Hello YHS Band Families,
Due to the predicted snow storm, the Swing Dance Concert will be rescheduled for Saturday, March 1st. Same time, same place!
Please share the attached flyer with friends and family. We are trying to get the word out as quickly and effectively as possible.
Thank you so much for your flexibility and for your support!! Looking forward to showcasing our talented students on Saturday 3/1!
Ms. Kluga
There is still no official word on what is happening with our Swing Dance Concert on Saturday evening. Dr. Hattar will make a decision tomorrow morning. I appreciate his help making the best possible decision with the information that is available.
So far, the thoughts are:
1. Have the event on Saturday 2/8, but with a much earlier start time.
2. Move the event to a new date.
I will let you know as soon as I know.
Tomorrow, students can look forward to our dance workshop with Tank and Kelly from the Dance Conservatory! It’s not our usual Thursday, but we will still all “keep an open mind and a positive attitude!”
Thank you all for your patience and your support!
Students, help is needed organizing supplies and decorations for our Swing Dance Concert every day this week during any free period, or p.9. Thanks!
· Wear concert black (don’t forget black shoes/black socks) and your white tie.
· Report to the Band Room immediately upon arrival to YHS (by 7:20am). We will need to pack the bus and get on the road ASAP.
· Our itinerary and your equipment assignment for the day are attached.
This will be rehearsal #6 of 6 to prepare for our Swing Dance Concert. Our music, recordings, and your assignment are posted on Dashboard. Let’s have a great final rehearsal this Thursday from 6:50-8:30pm. Happy practicing!
Support our Huskers and Blythedale Children’s Hospital at YHS’s 4th annual “Charlie Strong” game!
WHEN: Friday 2/7/25. Report at 5:00pm in the Band Room (note the time change!)
BRING: Bring your instrument and charged cell phone.
WEAR: Your YHS Band polo. Music and Snacks will be provided.
GAME: The basketball game will run from 6-7:30pm.
Our Swing Dance Concert is an eagerly anticipated, well-attended and fun evening for our entire Yorktown community. Each year it always makes me smile to see so many generations come together to enjoy the music and the evening together!
All YHS Band students are required to attend – Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Wind Ensemble will perform.
Parents, this is NOT just a student dance. The event is attended and enjoyed by many age groups within our community; families, senior citizens, WWII historians, ballroom dance enthusiasts, and our YHS Band Family.
INFORMATION TO HELP YOU PLAN YOUR EVENING:
· Cost: $15 for adults / $10 for students and seniors. Tickets sold at the door only. Cash, Check or Zelle. YHS Band students are free.
· Time: Dance Lesson 7-8pm / Music and Dancing 8-10:30pm
· WHEN STUDENTS SHOULD ARRIVE:
1. Jazz Band – arrive at 5:30 so that you are ready to play for our soundcheck at 5:45.
2. Students interested in participating in the dance lesson – arrive by 6:50.
3. Students NOT interested in the dance lesson – arrive by 7:45.
4. FYI – students can earn 2 points of extra credit for quarter #2 or #3 (you pick!) by respectfully participating in the dance lesson (about 45 minutes).
Please be aware that the Swing Dance Concert Snow Date is Sunday 2/9.
Get into the “swing” of things and have fun dressing up in 1940’s style.
Gentlemen
· Usual Concert Attire: Black pants, long sleeved button-down black shirt, black shoes, black socks.
· Swing Additions: fedora hats, suspenders, solid color or pin striped shirts, colorful ties, spats, jackets.
Ladies
· Usual Concert Attire: Black top (appropriate neck-line, no spaghetti straps or sleeveless tops), black pants, or black skirt/dress (appropriate length).
· Swing Additions: saddle shoes, any color 1940’s style dress as long as it has an appropriate neckline, length, and sleeves.
· Ladies – Skirt/dress lengths are incredibly short these days. Please save these short styles for another event. When seated to perform, your skirt should cover your knees.
Many parent and student volunteers are needed, please, to make this evening a success.
Please consider donating an item or volunteering your time. Sign up here. As of this e-mail, we are in particular need of food and drink donations, batteries, and clean-up crew volunteers.
Many thanks to the parent planning committee for their awesome help and suggestions, and to Ms. Rindone for creating our SignUp Genius!
Part of the fun (and community building) of this event is setting up and decorating the space together! Sign Up sheets available in the Band Room.
· Saturday 2/8, 8:00am – 4:00pm – help is needed setting up and decorating the gym.
· Saturday 2/8, 10:30pm-12:00am – help is needed cleaning up the gym.
As part of our Jazz curriculum, students study the music from the period and also learn to social dance the Jitterbug. Here is a peek into our dance moves from this week 🙂
Concert Band Dance Lesson 1-30-25.MOV
Wind Ensemble Dance Lesson 1-30-25.mov
SHIM SHAM TUTORIAL
The Shim Sham is a line dance the students are learning to take part in at our Swing Dance Concert. For those interested, here is a video I made over COVID to help review/teach the steps.
EAST COAST (JITTERBUG) BASIC STEPS
To review the social dance steps we are learning, I recommend this video.
It takes a lot of guts to ask someone to dance! (And, it doesn’t matter who does the asking…lady or gentleman). When someone asks you to dance, please do everything in your power to answer “Yes.” As we’ve been learning in class, you should introduce yourself to your partner at the beginning of your dance, and thank them at the end of your dance