Nationals 2016 New York City, NY

Nationals 2016...

Whatever you wish,
Whatever you dream,
Whatever you hope to achieve...
Whatever you try for,
Whatever you plan...
It's yours if you only believe!

Times Square in New York City was the venue for American Dance Awards National Competition.  Dancers came from far and near to compete and learn, representing the United States, Canada, South Africa, Ecuador, Panama and China.

Our Senior Company ready to head out for NYC.

Andrew McKenzie competed as an ADA's Junior Male Dancer of the Year Contestant, winning the Acrobatics Class Award and placing 2nd Runner up!  We are SO proud of the maturity and talent that Andrew has exhibited in his young years as an SOSD dancer.

Caitlin Carty and Sara Letourneau competed in America's Teen Dancer of the Year Title Competition.  Both dancers amazed the audience with their solos, while also shining on stage in the Opening Number.  The joy of having their talents recognized was apparent to all who watched them perform.

Sarah Abdow competed in ADA's Dancer of the Year Title Competition.  She will be leaving SOSD to embark on a new dance journey....studying at Joffrey Ballet School in New York City this fall!  We wish her well and look forward to following her continued development in the art of dance.

It wouldn't be Nationals without some fun
with our favorite host, Scott Sisbarro.

"Chairman's Waltz" took 2nd Place in the Senior Large Group category
and made it to the Dance Off!

Some of our Senior Dancers ready to perform "Unwritten."

"River of Dreams" received a Choreography Award
and made it to the Dance Off!

Our own Young Choreographer, Julia Neto, with the Seniors.
They made her proud, performing her choreographed number,
"Break the Mold."

The Gala...

The original SOSD Family!

Our dancers all dressed up and looking their finest...
ready to celebrate a week of dance!

Even the dads are enjoying the fun!

Even former dancers traveled to NYC to cheer on their teammates!

It's always exciting to see our dances nominated in their categories on the BIG SCREEN!

We are so proud of our dancers.... in the way they performed and  maturity they showed.
It was truly a time to say, "We are the SOSD Dance Family."

We wish our Seniors luck as they embark on their new journeys...to college or to further their dance education.
Congratulations to Kaitlin Palmer, Elyssa Sena, Elyse Ayers and Sarah Abdow.

  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!!!

Last day of regular season: June 25th

Studio closed: June 26th to July 17th

1st Mandatory Week: July 18th to July 23rd

        ****Follow regular schedule****

Summer Session Weeks: July 25th to August 13th

      ****Follow summer schedule****

2nd Mandatory Week: August 15th to August 20th

      ****Follow regular schedule****

Studio closed: August 22nd to September 5th

Studio reopens: Tuesday, September 6th

      ****Follow regular schedule****

Julie White

Spotlight on Julie White

Julie is 36 years young and co-director at Shannon O’Brien School of Dance. She started dancing at the studio when it opened in 1992 and after enjoying a successful performance career, began teaching in 1995. Julie graduated from Dean College, where she attended on the Joan Phelps Palladino Talent Scholarship, with a degree in Dance. She continued on to Rhode Island College and earned a degree in Psychology with Honors.  She has also been on the faculty at Dean College since 2008 where she teaches ballet and jazz.  

As a dancer Julie performed key roles from several ballets, namely The Snow Queen and Spanish from The Nutcracker, as well as, Kitri from Don Quixote.  As a contemporary dancer she has performed with Andary Dance modern dance company.  In 2008 she traveled to Poland for the World Dance Cup.

Julie produces award-winning choreography pieces both nationally and internationally.  In the competition dance community Julie has been commended for her unique movement vocabulary and innovative style.  Julie’s choreography is presented annually with SOSD and continuously with her concert dance company, EMC.

Julie teaches dance to children of all ages at the studio.  Her youngest dancer is 3 and currently her oldest at SOSD is 19, although her instruction extends to older dancers at Dean.  She teaches Tap, Ballet, Lyric, Jazz, Acro, Modern, and Production classes.  Her favorite styles being Jazz and Ballet.

Julie has received MANY awards for choreography, such as, American Dance Award’s Young Choreographer, and ADA's Diamond Choreography Award.  She was also nominated for America's Choreographer of the Year alongside her sister, Shannon Marshall.  Her knowledge of dance has led to roles as a Master Teacher, instructing classes for ADA’s  Titlists in 2011 and 2012, ADA Nationals Convention classes in 2011, as well as, serving as a guest teacher for the State Ballet of RI in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. 

On her iPod you will find EVERYTHING!  ….Disney, Beethoven, Taylor Swift, Tori Amos, and MORE! 

One thing you may not know is that she loves avocados.  Julie's love of healthy foods is well-known among her dancers.

SOSD World Competition DanceTeam

Julie’s favorite dance memories are traveling to Poland for the World Competition, along with other dancers from the studio, and making it to the Elite 6 at ADA Nationals in 2014.  She traces her start in dance back to her sister, Shannon.

Julie lives in Cumberland, Rhode Island with her husband, Michael, and her 3 sons.

Recital 2015

A dream doesn't become reality through magic, it takes sweat, determination and hard work."   

-Colin Powell

 Recital 23 came together perfectly with the sweat, determination, and hard work of our dancers, parents, teachers, and staff.  We are SO proud of the teamwork that allowed us to put on THREE beautiful shows!

From the smallest of our dancers...

to the most SENIOR...

Recital weekend is always a whirlwind of dressing, dancing, and changing.  It's lining up and cooling down.  It's stretching, recharging, and running through your steps.  

It's knowing that it's your time to shine!

These young STARS are keeping their costumes under wraps until SHOWTIME!

There's a special energy in the air.  And it lasts until...

FINALE!

And when the weekend is over, it's time to breathe, until we start again!  

We're racing through Season 24 with turns and leaps... and someday we'll see these young dancers in class:

From left to right: Adeline (daughter of Jessie Weaver,), Brittyn Noelle (sister of Keyanna Davis),
 and Aliana  (daughter of Stacey Baptiste)

Spring 2016 Newsletter

Shannon O'Brien School of Dance

Spring Newsletter

IMPORTANT DATES... Mark your calendars!

• Final Costume Bill due May 15th
• No Classes on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30th
• Last Day of Classes June 25th
• Studio Closed June 26th to July 17th
• 1st Mandatory Week July 18th to July 23rd
• Summer Weeks July 25th to August 13th
• 2nd Mandatory Week August 15th to August 20th
• Studio Closed August 22nd to September 5th
• Studio Reopens Tuesday, September 6th

******************************************************

The dance year is flying by and recital is quickly approaching.  Most teachers will be starting their dances soon.  To ensure that the recital is the best yet, attendance is key.  Please make sure your dancer attends all classes while learning recital routines.

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Recital Information (Final dates TBA)

Picture Day: Sunday in Late-September or Early-October

**Shamrock Showcase**

Dress Rehearsal

Friday, Evening October 2016

Shamrock Showcase Recital

Saturday, Evening October 2016

The Shamrock Showcase will include Company Dancers, Little Boys, Preschool and Kinderdance Classes

**Dance Extravaganze**

Dress Rehearsal

Saturday, Morning October 2016

Extravaganza Recitals

Sunday, October 2016 12:00 PM 4:30 PM

The two Dance Extravaganzas will include all dancers except Preschool and Kinderdance.

**More information to follow**

*********************************************************************************

IMPORTANT

If you are a 5, 8, 10 or 15 year student, please let Stacey know by June 1st!

*********************************************************************************

Costume Bills are coming out in April and balances are due May 15th! 

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Do you know that all of our teachers and assistants attend workshops and master classes throughout the year?  Our Staff is committed to providing the best dance education possible by staying current with our evolving art form.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 It's official!!!!!!  Shannon and Julie have bought a building.  We are thrilled to offer our dancers and their families a facility that they are proud to own.  The new building is the former Knights of Columbus Hall located at 304 Highland Avenue in Attleboro.  We will have 4 dance rooms, a large dressing area, a huge waiting room and tons of parking!  The big move will not happen until late spring or early summer.  We look forward to our new journey with our SOSD Dance Family!

We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once 

- Friedrich Nietzsche

SOSD Holiday 2015 Newsletter

Holiday Newsletter

Holiday Closings: We are closed from Wednesday, December 23rd through Sunday, January 3rd.  We will reopen on Monday, January 4th. 

Weather Closings: Join RainedOut for SOSD info and closings.  3 easy ways to join...

• Text EST1992 to 84483
• Visit SOSD on Facebook & click on the RainedOut link
• Visit www.RainedOut.com ...Search Shannon O'Brien School of Dance and follow the sign up instructions

Tuition is made on a monthly basis regardless of cancellations due to holidays, weather or any unforeseen circumstances.  The studio has calculated the yearly cost of providing your dancer with a top notch education.  This amount is then divided over 10 months.  June and September tuition will vary slightly as they include costs of our mandatory summer weeks and picture day sitting fee.

Costume Deposits: All dancers must make deposits on their costumes.  Deposits are due:

1. January 15th
2. February 15th
3. March 15th

Deposits are $10 for every costume, including finale.  Ex. If your child is in 1 routine, they will have 2 costumes including finale.  Your deposit will be $20 on each date.

Candy Sale: The studio will have an optional candy sale in February to help defray the cost of costumes.  The funds from the candy go directly toward your costume bill.  It is an individual fundraiser with no profit to the studio.

***Please put your dancer's name in all dance shoes, coats, and other belongings!***

PLEASE use extreme caution and patience in our parking lot.  We have young dancers and even younger siblings making their way to and from their cars.

SAFETY FIRST!

Revving up for Recital 23...

Are you ready for some dancing?  

Ready or not, we are less than a week away from our 23rd Dance Extravaganza. 

Recital Weekend is just around the corner!!!!

Why are we getting ready to have our recital at this time of the year?  Well, that question has been asked before...Here's the answer!

Here are some highlights from previous years to get you revved up for what's going to be an AMAZING weekend of shows!

It's an amazing sight to see all the groups, from our littlest dancers to our soon to be retired dancers,  come out during finale and share the stage. It's even better to hear them all scream in excitement after the curtain closes at the end of the show.


But, before finale there is so much more to see and experience.

Just before showtime,  the music starts with the curtain down....behind the curtain the dancers for the Show's Opening Number have been stretching and are now bouncing around, shaking out their limbs, and then....the dance that the audience will not see begins.... dancers, teachers, volunteers, and staff are dancing their hearts out to celebrate the start of another show!

During this weekend it is evident that dancers belong to a very special family. They work as a team all year for this day; they support and encourage one another.  Former dancers, some even flying  home from college, give their time to share in the moments the special weekend brings.  SOSD alumni reflect on their own precious memories of their performances as they help create new memories for our young dancers.

From the youngest to the oldest, the dancers are ready.  They've been working for a year on steps, technique, tricks, and routines... and they are going to entertain you with a recital that shows you just how much they've learned in that year. The smiles show just how excited all the dancers are to be performing.  The expressions the audience witnesses from the stage are priceless, but the pride on the dancers faces as they exit the stage into the wings is something difficult to describe.

The boys never disappoint and are known to be a crowd favorite!  Our little men add an engaging  energy to the stage!

Our award winning choreographers along with our amazingly talented dance family are sure to bring the audience through an array of emotions.

It wouldn't be a show without the support of the staff and the numerous volunteers that come out to help each year.  We wouldn't be able to do this without them. We also wouldn't be able to do it without all our dancers and their supportive families.  

We can't wait to see you during our recital weekend...

Don't forget to cherish this time with your dancers.  It goes too fast!