As I think of this past year, a few of the highlights from our AMA 2014 moments include:

1) Our strongest and most fun dance and tumbling recital to date! We introduced “live scenery” to our performance. We had celebrity impersonators on stage at the same time our students performed. It was a lot of work, but the result was AMAZING!

Two sisters, Grace and Ellie, perform with Taylor Swift!

Dancing at the June Performance

Students Carolyn, Katie, and Alex perform with Adele!

AMA dance students perform at the June show in Des Plaines

Miss Christina’s ballet class perform with The Temptations!

Young ballet dancers perform at the AMA June 2014 show

 

2) Our music students, led by Miss Jessica, tested in the AIM program scored extremely high – including two perfect scores!

Miss Jessica and Katie, one of our AIM participants, pose for the camera.

Music teacher Jessica poses with a student at AMA in Des Plaines, IL

 

3) We began our first competition team ever at AMA. And the girls did an AMAzing job, including a 1st Overall Award for their Tap piece!

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Performance

AMA performs at dance competition

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy End Pose

AMA's competition team performs it's Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy routine

Group Shot!

A group shot of our competition team

Wings! Dance Team Members FLY at The League of Champions in Chicago

Dance students perform in Chicago

League of Champions Performance!

League of Champions in Chicago

 

4) Awarded “Best Performance” entry at the Des Plaines 4th of July Parade by the City of Des Plaines!

At the Parade: Group Photo!

Posing at the parade

Performing in the Parade!

AMA Dance Students march in the 2014 Fourth of July Parade

 

5) Our first AMA Baby was born! Our little male performer arrived on August 1, 2014 by the name of Noah Brian to Miss Christina and Daddy, Nick!

Miss Christina and Her Son

AMA dance teacher with baby son

 

6) We added a junior performance team to our Dance Program, AMA Future Force!

Beautiful Smiles!

Our younger competition dancers pose

 

7) And we can’t forget giving back! In the month of December alone:

We collected boxes and boxes of canned goods at our music recitals, which are held the Des Plaines Library.

AMAzing Musicians!

Music Recital Group in Des Plaines

 

8) Our AMA Dance Force was invited to perform at the Toastmasters Holiday Party at the Des Plaines Library.

The AMA Dance FORCE Team!

Dance team performers

 

9) My own kids and I always end the year by volunteering at the Frisbie Senior Center on Christmas Day. We help set up and serve food to seniors who would like some company on this special day. After the dinner is finished, we delivered warm turkey dinner meals (Meals on Wheels) to the elderly who could not get out. It’s always a lovely day for all of us!

We helped feed 120 seniors in Des Plaines!

Christmas Day volunteering at the senior center

Serving the food!

Ann Marie Frank and family volunteers on Christmas Day at the senior center

A Family Photo

Ann Marie Frank and children on Christmas Day 2014

Posing with Sally Thompsen, the director of the Senior Center.
She. Is. Awesome!

At the senior center with center director

 

10) “Frozen Fun” seemed to be the theme throughout the year. Here we are with Elsa and Olaf with the children during our Holiday Camps!

Frozen Camp – Group Shot!

AMA offered December kids camps in 2014

Frozen Camp – Crafting with Elsa and Olaf!

Des Plaines kids camps are available at AMA Dance and Music School

 

Wishing you the best of everything in 2015! Enjoy your health, your children and take time to appreciate what you DO have. Never compare yourself to others. If you are doing the best you can, you are doing everything you can.

Happy New Year!

Warmly, Ann Marie

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