As we begin another year, Faye and I want to wish you, your families and all of your dance students the very best of good health and happiness. We hope your Christmas break not only allowed time to enjoy family and friends but also gave you time for some much needed rest and relaxation before another busy dance term began.

In celebration of the 20^th anniversary of ADAPT and a new millennium, we are excited to introduce our new ADAPT logo and blue and yellow colours. You may have already seen it on our website but now it is on our new exam report forms, dance certificates, medals and letterhead.

An ADAPT trained teacher is required for the 2001/2002 dance year starting in September 2001. Previous teaching experience would be an asset. If you are interested, contact Teresa Gibeau at (780) 450-6147 and/or send your resume (including references) to:

Dance Unlimited, 4206 - 66 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6K 4A2

Throughout our travels across Canada examining, doing dance workshops and choreographing, Faye and I have had the wonderful opportunity of being a part of the ever-changing world of dance. We have become ever more aware of the needs of our ADAPT teachers and in doing so, feel that this is the summer for Faye and I to host two Teachers' Training Workshops. Throughout the 5 days there will be guest faculty as well.

All ADAPT studios are now teaching the new Syllabus work which Faye and I have introduced over the last couple of years. As a result we both feel that it is now necessary to get together with our ADAPT teachers for an intensive few days of discussion and training. After reviewing the examination results of the past two years, we feel that there are some minor changes to be made to the Syllabus as well as a need for clarification of some of the work.

The Teachers' Training Workshops are intended to show teachers ways to develop better dancers with better technical results. The workshop classes will mainly concentrate on the technical requirements for dance as well as the HOW, the WHEN and the WHAT to teach. We will evaluate the hands on approach to teaching and the need for a strong technical foundation. We will have sessions to discuss 'Accredited' versus 'Certified' teachers, sessions to discuss any legal concerns in regards to teaching and in particular to ADAPT as we continue to grow as well as any other areas of concern to you. If you are completely new to the ADAPT Syllabus and wish to come on board, this would be an excellent opportunity for you to attend a Teachers' Training Workshop. If you have just completed the junior and pre-intermediate levels, we also strongly recommend that you attend. You can always learn something new!

We can not stress enough the benefits of attending these longer workshops. Not only will these Teachers' Training Workshop review some Syllabus work but it will also allow teachers to have an opportunity to share ideas, ask questions and get to know other ADAPT teachers. So bring your "dancin' shoes", questions, comments and notebooks in hand and join us at one of the ADAPT Teachers' Training Workshops. Please note that no video cameras will be permitted.

These 2 workshops will run Wednesday through to and including Sunday. Teachers must attend for all 5 days. Registration deadline date is June 29, 2001. The fee for the 5 days is $500.00 if your registration is received by the June 29 date. After this date the fee will be $600.00. Because the Teacher’s Training Workshop is taking a different approach this year, there will be no half fee for just jazz or tap.

ADAPT teachers may pay in full or pay a deposit of $200.00 with their registration and include a postdated cheque for the balance dated September 15, 2001. Non ADAPT teachers must pay in full with their registration. There will be no refund to teachers who do not show up or to teachers who do not stay for the full 5 days. Any teacher who cancels prior to the commencement of the Workshop will be charged a cancellation fee of $200.00.

A registration form and a detailed schedule will be sent with the next Newsletter in the early spring. We will also provide suggested accommodations in the host cities. Meanwhile, if you have any questions, please call Gail Snell at 403-254-6660 or 1-877-53ADAPT (this is our long distance toll free number).

The student workshops run Tuesday through Saturday. There will be lectures on preparing for an audition and /or competition, on how to perform to the best of your ability and dancing for yourself.

The guest teaching faculty for each city will be announced in the next Newsletter.

A registration form will be included with the next Newsletter. The registration deadline will be June 29, 2001. After that a late fee of 10% will apply. There will be a $50.00 cancellation fee if you cancel after June 29, 2001.

Level 1 - High Junior & Low Pre-Intermediate:

Level 2 - High Pre-Intermediate & Low Intermediate

Level 3 - High Intermediate & Advance

NOTE: It is highly recommended that all registered students participate in the "Stretch class" in order to adequately warm up for the dance classes.

FAMILY DISCOUNT

If a 2^nd child from the same family registers, they will receive a 10% discount from the lower fee. A 3^rd child from the same family will receive a 20% discount from the lowest fee.

At this time there are 2 ADAPT Workshops scheduled for this fall:

We would like to congratulate the following teachers who have successfully completed the ADAPT Teachers Certificate.

Jana Raskob, from the Diane Will Dance Studio in Saskatoon, is performing at Disney Tokyo for 7 months dancing in The Diamond Horseshoe Review and The Hoop-Dee-Doo Review.

Anita Hamrack, teacher at MacDonald Wilson Dance Academy in Calgary, had a baby girl in April 2000.

Michelle Barnabe, teacher at All-4-Dance in Ottawa, had a baby girl in October 2000.

Karen Humpheries (Bradfield) teacher in Calgary at Dynamic Dance Studio, had a baby girl in August 2000.

Francine Johnson (Gartner) director of Dance With France in Calgary, had a baby boy July 2000.

ADAPT Teachers from Calgary, Scott and Leslie Drewitz, spent a busy summer in 2000 performing at Winnipeg's Rainbow Stage in "42^nd Street". Leslie played the lead female role as Peggy Sawyer, and Scott performed the part of Andy Lee. As well, Scott choreographed this Broadway musical for Rainbow Stage. Karolina Blonski (Martin School of Dance & Drewitz Dance Productions) and Diana Radcliffe (Drewitz Dance Productions) performed as part of the female ensemble. Diana is now on her way to perform in Tokyo, Disney.

Karolina Blonski (Martin School of Dance and Drewitz Dance Productions) has lead roles of Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Snow White at Tokyo Disney.

Carolina Lancaster (The Dance Factory, Calgary) danced for Britney Spears at the American Music Awards. Carolina was also a cheerleader in the 1999 hit movie 'American Beauty'.

Ryan Foley and his dance troupe, The Next Step (Ashley Noce, Linda Garneau, Natasha Gibson, Amanda Coatchem, Shawn Byfield and Alexandra DeLuca) performed in a number of cities across Canada this past fall in their show called "The Rhythm of Life". This travelling show troupe also taught a number of student workshops in some of the cities in which they performed. We look forward to hearing where their "Next Step" will be.

Greta Leeming School of Dance: Greta (Leeming) Robinson was presented with a Millenium Medal from the city of Nepean in recognition of her contribution and efforts on behalf of the arts community. Well known and well respected throughout the international arts community, Greta was a professional dancer in England before moving to Nepean. She established Nepean's first ballet school in 1962 (Greta Leeming School of Dance) which now teaches all dance disciplines and has achieved national and international recognition. Her school participated in the Shanghai Cultural and Friendship festival in China this past summer. Two of this studios students, Arthur Kyenene and Erika Yang are presently performing in Lion King in Toronto. Nicolas Dromard played the role of Eddie in Mama Mia in Toronto and is now on tour in the U.S. with the show until the end of 2001. Melanie McInenly is dancing in London, England and Jacques Monfiston is busy dancing on a Norwegian cruise line for 6 months. Stacy Martin was performing on Saturday Nite Live in New York and is presently in a Gap commercial. Stephanie Cadman has recently finished Swing Step in Toronto. Ashley Callaghan performed the part of Maria in the Sound of Music in Kingston, Ontario throughout the month of November to glowing reviews.

It's terrific when all the years of training lead to fulfilling one's dreams, be it performing, teaching or choreographing.

Maureen Johnson, director and owner of Martin School of Dance in Regina, has just returned from 10 days in Japan where she was invited to watch the Japanese Drum and Bugle Corp Championships as well as the Baton Twirling Championships. Maureen coached some baton twirling classes and introduced ADAPT to Japan by guest teaching some jazz classes. ADAPT is very proud of Maureen and the recognition she received in the baton twirling area.

Performing Dance Arts, in Woodbridge, Ontario, reports that their studio won the Bill Como Award of Excellence in Las Vegas last summer for overal high score for 13 and over. Clyde Alves is dancing on Broadway in Music Man. He recently won the Fred Astaire Award for his on broadway performance. Michelle Galati and Marsha Pitt are dancing in Lion King in Toronto. Jordan Francis played Peter Pan in a recent production of Peter Pan at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto. Vicki Galati was assistant choreographer for the TV show Pop Stars. Joel Lavoie and Joanne Georgeiff are two more lucky dancers to be performing on a cruise line. What a fun life for awhile!

Victoria Lamond (Centre 58, Dance Arts Limited in Calgary) has just finished an 8 month tour in the United States with Footloose and is heading for Edmonton, Alberta to be the female lead in Singin' In The Rain which is to be performed at the Citadel Theatre this summer. Way to go Victoria!

Dean Ozen (also from Centre 58) is dancing on board a Norwegian cruise liner.

ADAPT teacher Vivian Melsness (Burns) from Ottawa plays the lead role of journalist Blanche Demaurier in the TV series Butch Patterson Private Detective.

Scott Peter (Ken Peter School of Dance, Winnipeg) is presently performing in Chorus Line, a Rainbow Stage production in Winnipeg. He has just finished being in The Osmonds TV movie.

We hope you enjoy reading the above ADAPT news as much as Faye and I did. It's great to hear of the successes of you and your students. Please share any bits of news that you think others might like to hear about by calling Gail Snell at 1-403-254-6660 or our toll free number 1-877-53ADAPT or send an email to gail.snell@home.com. Our next Newsletter will be out by the end of March so any news should be sent to Gail by mid March.