Tanner Richins, 2009 Top Hat Grad, is featured in the music video, “Beekeeper’s Daughter” by the All American Rejects.   This is Tanner’s second music video since completing his year-long scholarship at the Edge Performing Arts Centre in Hollywood, CA.  He is one of the bearded dancers in the second verse of the song, and is featured on camera multiple times.  His first music video was with Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger”.  The song is currently #1 on iTunes.

We asked Tanner some questions about the job.  Below is his response:

“Shooting the music video was an unforgettable experience, and the time spent working with choreographer Michael Rooney was priceless. The whole project lasted two days from start to finish and all took place on the Courthouse Square set in the Universal Studios backlot, the same set as Back To The Future! Day one was a tough ten hour day of rehearsals. The great thing about the dancing in the video is that it was actually real dancing, not anything easy and cheesy. It was a lot of fun the next day at the shoot, as everyone had the chance to meet and mingle with the main singer of the band, Tyson. It is always very refreshing when an Artist is humble enough to take the time to meet each and every person he or she is working with….it creates such a relaxed and fun environment. My most memorable experience on set was probably when I got to shoot a fight scene. The setup was this: Mustaches vs. Beards! I was a full faced bearded hipster. I had the most fun with this scene, maybe because we all got to push Tyson to the ground when he got caught up in our fight . The thing I cherish the most about being a part of this video was most definitely having the opportunity to work with Michael Rooney. He is a legend in my eyes, such an amazing dancer back in the day, and an equally great choreographer now. I hope that I can be working with him again soon! I was thouroughly exhausted at days end, but so grateful and happy to do such a fun project with such an incredible team of professionals.”

-Tanner Richins, February 3, 2012

Congratulations Tanner!  We are so proud of you.  Knowing Michael, and the types of dancers he appreciates, we expect you will get plenty more opportunities to work with him.  We will look for you on the “tube” and “big-screen” soon!  

Thursday, December 16th, marked the final day of the Top Hat 2011 Season.  As we move toward 2012, we wish to thank all of our Top Hat Families for a wonderful year.  We wish you all a very Happy Holiday!   See you in 2012!

Sincerely,

Sharon, Brandye, Blayde, and the rest of the Top Hat Staff

This week marks the last week of classes for 2011.  Top Hat Dancers have worked very hard on their training this season, and they are excited for you to see their growth.  We hope you can make it in this week to see them “show their stuff”!  We are so proud of them all.

Top Hat Spirit Wear is now available for order.  We are very excited about this year’s design.  The hooded and crew style sweatshirts are red, and the zip up fleece is available in gray and black for adult sizes, black only for youth sizes.

If you need them for Christmas Delivery, the order form must be delivered to Sew Write in Flower Mound by December 10th.  All other orders must be turned in by 9:00p on December 15th.

If you haven’t ordered your 2011-12 Top Hat Spirit Wear, now is the time!  It’s easy to do:

1. Click here to print your order form

2. Deliver the completed form to the front desk at the studio with payment.

That’s it!

Today, September 13, 2011, the Master Talent Teacher (MTT) Website was lauched.  When you visit the site, please scroll down to the bottom of the page.  At the bottom right is the MTT Guest Teacher Spotlight on Sharon.  We are so excited for this release, and are very proud to be a part of it’s community.  

Joe Tremaine represents the dance portion of the website.  This month’s spotlight is on ex-Top Hat Dancer Zach Woodlee.  Zach is the current choreographer for the hit television show Glee.  

What is the MTT Website all about?  Below is a copy of their description:

About MTT

That’s right dancers, your personalized class schedules were mailed Tuesday, August 2nd.  Once you receive your schedule letter, let us know your choice of class (if applicable), or any conflicts, by emailing us here.  We will also be at Top Hat during the 2011 Ballet Intensives to answer any questions, take registrations, etc.  

We hope you are as excited about the upcoming season as we are.  Enjoy the rest of your Summer.  We will see you the week of August 15th for the first classes of the 2011-2012 Season!

Yesterday, July 29th, was the final day of our 2011 Daytime Summer Dance Intensives.  Our Advanced/Professional dancers worked hard and stayed focused all week long.  We are so proud of them all!

We wish to thank everyone who attended this year’s intensives.  Please take a minute to leave a comment at the bottom of this page about your child’s experience at the Summer Intensive they attended.  

We have two more weeks of Ballet Intensives before we “kick-off” the new 2011-2012 Season.  We hope to see you there!

That’s right…THDCI’s  2011-2012 Season begins on August 15th!  We have had a terrific Summer Session, and have no doubt that this is going to be an amazing year.  

We have some new promotions available for current ,and new, families.  Please contact us if you have any questions.  

For new families registering for the 2011-2012 Season, there is a new coupon (click here for coupon) available through October 2011.  New families that present this coupon receive a $15 discount on their 2011-2012 Registration Fee.

For our current families, we updated “Hats-Off-To-You”, our referral program.  If you have a friend or relative that is interested in dance, and is not a current or returning family to Top Hat, please present them with the completed coupon.  Once they register, they receive $20 off their 2011 Registration Fee, and you receive $20 toward your account.  Please “Like” us on Facebook or click here  for more information.

THDCI’s first 2011 Summer Intensive took place on July 11-15.  The Directors and Instructors were extremely pleased with how well this young group of dancers trained.  Every day they showed up and worked hard to improve their skills and fundamentals.  We hope everyone who attended feels just as positive as we do about their experience.  THDCI’s next Summer Intensive begins on Monday, July 18, 2011.

THDCI Rocks Tremaine

Top Hat Dancers & Company members attended Tremaine’s Summer 2011 Convention and Competition this past weekend, July 2-4, held at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine. This was the final Competition of our 2010-2011 Season, and Top Hat Dancers went out with a “BANG”, taking home top awards in all catagories, as well as over $2500 in cash prizes.

In additon to the competition, our dancers attended 3 days of classes by some of the top teachers from Hollywood and New York, including Joe Tremaine and Sheryl Murakami. They also auditioned for scholarships for future Tremaine Conventions and classes in Los Angeles at the Edge Performing Arts Centre (where Top Hat Alumnis Chelsea Traille and Tanner Richins train regularly).

In the end, 12 dancers from Top Hat recieved scholarships, and all the dancers who attended had a great time and gained a new respect and passion for their art. Congratulations to you all!  See you this summer in classes and intensives.

Competition Results:
StarDancers – “Jumpin’ Genies” – 1st Place Jazz
                                ”Daisy Corral” – 1st Place Ballet, Junior High Score – $500

Dancin’ Too! – “Hollywood” – 1st Place Jazz
                                ”Call The Law” – 2nd Place Tap

Steppin’ Out! – “Get Outta My Way” – 1st Place Jazz
                                 “The Rose” – 1st Place Lyrical
                                 “Smile” – 1st Place Open, Teen High Score $500

Gotta Dance! – “My My My” – 1st Place Jazz
                                 “Someday” – 1st Place Lyrical
                                 “The Fifth” – 1st Place Open, Senior High Score $500