It's beginning to look a lot like a A VERY COVID CONCERT!

         2020 CONCERT SERIES 

Dear Stepping Out Families,

Thank you for your love and support throughout the challenges of 2020.  We feel it is very fitting and very necessary that all of our beautiful students get the opportunity to shine on stage and take a bow to the year that was.  Given the restrictions imposed by Covid and our continued dedication to the safety, health and well- being of our students and their families, our Concert season is going to look a little different this year ( but it will be no less spectacular and certainly if we have our way, even more sparkly!!) 

STILL, CONCERT COMES WITH ITS CHALLENGES! 

For those who have danced with us in previous years, you know how much we love to be organised but this year’s concert comes with ever changing rules, restrictions and government policy that we need to adhere to.  AND, it could all change tomorrow!  It may be necessary that we will have to update you as time progresses so we ask for your patience and flexibility.  

The highlight of most students' dancing year is their Concert. Our end of year concerts are a massive showcase that all students get the opportunity to perform in. Why is it so important? It’s your child’s chance to shine on stage, to perform for their friends and family, and show how much they have improved over the year. Every dancer needs an audience. The SODF Concerts provide a truly memorable and magical stage experience that celebrates the dedication, talent and achievements of every single student.

​

We are grateful to be able to provide this performance opportunity for our students, after such a tumultuous year. Here is your complete information guide to our 2020 CONCERT SERIES:

This year there will be 5 concerts over two days ( depending on demand and all parents/ families/ fans obtaining tickets.We may need to open up more shows but we feel we have done the Maths correctly) We're excited that all of them will be held at the absolutely first class facilities of DRTCC.  The theatre there holds 500 (normally, though only 246 under Covid restrictions). The lighting and sound is brilliant, and there's a great view from every single seat in the audience thanks to tiered seating and an intimate layout. We know you're going to LOVE seeing your kids dance in this awesome theatre. We do recommend getting your tickets on the first day of sales as there is going to be high demand. 

In order to ensure that all students have a special someone in the audience cheering for them, we have had to split our beautiful school into three spectacular productions. 

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5th 11am & 2pm- JUNIOR SCHOOL PRODUCTION “IT’S A WRAP!” This show will feature all students aged 8 years & U.  Our preschoolers will only perform in one show but all other students will dance in two shows.  

Classes Featured are;

•  8 years Performance - Special Opening Act 

• Pre- Primary Ballet

• Primary Ballet 

• Grade 1 Ballet 

• 5/ 6 years Jazz

• 7 / 8 years Jazz 

• Junior Tap 

• Junior Acro

• Junior Contemporary 

• Junior Musical Theatre 

• Junior Hip Hop 

• Ready Set Dance/ Ballet Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday classes 11am SHOW 

• Ready Set Dance / Ballet Thursday & Saturday classes 2pm SHOW 

With Guest Artists from our Senior School 

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5th 5pm - CLASSICAL BALLET & PERFORMANCE STUDENTS “AN EVENING FULL OF STARS!” Starring our Classical Ballet students and our beautiful performance teams performing repertoire from the 2020 season ( which due to Covid was not performed at eisteddfods.) 

Classes featured are;

•  Grade 2 Ballet 

• Grade 3 Ballet 

• Grade 4 Ballet 

• Intermediate Foundation Ballet 

• Advanced Ballet 

• Pointe 

• 8 years Performance Team

• 10 years Performance Team

• 12 years Performance Team

• 14 years Performance Team

• Open Performance Team 

• Special Graduating performances of Performance Artists 

  
  
  

  SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6th 1pm & 5pm “ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE” Starring our Jazz, Hip Hop, Acro, Musical Theatre, Contemporary & Tap students from 10 years up 

  
  

  Classes featured are;

  
  

  •  9/10 years Jazz

  • 11/ 12 years Jazz

  • Pre- Senior Jazz

  • Senior Jazz 

  • Intermediate Tap 

  • Pre- Senior Tap

  • Senior Tap 

  • Intermediate Acro

  • Pre- Senior Acro

  • Senior Acro

  • Intermediate Musical Theatre 

  • Senior Musical Theatre 

  • Intermediate Hip Hop

  • Pre-Senior Hip Hop

  • Senior Hip Hop 

  • Intermediate Contemporary

  • Pre-Senior Contemporary 

  • Senior Contemporary 

TICKETS.

The audience is such an important part of the concert experience. For a young dancer, nothing is more thrilling than hearing the roar of an enthusiastic crowd applauding, feeling proud of their accomplishments knowing that their family have come to watch, cheer and show their support. Those who have been to our concerts before will tell you that an SODF dance concert is like nothing else. Our aim is to create outstanding entertainment and spectacular production. 

 

Tickets sales open on Monday 9th November. We have scattered the times for each concert to go on sale to help avoid site traffic issues, and in fairness to those who need to purchase tickets to multiple shows. 

​MORE INFORMATION ABOUT TIMES OF SALES WILL BE ADVERTISED VIA ​FB & EMAIL UPON CONFIRMATION WITH DRTCC. 

Due to extremely limited seating (as a result of government Covid restrictions), unfortunately we will not be able to provide child or aged-pensioner discounts this year. It just isn't possible with the high venue costs.  ALL TICKETS TO ALL SHOWS WILL BE $30. 

COSTUMES.

Students get so excited by their beautiful costumes each year and we aim to keep the costs as low as possible whilst still ensuring that they are a high quality keepsake.  We love seeing our costumes star in all manner of school events or in class in the following year or just be a part of your family’s special memories.  We are very proud to say that the costume budget has not increased in 4 years, despite many costs rising. We understand that family budgets are tight, and we do everything we can to provide super high quality costumes at an affordable price. Order Forms will be emailed within the next week and each student will require a costume for each dance style they are enrolled in.  Please adhere strictly to the payment closing date. 

We aim to keep the costumes within the following budgets

JUNIOR SCHOOL COSTUMES - $65​

SENIOR SCHOOL COSTUMES- $75 

Performance Teams information regarding your costumes will be given via our studio Performance Team Closed Group Page on Facebook.  Your beautiful tutu’s have arrived this week and we aim to make use of your own extensive costume collections for other Performance routines ( as a means of keeping costs to a minimum.) 

Costumes will be available for pick up during the week before each age group's Final Rehearsal . Term Four fees must be finalised prior to collection. 

PERFORMER EXTRAS

Every performer in any of our end of year concerts will have the option to purchase a special Commemorative Concert T-shirt, filmed recording of their performance ( PRESS PLAY PRODUCTIONS) or photography ( WINKIPOP MEDIA.) 

All Students will also receive a special trophy in recognition of their stellar performance as a SODF SuperStar in 2020. 

HAIR & MAKE UP.

All information about Hair & Make Up will be supplied closer to the event. The make up enhances your children’s gorgeous features under the lights and assists so they don’t look washed out but rather allows their expressions to pop on stage. 

 

We will post some additional information and tutorials for stage make up on the Facebook group in the lead up to the concert, as well as a list of hair style instructions. 

BACKSTAGE.

Our number one aim is to make every child's concert experience an exciting and magical adventure, and a positive memory that they can treasure forever. This will be our 22nd year of putting on spectacular concerts and with many years of learning and experience we have developed a backstage management system that minimises stress for our students, and maximises efficiency and child safety. This year we will also be dealing with much smaller casts in each concert due to COVID. 

 A COVID SAFE CONCERT.

We take very seriously the responsibility to produce an event that is safe for our studio community, and we are working closely with Dubbo Regional Theatre to ensure that everything we do is within the current NSW Covid-safe restrictions and following recommended guidelines. 

​

Some of the things that we are doing include:

​

• Only being allowed to sell tickets to 50% venue capacity

• Special ticketing system that separates ticket holders into groups at point of purchase so that households sit together 

• Ensuring hand sanitiser is available backstage and at the auditorium doors

• Collecting all attendees information for easy and effective contact tracing 

• Hiring additional dressing room spaces to ensure the 4sqm rule is followed backstage

• Assigning marshalls specifically for coordinating backstage logistics

• Cleaning the theatre between shows

• Additional training for backstage volunteers

• Audience members are welcome to wear a mask if they choose to

• No sharing of food or makeup

We thank you reading this far and urge you to contact us if you have any questions.  This is our initial note but there will be lots more information coming your way in the coming weeks so please keep a keen eye on Facebook and your email inbox.  

We can’t wait to share in this very special event with you and your children.  

Starting Dance Classes

We are counting down until the official commencement of our 2020 dancing year.  I feel like I have been in the studio most days working with our existing Performance and solo students but the butterflies have well and truly set in when I contemplate what February 8th, 2020 will bring.  Not only will we get the esteemed privilege of enjoying our first classes of the year but over over the coming weeks, we will also be welcoming many new faces to our studio.  This period is sure to prove to be a busy but extremely rewarding one.  Stepping Out is home to a huge amount of little people and we cherish the opportunity to introduce your little ones to the many joys and rewards of dance education.  We know that this is just as exciting and nerve wracking for parents as it is for our tiny dancers so I thought it was important that we all reflect on what this first big step might mean for our tiniest students.  At the core of teaching preschool children is our belief that at this magical period of time, children hold the whole world within their grasp.  It is our greatest desire to preserve the magic of childhood and ignite their learning potential through movement, music and imaginative play.

Our READY SET DANCE and READY SET BALLET classes present a perfect example of the many little glorious temperaments that make up a typical early years dance class.  We have our shy ones, we enjoy the usually reserved ones who surprise their parents ( and themselves I am sure!), the super confident ones, the seasoned professionals ( third year of dance class anyone?!), the anxious ones, the overwhelmed ones and the ones who feel that their own choreography is probably the most fabulous, especially performed in front of that huge mirror and the silly teacher up front is just a distraction.  ALL of these unique little beings contribute something very special to our class dynamic.  I am in the very enviable position of having experienced many first dance classes and to this day, I remain in awe of what those first steps represent not only over the course of a year but in the bigger scheme of their life and how they will approach the myriad of learning opportunities presented to them over their lifetime.

We have been thrilled to hear news of mass excitement, sensations of butterflies and mad enthusiasm as we all await our first dance classes for the year.  I have already shared in the joy of little dancers collecting their uniform and preening in front of the mirror awaiting their turn to open the door into their first dance class.  For some of our students they will fling themselves through that door with confidence and ease but for some of our dancers, especially our beginners and our tiny ones.......they might feel more like clinging to their parents or nervous as to what their class will entail, who will be their friend and will they know what to do.  As a three year old, I was the very SHY one.  I clung to my Mum's leg.  I thank my parents every day that they persisted and realised I was just waiting for the opportunity to let myself open to the spell binding and magical world that is dance.

Your teachers are all excited and nervous too.  Stepping Out is also home to an energetic and dynamic bunch of committed teachers who know that along with the joys of being a dance teacher comes a lot of hard work.  Our biggest concern is YOU, our students.  We strive to create a beautiful and supportive environment where everyone feels welcome.  You are all very important to us and we have loved the opportunities to talk to your families, meet new little faces and hear about your goals for the year.  We want to dance alongside you.  We want you to have a haven for your creativity and self expression and most importantly of all, we want you to walk out our doors with confidence, self belief and a huge smile.  Energy is contagious.  We want to surround you with positivity and possibilities.

Parents, especially parents of little people, do know that for some children it will take a few weeks to feel completely at ease in a new learning environment.  It is overwhelming to suddenly leave the security of Mum or Dad, your normal routine and suddenly be in the spotlight in dance class with lots of new faces.  KNOW that it is very normal for your usually very gregarious child to suddenly turn very shy or the child who was up dressed in their tutu by 6am to suddenly be frozen and glued to your hand refusing to budge.  SO, if they just want to watch for a bit or there is tears, it's Ok, in fact it's more than OK, they are still learning and absorbing and bit by bit taking those first tentative steps out into the big world and next time it will be a little easier and a little less daunting.  As teachers, we have had the wealth of experience and the joy of many years helping our little dancers find their wings so we won't bat an eye.  We won't question whether your child is ready or label you a pushy parent.  WE trust and know that each child starts to engage at their own unique time.  It may be immediately or it may be the second or third week of class.  This is all very normal and encouraged.  I, for one am very glad that my parents persevered with my initial efforts as a fledging ballerina.

WHY DO WE USE MONITORS?

As mums ourselves, we understand and respect the enormous trust you place in us in the tuition of your children.  We are really proud of our dance curriculum and really want to show you that you have made the right decision in entrusting your child to us.  We do believe it is important that parents are able to witness the content of the class, our teaching philosophies and the knowledge of your teacher.  We know that the most enriching learning opportunities will arise when we have the full attention of your child and are allowed the opportunity to develop a rapport with them and within the dynamics of the class.  Children can be easily hampered by distractions and focus and discipline are important traits of any enthusiastic and engaged learners.  In 2014, we decided to place cameras in our teaching studios to ensure that we could enjoy the best of both worlds.  We have a monitor in our foyer that provides a window into your child's dance class without any of the distractions or differing temperaments that emerge when children have parents or siblings in the class observing them. At this stage, all preschool classes are under monitor and we are awaiting cameras to be installed in our new premises. 

You are very welcome to wait in our foyer and be enthralled and entertained by your child's progress or theatrics but we are just as happy if you drop and go.  Trust that our goal is to have your child feel alive and energised within their own body and that we have the best interests of your child and the class at stake.  Even if a little one is teary, please allow us the opportunity to calm them.  Sometimes this special performance is just reserved for Mum or Dad.  If we can't settle a child after a short period, we will send for you.  OUR GOAL IS HAPPY CHILDREN.  Most times. it is less than five minutes and your child is skipping about and any anxiety is quickly forgotten.  If we believe that a child is not coping within the class, we will take your little one to you.  Please allow us the opportunity to get to know what works best for your child. We want your child to colour the world with their own unique colours and learning is all about discovery. We can't wait to see their unique world view and creativity flourish.

FOR OUR CONTINUING STUDENTS, it's ok to be a little nervous or hesitant too.  You've been out of routine and had a long break but your body will remember.  We look forward to getting sore with you and helping you to soar this year.
Together, with the support of parents, we will have happy classes of happy students progressing at their own unique rate in no time.  HAPPY DANCING EVERYONE.  We are looking forward to all the wonderful emotions the first few weeks will stir.
See you in class.

IS YOUR LITTLE ONE READY TO TRULY GROW & LEARN THIS YEAR WITH READY SET DANCE?

LITTLE STARS DEPARTMENT -our very own innovative approach to introducing tiny tots to the magical world of dance.  We have long been recognised as leaders in Dubbo in the area of early dance education and with good reason.  Not only are we dance educators but many of our faculty are either school teachers or trained in early childhood.  Our READY SET DANCE teachers are all also mothers so have a beautiful perspective on not only what a preschooler needs but also their own unique reality. We aspire to LET THEM BE LITTLE but also recognise the power of this profound development stage to encourage them to be LIFELONG LEARNERS. It truly is the most special and transformative time of a young child's life and we want to assure that we are promoting CREATIVITY, COORDINATION and CONFIDENCE every step of the way.  Our classes are presented in an imaginative and child-centred way to introduce children to the fundamental basics of dance and musicality.  Little Stars features the exclusive READY SET DANCE Program as seen on Nick Jnr.  We love to teach and we especially love to teach little people because we know it is our tiniest dancers who deserve the most magical, educational and innovative start to their journey in Dance. As long time dance educators it is our belief that READY SET DANCE and READY SET BALLET are the current leaders in their industry and we want the children of Dubbo to always be one step ahead when it comes to the careful training and inspiration of their hearts, minds and bodies. 

 We truly believe Stepping Out Dance Factory offers the best possible way to introduce your little one to the enchanting and rewarding world of dance.  To give your little dancer the best start and to ensure they feel like a star, Stepping Out has a range of READY SET DANCE & READY SET BALLET starter packages containing everything your little star needs to fulfil their dreams.  Please see our online store for a delightful pack containing everything your child needs at very competitive prices to give your little one the opportunity to put their best foot forward. 

We know that there is a BUZZ about our classes and we are honoured that so many of our students come to us via word of mouth. Everyone is talking about the amazing READY SET DANCE classes at Stepping Out Dance Factory and we are so excited to be in our second year of the program after our successful launch last year. Before then we had held many little hands in our twenty one year history and hope to continue this legacy well into our future. 

READY SET DANCE in an amazing pre-school dance program designed especially for boys and girls aged 2 to 5 years old. This is a one hour combo class that includes jazz, tap, hip hop, singing, music and a whole lot of fun. 

The READY SET DANCE students are going to LOVE....

    • Busting out their hip hop moves

    • Singing like a star

    • Joining the puppet show

    • Skipping along fairytale lane

    • Floating on their yoga cloud

    • Learning rhythm on our animal safari

    • Jumping in puddles with their tap shoes

    • Playing with our parachutes

    • Going bananas with all of our cool music

READY SET DANCE is a performing arts syllabus designed specifically for preschoolers by expert youth dance educators. This brilliant program has become a huge phenomenon across Australia with more than 200 leading dance schools on board. Stepping Out Dance Factory is proud to be the exclusive READY SET DANCE studio for the Dubbo area.

With a major emphasis on fun and creating confident little people, this syllabus is the first stepping stone on your child’s dance journey. We just know it will be your child’s favourite hour of the week. This class is not only an introduction to dance but a place to grow, learn and make friends. READY SET DANCE is the perfect way to start developing the co-ordination skills that form technique foundations and are the basics of dance classes.

Boys and girls love READY SET DANCE. The music is a mix of traditional songs and the latest hits that kids love. There’s something for everyone. 

READY SET BALLET is a unique class, created to make Ballet really fun for our youngest students. Through story-telling, dance adventures and games, the gorgeous little ballerinas learn beautiful movements and develop their dance technique.

It’s so easy to fall in love with Ballet and dance when you have passionate teachers who are kind and nurturing. Our passionate and dedicated READY SET BALLET teachers love to inspire, teach and create the next generation of talented Stepping Out stars.  

Using exclusive Australian-produced music that has been written to appeal specifically to pre-schoolers, this 30- minute class incorporates magic wands, fairy dust, ribbons, balloons, butterfly wings and dolls.

READY SET BALLET learn important techniques like pliés, turn out and pointed toes as they are introduced to the magical world of Ballet, providing solid technique foundations to help our young dancers excel in all styles of dance when they're older.

There’s no chance of ever being bored in a READY SET BALLET class when you’re flying on a magic carpet, tracing rainbows, catching butterflies and being a mermaid.

Every READY SET BALLET class is scheduled directly after READY SET DANCE so it is the perfect addition to our READY SET DANCE program, or it can be a stand-alone class for those little ones who only want to do Ballet.

Boys are also welcome in our READY SET BALLET class, and our clever teachers incorporate elves, princes, wizards and toy soldiers into the narrative of the lesson.

Your child will feel like a real ballerina and will adore every moment of our READY SET BALLET class.

We are also incredibly excited to announce that we will be offering READY SET PERFORMANCE in 2020 for any of our preschoolers who loved their time on stage so much that they wish to perform in Eisteddfods.  There will be special sections for this enchanting age group at both Dubbo and Wellington Eisteddfods.  All of our dancers will also appear in our end of year CONCERT SPECTACULAR!