As we enter “recital season” there are bound to be many questions that arise, especially if this is your first time experiencing the end-of-year excitement and traditions. We hope this guide will help to clear up any confusion, and serve as an appendix to the Performance Handbook you received previously. We want every family to feel well prepared and confident this spring!
How do I make sure my dancer is ready to perform?
Practice! Our staff has provided you with the performance music and some rehearsal videos from class. These can be used at home for rehearsal. We suggest letting your little dancer “put on a show” for you, siblings, grandparents and stuffies! This is a great way to reinforce the material and make your dancer excited about performing in front of an audience.
When do classes end? What happens then?
This season, our last week of classes is June 5-9, 2023. The following week is rehearsal week. We will begin with in-studio rehearsals. This means dancers will arrive in regular dance attire to the AIM studios and perform their dance(s) in front of their peers. This will happen in the performance order, and not during their regular class time. The full schedule of dates and times can be found in the Performance Handbook.
What do I do with this costume? Does my dancer need anything else?
The costume has been fitted on your dancer and all accessories have been sent home in a bag. Stapled to the bag is a shoes/tights/hair list. The items on this list are your responsibility to have on hand for the dress rehearsal and performance. Dancers should have already been rehearsing in the proper shoes, so you might only need tights and the proper elastics and pins for the hair look. Tights can be purchased at a local dance shop or through our online store in the Family Portal. Makeup suggestions for young dancers and notes about jewelry etc can be found in the Performance Handbook, and on our YouTube Playlist “Performance Helpers”.
*If your dancer is performing in more than one routine, we suggest purchasing a “camisole”. This is a flesh colored leotard that can be worn under costumes, and it makes changes in the common changing rooms less revealing, and minimizes the chances of wardrobe malfunctions onstage.
OK, it’s time to go to the theater. What’s the plan?
This year, we are having the dress rehearsal and performances on three days. Dress rehearsal is on Thursday June 15th and will take place at the Williston Theater. We will begin promptly 4pm. Dancers should arrive in full hair, makeup, and costume and check in backstage. We will run each dance onstage, and will stop and start as needed to assist students. Our youngest dancers will have a chance to walk on stage and “explore” their space before practicing their dance. We ask that parents try not interfere with this process, as we help all students become familiar with the space.
We welcome parents backstage during the rehearsal, but we expect that dancers will remain backstage with our staff during the performance. We will also have parent volunteers to facilitate. Our staff will guide your dancer to the stage for their performance, and return with them to the dressing room afterward to await pickup. Dancers are encouraged to remain in the dressing areas, where we will have activities for them until intermission.
Our performances will take place on Friday June 16th and Saturday June 17th. Please check the performance lineup to know which show each dance is in. Please note: some dancers are in BOTH shows, but not everyone is, so it is important to check the lineups and verify.
We encourage families to remain seated in the theater for the duration of the act that their dancer performs in. All students performing in that section deserve the attention and applause of a full audience and can be discouraged/distracted by empty seats and the sound of doors opening and closing throughout their routine. Let’s build a strong dance community by supporting all of the young artists taking the stage!
Dancers are permitted to enter the theater and watch the acts that they are not performing in, as long as they have a ticket or sit on a lap. A dancer should be checked in backstage for the entire act they are performing in. Dancers do not need a pass to enter/exit the theater during dress rehearsal. We understand that some exceptions will be made for our youngest performers.
ALL DANCERS MUST BE CHECKED IN/OUT BY A GUARDIAN.
I got two dress rehearsal passes. How do they work?
The Dress Rehearsal Passes gain you entrance to the theater for the dress rehearsal. Anyone can use them: you, a friend, grandparent. Anyone holding a pass can enter/exit the theater for the dress rehearsal. If you need more passes, they are on sale for $5.
Where are my tickets?
Tickets are for sale for $15 on our website and via the Family Portal. This is a General Admission event and seats will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Invite your family and friends! There is plenty of room for guests in the theater.
*Children who sit on laps do not need a ticket.
How does the seating work?
The performance is a General Admission event. Seats are not assigned. We suggest arriving early to secure your seats; however, saving seats with jackets etc, is prohibited. Any articles of clothing/paper left unattended on seats will be removed.
Any special tips/tricks?
Well-prepared dancers are the most confident ones! Try having a dress-up day at home to go over the process of doing your hair/makeup and making sure all of the costume items are still in the bag! Doing this a few days before is a great way to make sure there are no last minute surprises.
Pack a “performance bag” that might look a little different from the regular dance bag. We suggest packing a simple snack, water, coloring book, small toys (with few parts), or even a tablet to keep young dancers occupied backstage.
An oversized tee shirt makes a great cover up for when it’s time to eat or drink.
Is your dancer nervous to be “alone” backstage but you don’t want to miss out on the performance? Consider inviting an older sibling or cousin to volunteer backstage. Then, your dancer will have a familiar face, and we will have more hands on deck to keep kids entertained!
A recital gift is a fun tradition that many dancers appreciate! Flowers, candy, or maybe a commemorative Performance Tee will be just the thing? Our performance tee features the name and date of the performance on the front, and all dancers names on the back. It’s on sale via the family portal.
Remind yourself of what’s most important (your child’s enjoyment of the show experience), take a deep breath, and cheer for your dancer. If you observe that your dancer is nervous, remind them that everyone is there simply to celebrate a great year of dancing and to enjoy the show!
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