| Top Hat & Tales: March 2007 Edition |
Hello out there! Can you believe it's March already? Top Hat has another great month of exciting dancing coming your way! But first we want to take a second to congratulate all of you from Top Hat Dance Studio who went to MAD Jam this past weekend. The event was a 100% success and we hope that all of you had as much fun as we did. It truly was a blast. Congratulations to all of the competitors who danced at the event. You should all be very proud of yourselves, you danced beautifully!
Taking a look into the future there is a lot of information coming to you in this month's edition of Top Hat & Tales. With a Hawaiian Cruise, Brand New Staff Members with New Classes, and the announcement of our New Party Series… there is definitely a lot that you don't want to miss!
In this month's edition you will find information on…
This week, the first week of March, we are very fortunate to welcome to the floor four incredible new faces to the staff of Top Hat Dance Studio. Sandy Erickson, Ryan Stauffer, Rob Baen, & Sheila Purkey are bringing their love and talent to the class calendar in March and we can hardly wait! Please help us welcome these tremendous teachers to Top Hat and make sure you sign up for their new classes. They are simply too good to miss!
Sandy offers a very supportive and encouraging approach to her teaching style. Her classes create an atmosphere where students are challenged to explore themselves and their goals. Sandy has a strong background in yoga, having been certified by Erich Schiffmann in 1987. Since 1993 she has been teaching pilates, mat and equipment classes, in both private and group settings; where she has had a unique way of combining the benefits of both disciplines in her classes. She continues to explore ways to integrate the benefits of strength training with flexibility. Sandy adapts her classes to embrace students with little or no experience. Her instructional teaching style is designed to encourage her students to experience not only the physical alignment desired, but also to utilize the incredible benefits of proper breath work. Students experience transformation through increased strength, flexibility, stress release, self acceptance and confidence. Group classes are designed to be supportive and enjoyable where students learn to be mindful through breath work, by allowing the breath to sculpt the poses. Meditation techniques are introduced, building on the fundamental principles of yoga. Students soon discover that yoga is much more than just an exercise program they attend once or twice a week, and instead becomes an active part of daily life. New Yoga Class with Sandy Erickson starting on March 5th!
| Class | Day | Time |
| Open Yoga | Mondays | 7:30 PM |
Ryan began training by taking classical ballet at his mother's studio. He continued his education at the University of the Arts as a ballet major. He has appeared in a variety of regional stage productions. In 2006, Ryan was offered his first professional national tour as a dancer for Raven Symone. He now calls Philly his home and the stage, his life. In his teaching, Ryan strives to create a diverse Hip Hop environment. He achieves this by breaking molds and bridging gaps between dance techniques and styles. His classes will challenge students to use their bodies and minds in creative ways. Ryan's aim is to inspire his students to become well rounded dancers.
Ryan will be teaching Hip Hop classes for Teens and Adults starting the first week of March. The New Hip Hop schedule will be… 
| Class | Days | Time |
| Adult Hip Hop | Mondays | 6:30 PM |
| Hip Hop I (ages 11-13) | Saturdays | 10:00 AM |
| Hip Hop II (ages 14-17) | Saturdays | 11:00 AM |
Rob and Sheila have been dancing together for over 17 years. They have danced, taught and dj-ed at venues from Boston to Myrtle Beach. They teach West Coast Swing, Carolina Shag, Country 2 Step and Night Club 2 Step. Rob and Sheila are proud members of the World Swing Dance Council and the Competitive Shaggers Association. They are the founders of the Delaware Valley Shag & Swing Club (DVSC) serving the South Jersey, PA and Delaware areas. Rob is also a member of the Association of Beach and Shag Club DJ-s. They were the choreographers and coaches for the first WCS team in the Phila area - The Atrium Swing Team and are currently coaching and choreographing their new Carolina Shag/WCS team. For more info on Rob and Sheila's calendar and events see www.robandsheiladance.com.
Rob and Sheila swing into Top Hat Dance Studio on March 8th bringing their smooth, playful West Coast Swing to share with you! This dance is so cool...it's HOT! They'll be offering 2 weekly classes on Thursdays followed by a half hour practice time:
| Class | Description | Day | Time |
| Level II | Movin’ on up! Add some razzle dazzle to your dancing! Picking up where the level I class left off, this class is great for increasing your knowledge of WCS. (You must know your 6 and 8 count basics for this six week series.) | Thursday | 7:30 - 8:30 PM |
| Level I | This is how it works! Good basics make good dancers. This class is perfect for those just getting started or wanting to brush up on their basics. In this six week series you’ll learn just what it is that makes this dance so much fun. | Thursday | 8:30 - 9:30 PM |
| Practice time | Rob & Sheila will be available for questions. Come on out and get to know them and learn the dance that everyone’s talking about! | Thursday | 9:30 - 10:00PM |
We are extremely excited to announce the beginning of a new party series at Top Hat Dance Studio that will be launching this April! We have received so many requests for a repeat performance of our Grand Opening that we are very happy to introduce Top Hat's Morph Parties. What is a Morph Party you ask? A Morph Party is a Top Hat creation where all dancers can come together and enjoy an evening of dancing regardless of the specific dances they do. At the beginning of each party there will be a Ballroom and Latin mix of music and dancing that will also incorporate Hustle, Swing, and Salsa. As the evening continues the party will then Morph into a specific dance style on a rotating schedule throughout the month.
Each of these parties will have an All Levels Group Class starting at 8:00pm and the party will begin immediately following at 9:00pm. The cost of the evening, including the group class and party, is $10 per person. There will be light food and beverages provided and all of the parties at Top Hat will be BYOB.
Please remember to always double check the studio website for changes and/or cancellations in the schedule. In the event that a dance competition falls on the same weekend as one of our parties, the party will be cancelled since all of the staff and students of Top Hat will be at the event.
3rd Saturday of every month join us for our Hustle Morph Party where the music will start with a Ballroom and Latin mix that will Morph into one of the Hottest Hustle Parties Around!
4th Saturday of every month join us for our West Coast Morph Party. Starting with a mix of Ballroom and Latin music, this party will Morph into a night of dancing to some of the best West Coast Swing music in Philadelphia.
| Saturday of month | Morph Party | Description |
| 2nd | Ballroom | A great mix of Ballroom, Latin, Hustle, Salsa, & Swing music playing all night! |
| 3rd | Hustle | The music will start with a Ballroom and Latin mix that will Morph into one of the Hottest Hustle Parties Around! |
| 4th | West Coast | Starting with a mix of Ballroom and Latin music, this party will Morph into a night of dancing to some of the best West Coast Swing music in Philadelphia. |
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It's that time again! Every year the Friends and Family members of Top Hat Dance Studio gather together to take a trip of a lifetime. This year we're going to Hawaii! This trip is one that you absolutely do not want to miss! With a 7 day cruise of the Hawaiian Islands, a 2 day pre-cruise option on Waikiki Beach, and some of the most beautiful landscapes you will see anywhere in the world, you don't want to let this boat leave without you! On our last cruise we had 84 people traveling with us so spaces are limited. Placement in the cabins is on a first come, first serve basis and we will continue to accept deposits until they are sold out. We are already at 25% capacity so if you would like to join us please reserve your spot today with a $100 deposit per person. |
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Need a Roommate? Not a problem, we will be glad to assist you in finding a roommate, contact the studio for more information. The sailing dates are January 21 - 28, 2008 and you can find more information about the trip on our website at Hawaiian Cruise. |
Philadelphia:Classes will run to schedule for the month of March. This month there will be a Ballroom Mix Party with great Ballroom, Latin, Hustle, Salsa, & Swing music being mixed all night. There will be an all levels group class at 8:00pm and the party will get started at 9:00pm. The cost of the party is $10 per person and you are welcome to BYOB. If you have any questions, please contact the studio.
The Intro to Hustle classes on Saturday afternoons have been extended to a full hour long. Due to popular demand, this class will now be from 2:30pm - 3:30pm.
For all other class schedules and cancellations you can pick up a calendar at the studio or visit our website calendar at http://www.tophatdancestudio.com/classSchedule.
Lancaster:Classes will run to schedule for the month of March. The monthly studio party is on the 4th Friday of the month, Friday, February 23rd, 2007. There will be a group class at 8:00pm and the party will immediately follow at 9:00pm. For all other class schedules and cancellations you can pick up a calendar at the studio or visit our website calendar at http://www.tophatdancestudio.com/classSchedule.
Philadelphia Festival Dancesport Championships: April 12 - 15, 2007Ballroom & Latin Dancing at its BEST! This is Philadelphia's hometown dance competition and hosts Sandy & Andy Fortuna have always provided one of the best weekends of dance in the area. There are competitions throughout the weekend and a top notch Saturday Night Banquet and Show. We are currently taking Ticket orders at the studio; however the Saturday Night Banquet has sold out. Top Hat Dance Studio will have 84 people in attendance at the Saturday Night Banquet! If you would like to join us for other portions of the weekend please contact the studio.
International Hustle & Salsa Competition: May 03 - 06, 2007
IHSC is being held this year on Miami's beautiful South Beach in the Miami Spa & Resort. Hosted by Billy Fajardo and Katie Marlow, this event is not only one of the greatest Hustle & Salsa events there is, it also offers a great escape to one of America's best vacation destinations. The weekend is complete with parties, competitions, workshops, and a wonderful beach and poolside dancing atmosphere. This year IHSC has added Latin & Rhythm competitions to its schedule so there are more opportunities for you to be the star! If you are interested in joining Top Hat Dance Studio as we head to Miami grab a registration form at the studio, forms sent in through the studio are due by March 10th.
As always, if you have any questions or need more information on anything, please feel free to contact the studio, and as always…
Keep Dancing!! 
Top Hat Dance Studio
Philadelphia, PA 19116 (215) 676-3100
Directions
Email: info@tophatdancestudio.com
Website: http://www.tophatdancestudio.com
