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Health & Safety Measures You Can Expect This Season

7/21/2020

 
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Modern Motion takes the safety of our community very seriously and we wanted to share the health and safety guidelines we are following for during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please note, as guidance continues to be updated regularly, we will adjust operations accordingly. As we launch our season, we plan to initially offer outdoor and online classes.

  1. We are limiting the total capacity of any outdoor area to a number that ensures that all individuals can remain six feet apart,
  2. Limiting the number of people in the studio to 25 percent capacity – excluding employees
  3. Requiring staff, dancers and customers to wear cloth face coverings while indoors and outdoors when social distancing is not possible, except where doing so would inhibit that individual's health or where the individual is under two years of age
  4. If a customer refuses to wear a cloth face covering for non-medical reasons then the Modern Motion staff must decline the individual entry into the indoor premises
  5. Advising all staff, dancers and customers to stay home if they or a household member are presenting with symptoms, feeling ill, or currently quarantining. 
  6. Adding additional disinfection and airing out of high traffic and high touch surfaces to our existing cleaning schedule. Following New Jersey Department of Health and CDC guidelines for cleaning and sanitation.
  7. Displaying signage regarding facial coverings and social distancing policies.
  8. Prohibiting the consumption of food or beverages. Exceptions are allowed for individuals engaging in conduct necessary for their health or safety, such as briefly removing their mask to drink water. In addition, employees may consume food and beverages in areas not open to the public, such as an employee break room.
  9. Limit occupancy in restrooms and restroom hallways to avoid over-crowding and maintain social distancing through signage and, where practicable, the utilization of attendants to monitor capacity
  10. Providing hand sanitizer to staff, customers and dancers
  11. Limiting physical interactions by using Online Registration and online Dancewear and shoe sales through Nimbly.
  12. Removing shoe and leotard sizing kits, shared books and magazines and classroom props from usage.

Announcing our 12th Season of Dance

7/20/2020

 
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We are delighted to announce our 12th season of dance beginning August 15th! Students will engage in outdoor, online, and when possible, in-studio this season. Our studio rooms are getting wonderful upgrades that will improve the online experience with better lighting and sound, faster internet, and new HD webcams. Our season classes have been consolidated and in some cases shortened in length. We have also staggered arrival and dismissals to limit the number of people at our facility when outdoor classes are held. The time between classes also will allow time for cleaning high touch surfaces. Stay tuned for updates on our outdoor summer and fall class guidelines. We are following all health guidelines for disinfection, social distancing, and required facial coverings when social distancing is not possible outdoors. 

Class size is limited - enroll today!
https://dancestudio-pro.com/online/modernmotion​


Making the most of online dance classes

4/2/2020

 
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Hi folks! I sat down (virtually) with my team and came up with some great ideas to help everyone get the most out of their online dance classes. Here's the list, compiled by our own, Dustin Ciano, Business Operations Associate here at Modern Motion!
Making the best of your dance space:

  • Make as much room as possible by moving toys and small items and make sure the lights are on!
  • The more space you make the better!A kitchen, living room, basement, etc. are all good options
  • Be creative and move some furniture if you have to!
  • A counter, chair, or back of couch is a great replacement for a barre.

Technology Tips:

  • Use a computer/laptop with a webcam if possible, iPads/tablets and phones are okay, but not the best
  • Make sure your device is fully charged or plugged in
  • Angle your camera to get as much of your body in the picture
  • Move in time with the music - not your teacher's voice. Sometimes the audio doesn't line up perfectly with your instructor's video.
  • Keep yourself muted unless you have an important question or your teacher tells you to unmute yourself

General Tips:
  • Dance like you're at the studio! - go full out!
  • Stay active in the class and keep focused!  Eliminate distractions like the TV, radio, cell phones, toys, food etc.
  • Be dressed in your uniform if possible. This helps the teacher make corrections. Wear ballet shoes or hip hop sneakers. We understand if tap shoes cannot be worn in the house.
  • Ask for help recording yourself outside of class and send the videos to your teacher. This is an efficient way for the teachers to review your dancing and give feedback.

Customer Portal Updates

3/14/2020

 
We are currently uploading all recital songs to the portal and rolling out weekly teacher notes to the classes as well as recording instructional videos. Learn how to find these new elements with our screenshots located at https://www.modernmotion.org/online.html

Distance Learning to Start March 14, 2020

3/13/2020

 
Dear Dancers and Families,

The current health concerns around COVID19 are impacting all areas of our community and CDC guidance around protecting our community of all ages involves social distancing, handwashing, and considerations around gatherings. The very nature of dance education for children presents several challenges to preventing students from coming in contact with each other. I have decided to temporarily move all dance classes to an online learning experience to protect our community by minimizing the chances for spreading illness and to continue teaching. This change is effective Saturday, March 14, 2020.

Our online learning experience may include recorded lessons, worksheets or visual aids, and choreography for at home playback, and possibly interactive online learning or rehearsal that allows teacher to dancer feedback and a platform for questions. As I work with my team of faculty and staff, I appreciate your patience.  
As of now, we are proceeding with our plans for a show on June 20th, however, all additional community performances at nursing homes and assisted living facilities are cancelled. Our community partners are or will be closing the doors to all visitors for the safety of the residents. Plans for performances at Great Adventure and Somerset Patriots are on hold at this time. 

If you have not already elected to purchase your costume on autopay which will run March 15, the account balance can be paid online in the Customer Portal. The portal link is https://dancestudio-pro.com/online/modernmotion
In the meantime, in order to prepare for practice at home, find a spot that is clear of obstructions, if possible, so your dancer can move freely in a small area of your home. Our recordings will allow you to log on at your convenience and to rewind and replay breakdowns of steps or choreography. If you have a tap dancer, consider a small plywood board to protect floors. In lieu of a ballet barre, the back of a chair or a counter make a great support surface. Lastly, do not dance in socks on tile, laminate, or wood as it can be slippery.
 
As a community, we can work together through most anything. We look forward to connecting with dancers in a whole new way, strengthening  our teaching methods and rejoicing when we can gather again safely at the studio. Links to online learning will arrive shortly.

Yours in Dance, 
​Ginger Haithcox 
Executive Director | Modern Motion Dance School

Health & Safety

3/10/2020

 
We are in the midst of cold and flu season and the Coronavirus is also a concern in our community. Modern Motion continues our long standing practice of encouraging frequent hand washing, disinfecting surfaces including the barres, door knobs, bathrooms and cubbies. If you or your child is sick, please stay home to prevent the spread of illness.

We are following guidelines from the CDC recommendations for safety. In the event of a local cancellation of public gatherings, we plan to use a combination of live webinars and recorded lessons to continue the dancer’s lessons and learning.

Spring Community Week
As has been our tradition for many years, our dancers have performed at local nursing homes and assisted living facilities twice per year. Given the current recommendations to prevent the spread of viral infections, we will not be visiting our usual locations, instead, we are working on a fun new way to connect with our community partners without being on site.

Week at Modern Motion: First Impressions as an Intern

1/15/2020

 
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As a newbie freshman who had just finished her first semester in college, I questioned myself at the beginning whether I would succeed during my time here. Not only have I never taken an internship before, but I have also never even taken a dance class. But, despite some jitters, I was excited to start a new experience!

For my first day, the task was to simply observe the surroundings of the studio where I would spend the next couple of weeks here. When I arrived at around 6 PM, there were a couple of classes that were going on: Classics 4T and Classics 3T. After staff introductions, I found myself sitting in one of the studios, where a ballet session was taking place. In my carefully prepared business-casual attire, I felt a bit out of place in a room full of ballerinas. 

Expected for a dance studio, at least one pale-blue side of the wall was covered top-to-bottom with a mirror. Barres were placed in the center of the room, which seemed to me to be used as a security for balance, as the dancers relied on nothing more than one foot as they practiced different ballet positions. Other than the slogan overhead  door- “Be confident. Be bold. Be you” -which was right by where I sat, the room was also notable for the palpable amount of concentration. Students swept their feet back and forth, arms were raised up and down, and made calculated movements with their limbs as a combination of music and instructions filled the room. Yet, there was also a rather lively and comfortable atmosphere that surrounded the children. 

The next class I visited was the tap dancing class. It was interesting going directly from one dance style to another, and comparing the two together. One of the main differences that I immediately saw was the attire of dancers. The outfits consisted of more casual clothing and black tap shoes. I enjoyed hearing the rhythms that were made from those shoes, which were clacking against the hard wooden floor. While the one word I would describe ballet is “graceful”, I would describe tap dance to be “vibrant”. There were also some identifiable similarities between the dance styles. Both placed an importance on timing and form.

I am by no means a dancer- it is only by the persuasion of being covered by other peers that I will be able to go on a dance floor. But by taking an inside look of the dance lessons, I thought that I could form a connection between myself and dancers.

Just like writing, drawing, or any other art form, dancing is something that is needed to be comfortable with before allowing other people to see you practicing it. Expression is a two step process: first knowing how to do it, and then being able to share it to others. It takes hard commitment and practice to be able to fluently accomplish both. So although I have never tried dance school before, with my own experiences (perhaps even including this one) I was able to understand my surroundings better and bring my memories back to the first steps that I took to achieve sharing my own expressions.

​-Miriam Kim

MoPerks for 2019-2020

5/13/2019

 
We've updated our studio's perks program to bring our customers more of what they want and we know you'll love them! Check them out and be sure to enroll by June 30th to take advantage of all the perks!
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Cinderella Performance December 2018

11/27/2018

 
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Modern Motion Dance School to present ‘Cinderella’ this December!

SOMERSET, NJ. - Modern Motion Dance School will present ‘Cinderella’ on Saturday, December 15, 2018, from 2:00-3:00PM at Franklin Middle School, 415 Francis St, Somerset.
​

The show features students ranging in age from 3 to 18, performing ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop to portray Cinderella and her adventure to attend the ball and dance with the Prince, which she has been forbidden to do by her unkind Step Mother and Step Sisters. With the help of her Fairy Godmother, and the Seasonal Fairies, Cinderella is transformed into a beautiful, confident princess and is able to live out her dream, to meet and dance with the Prince. See what unfolds when Cinderella loses one of her magical shoes running out of the ball at midnight, and the Prince sets out to find her.
Reserved seating tickets for Cinderella are $14 each in advance and $18 at the door and can be purchased online at: www.modernmotion.org/Cinderella. For additional information, or to learn about classes at Modern Motion, contact the school by email at info@modernmotion.org or phone (732) 658-0301.  

Modern Motion’s mission is to boost confidence and nurture creativity through dance education and performance.  ​Modern Motion is a 501c3 non-profit that builds confidence and creativity! Every student is given opportunities to explore and create movement, expand their worldview of dance and culture, and to perform for an audience.

Give it another try or give up? Navigating trial classes for children's activities.

9/10/2018

 
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New dance families often wonder how to determine if their child will enjoy dance as a new activity, wanting that sweet spot of finding an activity that balances fun, learning, and social development. Some parents are not sure how to approach trial or intro classes in a way that avoids putting too much pressure on the child, gives them the space to explore without the influence of adult opinions, and allows them to determine if the activity is something the child will enjoy for several months.

We offer the following guidelines to help you evaluate your own young dancer, and remember, all children are different. Some of our most successful dancers started out crying for their mom, or minimally participated in the first class. Crying for their parent, asking for a drink or the bathroom, and even refusal to enter the studio are not necessarily signs that the child doesn’t like dance. It’s something new and what they might have imagined about dance while twirling and tip toeing at home is very different from an organized activity with a Teacher. As a wise woman once said, “You don’t know what you don’t know.”

Don’t Give Up if Your Dancer*:
  • walks into the studio independently
  • participates when he/she is invited to join an activity
  • is given a job by the teacher and he/she does it
  • watches the teacher or participating children during class
  • takes a prop when given
  • cries but also participates
  • stops crying for a certain activity
  • observes other classes with excitement
  • talks about dance at home
  • dances and does class activities at home
  • has parents that are supportive about working with the teacher during the separation (anxiety) process

The child might need a change if *:
  • crying on the way to dance class does not end after 3-4 weeks
  • the teacher has to take him/her from a parent's arms after 3-4 weeks
  • dancer seems sleepy and irritable due to time of class (naptime, end of day)
  • crying and no participation during the entire class does not end after 2-3 weeks
  • dancer hits or kicks the teacher, assistant, or other students
  • dancer runs for the door and tries to exit studio after 2-3 weeks
  • dancer is distracting or upsetting other students in class after 2-3 weeks
  • attendance is not consistent

The change could be:
  • class on a different day or time of class
  • a different adult brings dancer to class
  • a snack is given before class
  • waiting a couple of months to try again
  • waiting for a change at home to resolve - a recent move, parent going back to work full time, sickness, starting school/daycare, loss of pet

*Readiness indicators used with permission from our friends at DiscoverDance.net
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1 Railroad Avenue
Somerset, NJ 08873
732-658-0301

Sunday - Closed
Monday - Thursday 5:00-8:00PM
Friday - 6:00-8:00PM
Saturday - 9:00AM-1:30PM

All Rights Reserved
Modern Motion Dance School
A 501c3 nonprofit organization

Dance and Art classes in Somerset, Franklin Township, NJ
Featuring Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Acro Dance and Painting lessons for children.
Photos used under Creative Commons from rmlowe, shixart1985, Renee Silverman, Starflight Music, focusonmore.com, gabrielsaldana, shixart1985