December 2019

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No Classes Dec. 16th  – Jan 4th

The Claire School of Dance will be  CLOSED for winter break December 16th through January 4th. Children’s classes will resume Monday, January 6th.

Make Up Classes Dec. 19th

To make up for classes cancelled on Halloween, we will hold Thursday classes during the first week of winter break, December 19th, at their usual times.

Parents Day in December

Parents are invited to attend class Dec. 9-14th for a first-hand look at what students have been learning. Free candy canes at the end of class!

Unit Study: Donald Byrd

Our December unit study is the choreographer Donald Byrd and his Harlem Nutcracker. With music arranged by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, Harlem Nutcracker re-imagines the setting and characters of the holiday classic.

 Winter Camps

Camps Candy Cane and Winter Wonderland return! Holiday fun for children 4-11 years old. Baking, art, and more. Camp Candy Cane: December 20th & 23; Winter Wonderland: January 2 & 3 9 am to 2 p.m. $75 a day. $140 for two days. Registration online now. Register to reserve your spot!

Snow on the Boulevard

Come and play in the snow, drink hot cocoa, see Santa Claus and more! Sunday, December 1st at 3-5 p.m. Sponsored by Grace United Methodist Church.

Holiday Pop Up Shop

December 1 from 1-5 p.m. is the Holiday Pop Up Shop with music and handcrafted goods. The holiday fun takes place at 1911 Studewood. Eat, drink and be merry!

 Dance in Houston

Nov 29 – Dec 29. The Nutcracker. Houston Ballet. Wortham Center. Info: houstonballet.org.

Dec. 6. Jubilee of Dance. Houston Ballet. Wortham Center. Info: houstonballet.org.

November 2019

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Thanksgiving Break             

There will be NO CLASSES Thanksgiving week, November 25th – 30th.  Classes resume December 2nd.

Class Cancelation

Miss Katy’s Tuesday November 5th creative movement classes are CANCELED.  Make up classes will be held Tuesday, November 26th.

Make up Classes

Miss Katy’s Tuesday afternoon and evening creative movement classes will have a make up class Tuesday, November 26th.

November Unit Study – Ballet Russes

Our study unit for this month is Ballets Russes, a dance company which revolutionized dance through its collaboration with noted visual artists.

  Winter Camps

Camps Candy Cane and Winter Wonderland are back! Baking, stories, and crafts. Dec. 23/Jan 2&3. $75/day. Lots of arty winter fun! Register NOW!

UNICEF Thanks You

Thanks to your generous donations, we collected $66.43. With CSD’s matching contribution, we sent $132.86 to UNICEF, benefiting programs to provide clean water,health care, and education to children around the world.

UPDATE: Additional donations bring the total to $106.43, or $212.86 to UNICEF.

Thank you, Alexis Zanety

We had 23 dancers turn out for our Afro-Cuban master dance class October 27th, taught by Alexis Zanety, formerly with the Cuban Contemporary Dance Company. Thank you too to Raul Edwards of Strictly Street Salsa and Flamart for your work in organizing the workshop. We hope to start a regular weekly class in the near future.

Follow Us on Facebook

Be sure to follow us on the Claire School of Dance Facebook page! Get updates in real time and check out photos of our adorable tiny dancers!

Recital Dates

We now have dates for our spring recital at St. John’s School. Rehearsal and performance will be held the weekend of May 23 and 24.

Dance in Houston

Nov 1-10. Houston Fringe Festival. Matinee and evening performance of contemporary dance. Info: MATCH.org.

October 2019

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No Classes On Halloween

After consultation with many of our Thursday parents, we will NOT hold any classes Thursday, October 31. Happy Trick or Treating!

Halloween Class Makeup

Make up classes for Halloween will be held Thursday, December 19th, at the usual class times.

Trick or Treat – UNICEF

Bring your dimes and quarters to dance class — we will again be collecting donations to UNICEF. You can also ask your teacher for a UNICEF donation box and turn it in after Halloween. The Claire School of Dance will match the Trick or Treat for UNICEF donations. And it’s fun!

Oct. Unit Study – Dance in Cuba

Our October unit study focuses on dance in Cuba. Cuban is famous for producing some of the best dancers in the world. This month we study the stylistic influences that make up la téchnica cubana.

Cuban Dance Film – FREE

October 26. 1-2:30 pm Grace Studio C. 

Cuba’s National Ballet School is world-famous. Secundaria follows one dancer through her training. 90 minutes. In Spanish, with subtitles.

Cuban Dance Workshops

Alexis Zanety, former principal dancer with Cuba’s Compania Nacional de Danza Contemporanea, is offering two FREE workshops. Oct 12 at 12:30, Judson Robinson Community Center requires NO previous dance experience. Sunday, Oct. 27, 2-3:30 at CSD’s Grace United, is for those with previous dance experience. A rare opportunity you won’t want to miss!

September 2019

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Fall Classes Start Tuesday, September 3rd

Our academic school year begins Tuesday, September 3rd. We are looking forward to welcoming students, new and returning, to the wonderful world of dance.

Welcome, New Teachers!

We are thrilled to welcome Sharon Teague, formerly a soloist with Houston Ballet and Marian Butler Gibson, formerly with American Ballet Theatre, to our teaching staff. Also joining our staff are Kevin Ferguson, formerly with David Parsons and Elisa Monte dance companies and Sofia Aranha, formerly with Tuzer Ballet.

Sept Unit Study – Blues Music

Our first unit study of the new school year is the musical form, the blues. Among the musicians we’ll be listening to are W. C. Handy, Louis Armstrong, Albert King, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. A new feature of our unit studies posters are QR codes.A QR code reader on your smart phone can take you to an internet link without having to type in a long URL. Check it out!

Parent Handbook

To keep parents better informed, we have created a CSD Parent Handbook, downloadable from the “About” menu on our website. Be sure to download your copy now!

Dance in Houston

Sept 6-16. Giselle. Houston Ballet. Wortham Theater. Evening and matinee performances. Info: www.houstonballet.org.

Sept 21. 7 p.m.  A Celebration of Cultures. Jewish Community Center. Music and dance of India and Spain. Info: kalpanasubbarrao.wordpress.com.

Sept. 24. Mind the Gap. Dance Source Houston at MATCH. 7:30 p.m. A program of diverse dance styles. Info: matchouston.org.

July 2019

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Come to Our Open House!

Saturday, July 27th, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at our Grace United studio, we’ll be offering a free photo session, cookies,  and registration and class information for fall classes.

Ms. Claire will be taking FREE portrait photos of each child. 

Sandra will be on hand with her laptop to take registration, uniform orders, and payment.

Fall Registration Open Now

Our classes fill quickly! Register now to reserve your spot.

Make up Classes

Due a problem with our air conditioning, we were forced to cancel our Monday and Tuesday classes at Grace United, June 3 and 4. These classes will have their make-up classes on July 29th & 30th at their regularly scheduled times. Classes at Lambert Hall were not affected by the cancellation. Last class at Lambert Hall is July 23rd.

We were also closed Thursday, July 4th, in honor of Independence Day. Those classes will be made up Thursday, August 1st.

CSD CLOSED JULY 4th

In observation of Independence Day, the Claire School of Dance will be CLOSED Thursday, July 4th.  Enjoy your Fourth!

A Few Summer Spots Left

We have a few places left in Ooh la la Paris! Camp, On Your Toes, SING Jazz Camp, and Princess Camp. You can register online at www.clairedance.com or at our office. Sign up now!

June 2019

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Summer Dance Starts Now

Our Summer Dance program begins Tuesday, June 4th (for Lambert Hall students) and runs through Tues, July 30th. This schedule includes the makeup classes for Monday. June 3, and Tuesday. June 4, classes at Grace United, which were cancelled due to an outage of the air conditioning.

There are no classes Thursday, July 4th. The makeup class for the Fourth of July is Thursday, August 1st.

Summer Intensive for 7-11 year olds

It’s not too late to sign up for our summer intensive, to be held the week of July 8-12th, 9 am to noon.  

Daily classes in hip hop, jazz, modern, and art. Friday performance for parents!

A Few Summer Spots Left

We have a few spots left in our camps: Ooh la la Paris! for 4 to 6 year olds and Ooh la la Paris! for 7 to 11 year olds, to be held 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. the week of July 15th.

Space is also available in our Teacup Fairy Camp, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, July 13.

Limited space may be available in our other camps: Princess Camp, On Your Toes, and SING! 

Spots may also be available in summer classes. For both camps and classes, if you are able to register, there is a spot.

Register online at clairedance.com or at our office. Spaces do go quickly so sign up now!

Dance in Houston

May 31-June 9. The Merry Widow. Houston Ballet. Wortham Theater. Info: houstonballet.org.

June 19-22. Barnstorm Dance Fest. MATCH. Info: dancesourcehouston.org/barnstorm-dance-fest.

April 2019

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Fall Registration Open

Brochures for our 2019/2020 year are now available.  Registration for fall classes will begin April 2nd.

Our Recital – Sunday April 7!

Our big performance of the year – All You Need is LOVE! – will be held Sunday, April 7th. at St. John’s School. All participating performers will receive two free tickets.  Additional tickets will be on sale at the run-through rehearsal and at the box office the day of the show.

This year’s musical theme is the 60s. Fashion, artists, and current events will all be reflected in the show. This performance is going to be groovy!

April Unit Study – Alice Coltrane

Our unit study for April is the jazz artist Alice Coltrane. One of the few jazz harpists, Alice Coltrane, a composer in her own right, was the widow of jazz great John Coltrane.

New Picture Day!

Due to circumstances beyond our control, we had to cancel our March photo day. Parents are now invited to bring their children – siblings welcome! – and their cameras to Grace United on Saturday, April 27th. Consult schedule for your child’s time slot or come anytime between noon and 2 p.m.

Summer Registration Open

On-line registration for summer classes and camps is now open.  Frozen, Fairy Magic, Camp Cupcake, Princess, Paris, On Your Toes ballet camp and SING (the movie) jazz camp.  Brochures are available in all waiting rooms.

Dance in Houston

April 14. Pilobolus. SPA.Jones Hall. 8 pm. Info: spahouston.org.

April 18-20.  Dance Salad. Info: dancesalad.org.

April 26-28 Alice In Wonderland. Nathaniel Center, Kingwood. Info: www.kingwooddancetheatre.com

March 2019

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February 2019

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REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR SUMMER DANCE

Summer Dance

Registration for summer classes and camps is now OPEN. Returning are On Your Toes Ballet Camp for 4-6 year olds  and SING  Jazz Camp. The popular Frozen, Fairy Magic, Cupcake and Princess camps will also return, as will Ooh la la Paris!   For 3 year olds, we offer a very special Teacup Fairy Mommy n Me camp. Space is limited. Reserve your spot today!

 

Uh Oh! A Typo! Dance Intensive is in JULY

A typo got by our eagle eyes in the summer brochure. The Dance Intensive for 7-12 year olds is JULY 8-12. The brochure says “June.”

 

 

Cold Weather Attire

Did someone say “polar vortex”?  With lower temperatures, we recommend that students dress a little more warmly for class. Close-fitting sweaters and leggings or leg warmers are welcome in class on those “winter coat” days.

 

 

February Unit Study – Judith Jamison

Our unit study for February is Judith Jamison, dancer, choreographer, and former artistic director of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company. Click here to see rare footage of her 1971 signature piece, Cry. Click here to see the full 1986 performance by Ailey company member Deborah Manning.

 

Dance in Houston

 Feb. 16. Choreographers X6. Jewish Community Center, 5601 S. Braeswood.  713-551-7217. Info: erjcchouston.org/arts.

 Feb 21-March 3. Sylvia. Houston Ballet. Info: houstonballet.org.

 March 1-2. Peter and the Wolf. Uptown Dance, 7417 Shadyvilla. Info:  Uptowndance.org.

January 2019

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Classes Resume in the New Year

Classes resume Monday, January 7th. We look forward to seeing everyone in class!

 

Mats Ek – January Unit Study

 Our unit study for January is choreographer Mats Ek. Click here to see the vacuum cleaner dance (!) and here to see the incomparable Sylvie Guillem perform “Smoke.”

 

Miss Rebecca and Miss Reagan Perform Ms. Claire’s Work

 Tuesday, January 15th, Miss Rebecca and Miss Reagan perform in  Ms. Claire’s latest work “The Earth and Dark” as part of Mind the Gap at MATCH, 3400 Main Street. Performance at 7:30 p.m.

 

Cold Weather Attire

 Imagine! Houston weather actually acting like winter!  With lower temperatures, we recommend that students dress a little more warmly for class. Close-fitting sweaters and leggings or leg warmers are welcome in class on those “winter coat” days.

 

Summer Dance

 Registration for summer classes and camps will open January 31st. The popular Frozen, Fairy Magic, Cupcake, On Your Toes, SING Camp, and Princess camps will return, as will Ooh la la Paris!  camp. Space is limited. Be ready to reserve your spot!

 

Recital Permission Slips Due!

 Permissions slips, scholarship requests, and opt out notifications for the April 7th recital are due January 19th.

 

Dance in Houston

 Jan. 15. Mind the Gap. Seven Houston-based choreographers show their work at MATCH, 3400 Main Street. Parking in the garage across the street. Tickets are $10 and $15.  Tickets at door or  www.matchhouston.org.