Hi,

Here are the team rooms:

729 – Senior Room

727 – Teen Room (connected to Junior Room)

725 – Junior Room (connected to Teen Room)

Mini Room to be determined

We will spread the word to let you know when the Teen and Junior rooms will become available on Saturday. I will be checking first thing in the morning and continue to check until they are available.

Once you receive your wristband in the morning you should proceed to your assigned ballroom and be ready for warm-ups at 8:00 a.m. Please be on time as you are very visible with your team warm-ups on and the teachers at WCDE are excellent observers. Remember to store your bags underneath chairs. Below are the ballroom assignments:

Junior Ballroom – Ballroom E-F (Convention Center)

Teen Ballroom – Ballroom A-D (Convention Center)

Senior Ballroom – Santa Clara Ballroom (Hotel)

Saturday Competition begins at 3:30 p.m. and there is a mandatory meeting for all competitors at 3:15 p.m.

· Girls Dressing Room: Ballroom E-F

· Boys Dressing Room: tbd

The hotel has also extended a 25% discount in the Tresca Restaurant and Lobby Bar on food only to all West Coast Dance Explosion guests (does not apply to in-room dining) and I was told that you just have to mention that you are attending WCDE.

Blue Light dancers: Please be prepared to meet at lunchtime on Saturday JUST IN CASE we need to reblock Blue Light. We will keep you informed.

Everybody Dance dancers: Thank you for doing your best to come to the last-minute reblock rehearsal tonight. We know this is difficult.

Seniors: Thanks again to the Viva La Vida, Can Can and My Money dancers for coming up with a Plan B on Wednesday just in case Kate is still not feeling well.

Big Time Boppin’: Bethany will be blocking Tatiana in. Thanks to all the dancers for being prepared to do this, especially Tatiana.

I will need someone to help unload the “Blue Light” bench and chairs from my car before the competition and load them back into my car at the end of the competition Saturday. Please let me know if you can help. Maria Foley (Dara’s mom) has kindly offered to help me video tape. THANK YOU!!

We know how difficult the past month or so has been with all the injuries, viruses, cold and flu going around and we appreciate the teamwork from everyone to fill in when needed. All of our understudies have done an excellent job stepping up to the plate and the team dancers have been great at working together to make things work. Great job!

Let’s make Friday the 13th a lucky one for Dance Connection!! It’s going to be another great weekend!

T&B

Hi Everyone,

Here are the main things we discussed in rehearsals today:

1. All Team classes are MANDATORY the week of compeittion.

2. We will run the lift from Blue Light, My Money with the wig and Can Can with skirts on Wednesday from 9-9:30….This rehearsal is extended 15 minutes

3. We will not be assigning SR to dances because we don’t have as many numbers and Bethany/Tami will both be there.

4. Once we get the schedule, we will let you know more details.

5. Please let us know ASAP if you are sick or getting sick.  The earlier we know, the easier it will be on understudies, the rest of the team and us.

6. You have 4 rooms; one for each team.  No Suite this time.  You will be contacted by team parents within the week.

Thanks for all your hard work.

T&B

Hi All,

We have a few items to go over. Here are some last minute Dupree items for you:

• Our rooms are:
  • Room #2667 is the Junior Suite. This is a different one than the one we had for Co. Dance. There are no elevators near the room but the stairs are close by.
  • Room #2671 – Kathleen Blanchard (Mini Team) will be staying in this room and it is connected to the Junior Suite.
  • We will also have the other connecting room to on the other side of the Junior Suite for Saturday evening.
• There is a football clinic/convention going on at the same time so it will be an interesting weekend of Football and Dance.
• Blue Light Dancers – We will be meet at 12:30 (location to be determined) on Saturday to go over blocking because Gal is injured.
• Mini Team – Megan Walter has come down with a fever today. Her mom will keep me posted as to how she is feeling but just in case, be prepared to dance without her. Stephanie will go over this with the Mini Team at rehearsal today.
• Charlee’s solo has been put in the Intermediate category but she is supposed to be in the Beginner category.
• Seniors and Blue Light dancers – Please be get dressed from one number as quickly as possible. Since Dupree will not allow us to change the order of our dances, we will have to be ready when we can. I still want to see if we can have Viva La Vida go on early. If so, this would effect Tina Hidai’s costume change so please be prepared to change into your Viva La Vida costume if needed. I’m not sure if there is anyone else who could be impacted by this but if you are, please let me know.
• The team make-up bag is in the Suite and Tami will give it to a Teen team member/parent to make sure it gets to the dressing room before the competition. A teen parent should also make sure all the costumes are in the dressing room for the dancers to change into. Please make sure you have all your costumes organized and ready to go.
• Please don’t make assumptions as to what room you have been put you in for the workshops. We have heard of dancers telling other dancers they are in a particular room. We’re not quite sure where this information is coming from but please trust us. Many of you are not reading all of the website information thoroughly and are assuming that the competition age division is the same as the workshop division but it is not. Tami may suggest a move to a different workshop room if she thinks it is appropriate and if you feel like you would like to be in a different room for the workshops, please let her know after the first class. Text or call Tami if you can’t find her.

Have a fun weekend!!!

Hi Everyone,

Here is an update of things we discussed in rehearsal.  PLEASE READ EVERYTHING!!!

1. We need someone to take the “Blue Light” bench and chairs.  Please email Tami at tami@danceconnectionpaloalto.com to volunteer.

2. FOOD- I know that some teams have already organized this and that is fine.  There will not be a lot of time to eat dinner so we ask that people volunteer to bring the following items to the “DC” Suite for ALL team members to have throughout the weekend.  Please email Bethany at Bethany@locasciofamily.com to volunteer and this will be updated:

Oranges-Katrina Hennessy

Salad(for Saturday night) -Elaine Li

Bottled water-Julie Nicholson

Power bars-Dahlia Malkhi

Grapes/Cheese/crackers- Maria Foley

3.  Animal Instinct will be getting reading in the dressing room NOT in the team room.  You must be dressed, hair and makeup by 2:40 to run through your dance.  I have Lori  McKinney and Julie Sternfield who will be helping with eye shadow and hair.  They will be in the dressing room.

3.5. Please IGNORE #4 below!!! Unfortunately I received the email (below) from Dupree and they are not going to allow us to make any changes. This will be a pain but they will have to wait for us often. With this latest news, we will need you to get dressed as quickly as possible so in the dressing room, stay in one central area so that you can make sure everyone is ready. All the senior dancers only have one number to change into Blue Light so this number will be delayed for sure!!!

4. We will be making the following changes to the line up.  If this changes, Tami will let you know.  This will eliminate any CRAZY quick changes and make it easier for all.

*Viva La Vida will change from #57 to right before #32

*Blue Light will change from #59 to before #40

*Farewell will change from #68 to before #54

5.  For numerous reasons, we ask the parents to not all go help their child in the dressing rooms(for quick changes; solos, duets etc).  We decided to assign a SR team member to MOST dances to help them get ready and run their dance before performing.  All solo’s and duet’s were given a choice if they wanted their parent to help, a SR or nothing at all.  I have the following parents helping with their child.  The rest of the dances have a SR and will be in great hands.  This will help with the Morale and camaraderie among team members(not including independancy!).  Please let me know if this changes.

Lori McKinney

Liling Fang

Geri Wilson

Julie Nicholson

CC Cordero

These mom’s will be helping their child AND WILL ALSO BE HELPING ANYONE ELSE THAT NEEDS HELP.  You do not need to be back stage the whole time just during the time you are needed by your child.

6.  If you are in “Everybody Dance” AND “Idol” you will need to double up on your tights so you can take the footed ones off and have the footless ones underneath.

7.  I  have created a page under “EVENT’S” called “Dupree SR Team Assignments” that has all the information on what SR is assigned to what dance.  If you are a SOLO or DUET, make sure you meet with your SR member to know where to meet and anything else they might need.

Thanks everyone for a GREAT DAY of rehearsals. I know it was a long day but you guys all looked fabulous!

Thanks for your hard work and dedication.

T&B

 SR-Assignments-DUPREE: Download

Hi Everyone,

Here are some updates we discussed in rehearsal on Sunday:

1. Saturday February 21st-I need costumes for Same Old Song(New Specialty piece), Idol(New Specialty piece) and Can Can to wear costumes for the rehearsall.

2. Sunday February 22nd- MANDATORY DRESS REHEARSAL- This includes your costumes.  No makeup needed but please pull your hair up the way it is suppose to be(no teasing needed)

3.Please remember we have an open door policy.  That mean’s please come to use if there are any problems, concerns or comments.  It does not effect your placement for next year…it just helps us HELP YOU!!!!

Thanks everyone for all your hard work!  You ALL ROCK!!

T&B

Hi All,

Don’t forget to send a sweet little Valentine to your Secret Pal. Bethany and I were a bit disappointed to find out that some dancers have still not received anything from their Secret Pals and this is very sad for the dancer. If you know you have not given your Secret Pal anything, please do so this week or let Bethany and I know if you are having any problems doing this. We don’t want any dancer to feel left out.

Don’t forget about Dupree in a couple of weeks too.

Please remember to ALWAYS put your Pal’s name and initial of their last name on whatever you are giving them. Also make sure you are taking the correct gift. We have found that some gifts left for their Secret Pals are disappearing and those Pals think they don’t have a Secret Pal.

Thanks!

T&B

Please remember to turn in your West Coast Dance Explosion Fees. They are due this Sunday, February 1, 2009.

SHOE SWAP – I desparately need volunteers to run the costume/shoe swap on Saturday, February 10 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. I can’t do this because I will be teaching but I can help set up in the morning. I’m not sure where all the items are from the last swap so if you know where they are, please try to come in this week or early next week and pull them out. We have many new students and many dancers have experienced a growth spurt over the holiday season so there are quite a few families looking for shoes. If we could have about 4-6 parents to split the morning up in shifts of two, that would be ideal. Please email me if you can help out. You can contact Bonnie Brock to find out details on how this was run in the fall.

Hi All,

Please remember to go over your dances.  We do not have time to “reteach” any of the dances.

Lyrical- Please wear leotard and booty shorts to rehearsal on Sunday February 1st.  We will be trying costumes.  We have added an extra rehearsal for February 1st from 3-4pm in K5.

Hip Hop- Make sure you review your dance.  We will see you on Saturday from 4:30-7:30 in K5.

Can Can- Make sure you bring your heels.  Make sure the rubber and brackets are done.

Thanks,

Bethany

Hi everyone,

We added another rehearsal on Sunday February 1st from 3pm-4pm in K5.  I need a confirmation if you will be there!  I know Melanie Guan will not but I need to know about everyone else.

Please email Bethany at Bethany@danceregister.com

Thanks,

Bethany

Hi Everyone,

I want to send out a special Thank you to everyone for a FABULOUS weekend at Co.Dance.  You guys did a great job and a special Thank you to the parents who helped with food, costumes, organization etc.  The weekend wouldn’t have been as smooth without you all!

Here are the results(Sorry if I missed anyone!!):

Big Time Boppin- gold- 5th Overall in Petite Category

Animal Instinct- gold

Everybody Dance- gold

Cha Cha(Caroline B/Naomi J.)- High Silver

Opposite’s Attract(Josh/Emma W.)- High Silver

Jive Talkin(Louise B/Hannah S)-Gold

Unwritten(Bella A./Kelly C)- High Silver

Viva La Vida- High Silver

Blue Light-Gold

My Money-Gold

Josh Wilson and Michelle Li won scholarships and Tina Hadai got called up for one last look!  You all did a great job at auditions and classes!  Tami and I are VERY proud of you all.  We couldn’t have asked for more passionate and hard working students!!

Tami really missed an entertaining weekend!  THANK YOU ALL!

Bethany