What an exciting time of year, recital time. All year long our dancers
have been training, practicing and sweating all for the moment they
get to bask in the light of the stage and revel in the thunderous
applause of friends and family…
Recital To Do List
Pre-Show Things To Do
1. Order flowers (advanced orders will be taken at picture day)
2. Order Good Luck Message for the program (available at the front desk)
3. Order your DVD (advanced orders will be taken at picture day and dress rehearsal)
4. Practice hair and makeup (see the back of this sheet for how to do the perfect Ballet bun)
5. Buy your tickets
6. Make sure you know what all the accessories are for your costume, if any.
Show Time To Do List
1. Do not come to the recital or dress rehearsal in costume. Have it hung up, you can change in the dressing rooms.
2. No panties under costumes
3. No jewelry
4. Tap shoes must have black elastic instead of ties (if the are the tie style mary janes)
5. Pack “clean” snacks and water
6. Pack activities for little ones
7. No dancer is allowed in the audience
8. No parent is allowed backstage unless they are a volunteer
9. SMILE DANCERS SMILE!
10. Everyone must wear makeup. Medium colored lipstick, blush and eye shadow are a must. Eyeliner and mascara are good for fair skinned dancers.
11. No flash photography
12. No videotaping, there are DVDs available for purchase
13. Have fun
14. Put your name on everything you bring
15. Relax
16. Arrive at rehearsal and recital with hair and make DONE!!
17. Pack an emergency kit: Bandaids, safety pins, glue, etc.
18. Pack extra tights!!
19. Make sure you have all the accessories for your costume
20. Check your girl dancer in at the dressing room. Check boys in at the stage. You will pick up at the same place you drop off. 5 parents will be let in the dressing room at a time to gather your dancer’s stuff.
21. Dancers in Show 1 and Show 2 cannot leave the theater between shows. You can bring lunch in for your dancer or take them to the steps of the school and have lunch together. We will have teachers available to stay with kids who will be there between shows.
22. There is no early entry to reserve seats. The ONLY reserved seats are for families of the instructors and for moms working backstage. Backstage moms cannot reserve more seats for their families. We will be checking the theater before hand and removing any unauthorized reserved seating.
23. Doors open ½ hour before show time.
24. We must clear the theater between shows. If you have tickets for multiple shows you must line up again and turn in your ticket. This is the only way we can be sure that everyone has purchased a ticket for the show. Sorry for the inconvenience.
25. Turn off all cell phones and pagers. Please no texting in the audience.
26. Enjoy the show!!
This is going to be a great show. Thank you for all your support in following our guidelines.
How to make the perfect Ballet Bun
What do I need?
• Hair brush or comb with close bristles
• 1 Large covered hair elastic (hair tie, not scunchies)
• 2-4 small covered hair elastics
• Hair net that matches your dancer’s hair (available at Longs or most drug stores)
• Thick u-shaped hair pins (for the bun)
• Bobby pins (for the hair net)
• Hair spray
• Hair gel
How do I make the bun?
1. Start with wet hair
2. Apply a liberal amount of gel to the hair, paying most attention to the hair on top to combat fly-aways
3. Pull wet hair back neatly into a ponytail at the crown of the head (not at the top of the head) using a brush or comb to avoid lumps and bumps in the hair. A tidy ponytail is the key to a good bun.
4. Secure ponytail with large hair elastic (no scrunchies)
5. Use hair spray to tame any fly-aways
6. Separate the bun into 2-4 pieces depending on the thickness of your dancer’s ponytail. Braid each section and secure with small hair elastic.
7. Wrap each braid individually around the hair elastic holding the ponytail. Try to keep the bun flat against the head: don’t wrap it so it gets taller, wrap it so it gets wider. Secure with hair pins as you wrap. Tuck the end under the coil and secure with hair pin.
8. Repeat with remaining braids. Use plenty of hair pins (12-16 on average)
9. Once you have created your bun, wrap your hair net around it as many times as it will allow for a snug fit.
10. Hold the hair net in place with a few bobby pins
11. Finish with hair spray
Short Hair:
• Pull short hair back with bobby pins, hair elastics, or barrettes.
• No hair should be hanging in the face.
• See your teacher if you need help or ideas for short hair.
Picture Day Schedule:
Recital Newsletter
Father Daughter Dance:
If your dancer has signed up for the Father Daughter Dance Rehearsals are as follows:
Sunday, June 1 4:00 pm
Sunday, June 8 4:00 pm
Saturday, June 14 9:00 am
Father Daughter Dance is open to all dancers 5-11 years old. Dads will need to rent a tuxedo (we are working on getting a group discount) and girls will need a white dress. If you have not signed up yet you may do so at the front desk.
Picture Day Tuesday, June 3 (no classes this day)
There will be a schedule distributed later in the year, each class has a specific time frame. Pictures are professionally taken at the dance studio. We run on a tight schedule on Picture Day and pride ourselves on being on time.
Recital Volunteers
I need many volunteers during our show. I need backstage moms to help entertain and help little ones with costume changes, ticket takers, ticket sellers, people passing out programs and guarding doors, child check in/out, and the list goes on. I need 1-2 parent volunteers for each class, there will be a sign up list in the studio to work backstage and a Parent Volunteer meeting is Friday, May 30 at 6:30 pm. It is very important that you attend this meeting… if you don’t have a sitter, bring the kiddies!
Backstage Moms
A sign up list for backstage help will be posted Monday morning. PLEASE NOTE: You may not be backstage with your dancer unless you are SIGNED UP to be a backstage mom! Sign ups are on a first come basis, and we have a limited number of volunteer spots. Backstage Mom meeting is Friday, May 30 at 6:30 pm. It is very important that you attend this meeting… if you don’t have a sitter, bring the kiddies!
Recital Hair and Tights
We are compiling a list of required tights, hair style and etc. for each class. It will be available next week. It will be posted online, in the studio, in your family folder and sent via email.
Tickets
Tickets go on sale May 1 during Pre-registration Thursday and Friday 10-11:30 and office hours 2:30-6:30. Each family is allotted 4 tickets during the month of May. June 1st tickets go on open sale on a first-come-first-served basis! Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door, if they are still available.
Ticket Packages
If you have a young dancer in show 1 or 2 and an older dancer in Show 3 we are offering a discounted ticket package for you:
Buy your tickets for the earlier show for $12.00 and Show 3 for half price!
BONUS SHOW! Tickets for the Solo Showcase are only $3.00 each!!!
Show Times
Show 1: 10:00-11:00 (dancers arrive at 9:30)
Show 2: 12:00-1:00 (dancers arrive at 11:30)
Show 3: 2:00-4:00 (dancers arrive at 1:30)
Solo Showcase: 4:15-5:00
Dress Rehearsal Friday June 20 Rehearsal times:
Show 1: 2:00-3:30 Dancers arrive at 1:30
Show 2: 4:00-5:30 Dancers arrive at 3:30
Show 3: 5:30-7:30 Dancers arrive at 5:00 All Competition Teams will rehearse from 12:00-2:00 please arrive by 1:30 Hip Hip Chin Chin will be first!
Dress rehearsal as well as the recital are at the Deer Valley High School Theater
All dancers must attend dress rehearsal. If you are a working parent please make arrangements now so your child can attend. If you need to set up a carpool with other parents in class please contact the studio main office. If you are volunteering to work backstage you MUST attend the coordinating rehearsal. At dress rehearsal we run the Grand Finale first then as your dancers finish you are free to leave. For safety reasons dancers are not allowed to watch the rehearsal. They must stay backstage.
Recital Saturday June 21
The recital is the big event that our dancers have been working for all year long; they will be excited, nervous and maybe even a little overwhelmed. This year the recital will be held at Deer Valley High School. Tickets for the recital will go on sale in early May and it is best to BUY YOUR TICKETS EARLY because the SHOWS WILL SELL OUT!!!!! 4 tickets per family will be held during the month of May. On the first Monday in June tickets go on open sale and you can buy as many as you need.
The recital will be split up in at least 3 shows to accommodate our large student base. Each show for the younger dancers (2-7) will be approximately 1 ½ hours. The shows for the older dancers (7 and over) will be no more than 2 hours. We will make every effort to keep siblings in the same show and we will have discounted ticket packages available for families who have dancers in multiple shows.
If you have any questions please call or visit the front desk!
(925) 240-5556
General Showcase Information
Our full Recital Handbook is available for download off the website as a Word file. You also received a copy of the Recital Handbook on CD Rom when you enrolled. If you need another copy please contact the main office.
It may not be recital time yet, but I like to give you an idea of what will happen in the coming months. This information covers costumes, Picture Day, Dress Rehearsal and the big show. Throughout the year if you have any questions please feel free to ask me.
Costumes
Below are the costs for costumes for the June Recital. Costume bills will not be mailed home. You will have a chance to see you dancers' costumes, approve measurements and pay for the costume during Costume Fitting Day January 12th times to be announced.
Costumes will not be ordered until they are paid in full and the size is approved by a parent or guardian.
Boogie Babies, Pre-Ballet and Pre-Jazz classes : $60.00
If the class is doing 2 dances in the recital than the costume will be a "two-in-one" (same leotard with different bottoms.)
Combo 5-7 level 1 and 2 classes : $70.00
Two-in-one costume
Ballet 1 4-6 year olds : $60.00
All other Ballet classes : $70.00
Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, or Hip Hop classes : $70.00
Please note that extended sizes may raise the costume price.
Picture Day Tuesday, June 3 (no classes this day)
There will be a schedule distributed later in the year, each class has a specific time frame. Pictures are professionally taken at the dance studio. We run on a tight schedule on Picture Day and pride ourselves on being on time.
Recital Volunteers
I need many volunteers during our show. I need backstage moms to help entertain and help little ones with costume changes, ticket takers, ticket sellers, people passing out programs and guarding doors, child check in/out, and the list goes on. I need 1-2 parent volunteers for each class, there will be a sign up list in the studio to work backstage and a Parent Volunteer meeting in May to discuss positions and responsibilities.
Dress Rehearsal Friday June 20
Rehearsal times will be between 2:00 and 8:00. Each show will have a specific plot of time within that time period. All dancers must attend dress rehearsal. If you are a working parent please make arrangements now so your child can attend. If you need to set up a carpool with other parents in class please contact the studio main office.
If you are volunteering to work backstage you MUST attend the coordinating rehearsal. At dress rehearsal we run the Grand Finale first then as your dancers finish you are free to leave. For safety reasons dancers are not allowed to watch the rehearsal. They must stay backstage.
Recital Saturday June 21
The recital is the big event that our dancers have been working for all year long; they will be excited, nervous and maybe even a little overwhelmed.
This year the recital will be held at Deer Valley High School. Tickets for the recital will go on sale in early May and it is best to BUY YOUR TICKETS EARLY because the SHOWS WILL SELL OUT!!!!! 4 tickets per family will be held during the month of May. On the first Monday in June tickets go on open sale and you can buy as many as you need.
The recital will be split up in at least 3 shows to accommodate our large student base. Each show for the younger dancers (2-7) will be approximately 1 ½ hours. The shows for the older dancers (7 and over) will be no more than 2 hours. We will make every effort to keep siblings in the same show and we will have discounted ticket packages available for families who have dancers in multiple shows.
Recital day is a hectic day.
Make sure:
Names are in everything: shoes, costumes, makeup cases, dance bags… EVERYTHING
Costumes are NOT to be worn to the show. At East County Performing Arts Center we strive to put on a professional style show, dancers come in street clothes and bring costumes. Coming with tights on and having makeup and hair done is fine.
Under no circumstances are dancers allowed to sit in the audience, peek through doors or peek through curtains during the show.
In the interest of our female dancers' privacy, no boys over the age of 5 are allowed in the general changing area; sorry Dads, this includes you too. Male dancers will have their own area to change.
For your child's safety every dancer will be checked in and out. Make sure that the same adult who checks the dancer in also checks the dancer out.
Bring lots of water and non-messy snacks.
As we get closer to the show I will be giving out more information and if anything changes I will get that info out to you as well.
Please feel free to ask me any questions.
Dancingly yours,
Miss Nina
2008 Recital
Show Assignments
Please note: this is not the show order!!!
Take this chance to look over the show assignments. All siblings should be in the same show. If there is a problem
now is the time to tell us! Some dances are in two or more shows you are not required to buy tickets to each
show, but your dancer must be there. If you have dancers in one of the Junior Shows and in the Senior Show
there will be a discounted ticket package available for you.
Show 1 (Junior Show)
Show 2 (Junior Show)
Hip Hip Chin Chin
Hip Hip Chin Chin
Sway
Sway
Real Wild Child
Real Wild Child
Hot Hot Hot
Hot Hot Hot
Combo 2 Wed 3:15
Pre-Ballet (Discovery
Bay)
Pre-Ballet 1 Tues 4:15 and
Pre-Ballet 1 5:00
Pre-Ballet 1 Tues 4:15
and Pre-Ballet 1 5:00
Pre-Balet Mon 4:45 and Thurs
3:30
Pre-Balet Mon 4:45 and
Thurs 3:30
Pre-Ballet Thurs 5:15 and
Ballet 2 prep
Pre-Ballet Thurs 5:15 and
Ballet 2 prep
Combo 1 Wed 5:00
Pre-Jazz Wed 1:30
Boogie Babies 2 Thurs 6:00
Boogie Babies Fri 5:30
Boogie Babies Thurs 3:00
Boogie Babies Fri 3:30
Pre-jazz Mon 3:15
Combo 1 Fri 4:30
Boogie Babies Thurs 12:00
Boogie Babies Fri 5:00
Boogie Babies Thurs 5:00
Combo 1 Thurs (Discovery
Bay)
Boogie Babies Fri 10:00
Boogie Babies Thurs 11:00
Boogie Babies Thurs 3:30
Combo Mon 5:30
Boogie Babies Wed 10:00
Boogie Babies 2 Wed 2:00
Boogie Babies Tues 6:00
Show 3 (Senior Show)
All
Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Ballet 1-5, Modern and Competition dances not in show 1
or 2
Show 4
Solo Showcase
Commonly Asked Costume Questions
Why do the fitting so far in advance?
Costumes need to be ordered by early February in order to get them by mid May. This gives us plenty of time to do exchanges if the costume does not fit right, if there is a mistake in the order or if there is a defect in the costume.
What happens if my child goes through a growth spurt?
When we measure we figure about an inch of growth in the measurements. If a child is on the borderline of two sizes we suggest going with the bigger size. As a parent you have final say in which size to order. If you wish to order a bigger size than we order what you want.
Are the costumes custom made?
No. We have to fit each child into size chart. We will explain the size chart to you and how your child’s measurements fit in the chart. We will then give you our size recommendation. Since the costume is not custom made, alterations may be needed. We have a very good, very inexpensive, seamstress we can recommend for you, but cost of alterations are not covered by the studio.
What else will have to be done to the costume?
Straps may have to be attached, sometimes they need to be pinned other times they need to be sewn. Many costume companies will only attach one side of the strap so parents can fit the strap to the dancer, although many costume companies are making their costumes with adjustable straps.
If your child’s costume has pants they will most likely need to be hemmed. Costume companies make pant legs EXTRA long to account for different body types, i.e. dancers who are very thin with very long legs. Sometimes pants legs are up 6 inches too long. It seems ridiculous, but really it is much easier to hem a pair of pants then to get them too short. The good news is much of the material used in dance costumes can be cut and it will not fray so there is no need to hem.
Lastly you may need to add embellishments to costumes. Sometimes costume companies will leave embellishments (flowers, appliqués) off a costume. They do this to make sure they keep their shape during shipping and to give the teacher the choice of using the extras or not.
When you receive your costume you will also get a list of instructions for it. Along with the instructions you will receive information on what kind of tights to buy and how your dancers hair should be done for the show.
If you have any other questions please let us know.
925.240.5556
700 Harvest Park Drive Suite P
Brentwood, CA 94513
East County Performing Arts Center
Discovery Bay Athletic Club
1601 Discovery Bay Blvd.
Discovery Bay, CA 94514 (925) 240-5556 Email Us
Performing Arts Center