Thanksgiving Recess + Steppin' Out November News

This month's photo shows Teacher Emily and Teacher Sonja in Garrett and Moulton's "Roll Out." While that show closed last week, we have an upcoming performance to share with you that's perfect for kids, so please see below.

In studio news, our dancers enjoyed learning festive Halloween choreography last month. This month we'll continue to build technique and work on new steps while reviewing and improving on all that we've learned so far this fall.

THANKSGIVING RECESS
As a reminder, Steppin' Out is on recess during the week of Thanksgiving, November 22nd-28th, in parallel with the SFUSD fall closure. Enjoy your break and don't forget to return to the studio starting 11/30.

MOVEMENT OF THE MONTH: GRAPEVINE
The grapevine is a sequence of steps that moves sideways instead of forward and back. Though there are many variations, a simple one is just to have your dancers step to the right, then cross their left foot behind their right, and then step to the right again, then cross their left foot in front of their right. In class we say, "side back side front side back side front" to help dancers learn the pattern. Side to side movement can help dancers develop more awareness of the space (and other dancers!) around them. Don't forget to practice moving in each direction.

TEACHER SONJA AND TEACHER EMILY IN THE NUTCRACKER SWEETS
The Nutcracker Sweets is a 50-minute version of the classic Nutcracker from Mark Foehringer Dance Project. Not only is this shorter version appropriate for small children, it also stars Steppin' Out teachers Sonja and Emily. Learn more or purchase tickets.

QUICK TIP: ISOLATIONS
Sometimes "chunking" dance steps can help reinforce learning. If your dancers are working on a phrase from class, try asking them to do it once focusing mostly on their feet, next thinking mostly about their arms, again moving from the center of their bodies, and then once last time to put it all together.