STAGE TIME

Stage Time is an opportunity for your dancers to practice their routine on stage BEFORE Dress Rehearsal and Performance days. Stage Time dress code is ALL BLACK

DRESS REHEARSAL

A dress rehearsal is like a practice show where dancers pretend it’s the real performance. You wear your full costume, do your hair and makeup, and dance on stage just like you will in the real show. The music, lights, and spacing are all the same as they will be when the audience is watching.

It’s our chance to make sure everything is working—costumes fit, we know where to go, and we feel confident. Even if no one is in the seats yet, we treat it like it’s showtime!

This rehearsal is extremely important—it helps dancers get comfortable with the stage, practice quick costume changes, and work through any last-minute adjustments before the big day. It also allows teachers and staff to make sure everything is running smoothly behind the scenes.

Please treat the dress rehearsal as you would the performance itself. Arrive on time, come fully prepared, and encourage your dancer to give it their best effort. It's their final chance to build confidence and polish their routine before showtime!

A THE COMPLETE LIST OF REQUIRED HAIRSTYLE/SHOES/TIGHTS 

FOR EACH NUTCRACKER ROLE / ROUTINE IS AVAILABLE HERE!

• All ballet shoes are to be clean and free from scuffs and/or stains. Some routines require the purchase of "street" type shoes. Please order/purchase in advance to ensure your dancer has them in time for the performances.  

• Undergarment recommendations: The last thing any dancer needs to worry about on stage is whether their undergarments are showing each time they move.

  • Nude camisole leotard (with clear straps)

  • Nude camisole bra and underwear/thong

  • Socks: If your dancer is required to wear black socks, please be sure they are PLAIN with no graphics or other colors. You will need to purchase those on your own (Wal-Mart, Target, Amazon, Etc)

The recommended undergarments are not required but are highly recommended especially for dancers who may be changing in and out of costumes for 2 or more routines OR dancers who may need additional coverage. There are nude leotards available for purchase at the front desk. 

HAIR TIPS

Supplies for perfectly groomed recital hair:

• Gel

• Hairspray (Strong Hold)

• Bobby Pins (Matching with hair color)

• Hair Pins (yes there is a difference)

• BLACK or BROWN Hair ties (no other colors)

• Hairbrush AND Fine Tooth Comb

• Hair Net (for Ballet Buns)

Ponytail How - To

Apply a quarter size dollop of gel onto palms, rub together and apply to hair, using fingers to disperse throughout. Use brush to pull hair back into a basic ponytail securing with your hands (no hair tie just yet!) and then use a fine tooth comb to make it super sleek. Time for that hair tie! Loop the hair tie around your ponytail 3 to 4 times. Once the hair tie is in, spray head with a LOT of spray. There is no such thing as too much hairspray!

LINK:

Bun How -To

Complete the Ponytail How -To instructions above FIRST.  

Twist ponytail hair roughly 5 times. Start wrapping the twisted hair around the base of the ponytail. Using hair pins, pin the hair to start securing the hair in place. Twist, wrap, pin, repeat, until you have created a cinnamon bun - like style bun.  Add a hair net as the final step to secure your bun. 

A few bobby pin tips: Lay bobby pins on a tissue or paper towel and lightly spray with hairspray. 

Watch this awesome tutorial for a great demonstration on how to make a bun. 

Does your dancer have longer hair or thick hair? Watch this video for help.

Have a hat or another hair accessory? PIN IT at least 4 times and CRISS CROSS the bobby pins. If applicable, be sure to use lots of HAT TAPE!

MAKE-UP BASICS & TIPS

BASICS: 

• Blush

• Eye Shadow

• Eyeliner

• Mascara

• Lipstick

BASICS EXTRAS (if desired) 

• Foundation

• Fake Eyelashes

• Concealer

• Make-Up Remover Wipes

• Q-tips and a small packet of tissues

• Small Mirror

TIPS

1. HAVE FUN WITH MAKEUP and do not stress. As your child continues to dance, they will learn how to do this themselves and even look forward to the process!

2. Practice, practice, practice! If make-up is uncharted territory or if you don’t have much experience applying it to someone else, we recommend doing several practice applications. Have your makeup wipes close at hand for any corrections you may need to make. Practicing ahead of show time can also ease some of the mother-daughter makeup battles we see so often backstage.

3. Foundation: If you decide to use foundation, and it’s really only necessary for older (teen) dancers, please don’t use a color lighter than the color of your chest! If anything, go a shade darker as the lights will wash your face out!

4. Cheeks: Please use either a coral or pink color on the apples of your cheeks. Again, those lights will make you look like you don’t even have a face, so when you think it’s enough blush, put a little more FOR STAGE!

5. Eyes: Try to do a smoky eye and blend with a brush. Put the darker colors closest to the lash line, AND BLEND UPWARDS, and only go as far as the eye CREASE!!! The higher you go towards the brow, the more clown-like it can look. And all we’re trying to do is highlight the face to bring it out amongst the bright lights. The most flattering colors on everyone are purples, grey, browns. PLEASE USE Black eyeliner on top lids and black mascara and for those who want to indulge, fake eyelashes!!!

6. Lips: Please use either red or berry colors for the lips. We recommend the following as it looks great on everyone: REVLON #740 Certainly Red

7. Make-Up Kit Supplies: Be sure to purchase these items BEFORE recital time, you would be surprised how sudden Walmart and Walgreens deplete in products are recital time.

For Dancers:

• Please DO NOT exit the dressing room unless you are using the restroom. You must notify a parent volunteer if you need to leave the room. 

• Please keep track of ALL YOUR STUFF - your costume(s), rolling rack, laundry basket and personal items.

• Please use quiet inside voices.  We know it is exciting and fun to perform, just keep that energy for the stage and try your best to “Chill Out” when you are backstage or in the dressing room. 

• When teachers/parent volunteers make announcements, Please, Please, PLEASE pay attention so that we do not have to repeat instructions over and over again.

• COVER UP in a robe or over-sized T-Shirt when eating or drinking in your costume. You may drink water in costume...carefully! Please see the approved lists of snacks and drinks for a better understanding of what is ok to eat and drink in your costume. 

• CLEAN UP after yourself! Please respect the spaces we are using! We are guests! Treat the space like you are visiting Buckingham Palace. If you find trash on the floor, please pick it up!

• Double check the hair style required for each piece if you don’t know it already.

• Extra items that belong in your dance bag:

  1. Q-tips

  2. Baby Wipes/Face Wipes

  3. Bobby Pins/Hair Pins

  4. Safety Pins

  5. Hairspray

  6. Deodorant

  7. a small hand mirror

  8. a book or quiet activity

• HUG and THANK your families for getting you to dance class every week and tell them how much you appreciate their support!

For Parents:

• Please arrive on time and adhere to the schedule as posted. It is your responsibility to get your child to the venue on time and checked in for attendance. If, at the last minute your dancer cannot make it to dress rehearsal or a performance, please send us a quick text at (970) 871-1880

• Dancers ages 10 under need to arrive to the venue with hair and makeup READY for their first piece!

• When possible, have your dancer eat a healthy meal BEFORE drop-off.  You can send snacks as needed. See the list of approved snacks. 

• WATER is the only drink allowed in the dressing rooms, backstage, in the theatre. Fruit drinks, sodas, sport drinks are not allowed. To help prevent spills on costumes, please provide your dancer with a water bottle that has a straw. 

• Label EVERYTHING you bring to the venue - water bottle, dance shoes, costumes, hair pieces, personal clothing. 

LOST & FOUND: Items left at the Steamboat Springs High School after the Saturday performance will be placed in the lost and found at the high school. We are not responsible for lost or stolen items.

• Traditionally, dancers receive flowers or a small gift after a show. It is a special way to say congrats! Often dancers and their family show gratitude for their teachers by presenting to them a small token of appreciation. Whether it is a letter from a student, or a small gift, teachers truly appreciate the recognition for their dedication to their students.

• All Costumes, Accessories, Shoes, and Tights or Socks MUST be labeled with your child's name

• Water bottle with your child's name clearly labeled - please ONLY fill with water (no juice, sports drinks, etc.)

• Hand sanitizer

• Healthy Snacks/Food (no candy!) 

DANCERS ARE ASKED TO NOT EAT IN COSTUME. Bring a robe, oversized t-shirt, or large zip up style sweatshirt to cover their costume while in the dressing room. 

• LABEL EVERYTHING!

HELPFUL RECOMMENDED ITEMS

• Personal clothing rack - this is for dancers who have 4 or more costumes

• A bag or laundry basket to carry all of your stuff!

• A quiet activity to keep you busy while you are waiting to perform. Elevation is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Please label any electronic item sent with your child. Remember, labeled lost and founds have a 100% chance of finding their owner. 

• Additional Recommended Items:
  Q-tips, Baby Wipes, Bobby Pins, Safety Pins, Hairspray, Deodorant, a book or quiet activity, and a small hand mirror

If at the last minute your dancer cannot make it to dress rehearsal or a performance, please send us a quick text at (970) 871-1880

For Staging days ONLY (Sunday, Dec 14 and Monday, Dec 15): 

• Please plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to their scheduled stage time. Dancers should arrive: Dressed in black rehearsal attire, hair should be in specified style for their piece, and they need to wear their dance shoes. All dancers will need to warm up on their own. (No makeup or costumes).

• Pick up your child promptly when they are finished. 

• Dancers ages 8 and under must enter the High School with a parent and proceed to the theatre.

• Dancers ages 9+ may enter the High School alone and proceed to the theatre. 

For Dress Rehearsal and Performance Days (Tuesday, Dec 16 - Saturday, Dec 20):

Dancer Drop-Off Protocol

• Dancers/Parents check in at the attendance table only. They do not check in at the dressing room door.

• • Each dancer may go downstairs into their dressing room with one female parent to drop off costumes, backpacks, and personal items.

  • If a female parent is not available, an EDS staff member will escort the dancer downstairs (only for dancers age 8 and under)

• Parents must leave within 5–10 minutes once their child is settled.

• Only parents who are signed up as backstage/dressing-room volunteers may stay backstage.

 Dancer Pick-Up Protocol

Ages 5-6: 

• One female parent will be allowed into the dressing room to assist their child with gathering belongings AND cleaning up their space. Please check in AND out with Ms. Lauren. (Please note: If you signed up to pick up your child at intermission on performance days, you will NOT be allowed backstage during intermission - Ms. Lauren will assist them with gathering their items. Reminder to sign up for this option by December 14th HERE)

Ages 7–8:

• Parents will check in with the door monitor before entering the dressing room area to provide your dancer’s first and last name, then go in to get their dancer. Once retrieving your dancer, No check-out is required.

• One female parent (or designated female representative) may enter the dressing room to help their dancer gather belongings and clean their space.

Ages 9+:

• Once dancers of this age have been dismissed by the stage manager, they can meet their parents at a pre-planned location in the lobby. Prior to leaving the theatre, ALL dancers  Ages 9 + are expected to gather their belongings AND clean up their space on their own. 

Note for Parents of Two Dancers:

• Siblings: If you have one dancer who is Age 9+ and another dancer who is Age 8 or under, then the younger sibling is allowed to leave the dressing room with their older sibling. 

We will continue to reiterate the importance of proper etiquette when it comes to snacking during a production. 

"NO" SNACKS 

• Popcorn

• Candy

• Jell-O

• Berries

• Chocolate

• Pizza - an absolute no

• Peanut Butter

• Nuts...in case anyone has a severe allergy

"YES" SNACKS

• Apples

• Oranges

• Bananas

• Cheese Cubes and Dried Fruit

• Granola Bars (no chocolate)

• Fruit Snacks

"NO" DRINKS

• Soda 

• sports drinks - especially RED, GREEN, ORANGE, BLUE, PURPLE sports drinks. ***Sports drinks will be accepted IF and ONLY IF they are in a secure water bottle WITH A STRAW.

• Starbucks/coffee drinks with NON SECURE LIDS. 

"YES" DRINKS

• WATER

• WATER

• WATER

We will continue to reiterate the importance of proper etiquette when it comes to enjoying a quiet activity while in the dressing room during a production 

"NO" ACTIVITIES 

• Tag

• Hide & Seek

• Paint

• Play-doh

• Anything that had GLITTER. i.e. Glitter pens, glitter squish ball, glitter paint, glitter crafts,

• Anything with permanent markers

"YES" ACTIVITIES

• Coloring Books with washable markers

• Books and other reading materials

• iPad WITH HEADPHONES

• Friendship bracelet making 

Dancer Call Time: This time indicates the time at which dancers are asked to ARRIVE at a venue/studio for a rehearsal or performance. 

Stage Time: This time specifies when dancers will have designated time to rehearse a routine for a performance on the stage. Stage time dress code for Elevation dancers is ballet attire for ballet routines or all black for all other routines. Dancers will also need ALL appropriate shoes for their routines. 

Warm Up: This is a series of exercises and movements that prepare the body and mind for a dance class or performance. 

Run Through: A run through is an uninterrupted rehearsal or a dry-run of a performance. 

Dress Rehearsal: A final rehearsal before a performance, in which everything would be done as if it would be in a live performance. This includes dancers being in costume, hair and makeup. 

In-Studio Rehearsal: a rehearsal that happens at the dance studio.