In dance and in life, we all have goals. Sometimes the only thing standing between us and achieving them is knowing where to start. That’s where the guidance of the SMART goal system can help.

Set goals that are:

1. Specific: “I want to get better at turns” is a great goal to have. A specific goal would look like, “I want to improve my pirouettes. I want to master a double turn.”
2. Measurable: What markers can you use to measure your progress? Maybe you’re great at single turns on the right, but not so much on the left. First you need to master single turns on both left and right before working your way up to double turns.
3. Attainable: Goals need to be realistic. No one is an overnight success. Goals are reached by an accumulation of baby steps and hard work. If you’re not a master of multiple pirouettes yet, your first goal you set would not be, “being able to do multiple pirouettes into a series of fouetté turns.” This is a fantastic goal to have, but not an attainable starting point.
4. Relevant: Does the goal you are setting make sense? If your competition dance requires a lot of intricate jumping, should you set your goals on better turns? Again, while overall improvement is a great way to think, it’s best to concentrate your efforts where they’re the most useful.
5. Time-Based: Give yourself a deadline. Goals are more concrete when we budget the time needed to complete them. “I want to master double pirouettes by the time we start recital choreography in March” is a great time-based guideline.

The SMART goal system is simple and effective. You can use it in dance and life. Share your goals with us! We’d love to support you.

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Thank you to all of our families for coming! We loved seeing everyone’s costumes and creative trunks! In case you missed it, here are some highlights from the second annual Liberty Dance Center Trunk or Treat!

The Liberty Dance Center Sparkle Squad and Performing Company put on a great show!

They used the far end of the parking lot as their performance space. Their dance moves and costumes sparkled in the sun!

Trick-or-Treat candies were not the only sweets going around.

The Sweet Abilities truck was also in attendance. This sweet treat food truck is owned by a Liberty Dance Center family. They offer local ice cream and homemade treats, served up with a smile by people of all abilities!

Karaoke, Costco, Hawaiian Leis and more!

The creativity was boundless. The families really outdid themselves this year with their trunk themes! There were also lots of fun costumes, many of them family productions with kids and parents dressing as a theme. Scooby doo was popular! There were 3 Scooby families this year.

Trunk or Treat is above all a fun way to connect with our dance families outside of the dance classroom. We always say that we don’t teach dance to make great dancers… we teach dance to make great people.

Family is always first in everything we do. Thank you for being a part of the Liberty Dance Center family and making this event so special!

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What do these things have in common? They all highlight dancers executing mind-blowing performances and seamless tricks for the camera. They all make it look so easy. Social media and TV shows highlight the success of these dancers, oftentimes without showing the years of hard work the dancers put in to get to where they are.

We all know that today’s kids and teens are growing up in an age of more exposure than ever to all kinds of media. Parents and teachers alike have to work together to keep kids safe and to maintain realistic expectations.

Tricks are Treats

This brings us to the core of the work we do as dancers: TRICKS are TREATS. At least, they should be. An aerial, fouetté turns in second into a triple pirouette, leg hold turns, tilts… ask your dancer and their eyes will light up at the prospect of achieving any of these steps. These moves and many others are awesome feats of athleticism and artistry, but they should not be the end all, be all of dancing.

Dance, like all sports, begins with a solid foundation of the basics. You can’t turn if you don’t know how to head spot. You can’t jump if you don’t use your plie. You’ll injure yourself if you go for a tilt when you haven’t yet mastered your splits.

Every expert was once a beginner. In our world of instant gratification, this message is sometimes lost in the commotion. Don’t quit working hard, asking questions, and striving for your goals! Persistence pays off. When you do reach the point of success, celebrate, but remember the basics that brought you there. Tricks are treats!

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It’s officially Fall!

By now we have had a few weeks to settle into new routines. Fall is such a beautiful time of transition. We may still be adjusting to major shifts in our lives, but with time, we will adjust and flourish!

Fall is a time when we set new goals for the school and dance year, gear up for the holidays, and then close out the calendar year in a flurry of activities. September is, in a way, the calm before the storm.

This fall, what can we choose to let go of?

Just as the trees change with the seasons, so can we. Here are a few ideas:

The harsh inner critic. Everyone has a voice in their head telling them things about themselves. More often than not, dancers are perfectionists. When we don’t get something right on the first try, or we have an “off” day, we tend to beat ourselves up. This is not helpful.

We need to speak to ourselves kindly. We can say things like, “That didn’t go how I wanted it to go, but I can try again”. Or, “Nobody is born knowing how to do a perfect double pirouette and neither was I. I am learning and I can set goals and ask for help to achieve them.”

Fear of the unknown. Fear of the unknown is a natural human emotion. It’s a primal instinct that we have evolved with in order  to protect ourselves. However, it can do more harm than good sometimes. Fear and excitement cause the same reaction in our brain’s response.

What if we channeled fear of a new class/dance step/routine into excitement by shifting our thinking? Easier said than done, but worth the effort!

Comparison. Comparison is the thief of joy. The only competition we have in our dance classes is ourselves. We only need to strive to be better than we were yesterday. Social media only contributes to comparison and feelings of self-doubt. We need to be mindful of what we consume through our daily interactions online.

Perhaps you have a few ideas of your own to add to this list. No matter what, you’ll succeed if you give it your all this fall!

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Be The Sunshine

All September long, we are finding ways to “be the sunshine” for our students, families and community. Our Performing Company performed at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Waukesha on September 7th. Their, along with our Sparkle Squad’s, sparkling smiles and enthusiasm brought joy to everyone around them.

Our dancers, with the support of their amazing families and teachers, learn from early on that it’s important to be an active participant in community service.

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

September is also Childhood Cancer Awareness month, a cause near and dear to our hearts. Miss Lori’s son Thomas was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia at age two and this September he is celebrating 3 years of being cancer-free, a major remission milestone!

Miss Lori has organized a toy drive for the children fighting cancer at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Many of our studio families have generously donated, and we are so thankful! If you have any new, unused toys you’re looking to re-home, we have a collection bin near the front door at the studio.

Throughout the dance year, we hope you will be happy to share your dancers with us, knowing that we strive to create wonderful people as well as performers. We are lucky to have you as our partners in learning at Liberty Dance Center! Keep spreading the sunshine!

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Sunshine State of Mind

Season 17 is also Miss Michelle’s 15th year teaching at LDC! Our theme of the dance year is “Sunshine State of Mind”. Dance is the sunshine in our lives that brightens our days and we hope your dancers feel that warmth every time they walk into their dance class!

Whether it’s your first dance class or your hundredth, there is always something special about the start of a new dance season. The days and months ahead are full of potential and shimmering opportunities.

If it’s your first year at LDC, we hope you feel right at home. We are here to answer any and all questions you may have. We pride ourselves on having a compassionate and knowledgeable team. If you have any specific questions about what your dancer may need for his or her class as far as shoes or apparel or general FAQ, you can find a comprehensive guide on the studio website, as well as plenty of information on our Facebook page and Weekly Wednesday emails.

If you’re a returning family, we’re happy to see you again! You are what makes Liberty Dance Center so special. We are more than a dance studio, we are a dance family made up of many people who love and support our community. Cheers to season 17 and all the memories and growth ahead!

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Dance is one of the most challenging and rewarding sports out there. Baseball, soccer, football, wrestling, swimming… these all require stamina and strength.

Dance, however, takes athleticism to a whole new level by adding the elements of self-expression and grace. This ability to perform a demanding physical sport while simultaneously creating art comes from a strong mind and body.

The Importance of Core Strength and Flexibility

It’s vital that dancers have strong core muscles for balance, leg muscles for leaping, and upper body strength for tying all movements together seamlessly.

In the down time before the upcoming dance season, there are lots of ways to cross train that will assist with both dance and sports! We know many of our dancers are involved in both. These forms of training can keep your dancer strong and ready for the season ahead:

1. Yoga: More Than Just Stretching

Yoga is much more than just stretching. Poses in yoga are designed to target all major muscle groups. Holding a yoga pose builds strength and flexibility at the same time. There are many different types of yoga, but don’t feel overwhelmed if you’re a newbie. Here’s an online resource to get started: Yoga with Adriene

2. Pilates: Strengthening from the Inside Out

Pilates combines isometric movements and stretching to target small and large muscle groups. Joseph Pilates was a physical trainer and inventor who created the Pilates method to help dancers recover from injuries.

Now, it has blossomed into a widely practiced fitness regimen used by everyone from professional dancers to ordinary people in order to build strength and lean muscles. Many channels on YouTube offer Pilates exercise routines.

Here is just one to get you started. Julianne Hough, renowned professional ballroom dancer, helps teach this one! Pilates with Julianne Hough

Cross-Training: A Boost for All Athletes

No matter what their background is, any athlete can benefit from cross training. A plank in Pilates will help you pitch farther in baseball or softball. Downward dog pose in yoga will deeply stretch your calves and hamstrings for dance, soccer, or track.

If you need more ideas on how to stay strong and fit now and through the dance season, we are always here to help. Just ask.

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Experience the Freedom of Movement

On the 4th of July, of course, we celebrate Independence Day and our freedoms. Liberty Dance Center LLC: …Experience the Freedom of Movement. This is our motto. What does it mean to you?

At Liberty Dance Center, you are free to be yourself. Love to tap? Show off those rhythm skills! Hip-hopper at heart?  There’s a space for you to shine. Competitive and love performing? We have Sparkle Squad, Performing Company and Competition Teams for you.

We embrace each dancer for their talents and unique personality. Some dancers come once a week for a fun, recreational class. Others spend upwards of 15 hours a week dancing, assistant teaching, and preparing for competitions and performances.

We love and celebrate all dancers no matter what their skill levels or interests are. We always push them to be their best… without pushing them to be anything other than themselves.

Liberty is Freedom

Inclusion is very important to us at Liberty Dance Center. Sometimes, in society, it is very hard to come by. We provide three dance classes a week for students of all abilities with special needs, through our Darby’s Dancers program. Dance class is a place where they feel free to express themselves and know they will always be accepted.

Liberty Dance Center is more than a place to come and dance… It is a home where we welcome you to find freedom in movement. Enjoy the freedom of the remainder of summer break and come back refreshed for Season 17!

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As you walk into our lobby, you’ll see our wall of values proudly displayed. The very first thing on that list is, “family first.” When you walk through the doors of our studio, we want you to feel right at home. You belong here!

Part of our mission of inclusivity is exemplified in our Darby’s Dancers program.

Darby’s Dancers

Darby’s Dancers is a 501(c)(3) organization founded by the parents of Darby Jones of Huntsville, Alabama. The Darby’s Dancers provides an opportunity for children with special needs to participate in the performing arts through dance education.

Our Darby’s Dancers range in age from 4-years-old through adults, and each and every one of them brings their own unique flair to our dance classes. Darby was a star and she made everyone around her feel like one too.

Mrs. Valerie Jones, Darby’s mother, paid us a visit in Wisconsin this week! Our Darby’s Dancers and their families came out to the studio on June 12th for a family fun night and a chance to mingle. Valerie spent time talking with each family and the dancers had a chance to perform their recital dance for her. She is a kind, genuine and hardworking woman who truly cares about each and every dancer and their families. It was an honor to spend the evening with her.

Darby’s Family Night

In addition, the Sweet Abilities ice cream truck provided sweet treats for our event! Kristen Corrie and her family own this business, which employs individuals with special needs. The Corrie’s are part of our Liberty Dance Center community as well. Corrie’s daughter took her first BTJ dance class with Miss Lori five years ago, and they’ve been with us ever since!

We are blessed to have so many supportive, loving and exceptional families at LDC. This is the fabric of who we are. We provide a dance home, and you all fill its walls with growth, laughter and love.

Thank you to Miss Valerie, the Corrie Family, Sweet Abilities and all of you who make our community such a wonderful place to be!

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1. A person who has defeated or surpassed all others in a competition, especially in sports.
2. A person who fights for a cause on behalf of someone else.

Dance like a Champion

“Dance like a Champion” has been our theme this dance season! What does that mean to your dancer and your family? We are the champions of our own lives. A win is a win, no matter how small.

Maybe your “win” this year was a 3-year-old who finally started dancing the assigned choreography a week before the recital. Perhaps it was a 6 or 8-year-old who tried a new dance style and stepped out of their comfort zone. Maybe it was a senior whose accomplishments are numerous, and who stole the show at every performance, competition and class this year.

As we dance into these next two weeks, we focus on the wins! We are grateful for another year of dancing, learning and growing together. Champions know that there is no “I” in team. We strive to be our personal best while working for the greater good.

We always say that dance lessons are life lessons. Grit, determination, grace, and strength are just a few qualities exemplified by our amazing students and staff at Liberty Dance Center. Recital is a time to showcase these assets! Here we come, recital 2024! Let’s finish strong like the champions that we are.

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