Monthly Newsletters - July 2026

Congratulations on 35 successful performances in June!

Dear Students & Parents,

An excellent question we are often asked is, “How long does it take for students to learn how to play music, dance, or act?” The answer is that it just really depends on what your goals are and the level of interest that the student either has initially or develops over time.

 

When students first begin their lessons, they all have the opportunity to perform in a showcase. Concerts and showcases are always completely optional and deciding to perform is a commitment to practice regularly outside of class in order to prepare! Again, shows are optional because some students just want to learn slowly in a low-pressure environment and have no interest in being on stage - in fact, many of our adult students fit in this category. Totally fine!

 

For students who are seeking a large amount of growth, we feel this tends to happen year over year for the students that make the commitment to get on stage in front of an audience. Maybe they get nervous, maybe they forget a part of their act or song, mistakes happen. All of these real-world experiences on stage help our students grow into successful, well-educated and talented adults ready to take on life, whether it be in the arts or any career!

 

We always like to say that learning music is like learning a language, and how well you speak depends on how much you want to learn and the amount of time that you have to put into it.

 

Take this past month for example: we had some students who performed in our summer shows with less than a year of experience! And year after year, we see graduating seniors perform in their last concert or recital.

 

Speaking of performances though, I’d like to extend my congratulations to all of our students, parents, faculty, and staff for the 35 outstanding music, dance, and drama concerts, recitals, and showcases held this past June!

 

Over the past few weekends, we were treated to hundreds of unique performances encompassing just about every musical genre imaginable. From contemporary pop/rock, jazz, musicals, stage plays, classical, contemporary Christian, country, 70’s/80’s hits (I’m a sucker for these, I’ll have to admit) and both classic and modern video game themes! Where else can you go to hear all of that in one place?

 

Every student has their favorite artists and styles, and our faculty love helping them find their niche and nurturing their skills!

 

Our dance students were equally as amazing with a stunning showcase titled “A Step in Time” – a journey of dance through the ages conceptualized and written by Mrs. Madeline Bresette and choreographed by our fabulous dance faculty.

 

What I really enjoyed about our dance shows was the diversity of skill levels: from the brand new beginners who made their debut performances, to the veteran Dance Company students!

 

Our acting and musical theater students were equally awesome with their intriguing showcases and amazing production quality of “Murder on the Orient Express.” Special shout outs to all of the theater parents, faculty, and staff who continue to go above and beyond with helping backstage, supporting the students with snacks, set building, and transporting props. Your support is truly appreciated more than you know!

 

Stay tuned to our social media pages for photos!

 

I’m sure you will agree that there were so many special moments shared on stage this past month – many of which were defining moments in the lives of our students.

 

Maybe you just had one of the most amazing performances ever, or perhaps a clunker or two snuck its way into your ditty. Maybe you just know you could have performed 100% better.

 

As artists, we all tend to be our own biggest critics - and that’s a whole other conversation!

 

The point, though, is that every time we perform, we gain experience and grow to understand our needs for future success! This ultimately affords us a greater level of focus in our lessons, increased self-confidence, and expectations for our journey forward.

 

Watching you all use your talents and grow in your skills is truly the greatest part of my job here at LAAPA. Having personally watched thousands of performances over the years, seeing the evolution over the span of months and years is phenomenal. This is all because you and our amazing faculty members have worked hard to make it happen!

 

Remember that while all of our productions are completely optional in terms of participation, they really are an integral part of music and dance education - so if you weren’t ready this time, be on the lookout for the next ones!

 

Congratulations!

 

~ Ryan Cullen, Executive Director

July Student Spotlight - Charlotte Thibaut

This month’s Student Spotlight features LAAPA Mandeville student Charlotte Thibaut! Charlotte has been taking ballet III/IV and Dance Company classes for nearly two years and studies with Mrs. Madi and Mrs. Miranda.

 

Outside of LAAPA, she enjoys volunteering at the local humane society. She also works for Sweet Rose Coffee, which allows her to connect with members of the community. When it comes to dance, ballet is her favorite style, and while Charlotte enjoys many different genres of music, her current favorite song is “REDRED” by CORTIS. She is also a big fan of K-pop, which makes up much of her daily playlist!

 

Charlotte loves that her instructors are incredibly detail-oriented and provide thoughtful corrections that help dancers improve every aspect of their technique. She is thankful for the opportunity to continue growing as a dancer, learning new skills, and seeing her hard work pay off. Through her dance training, Charlotte has developed stronger technique, improved musicality, and built lasting friendships along the way. She also loves the welcoming atmosphere at LAAPA, where supportive teachers and fellow students create an encouraging environment that allows everyone to learn and grow with confidence. In her own words, everyone at LAAPA is amazing and friendly, and Charlotte loves being here!

 

Looking toward the future, she plans to pursue a career in animal sciences and hopes to become a veterinarian. We know that the same dedication, compassion, and hard work Charlotte brings to the dance studio will serve her well in whatever path she chooses. Charlotte, we can’t wait to see all the incredible things you accomplish both on and off the stage!

July Birthdays and Upcoming Events

Shoutouts - New Students and Faculty & Staff!