always easy. For those of us that have the privilege of a weekly dance (or painting, drama, etc.) class, we are able to break away from boring, every-day tasks. We get to create beautiful things and discover new ideas that come from the heart. 

Not only is being creative fun and exhilarating, but it also helps us celebrate our individuality. Even if two people are doing the same exact dance, it will never look exactly the same. Each dancer’s personality and individual style will shine through. The same thing goes with a painting or a spoken word poem. We are thankful that dance lets us be uniquely ourselves. 

4. Stress-Relief

We are confident that if you ask any of our older students how they feel BEFORE dance class, most of them will say “tired” or “stressed”. We are even MORE confident that if you ask them how they feel AFTER dance class, their answers will be a lot more positive. 

Dancing releases endorphins and gives you a chance to unwind. Creating something beautiful with your body makes you feel GOOD. Pushing yourself to try new things you’ve never done before is exhilarating. And above all else, a dance class is one hour of NOT thinking about your to-do lists, your personal drama, or whatever else is stressing you out. And for that, we are thankful. 

And with that, join us as we recite a big, giant THANK YOU. Thank you to the arts for making our lives brighter every day. Not everyone in the world has a chance to enjoy a dance class, experience dance performances in Babylon, or express themselves week after week. We are beyond thankful that we are the lucky ones! 

Be on the lookout for turkeys at the studio this month! We invite you to grab a feather and tell us what YOU are thankful for! 

4 Reasons Why Dress Code Matters

What is cuter than a tiny dancer in a pink tutu? Nothing! We know that dance outfits are just ADORABLE, but they also serve a purpose. Proper dance apparel not only creates an effective learning environment, but it also teaches young dancers important life lessons. All cuteness aside, dress code is important! 

As we kick off another year of dance classes at Positions Dance Studio, we thought this would be a great time to dive in a little deeper and explain why dress code is so important. We know that it isn’t always easy to get your child to class in the correct outfit with the correct shoes. We greatly appreciate ALL our families do to support their dancers!  

Check our top 4 reasons why dress code matters: 

1. Help US Help YOU

First and foremost, our dress code is made to help our teachers do their job! We are here to give our students ALL the best information about dance technique and body placement. But if we can’t see our students’ bodies, we can’t help them achieve their goals. Even the slightest adjustment in arm positions or shoulder placement can transform a single pirouette to a double. If you show up to class looking like a dancer, we are able to make you the BEST dancer you can be. 

2. Discipline

Ask any dance teacher and they will probably agree that there is usually a HUGE difference between students who take dress code seriously and those who don’t. We notice! Getting in the habit of putting on dance clothes, ditching the jewelry, and securing hair in a neat bun teaches dancers to come to class ready to work hard. It is more than just an outfit. Dress code enforcement creates improved work ethic, focus, overall attitude, which is why we love it so much! 

3. Safety

Shoelaces, jewelry, and baggy clothes might not seem like a big deal for a kid. But when you are dancing your heart out, one dangly necklace can create a huge safety hazard. Safety is always our first priority at Positions Dance Studio, and that starts with dress code! 

4. Prepping For The Big Stage

It’s no surprise that getting used to wearing tights and a leotard is a little bit of an adjustment. In class, we are ALWAYS working towards the big stage! We want our dancers to feel comfortable, confident, and empowered come recital time. Coming to class each week looking and feeling like a dancer makes getting up on stage in a fancy costume SO much easier! 

Parents, with all the tights, leotards, and ballet slippers to choose from, figuring out what to wear to dance class can sometimes be a tedious task. BUT, at Positions Dance Studio, we make it SUPER easy for parents because we think that dress code should never be overlooked. Visit our website for a class by class dress code guide and find EVERYTHING you need right here in our dancewear store. 

Happy dancing Position families! We can’t wait to see all of our dancers looking beautiful from head to (pointed) toe! 

Class Feature Time: Dance Abilities

At Positions Dance Studio, we believe that dance is for ALL. We hold this value close when planning our schedule for the year and deciding what we want to pass on to our kids. Striving to make dance accessible for everyone, we create classes that welcome students from all backgrounds. 

Our Dance Abilities class is one of the classes we are proud to offer at the studio. This weekly class is specifically tailored for students ages 7-adult with Down Syndrome, Autism, and other developmental disabilities. In class, dance allows students to gain balance between the two halves of the body, express emotion, and gain muscle control, all while having a ball and making some new friends. We absolutely LOVE watching our Dance Abilities students grow throughout the year. 

So today we wanted to take some time to feature this amazing class on the blog. We truly believe that this class does wonderful things for our participants. Read on to hear about the Top 3 Benefits of Dance Abilities!

1. Confidence Building

We see it all the time, dance brings people OUT of their shells. The nonverbal nature of dance offers a great opportunity for special needs populations to explore their senses. This often leads to a burst of self-confidence, as our students learn to express themselves and trust their body’s abilities! 

More importantly, dance can feel vulnerable sometimes! We often see our Dance Abilities students start out the year with small, shy movements. But by the end, they jump right in with huge, full-bodied dancing. That right there is the beauty of trusting oneself! It’s so rewarding to watch as our students learn self-confidence through dance. 

2. Improved Coordination and Motor Skills

Right & left, up & down, open & close… our Dance Abilities students learn it all! Dance requires focus and muscle control to execute skills. We meet students where they are by breaking down skills and modifying our requirements based on their skill levels. They learn to use both sides of their body, move their legs and arms together, and even move in opposition. The improvements we see are truly amazing! 

3. A Sense of Belonging

This one is by far our favorite! Everyone deserves to feel like they belong somewhere and fit in with their peers. And we sadly know that’s not always the case for special needs populations. That is exactly why we are proud to offer Dance Abilities.

In class each week, our students dance alongside their peers, learning how to share space with others and use their bodies to communicate. We watch as they make special connections with other dancers and build friendships that matter even beyond our studio doors. Bring your dancer to our class to give them a consistent group of dance friends that they look forward to dancing with each week. Dance brings people together!

We can’t wait to kick off our Dance Abilities class this month! It is not too late to register! Head over to our website and sign up online! 

This class is SO important to us and we hold it near and dear to our hearts! Come see for yourself what Dance Abilities can do for your family!

Position Yourself at Positions: 4 Things That Make Us Unique

As parents who want the best for your kids, we know you have a lot of options to choose from! There are tons of dance studios and extracurricular activities that all offer different programs, many of which intrigue your children and make them light up with excitement!

So how do you choose? We know it can be overwhelming. Today on the blog we are sharing the 4 reasons that Positions Dance Studio is a step above the rest! Read on to find out what makes Positions the best dance studio in Babylon!

1. Dance Abilities

This one is by far one of our most treasured parts of the studio! At Positions, we believe dance is for EVERYONE! Which is why we love offering our Dance Abilities class every fall. This class is specifically tailored for students ages 7-adult with Down Syndrome, Autism and other developmental disabilities. 

At Dance Abilities, we LOVE seeing students gain confidence through dance. We see physical, mental, and emotional growth each week as coordination improves and our students make new friends with other dancers. Head over to our website to learn more about this class that we hold near and dear to heart. Dance has the power to bring people together, and Positions Dance Studio makes that happen. 

2. Community Connection

Positions Dance Studio takes great pride in staying connected with our community. We love Babylon village and the people that make it so special… ESPECIALLY all of our dance families. From community yoga classes, Babylon Block Parties, and giving back to the Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition in February, PDS wants everyone in Babylon to feel welcome at our studio. Sharing dance with our community is something we value that sets our studio apart from the rest! 

3. Unique, Year-Round Performance Opportunities

We couldn’t leave our Spring Musical/Ballet and December Nutcracker off this list! Each Spring, our Broadway Bound students put together a fabulous musical while our Ballet Enrichment students perform in a stunning ballet. We put these two productions together to create one day of phenomenal performances. In addition, we are excited to begin working on our Nutcracker production that will be happening this December! Many of our staff members at Positions treasure these special performances and WISH we had the same opportunities while growing up as a young dancer. 

Putting on a large production requires TONS of hard-work and dedication from the dancers. It teaches kids important life lessons (check out our past blog post about the 5 benefits of performing) and creates memories that kids will cherish for a lifetime. We have big things happening each year at PDS, and we will never stop offering performance opportunities to our young dancers! 

4. Performance Team

In addition to our weekly dance classes, Positions Dance Studio is home to 4 fabulous performance teams. By audition only, dancers are separated by age and ability, rehearsing each week and learning fun, new choreography. After perfecting these dances, our kids get the opportunity to travel and perform in the community. This past year, our performance team performed at Disney as well as half-time shows for sporting events. We LOVE watching our kids hit the stage! 

Writing this blog gave us ALL the feels… we can’t hide it! We LOVE our studio and what it brings to our dance families. Bringing these unique opportunities to kids in Babylon brings us SO much joy. It is why we do what we do! 

Want to learn more about we offer? Check out our website or send us a message! We would love to meet your family and welcome you to OUR Positions family!