New School Year, New Name
New River Moving Arts is now Blacksburg Dance Theater!
Hello friends,
I hope the summer has treated you well, despite the heavy news cycle and pesky Omicron waves. Welcome to our first substack newsletter! Please feel free to forward to any friends who might be interested in our upcoming dance instruction session, and see below for important info on our studio rebrand/relaunch + fall schedule.
Over here at the studio, our beloved children’s instructor, Katy Hall, has been hard at work attending the Summer Dance Institute for Teachers through the Creative Dance Center in Seattle. We’re excited for her to share her knowledge with all of us this year - congrats, Katy, on completing this training!
Ch…ch…ch…changes
As many of you know, our studio has been in existence only slightly longer than COVID has been on the scene. We opened a mere month before a global pandemic changed the entire world, and that has meant running to stay in place. Because of you, our devoted community, we’re still going strong. You’ve supported us through virtual learning and outdoor classes, through mask wearing, social distancing and other health policy updates as we navigate the ongoing changes in this virus. I am eternally grateful to you all for sticking with us and believing in the power of high quality arts education. This summer, I’ve finally had a moment to catch my breath and reflect on where the studio has been — and where I see us going in the future.
My ultimate goal for the space at 1711 Main Street has always been two-fold: First, to provide joyful, rigorous dance education to all ages and stages of movers; second, to provide affordable and accessible studio space rentals to performing artists and wellness practitioners. Rather than continuing to attempt to meet both missions with the same organization, I’ve made the decision to create two new entities (still housed in the same location) that will each have more bandwidth to serve the community of the greater New River Valley.
First, the mission of affordable/accessible studio space rental will be met by our new building cooperative, Open Space Studios. This will ultimately be a nonprofit entity that works to ensure that local area artists and wellness practitioners have a place for moving, teaching, researching, creating and healing. All space rentals will now be facilitated through Open Space Studios; individuals and businesses will have the option of becoming a long-term space cooperative member or simply renting at an affordable hourly rate. Current Open Space Studios members include the Virginia Tech Embodied Brain Laboratory, Music Milestones, Pilates with Katy Hall, and Dance with Lane. If interested in long-term or short-term rentals, please email openspacestudios.blacksburg@gmail.com.
Second, the school formerly known as New River Moving Arts is now Blacksburg Dance Theater. We are excited to reframe around our mission of bringing best practices in DANCE education to the local community by including it front and center in our new name! We will, of course, continue to prioritize serving the entire New River Valley region with dance training and performance opportunities; we’ll honor this connection by using New River Moving Arts Ensemble as the name for our youth and adult performing companies. We can’t wait to leap forward with you into the next year of classes, workshops, and performances!
On that note… please see below for Blacksburg Dance Theater’s FALL 2022 CLASS SCHEDULE! For more info and to register, head over to www.blacksburgdancetheater.com.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Fall 2022 Class Session at Blacksburg Dance Theater: Tuesday, September 6 - Monday, November 21
**FREE trial classes the week of August 22-27! Bring a friend and try as many classes as you like!
*Save the date for our fall performance of THE LORAX: Friday, November 18 - Sunday, November 20!
Weekly Class Schedule:
Mondays:
4:00-4:45: Creative Ballet II + Tap Combo (Ages 6-8) | Katy Hall
6:30-7:20: Pilates Mat | Katy Hall
Tuesdays:
3:45-4:30: Creative Ballet I (Ages 3-5) | Katy Hall
4:30-5:20: Ballet I (Ages 7-10) | Katy Hall
5:30-6:30: T(w)een Ballet (Ages 11-17) | Instructor TBA
Wednesdays:
10:00-10:45 am: | Parent/Toddler Dance With Me! (Ages 1-3) | Katy Hall
3:00-3:45 Creative Ballet I (Ages 3-5) | Katy Hall
4:30-5:20: Ballet 2 (ages 8-11) | Lisa Pelanne
4:00-5:30 pm: T(w)een Contemporary/Modern (Ages 11-17) | Rachel Rugh
5:45-7:00 pm: Adult modern (Ages 16 and up) | Rachel Rugh
Thursdays:
4:00-4:45: Kids Tap (Ages 7-10) | Katy Hall
4:45-5:40: Kids Modern (Ages 7-10) | Katy Hall
5:45-6:40: Kids Jazz (Ages 7-10) | Katy Hall
6:45-7:45: Adult Jazz | Instructor TBA
Fridays:
12:00-1:00 pm: Adult Ballet | Lisa Pelanne
4:30-5:20: Kids Hip Hop I (Ages 6-8) | Zach Biggs
5:30-6:25: Kids Hip Hop II (Ages 7-10) | Zach Biggs
6:30-7:30: T(w)een Hip Hop (Ages 11-17) | Zach Biggs
**7:30-9:30 First Fridays: T(W)EEN NIGHT w/ Katy! Record tiktoks, watch dance movies, eat snacks, just hang out at the studio
Saturdays:
10:00-10:55 am: Pilates Mat | Katy Hall
11:00-11:45: Parent/Toddler Dance With Me! | Katy Hall
12:00-12:45: Creative Ballet II + Tap (Ages 6-8) | Katy Hall
1:00-2:00 pm: Adult/Teen Tap | Instructor TBA
4-5:30 pm: Rotating special workshops | Instructors TBA
Please note our current COVID mitigation policies:
1. All eligible individuals must show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 in order to participate in indoor classes.
2. During times of LOW local covid transmission, masks will be optional in the studio. We will require masks for in-studio classes whenever local transmission levels are at MEDIUM or HIGH. This includes classes for all children over age 2. If your child is not able to wear a mask for the duration of class, they will not be allowed to participate.
Still not sure about indoor classes? Outdoor pod classes available upon request, depending on instructor availability. You organize the group, and email blacksburgdancetheater@gmail.com to arrange class time and instructor.