Dear Parents,
For seven years, Mongan Dance Academy has been a fixture on 95th Street in Evergreen Park. We have faithfully served families in Oak Lawn, Hometown, Alsip, Blue Island, Crestwood, Harvey, Riverdale, Hickory Hills, Chicago Ridge, and several Chicago neighborhoods. We have been a sturdy fixture in the dance community near and far.
As a mother-daughter duo, we opened our doors in June 2013 with no students. First, we had one student, then four, then 22, then 49. Over time, we added more instructors and multiple classes. Our mission has always been more inclusive than simply educating students on dance movements and teaching choreography. We have strived to:
✓ instill discipline and motivation
✓ build confidence and self-esteem
✓ create and enhance artful movers
✓ inspire the expression of conceptual ideas
✓ develop thoughtful and intelligent dancers who evoke purposeful motion
We cultivated our business mission as a family-driven place where kids could feel like it was a home away from home -- a second family that they came to love and cherish. Kids and parents alike have made new and enduring friendships. Students have sought guidance and approval from their instructors not only as teachers, but as mentors. This is not a “work place” for our staff, but rather an inviting place to share their love for the arts and to shape students’ character, discipline, and commitment as they develop into artful movers. This is a place for growth and nurturing. These characteristics have become a part of the foundation of our students as they grow through childhood into responsible, confident adults.
When we closed on March 12 for a two-week stay-in-place order, we never dreamed that we would be staying home through the end of May and beyond, or that our recital would be postponed, or we would not be offering our classes, camps, and workshops as usual this summer. This is just so surreal for everyone, including our staff, Ms April, Ms Jackie, Ms Terri, and Ms Vicky. We have been working hard to re-invent our business model and how we teach dance and reach our students. We finally settled into online classes through Zoom and special creative dances and activities through Facebook Live and YouTube. Most importantly, students still have a familiar place and extended family they can turn to for interaction with their beloved teachers and friends while they receive quality dance instruction.
In order to continue through the remainder of the Spring Session and into the Summer and Fall Sessions, we must continue to pay our instructors and staff. We are determined to keep Mongan Dance Academy opened while we maneuver our way through this national disaster. We need your help.
We are counting on you, our committed parents, to make your final payments for the Spring tuition and all other outstanding balances, if applicable. We will continue to be compassionate and work with those whose circumstances are particularly difficult. Please email us so we can work with you. If you have outstanding balances, you will receive a separate Payment Request email with a link to our online payment page. We appreciate your prompt payment. If you have already paid in full, we greatly appreciate it.
We are more committed than ever to continue with our mission to enhance and improve the lives of our dance families and surrounding communities. We all miss and love all of you, and we look forward to gathering together in our classrooms someday soon.
Sincerely,
Ms Linda and Ms Shannon
Mongan Dance Academy
Just to let you know, we are currently working on our recital plans. While it won't be a recital like previous years due to the limitatios of people who can gather at one time, we are developing alternative plans. We will email information about the recital in a separate email to let you know how we will be proceeding.
As you probably already guessed, we will not be able to hold summer classes and camps like previous years due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and re-opening phases. So we scratched our original schedule and we are starting all over again. You will receive a separate email for summer classes and camps as well.
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Our youngest dancers love to follow along with our creative Facebook Live dances: Ballet Tea Party, Springtime Ballet, Happy Easter Ballet, Hip Hop Poppy Dance. The link is posted on our COVID page of our website.
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
