DMA 2020 SUMMER EVENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dance Masters of America's
136th National Convention this summer in Orlando has been CANCELED by Disney's Coronado Springs Resort.
136th National Convention
It is with a very sad heart that we announce for the first time in 135 years Dance Masters of America will not host a National Convention. After holding off for as long as possible in making our decision, Disney called us on Monday to inform us they had made the decision to cancel our convention. The size of our event made them unconfident in the ability to follow CDC guidelines for social distancing and safety. It was going to be a logistical nightmare for everyone involved. Along with the fact that their opening was now pushed to July 1st. As bad as we all wanted and needed to have our convention, we truly know this is for the best. We are keeping everyone in our DMA family in our prayers that everything gets back to normal as soon as possible.
With that said, we will host a Solo Title Competition at some point before next summer. The date and location will be determined as soon as things in the United States and Canada calm down and everyone is able to travel to be in attendance. This event will be over a long weekend, centrally located in the United States for easier access for anyone wishing to drive instead of fly. If your chapter has not held their title event, please do so as soon as possible and submit your entries via Jotform on the DMA National Website. Please contact an advisory member for suggestions on ways of hosting your event. Once a date and location is established everyone will be informed immediately. We will hold all registration forms that have been submitted to date in the DMA office to be used in our future event. The chapter secretaries will need to replace the "Hold Harmless Waiver " and the notarized "Medical Release" forms, both of which state the location of the event.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION
HOTEL RESERVATIONS at
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
Please contact the hotel directly either online or by phone. The web address is www.mydisneygroup.com/dma2020nc
or you may call 407-939-4686. Be sure and have your confirmation # and the last name of the person on the reservation.
DISNEY TICKETS PURCHASED THROUGH OUR WEBSITE LINK
All tickets are non-refundable and non transferable. Any ticket purchased prior to Mach 11, 2020 will expire on December 15, 2020. If are unable to use the ticket prior to 12/15/2020, you may keep the ticket and apply the value paid for the ticket toward the purchase of a new ticket of equal or greater value, anytime in the future. Any cost difference between tickets purchased after Dec. 15, 2020 and the previously purchased tickets would need to be paid by the individual.
Any ticket purchased on or after March 11,2020 will expire in December of 2021. If you are unable to use the ticket prior to 12/15/2021, you may keep the ticket and apply the value paid for the ticket toward the purchase a new ticket of equal or greater value, anytime in the future. Any cost difference between tickets purchased after Dec. 15, 2020 and the previously purchased tickets would need to be paid by the individual.
Individuals with questions or concerns about their Disney tickets should call the group ticket line at 407-566-5600. A Disney Group Ticket specialist can discuss options with you on a case-by-case basis.
If your tickets were purchased through a travel agent, you will need to contact that agent instead of Disney for your refund or credit.
ZOOM CHAPTER CHATS
Over the next several weeks, the Executive Board will be hosting round table discussion via Zoom for our members. The meetings will be held geographically, with a few chapters in certain regions of the country to talk about studio opening suggestions, recitals, virtual classes and any other topic brought up by the members. We will be sending a schedule and zoom invitations via email to all chapters.
Instagram Live Classes
We had such a wonderful response to Casey and Kurtis's classes that were offered a few weeks ago, we have decided to offer more guest teacher classes for members and students to take advantage of. All classes will be FREE of charge in an effort to help our membership.
I know we are all a little ZOOMED out as a method of teaching.
$1,000 Scholarship to the University of Buffalo
UB will be offering a $1,000 scholarship to a senior student of a DMA member.
Further details will be sent to all chapters this week. If you have a student interested in attending UB, please share this wonderful opportunity with them.
S H I P & T T S
Due to the closing of University Buffalo campus until September, both SHIP and TTS have been postponed until 2021. We carefully looked at many option and they all brought different problems and issues. Leaving us with no other alternative.
The dates for our 2021 SHIP & TTS events are as follows: SHIP - Arrival July 23rd - Departure July 29th, 2021
TTS - Arrival July 29th - Departure August 4th, 2021
If you have already submitted payment and registration Charleen will simply shred both the check and forms.
For SHIP students, if this was your last year to be able to attend, we will extend the age next year only to 19.
For TTS attendees, if you are already in the program, the 7 year absence rule will be extended to 8 years due to the fact that we were unable to provide the program this year.
We hope this answers all of your questions about SHIP & TTS. This is such a disappointment everyone involved, but as you all know it is out of our control. We will be back bigger and better than ever next year.
In closing, I want to wish everyone good health, both physically and mentally during this very stressful time. If there is anything we can do to help you, please do not hesitate to contact us at your convenience. We are trying to answer and respond to all inquires immediately. If not we are trying to get an answer for you. With all the changes this year, please know that we are making every attempt to make this as easy and convenient for everyone involved. You and your students are very important to both DMA and the Dance Community.
NEVER DOUBT YOUR VALUE.
GOD BLESS YOU & PLEASE BE IN TOUCH IF WE CAN HELP !!!!
Love To All,
Cindy, Charleen, Dody & Penny
