January Newsletter

Happy New Year! Best wishes to you and your family for the year 2023. We hope that all enjoyed a happy, healthy and meaningful holiday season. We look forward to seeing you all back in classes beginning Tuesday, January 3rd.

For those who travelled over the holidays, or who may have been ill over the break, please be sure to test for COVID before returning to classes. Do not attend classes for five days (if asymptomatic) or present a negative COVID test, after air travel. We continue to do our very best to keep students and faculty safe at CBA.

NUTCRACKER IN A NUTSHELL
We would like to extend congratulations to all dancers who participated in this years’ production of “Nutcracker In A Nutshell”. The performances came off beautifully, due to the hard work and dedication of the dancers, as well as the many volunteers who worked throughout the holiday season to contribute to the success of “The Nutcracker”. We appreciate the backing by the BAE Parents’ Guild, headed by
Heather Winter and the support of the CBA family as a whole. Special thanks go to Emily Connelly, Jamie Frysinger, Tierre Price, Tricia Romonoski, and other volunteers for exceptional fundraising efforts at the theatre.

SPRING PERFORMANCE OF SNOW WHITE
January is the time that plans are in order for the Spring Concert/Recital 2023. The featured ballet will be Snow White, which has not been performed at CBA since 2015! Performances are planned to be held at Kenmore Middle School Theater on Saturday, June 17th and Sunday, June 18th, both, at 3:00 PM. Dress Rehearsals will be held on Thursday and Friday evenings, June 15th and 16th .

All students (with the exception of Adult/Teen Ballet class) are encouraged to perform. Those wishing to do so, must submit a costume deposit of $50 per/class, per/costume. For example: a student enrolled in Ballet, Tap and Jazz will need to submit a deposit of $150, (if they wish to perform each dance piece in the show.) Remember, it is not required, but encouraged. Performing is an important aspect of a
students’ overall dance education. The costume deposit is due by January 21st . A costume order contract must be completed along with the costume deposit payment. Costumes will run from $65 to $85 each - the balance will be due by April 15th. A performance fee of $50 per/ student will be due by February 11th.

BATJE OUTREACH PERFORMANCE
The BATJE will be organizing and performing its first outreach performance on Friday, March 3, coinciding with the FCPS Student Holiday. The performance will be held in-studio for individuals and volunteers from Insight Memory Care Center next door. The theme for the performance is “Songs from the Screen.”

The performance is tentatively scheduled to begin at 1 PM and is anticipated to be a short performance, likely accompanied by refreshments.

Rehearsals for this performance will take place in select jazz and tap classes with additional rehearsal time on Tuesday and Friday evenings. Student in Tap IIIA-B will be previewing a selection from their Spring Show number and will rehearse during class time. Students not in Tap IIIA-B must be available to rehearse on Friday nights at 7 PM in January and February to participate.

The official selection of pieces and rehearsal schedule is dependent on dancer availability. Please respond by Monday, January 9 confirming whether or not your dancer is available to participate. Please CC Caitlin Murray on emails regarding participation ([email protected]). 

Members of the BAE and Jr. BAE who already take jazz (required) and tap (optional), and are interested in joining BATJE and participating in the performance, are welcome. 

INCLEMENT WEATHER
Keep in mind that in situations of inclement weather, CBA does not always close in compliance with Fairfax County Schools (if snow/ice melts by afternoon). A studio-wide email will be sent out to notify you of closure. Classes missed due to ice/snow will be made up with rehearsal time in the spring.

We have much to be thankful for and look forward to the new year ahead with our CBA family!