Costumes, Concepts, and Music
Costumes sometimes change after the costume show on Nov 4 based on seeing the costumes in person.
Keep in mind - for extra dances, the general rehearsal fee is $40 per dance. Duet $70, Solos $100. Some special discounts have been applied.
Costume fees are due Oct-Nov. Rehearsal fees are due Feb-March.

Class Dances

Beginner Ballet:
Level 1 Princeton: "As Sure As the Sun"
"As Sure As the Sun" by Ellie Holcomb     Costume.
As sure as the sun will rise, God will deliver us from the slavery we find ourselves in. This dance complements the themes of this show with a message of reassurance. It's almost a foreshadowing of the Finalle, where everything is put alright again. God is truly faithful to those who love him and this dance is a gentle and strong reminder of the love that has already conquered all.

Level 1.5 Princeton: "I Take Flight"
"I Take Flight" by       Costume.     Wings.
The show takes it's title from this dance, which encapsulates many of the themes this show is pondering. "But when you love me without strings, I take flight." Love is what releases us from the strings of slavery. The girls will be tinkerbell-inspired fairies and wear wings, a very special prop addition not regularly offered for class dances at Heart to Toe Studios. ;) 

Level 1 Waite Park: "Better Place"
"Better Place" by Rachel Platten     Costume.
God's love really makes the world a better place. This song touches my heart every time I listen to it. God is there to comfort us and when we recognize him and accept his love, everything completely changes. Being loved makes cloudy days into snuggly cuddlefests and blazing afternoons into sun-kissed adventures.
Extra: Kristi (from the Waite Park Adult Class) as God

Level 1.8 Waite Park: "Something Wild"
"Something Wild" by Lindsey Stirling and Andrew McMahon     Costume.
We all love a good Quest story. The Quest plot is one of the most frequently used in storytelling, especially in the genre of Fantasy. This type of story especially engages children and the young at heart, engaging audiences' sense of adventure, that "flighty temptress" as Dumbledore called it. This Quest needs a purpose to begin, but once on the road the characters begin to grow and change in the face of difficulty. Arriving at the end, the characters discover that the journey has changed them. It has scarred them, and yet it has made them more patient, strong, and fearless. "Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing," said Mother Theresa. There can be no beauty, daring, growth, or spontaneity without Adventure. This subtle truth lies in the tension between the open road and the comfort of home: sometimes the journey is the destination, and sometimes something wild calls us home. This class will also have a small dance in the finale as freed Jewish slaves.
Featured Dancers: Elijah and (uncast)
Extras: Callie from Waite Park Adult Class (11 years old) as "Evil Queen"
Other extras possible once I finish blocking.

Dance Your Heart Out:
Level 2 Princeton: "Deliver Us"
"Deliver Us" from The Prince of Egypt Soundtrack (second half - they are playing the river)      Costume.
This extremely team-building dance will be a unique challenge and a visually striking element of the "Deliver Us" ensemble. See the Waite Park Adult Class Dance listing for a description. This class will also make an appearance in the Finale.

Level 2 Waite Park: "Kneel"
"Final Frontier" by Thomas Bergersen       Costume.
To be in Program: The posture of kneeling. When commanded to kneel by an arrogant dictator, or, say, Loki from the movie Avengers, people feel controlled. But as Loki claims, “It is the unspoken truth of humanity that you desire subjugation.” He puts his finger on a deep and often unconscious desire to serve something higher than ourselves. Worship provides the meaning we so crave in life. We are none of us big enough to provide meaning for ourselves. Satan knows this trait well, and he is a lot more subtle than Loki. Instead of turning up in a helmet of gold horns to subdue New York, he slips legalism into our churches, arrogance into our relationships, and domination into our desire to protect. God wants us to obey him so that he can protect us, like a parent wants his child to look before crossing the street. God doesn't control us to get a high, to feel like the “big man,” to eek some twisted sense of meaning from life. God is the “big man,” and yet he made himself as vulnerable as possible, coming as a baby to live among the people he so dearly loves. He also accepts the possibility of our refusing to love him: unlike Loki, he doesn't force anyone to kneel.
Description: This dance will be include the characters from last year's "Satan and Angels" dance ("Everybody Wants to Rule the World"). God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and two Angels will kick Satan out of Heaven in the brief intro to this dance. He will go to earth and stir up Humanity (the class) to fight against God by telling them that God is trying to control them. They completely miss the point that it's Satan who is really controlling them. Satan walks back and laughs in God's face - stiring up Humanity was his revenge. God responds by sending Jesus to earth, but Humanity kills him. This dance is really showing the whole arch of last year's Satan, Trinity, and Gospel dances from the point of view of Humanity. Humanity is first happy as they are - kneeling. Then they're enraged and stand up to take control. In the end they wind up fighting each other (to be in control) and finally kneeling once again in despair. Then when God comes, they hate him, because they're so miserable. They blame everything Satan did on God. They kill him. As Humanity rejoices in their victory, some of them are moved by his humility and kindness. It is the kindness of God that leads us toward repentance. (Romans 2:4) They kneel, this time out of love. Some do not, and they take up positions in the back that are similar to Satan's. God comes onstage and resurrects Jesus. As the two walk offstage, the Holy Spirit comes and rests among Humanity.
Morgan as Holy Spirit, Julie as Jesus, Bethany as God, Joy as Satan, Maddie and Willow as Angels
These dancers are considered extras. Their dancing is minimal, but they have a lot of acting.

Level 2 Combined: "Lovely"
"Every Bit of Lovely" by Jamie Grace     (Costumes the same)
As average and obedient "good girls," it's easy to forget that God sees us as special and unique and incredibly lovely.

Classical Ballet:
Princeton: "Legalism"            (Slavery Theme #2)
"Empire of Angels" by Thomas Bergersen    Costume.   (The cranberry is for the main group, the white is for the legalistic leaders.)
Description: Ephesians 5:1 says, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." This dance is the second in our consideration of Slavery. It depicts spiritual slavery of Legalism. It takes God opening our eyes to see the Legalism so subtly introduced into our lives, and it takes courage to walk away from it and prevent it from taking us hostage again. Jesus said, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." Why are we so quick to allow extra burdens to be placed on us? Perhaps because we want to please and be liked. But the only person we are accountable to is God. This dance is a reminder to accept the beautiful expanse of freedom to be experienced when we worship him alone.
Legalistic Leaders: Chloe, Corinna, Paula, Maddie
Lily will wear Bethany's costume in the finale, and Corinna will wear Maddie's.

Waite Park: "Deliver Us"      (Slavery Theme #1)
"Deliver Us" from The Prince of Egypt Soundtrack  (first half - they are playing the slaves)    Costume.
Description: The Israelites are crying out to God for deliverance from Egypt. This dance will open the show and open the theme of Slavery. This dance depicts the kind of slavery from which we need God's deliverance, the kind in which all we can do is cry out to the Father who gives good gifts and brings good from our suffering.
Featured Dancers
Mother of Moses: Mercy
Young Miriam: Makenna

Finalle: "When You Believe"
"When You Believe" from The Prince of Egypt Soundtrack
Description: The Israelites are liberated from Egypt in a breathtaking display of miracles culminating in the parting of an entire sea. The Israelites celebrate their freedom and proclaim "there can be miracles when you believe!"
Featured Dancers
Older Miriam: Bethany
Tzipporah: Hannah
Also Featuring Level 1.8 as children of the Jews

Pointe: "You Are Not Alone"
"Tortured Soul" by Gothic Storm and "Sun" by Thomas Bergersen (with first 40 seconds cut off)
Depression Costume      Featured Dancer Costume        
Description: This dramatic soundtrack brings to light a situation too often swept under the rug. Depression festers in the dark and only begins to whither when exposed to the light of friends and the love of God. She will pray to God and God will be holding her, but it will be apparent that she doesn't feel him. God brings friends to save her at just the right moment. As her depression lifts, the stage lights come slowly up to reveal that she is truly not alone. This dance will end with the dancers walking offstage and into the audience, touching a few shoulders on their way down the aisles, extending the message "You Are Not Alone."
Costumes will be black for "Depression" $55 and individual costumes from previous years for "Friends"   
No extra classes or rehearsals will be required, although we will squeeze in some runs of this dance at the end of our run of rehearsals
Featuring: Bethany (not on pointe)
God: uncast
Depression: Waite Park Pointe (Maddie, Willow, Julie, Natasha, Morgan)
Friends: Princeton Pointe (Lily, Chloe, Rachel, Hannah, Corinna)



Extra Dances
Adult #1: "Facebook"
"Classical Gas" by Mannheim Steamroller
Description: A poignant and hilarious message about paying too much attention to the drama on Facebook.
Costumes will be normal clothes, okayed by Joy and choreographer Julie within the first two weeks of Rehearsals.
Rehearsal fee: $25 per person or $40 per family. All ages are invited to participate if their parent(s) are involved. Some fathers may be invited to add to a funny moment.
Adults, Young Adults, and younger children of adult dancers, no audition necessary

Elite #1: "Feminism"
Various songs.
Costumes (subject to possible change): Julie, Bethany, Paula, Joy
Description: (for the program) "Women are often saying they're too busy and tired of having to 'do it all.' The era before us saw women of fierceness rise against being forced to conform to the same few roles in life. But the feminism of our own age has allowed feminine fierceness to sometimes degenerate into male-bashing. We have, as a culture, rejected men's strength. And the women wonder why they feel so tired! While resisting constraints on the female's innate freedom of individuality, we must not deny men the same right. We must neither refuse their strength as an insult or deny them the opportunity to access a tender, emotional side which we now like to label 'gay.' Men and women were created by God as partners, the beautiful and the strong, perfect complements with immense variety within each gender. Let's allow each other to do what makes us come fully alive." This dance will follow the feminist movement from it's roots to it's hoped-for future.
Costume fees vary, individuals will be allowed to pick their own costume within certain parameters, Rehearsal fee is $40
Elite - Adults Only  + Paula by special invitation
Featured: Julie

Elite #2: "Rescue"           (Slavery Theme #3)
"Femme Fatale" by Thomas Bergersen     Costume.       Amy's Costume.
Description: This dance is the third in our consideration of Slavery, bringing us to modern times and the Modern-Day Slavery, which is still happening. Through the eyes of Missionary Amy Carmichael, we see the hopelessness of those enslaved and are encouraged to reach out and deliver those we can ourselves. This dance will make use of the horizontal plane, with Amy entering the stage through the audience and fleeing with her rescues back into the audience. One girl, dubbed the Lost Girl, will be left behind. She crawls to the edge of the stage and reaches into the audience, driving home the message that WE are the ones who need to rescue her.
Costume fee is $55, Rehearsal fee is $40
Elite Adults and Elite Young Adults
Extra: Maddie as Amy Carmichael
Featured: uncast as Lost Girl

Young Adult/Dance Your Heart Out: "Father/Daughter"
"Little Red Bike" by Mindy Gledhill           Costume.    (Pirates from last year. Some may be borrowed.)
Description: A father helps his daughter onto her little red bike and runs down the driveway holding onto the back of the seat. He's teaching her balance, he's teaching her to hold on to the right things, teaching her to trust herself. Fathers want to teach their daughters everything they know - how to protect themselves, how to fix their car, how to think analytically - or maybe these were just things my father taught me.  Fathers have a few years to pour as much into their daughters as they can - and then they have to let the bike seat go - and watch them take flight.
There will be no real dancing for the fathers. Fathers will wear black suit pants, a white button-down shirt, black dress shoes, and at the very most a tie or pocket square that matches the daughter's dress. Fathers will come backstage after intermission, perform the first dance after intermission, and then go backstage and directly back to their seats. They will not miss any of the show. The dance will be beautiful, simple to remember for fathers, and meaningful to both the audience and the participants. Several Friday evening rehearsals are required for this dance, the daughters for 4-5, the fathers and daughters together for only 2-3 rehearsals. Parents with two eligible daughters can choose to have both learn the dance and each perform at one show. Note that all fathers who sign up are committing to both shows.
Costume is $55 but some can be borrowed from last year's Pirates dancers
Rehearsal fee is $35 per pair. (Special $5 discount in honor of Dads!)
Young Adult students and Dance Your Heart Out students and their fathers

Young Adult: "Friendship"
"Dreams to Dream" by Sally Harmon        Costume.
Description: A girl starts out sitting onstage in one chair with an empty chair beside her. Soon a friend comes to fill it, but after a little while she has to leave and the chair is empty. Another friend comes, but she too leaves. At last a friend comes with a friend of her own - the Holy Spirit. When this friend at last has to say her "adieu," the Holy Spirit stays with the original girl and fills the empty chair.
Costume is the "First" costume from last year, $55 for those who don't have it and can't borrow it, Rehearsal fee $40
Young Adults, Morgan invited to reprise her role as Holy Spirit for the end section ($20 rehearsal fee)
Role of Main Character offered to Faith

Beginner Ballet/Dance Your Heart Out/Young Adults: "Siblings"
"Birds and Boats" by Gregory and the Hawk   
Description: A celebration of the unique love that is only found between siblings.
Costume will be matching pastel dresses bought by parents and okayed by Joy before March 1. Rehearsal fee $40/pair.
Real-life sibling pairs, by audition only.

Duet: "Mirror"
"Whole Wide World" by Mindy Gledhill        Costume.
Description: A little girl looks in the mirror and sees herself not as her actual age but as the beautiful teenager she dreams of being. The mirror center stage has an older girl behind it, doing what the younger girl is doing. At length the girl goes offstage, her mirror self following suit. When they re-emerge, they have switched sides of the mirror. The older girl is now the reality, but she sees herself still as that little girl putting on too much rouge and wearing her mommy's heels. Gradually she learns to see herself as she really is, to believe that her dreams have come true, and to accept the challenges of life with courage instead of believing herself a failure.
Costume fee $45 child, $50 adult, Rehearsal fee $70 per dancer
Willow and Josie A. are cast in this duet.

Duet: "God's Love"
"My Immortal" by Evanescence, covered by Lindsey Stirling on violin     Costume Joy.     Costume option for Natasha.
Description: God forms Humanity, 'knitting her together in her mother's womb,' and finally cuts the strings and lets her control her own life. She stumbles and struggles a little, but generally stands on her own, but after a little while disillusionment sets in as she tries to find meaning in her life. God is there, dancing right beside her and around her, but she simply doesn't see him. God steps back, heartbroken, and gathers his strength. He will not give up on her. He runs at her and there is an intricately choreographed section where God does everything he can to make himself seen but she is always looking in another direction or directly through him. Finally God lets his hand run across her cheek one more time, kneeling before her in despair. At the last second she grabs his arm and slowly brings her eyes to meet his, seeing at last his love for her.
Costume fee $65, Rehearsal fee $70
Joy as "God" and Natasha as "Humanity"

Solo: "Not Mine"
"Take Flight" by Lindsey Stirling (cut to about 2 minutes)       Costume.
Description: Click here to read the poem that describes this dance, written by Joy. Innovative use of the chair prop will give this short solo it's unique quality. The chair represents Fear, Pride, and Guilt. She finally walks away from the chair, ending the piece.
Rehearsal fee: $60 (discounted because this solo is very short) Costume: $45
Morgan

Guest Choreographer 2017: Maddie Schuller
Chosen theme: longing for Adventure, based on the character of Rapunzel, with a special appearance by Mother Gothel, played by Bethany
Rapunzel costume
Mother Gothel costume

Contemporary Teacher Julie Alsaker will be choreographing a duet for her student Joy Wieters and herself to perform based on the movie "Inside Out." Julie will play "Joy" and Joy will play "Sad."
Joy costume
Sad costume (in navy)

Adults: Mercy, Julie, Bethany, Kristi, Sarah, Paula, Lily, Chloe, Corinna, Maddie, Willow
Young Adults: Morgan, Natasha, Faith, Callie, Makenna, Ariana, Lydia, Norah, Hannah, Rachel
Elite: (Adults) Maddie, Willow, Julie, Bethany (Young Adults) Callie, Faith, Hannah, Rachel, Morgan