Remixed in Motion!
This year’s recital celebrates music that has been reimagined, reinvented, and remixed across generations. From timeless classics to modern hits, our dancers bring these songs to life in new and exciting ways—showing how movement can transform the music we love.
Costumes Arriving
Costumes are beginning to arrive and will continue arriving now through the first week of April. We will send costumes home once they have been checked and tried on in class.
March 23–29th
Spring Break – Studio Closed
There will be no classes during spring break.
Classes will resume Monday, March 30.
April 1 - 🎉 Next Step Dance Birthday
Saturday, April 11th
📸 Studio Picture Day
All classes are asked to attend Picture Day for group photos, even if you are not planning to purchase pictures.
Friday, May 1st
8:00 AM - 🎟 Recital Tickets Go On Sale
Tickets will go on sale for our annual recital:
Saturday, May 2nd
Production Rehearsals Begin
Monday, May 25
Studio Closed – Memorial Day
Friday, June 5th
Dress Rehearsal
4:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Saturday, June 6
Recital Day – Remixed in Motion
Two shows! - All dancers will attend and perform.
Beginning lvl age 5-7 and up Dancers are performing in BOTH SHOWS
A New Format to Showcase Our Beginning Levels age 5-7 and Up
This year, we’re changing things up to give our dancers, Beginning level age 5-7 through Teens, even more opportunities to shine. For the first time, we’re introducing large “production” numbers in each major dance style. Imagine the energy and impact of all jazz classes, from our littlest movers to our teens, coming together for one grand Jazz Production. This format will extend across our hip-hop, ballet/lyrical, tap, and musical theater classes.
With this new structure, each dancer will have the opportunity to perform in multiple routines, at multiple shows, showcasing their skills across different levels and making their recital experience even more memorable.
Parent Volunteers!
We need your help to make the recital a success! To ensure a smooth, safe, and enjoyable show, we’re looking for parent volunteers. You can volunteer for one show and watch the other, allowing you to enjoy your dancer’s performance while helping us create a well-supervised environment. Thank you for being part of our recital team!
Here’s how the performances will look for each dancer
- Class Routine: A dedicated routine for each individual class, highlighting the skills and progress dancers have made in their weekly sessions.
- Genre Production Routine: A special, larger-scale routine bringing together all dancers in each style for an inspiring group performance.
- Closing Show Routine: A unified finale number, celebrating the entire Next Step Dance family and the end of another amazing dance season.
To support this format, additional rehearsals of forty-five minutes will be scheduled in May. These will be exciting opportunities for dancers to perfect their routines and bond with peers across age groups.
Costumes: One Look, Multiple Performances!
We know costumes are a big part of making each routine feel special, and we’re excited to share that this year’s recital format won’t require any extra costume purchases. Dancers will wear the same costume for both their class routine and the corresponding production routine in their genre. For instance, if your dancer is in a jazz class, they’ll wear their jazz costume for both their class routine and the large jazz production.
Rest assured, there are no additional costume costs or class fees for these added production routines. We want to give our dancers more performance opportunities without adding any extra financial commitments – everything is included in what you’re already paying for. Our goal is to make this recital as seamless, exciting, and rewarding as possible for each family and dancer.
Introducing the Solo Spotlight Program 🌟
For dancers who crave an even deeper connection to performance, we’re opening up the Solo Spotlight Program. This unique program offers dancers the chance to work one-on-one with a chosen instructor on a solo, duo, or trio piece, providing personalized choreography and the opportunity to perform a piece that truly reflects their individual style and artistry. This program will run from January through May, and interested families can opt in for an additional fee. It’s a fantastic way for dancers to challenge themselves and enjoy focused attention on their craft. Email MissTaylor.NextStep@gmail.com for more information and enroll in the program.
Important Dates & Rehearsal Schedule
To ensure our recital runs smoothly and gives every dancer the chance to shine, we’re implementing a structured rehearsal schedule for the large production routines. Here’s what families need to know:
Participation Confirmation:Please let us know on the day of registrationif your dancer will be participating in the recital by finalizing your payment in your portal. Accounts will be auto charged with tuition on December 1st. This will help us finalize routines and production numbers.
*Picture Day Weekend: April 11th, 2026*
*Dress Rehearsal: Friday June 5th, 2026*
*Recital Day: Saturday June 6th, 2025 - Two Shows in One Day*
Location: Normal Community High School 3900 E Raab Rd, Normal, IL 61761
Saturday Rehearsals Starting in May 2025: All additional rehearsals for production routines will take place on Saturdays in May, ensuring dedicated practice time for each genre’s large-scale performance. There will be No Rehearsal on Saturday May 24th for the Memorial Day weekend.
Starting Saturday May 2nd through Saturday May 30th:
No Rehearsal Sat. May 23rd
9:00am-10:00am: Tap/Musical Theatre Production
10:00am-10:45am: Lyrical Production
10:45am-11:30am: Hip Hop Production
11:30am-12:15pm: Jazz Production
We’re committed to making the preparation process as organized and clear as possible, and we’re here to answer any questions as we move forward!
Questions?
If you have any questions about the recital, costumes, or anything else, please don't hesitate to reach out! We're here to help make this experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible for you and your dancer.
Have Fun, Work Hard!
The Next Step Dance Team