Welcome back to LDA!
May this year bring new happiness, new goals, new achievements, and lots of fabulous dancing! 

A BIG welcome to all students and their families! To all newcomers, we know it can all seem a little overwhelming at first but in a few weeks you will feel at home.
I would like to say a big thank you to the families who gave myself and the team lovely cards and gifts at the end of the year, it was very thoughtful you. 

Please read below some helpful information and events coming up for the beginning of 2025. 

Please do not reply to this email!

It is easy to lose correspondence in a big chain of emails, so please begin any questions or queries in a new email.

Term Dates

Term 1 Starts - Thursday 30 January
NO classes Waitangi Weekend - Thursday 6th - Saturday 8th February 
Term 1 Ends - Sunday 13th April

Term 2 Starts - Monday 28th April
Term 2 Ends - Sunday 29th June 

Term 3 Starts - Monday 14th July 
Term 3 Ends - Sunday 21st September 

Term 4 Starts - Monday 6th October 
Term 4 Ends - TBC

Invoices

Term 1 invoices were emailed out last week - please check your emails, and let us know if you haven’t received one, or there is an error P.S. If you make the payment by the due date, you can avoid the $20 admin fee.

Please also avoid the late payment fee by paying before the term finishes. A $30 late payment fee will be added to your account if it is not paid within the term (without prior arrangement).
If you are experiencing hardship or would like to set up a payment plan please email the office.

If any details are incorrect, please let the office know so changes can be made.

When paying online, PLEASE REFERENCE YOUR CHILDS NAME AND INVOICE NUMBER

Show recordings! 

They are nearly here!
We will be in touch soon with a date for collection.
If you have yet to pay or order, please make payment as soon as possible. As we are still in the editing phase, we can still take orders until 16th Feb.

Watching Weeks

Monday 17th February -  Saturday 22nd
Monday 31st March - Saturday 5th April 

During these weeks, we encourage our LDA parents & caregivers to come and watch your child's classes. It is great to see them progress and this can also help with their home practice. Please see below our class viewing guidelines: 

• Only one parent/guardian per student (unless room permits)

• Spaces are limited to seats available, no sitting on the floor

• Please wait until the music has stopped before entering

• If you have siblings who become noisy, restless, or distract the teacher/class in any way, please move into the changing room area or outside to wait for class to finish

• Phones on silent and tablets muted

• Please no talking - the students are encouraged not to talk whilst people are dancing and so lets show the dancers and teachers respect in class
  

NO PHOTOS OR VIDEOS ALLOWED

Faculty
Your teachers this year are;
 - Mrs Kerry Mills
 - Mrs Rachael Pugh
 - Miss Hayleigh Rossetter
 - Ms Jane Callaghan
 - Miss Róisín Hanley - Miss Emily Dela Rue
- Miss Anna Hansen - Miss Holly Kennedy

If you want to find out a little more about us all - check out the staff page on the website!

Absences
If a student is going to be away from class OR if unforeseen circumstances arise (illness, family situation etc.) and a student is unable to make class on the day, please contact the office via email (admin@limelightdanceacademy.co.nz). 

The office will then be in touch as to whether a make up class can be arranged for your child. Scroll further down for more information on make up classes.

*N.B. - If your child is sick or is showing any symptoms of illness (especially fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, coughing or cold symptoms), please do not let them come to class until they are fully recovered! Having a sick student in class puts other children and our team at risk of illness, and we would rather they stay home and rest up.

Important Dates

Jazz & Contemporary Exams

Contemporary Exam Intensives - 22nd, 23rd April + Saturday 10th and Saturday 17th May

Jazz Intensives - 24th, 26th, 27th April + Sunday 11th May and Sunday 18th May 

NZAMD (Jazz and Contemporary) Exams - 23rd-30th May (Exact dates TBC)

Ballet Exams

Graded Ballet Intensives - Wednesday 9th - Sunday 13th July

Vocational Ballet Intensives - Sunday 27th July, Sunday 3rd August, Sunday 10th and 17th August. TBC once exam session is known.

RAD Graded and Vocational Ballet Exams - 1st August - 25th August (exact dates TBC) 

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2025 Show Dates

Dress Rehearsal Sunday 9th November

Show Week - Monday 24th - Sunday 30th November (TBC)

Ballet Character Gear

A note for our Grade 1 and Grade 4 Ballet female students, please check your emails on the 25/1 in regards to uniform requirements for character gear. 

Grade 1-3 uniform - set Character Skirt with pastel coloured
ribbons, and low heeled character shoes.  Boys low heel lace up character shoes.

Grade 4-5 uniform - set Character Skirt with purple ribbons and Cuban heeled character shoes. Boys low heel lace up character shoes.

We ask that our dancers please have their uniform within the first 3 weeks of term. Please note your size may need to be ordered, so please visit Thats a Wrap soon to get this sorted. 

Please note That’s A Wrap have shifted - they are now at their new premises 60 Alexandra Street, Hamilton Central.

We ask that all waist bands are firm and sit on your dancers waist, and the length is between mid shin and just under the knee. 

Make Up Classes

If you have missed a class or know that you are going to be away in the future, you may be able to arrange to do a one-off make up class! Make up classes are super helpful for those students learning exam work, as it means they will not get behind.

Make up classes can only be arranged if:

• There is another class of the same grade held on a different day

• There is space for your child in that other class 

• Make up classes must be made within the same term as the absence

If you would like to do a makeup class, please email the office (admin@limelightdanceacademy.co.nz) and we can arrange this for you. Please do not turn up to a make up class without enquiring with the office first.

Standard of Dress

Just a friendly reminder of the school's standard of dress; all students are required to be in the firm fitting regulation uniform and shoes with hair in the style required for the class;
Ballet - tidy bun
Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical - tidy ponytail

If you are unsure about what to wear to each class, all of the information is on our website.

No jewellery, other than plain studs and no nail polish, false nails should be worn.

LDA Uniform 

Our studio uniform provider is That’s a Wrap! They have just recently moved the shop to 60 Alexandra St (Hamilton CBD), visit them for all your dancewear needs.

Please make sure that you have the full uniform by Week 3.

Extra Classes

Students of some ballet and jazz levels have the opportunity to participate in an extra weekly class! If you are in of the below grades, you are able to do an additional class:

• Primary, G1, G2, G3, G4, G5 Ballet + Grade 1 Jazz

This additional class will be charged at a discounted rate of only $60 for the term.
If you would like to enrol in an extra weekly class, please email the office (admin@limelightdanceacademy.co.nz) and we can arrange this for you. Please include the grade/level and day that you would like to add the extra class. Please note, this is dependent on space available in the class you have chosen.

New Classes

We have added some new classes for 2025! Head to our website for more information on these classes, or send us an email to see if one of these classes would be a good fit for you!

Progressing Ballet Technique - Jnr - Monday 5-5:45, Inter - Wednesday 6:45-7:30, Snr - Monday 5:45-6:30

Musical Theatre - Thursday - Jnr 6:30-7:30, Snr 7:30-8:30

Acrobatic Arts - Saturday - Beginner/Acro L1 1:30-2:15

Contemporary Intro - Thursday 5:30-6:30

Adult Ballet - Wednesday 7:30-8:30

Adult DDMIX - Thursday 7:45-8:45

LDA ONLINE

Band App
We have closed Bands for each level of our LDA classes, if you are new to the studio we will send out links shortly for you to join. 

Facebook Groups
We have two closed Facebook groups for our LDA community. Please request to join these to stay engaged. 
LDA Parents & Caregivers
For parents and caregivers to stay in contact with each other and the school.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2089337531316710/
LDA Second Hand Dancewear
For current students to buy and sell second hand dancewear.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/992214790943643/

Website
All general information is held on our website - please explore!
All NEWS & EVENTS are found under the NEWS tab.
All IMPORTANT DATES are found under the TIMETABLE tab.

Email
Emails and newsletters are our main method of contact. Please ensure your email is always up to date and checked regularly to ensure you are receiving correct and up to date information.

Customer Portal
You can access your customer portal through the website. This will detail your enrolled classes and fee information. You will need to sign up first through your own personal link (emailed at the beginning of this year for new enrolments).

Facebook & Instagram
Please like our Facebook and Instagram pages to get news, photos, notices and videos of what's happening in the school. Simply search 'Limelight Dance Academy.'

Sunset Symphony

Saturday 22 February 2025, 7:20pm - 9:30pm

Rhododendron Lawn, Hamilton Gardens

Head along and support our LDA’s dancers perform alongside the Trust Waikato Orchestra Symphony. Check out all the other amazing stuff happening for 2025 Hamilton Arts Festival!

We are looking forward to seeing you all in the studio this week for our first full week back!

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Missed Something?

All information is uploaded to our website (including this newsletter!). If you have missed something please check your emails and the websites NEWS & TIMETABLE page before getting in touch.