Announcement !!!!

The Boland School will be sponsoring this year's
Albany Feis on July 19th at the Empire State Plaza.

Information as well as the syllabus can be found at
www.donganfeis.com


 
 
                         Summer Newsletter

Albany Feis Information:
This year, the Albany Feis (a local competition) will be held on Saturday, July 19th at the Empire State Plaza.  Everyone is encouraged to participate.  All beginners go home with a medal.  School or solo dresses are worn and attire similar to the recital. (Hair off the face and a touch of makeup).  The syllabus will be available at class and if you need help filling it out, don't hesitate to ask.

After the recital, we will be taking some time off to rest.  We will then resume practices Tuesday, the 24th and Wednesday the 25th of June to continue with the feis practices as per
your June and July calendars or until further notice. 
It is important that you attend once a week if you are going to feis to 'Keep in shape'.  There are a few more close feisanna that you might want to consider (Catskill & East Durham in August). You can expect more info in July at practices.  Beg/Ad Beg/Nov/Prizewinner practices are scheduled on Wednesday.
Prelim/Champ on Tuesday/Wednesday for summer.
Times are on the calendar and it is $7 each class.

Faith and Jean Workshop:
will be held Sun. July 13th, Mon. July 14th, and
Tues July 15th. You should have gotten a handout with some more details. We encourage you all to take advantage of this opportunity. It is a lot of fun and very helpful. Space is limited, so please sign up in the lobby asap.

Finally, classes in September will be starting the week of Sept 15th.  You will be getting a letter from us before classes end with your suggested class time and day.  If you are not going to continue with Irish Dance, please let us know.  Thanks!!  If you know of anyone who would like to start classes, New Student Registration Day is Wed, Aug 20th at the studio from 5-8pm. 

It was a pleasure working with all of you!!
Enjoy your summer and hope to see you in the
Fall !!!           


                            May Newsletter

Recital - June 8th  2:00 - The EGG.  Recital reminders and final info given out soon.  Tickets go on sale within the next 2 weeks.

Final tuition payments DUE. Payment #9 and #10 are due before the Recital.  You will not be able to purchase tickets if you have an outstanding balance. 

Please make every effort to get the children to class these last few weeks.  Recital success depends on the dancers knowing their routines.

If you have not gotten a dress yet.. Let's start. Remember to sign a rental agreement before you take a dress.

Raffle prizes.  Please start getting together with your class Moms for a raffle donation.  Theme baskets, gift cards etc..  Each class is responsible for a prize.  Anyone else wishing to donate please do...  everything is much appreciated.  Remember this is our only Fundraiser of the year.

Recital flowers - sale of recital flowers will benefit the 'National Team'.  If you are getting your dancer congratulatory flowers for the recital - please buy them from the team.  They will be setting up orders soon.
 

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National team raffle baskets -  take a chance on the different baskets to support the team. You gotta be
in to win it..
 
MPG workshop  5/23-26  $ due.

Faith & Jean workshop - July 12-15 $ due soon - details soon.

Available Shortly:  Summer and Next Year's schedule

Feis schedule is on the NAFC website.  There is a link from the schools website as well.  Check out the
Links page.


             February /  March   2008 Newsletter

St. Patrick's Day
Parade - Saturday, March 15th - Albany
The parade starts at 2:00 on State St & Quail St in Albany. 
We will be marching with the Watervliet AOH.  The AOH will be providing buses from their hall to the parade and back.  The bus will leave the hall around 11:30ish. If you plan on taking the bus... I need to know numbers so they know how many buses to provide.  Please sign sheet in parent's lounge.
If you prefer to meet at the parade... be at McDonalds on Central Ave by 1:30. We will gather there and hook up with the AOH.
Dress for the weather...  If you have the school warm ups, sweats, sweatshirt - wear that.. If not - wear jeans, sneakers and sweatshirt. Gloves, hats, scarf - etc.. again -- Dress for the weather!  Parents are invited to march along with us (especially with the little ones) - Parents can dance behind the children.
The end of the parade is on Pearl St. by Jillian's.  If you are not marching with us  - please be at the end of the parade to meet your child.  All dancers are encouraged to march with our school.  We would like a good showing this year... please try to come out for this event..    Save the day..
It's loads of fun !!!

Performances
We will be doing several performances that weekend.  Lists will be posted soon.  Anyone knowing of any needed shows - please tell Chris or Jen.  If you are dancing in your school or anywhere else - make sure we are aware of it and your performance is checked out.  You are representing our school and we want you to put your best foot forward.  There will be practices for these shows.  If you want to dance - come to practice knowing jig, reel and slip jig steps.  These practices are NOT lessons - you MUST know your steps before you come.

March is "Buy or sell a solo dress month"
Anyone with a dress to sell - please start bringing them in the first week of March clearly marked with name, size, asking price. Anyone wishing to buy a dress - feel free to browse.  Please have a parent supervise - these are all very expensive dresses and must be handled with care.  If you find a dress you like - check with Chris or Jen regarding fit, color, appropriateness, etc. 
Check out the Dresses section of this website as well.
If you are interested in posting your dress for sale on our site - send pix and details to cbaker21@nycap.rr.com

Recital
The Recital is scheduled for Sunday, June 8th
at 2:00pm at the Egg.  Tickets will go on sale the middle of May. This is our only fundraiser of the year.  We hold a raffle and a 50/50 drawing.  Please do your best to solicit raffle prizes.  Each class is responsible for at least 1 raffle prize. Volunteer Mom from each class to coordinate please.

School Dresses
Now is the time to return your school dress if it no longer fits.  Make sure it is clean and ironed before returning.  Dresses must be checked in - DO NOT JUST BRING IN & HANG UP - There will be no record of you returning it.  Girls needing school dresses can begin to look.  Again please have a parent supervise.  Girls without solo dresses will get first picks.  Dress contracts need to be signed.
Rental fee $35/year.   Replacement fee $300.
If your dress still fits - please sign a new contract and pay the year's fee.

Upcoming Feisanna - Enter Now

April 5th - Salem, MA           www.irishdancesalem.com
April 6th - Monroe CT          www.lenihanirishdance.com
April 19th - Staten Island      feis@nialloleary.com
April 26th - Syracuse             www.feisweb/cny


North American National Championships
This year the Nationals will be held in Nashville.  We will be sending a group to compete. The dancers will be having a series of fundraisers to help with the traveling costs.  Please support them.  A poster is
in the parent's lounge with all the information.  Please take a look.

Summer Workshop
Faith & Jean Bible from Waterford, Ireland are available this summer for workshops. 
Before WE can book their flights, We must have some commitment from you. 
Classes will be July 12-13-14-15- beginners, advanced beginners, novice, prizewinner, prelim and champ levels.  Cost - approx $50.  All dancers are urged to attend, meet the teachers from Ireland and learn some new steps.  This is right before the Albany Feis, so they can  also some last minute brushing up.  Please sign up in Parent's Lounge.


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                        May  -  June  2007

Albany Feis Information
This year the Albany Feis (a local competition) will be held on Saturday, July 21st at the Empire State Plaza.  Everyone is encouraged to participate.  All beginners go home with a medal.  School or solo dresses are worn and attire like the recital. 
Check website www.donganfeis.com for info. 

After the recital (June 10th) - we will take some time off to rest.  We will resume practices Tuesday, June 19th and Wednesday the 20th and continue with feis  practices as per your June/July calendars or until further notice.  (It is important that you attend once a week if you are going to any feis to 'keep in shape'.  There are a few more close feis's that you might consider (Catskill in August) and expect more info in July at practices. Beg/Adv Beg/Nov/Prizewinner on Wednesday and Prelim/Championship on Tuesday/Wednesday for summertimes.

Finally classes in September will be starting the week of the 17th.  You will be getting a letter from us before classes end with your suggested time and day.  If you are not going to continue with Irish Dance, please let us know.  Thanks !! If you know anyone who would like to start classes, new student registration is
Wed. Aug 15th at the studio from 5-8 pm.

It was a please working with all of you !!! Enjoy your summer and hope to see you in the fall. !!

                            March 2007
 

Due to the snowstorm - the parade has been rescheduled for March 24th !!

St. Patrick's Day Parade:
Saturday - March 17th.  The parade is in Albany and runs down Central Ave.  The Boland School of Irish Dance will be marching with the Watervliet Hibernians.  There is one bus - that will hold 40 people available for us at the Watervliet AOH Hall.  The bus will transport to and from the parade.  First come - first serve to fill up the bus.  I still have to get a confirmation on the time the bus will leave.  If you want to take the bus - sign up on parade clipboard at the studio.
Remember - 40 people is the Max.

If you want to meet us at the parade - we will be meeting at the McDonalds on Central Ave.  Please be there by 1:30 - no later.
Depending on the weather -- please wear Boland school warmups, jogging suits, sweatshirts.  If you don't have any - wear a white sweatshirt and black pants. DO NOT wear Dance dresses. DO NOT wear dance shoes.  Sneakers please. Hat and gloves depending on weather.

Parents can march with the group. If you are not marching with the group - make sure that you are at the end of the parade to meet your children. The parade ends down by Jillians on Pearl Street.

SHOES _ Matt from Fays will be at the studio on Thurs, March 22nd  from 5-7.  This will be his only visit for
awhile.  If you need shoes...  please tell Chris or Jen.  We want to have a list to let him know what to bring to the studio.  Please be at the studio on Thursday 3/22.  Matt takes cash, checks for credit cards.  I will also get some more CD's for practice.

SYRACUSE FEIS - Saturday April 28th.

RECITAL  - Sunday, June 10th at the Egg - More info to follow.

DRESSES are due back the end of this month.  Make sure they are clean and ironed and returned on a hanger.  Please make sure that are checked in by Chris/Jen or assigned helper.  You will not be credited with a return if we don't know about it.  Please check your closets at home for any dresses you might have.  We are missing a lot of dresses - it costs hundreds of dollars and hundreds of hours to replace - If you know anyone that has stopped dancing and still has a dress - do us a favor and bring it in.
Late fee of $1/week starts April 1st.


                               February 2007

Vacation - No Classes the week of school vacation - Feb 19th

Bon Voyage and Good Luck to Emily and Maeve Conway - The girls are going to Kilarney, Ireland to compete in the All Ireland Championships.  Go for it Girls !!

Dresses - Check your dresses - If you need a new one,  please return your dress - Clean, Ironed and on a Hanger.  If your dress still fits - please tell Chris and sign a new contract.

Please let us know what feisanna you are going to...

Remember the new rule -  solo dresses can only be worn by novice dancers and above levels.  Anyone needing a solo dress or have one to sell - let us know.  We will be putting a new section on our website for 'Things for Sale'.

St. Patrick's Day shows - If you know of any bookings - please tell us.  We also have a signup sheet for show availability.

Recital reminder - Sunday June 10. Please start collecting raffle prizes.. This is the only fundriaser of the year - Lets make it work.

RiverDance - The show will be coming to the palace - we are getting group tickets... Kathy Gilboy has volunteered to organize. Please use the sign up sheet in the lounge..

For shoes --- order online - www.rutherford.com - we can help with sizes.


                October/November/December

Class Cancellations -
Wednesday Nov 22 - stay home and bake your pies
Monday Nov 27       - all Monday classes come on Tuesday for  
                                    makeup class - same times

Warmup suit - orders taken now - should be in for Christmas $75 - additional $4 for name.. order form in parent's lounge.

Sweatshirt, bags, sweatpants - orders taken now - order form in parent's lounge. Will be ready in time for Christmas - Deadline for form is December 1.

Anyone needing shoes - please sign the list , so I know what to tell Matt to bring.  Still haven't got a date - working o it.

Recital Sunday, June 10,2007. I have booked the Egg for our annual recital.  Hold the date..

Tuition is due the first week of the month -  $30.

Our Oireachtas team will be traveling to Philadelphia Thanksgiving weekend for the Regional Championships -
THINK GOOD THOUGHTS - GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF OUR DANCERS...

                            September
  
          Welcome back Dancers - Welcome New Dancers
              Let's make this year our Best Year Ever !!!

 Hudson Valley Feis - September 9-4 at Hudson Valley Community College.  Entries are due. 
New dancers and families are urged to come and watch the Feis..  See what it is all about.  Adults $10.  Children Under 12 - free.  If you have not signed up to work - please do so now.  Everyone is expected to volunteer at least 2 hours where needed. Signup sheets are in the parent's lounge.  We also need donations of food to sell - bagels, donuts, soda, coffee, milk, ice. See signup list or Grace Selkis/committee.  We are responsible for feeding about 1500 people.  We need a couple of large coffee urns as well if anyone can help.

Class Cancellations -
Monday, Oct 9 - Columbus Day
Tuesday, Oct 31 - Halloween.
Make up classes will be available.

Used Book Sale - proceeds to help send our dancers to the Oireachtas.  Buy a book.  Give a book.  This is on the honor system..    Details in the parent's lounge.

Used shoes - anyone with shoes to sell - please mark them clearly with name, size and price.  Place in ziplock bag in shoe bin.  Again this is on the honor system.  Anyone buying shoes, please put the check made out to the correct person on the bulletin board.  I will have the shoe man come the 1st week in October for anyone wishing to buy new shoes.

Limited amount of Practice CDs available for $15.

Tuition is $300/yr payable in at least 10 monthly payments (Sept-June) - Due on the first class of the month. A $5 late fee must be included past the 2nd class of the month.  Tuition may be paid in advance at any time.  A one time $5 insurance/registration/recital fee included with the 1st months payment.  Don't forget to fill out a new registration form for this year - this includes all returning dancers.

Feis practice - Friday - Sept 15 and 22. 
5-6 for beginner and adv beginners
6-7 for novice and prizewinners.          $6 fee.

As always - donations of paper cups, t-paper and paper towels are greatly appreciated.

Upcoming Feisanna - listed posted on NAFC website.  Broesler 10/22, Torrington 10/15,
FingerLakes 11/11 (Feisweb)

*** REMEMBER TO CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELVES

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May Newsletter

RECITAL - June 11th - The Egg - Tickets will go on sale
the end of May. Adults - $12, Children $6, Seniors $10.
We still need raffle prizes - please donate.  A final recital
reminder notice will be sent out in approximately 2 weeks.

We are in the process of ordering tee-shirts and dance shorts
for this year.  Also, a clothing order will be going in soon.
Order forms can be found in the parent's lounge.

The OIREACHTAS TEAM will be having a series of
fundraisers to help defray the cost of traveling to the
Championships.  Flowers for Mother's Day are on sale now
at the studio.  There are car wash tickets for Hoffman's car
wash,  candy etc.  Please support these dancers - They are
great representatives of our school.

Our champions traveling to San Diego, CA in July for the
National Championships will be selling flowers for our recital.
Order forms soon.  Again - if you will be buying flowers for
your dancer, please buy them from our champions.
There are still a lot of dresses and vests not yet returned...
PLEASE, PLEASE bring them back.  Girls are looking for
dresses for the rectal.  Don't forget the late fee which goes
into our BUILD A NEW DANCE FLOOR fund.

Before the end of classes, suggested classes for next year
will be handed out.  Summer class schedule will also be
handed out.  If you plan on attending any Feisanna - you
must attend summer class.
 
Registration and Open House for new beginners will be
Wed, Aug 16 and 23 from 5-7.
Upcoming Feisanna:
Albany July 15th  beginners and 1st timers - please see
Chris for info.  This is a local feis - think about attending.

Hudson Valley Feis - Saturday, September 30 - sponsored by
our school.  Ads and dedications needed for the program book, workers needed,  etc... Again you should make every effort to attend.

All tuition should be paid up before the recital.  Please don't
forget your June payment (#10).
It is very important for dancers to attend every class from
now until the Recital.  The success of the Recital depends on it. 
There is only one class cancellation -
Memorial Day - Monday May 29th.

                          Welcome warm weather !!

 APRIL Newsletter   

Special Dates - NO CLASSES -
Vacation week - April 17 - 21st.

Recital - Sunday, June 11th

Hudson Valley Feis - Saturday, September 30th

Dresses - Dresses were due back April 1.  Any dresses bought
back this week carry a $1 late fee.  Next week - $2 and so on. 
We have girls looking for dresses... and none to give out.
If your dress still fits and you are keeping it - you need to
renew contract and pay the rental fee as well as the late fee.
Late fees will go into the 'Build a new Dance Floor Fund'.
We are looking into covering the existing floor with a special dance floor covering.