RECITAL 101

NAVIGATING THE SHOW

For all of you who are “seasoned” dance parents this may be redundant, but there is some NEW information you can use! The following information is basically some recital etiquette you can prepare for BEFORE the recital.

For Parents:

• Traditionally, dancers receive flowers 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.

• 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) 507-4495.  If you arrive at the high school BEFORE the time we communicate, you will need to wait in the commons until your dancer checks in with attendance and all high school students have left the area for the day. School is still in session.

• Dancers should arrive to the venue with hair and makeup READY for their first piece!

• We would prefer that if your dancer is only in ONE show/day, please avoid bringing snacks. Have your dancer eat a healthy meal before drop-off. 

• WATER is the only drink allowed

• Please Label EVERYTHING you bring to the venue, especially every costume piece.

• LOST & FOUND: Items left at the Steamboat Springs High School after the Saturday performance will be placed outside the backdoor of the studio until June 1st. After that items will be donated to Lift Up.  We are not responsible for lost or stolen items - PLEASE DO NOT BRING VALUABLES. 

ALL DANCERS

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

• Please keep track of your costume(s) and personal items – ALL YOUR STUFF!

• 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. Please use quiet inside voices.

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

• DO NOT eat in your costume EVER. You may drink water in costume...carefully!

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

• CLEAN UP after yourself! Please respect the spaces we are using! If you find trash on the floor, please pick it up!

• Things you might want to pack in your dance bag in addition to Make-Up and Hair Styling Items:
  Q-tips, Baby Wipes, Bobby Pins, Safety Pins, Hairspray, Deodorant, a book or quiet activity, and a small hand mirror,

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

COSTUME TIPS

• Every dancer should have a small supply of safety pins to pin all loose costume pieces.

• LABEL all costume pieces with student’s name

• Costumes should be hung neatly on hangers to avoid wrinkles

• For small costume pieces (gloves, hats, belts, etc.): Label a gallon sized zip lock bag with dancer’s name. Poke a small hole in the corner of bag so you can hang it from the costume hanger.

• DO NOT eat in your costume! EVER!

HAIR TIPS

Supplies for perfectly groomed recital hair:

·   Gel

·   Hairspray (Strong Hold)

·   Bobby Pins (Matching with hair color)

·   BLACK or BROWN Hair ties (no other colors)

·   Hairbrush AND Fine Tooth Comb

·   Hair Net (for Ballet Buns)

·   Hair Donut (if desired)

Ponytails: 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 (don’t put in the hair tie just yet!) and then use a fine to comb to make it super sleek. You can also add some hair spray before you put in the hair tie. Once the hair tie is in, spray head with a LOT of spray. Pretty much can’t have too much hairspray!

Buns: Follow instructions above THEN, you can use a donut or simply twist hair into a bun. Add a hair net to keep fly- a ways intact and insert lots of bobby pins!

A few bobby pin tips: Lay bobby pins on a tissue or paper towel and lightly spray with hairspray. Next, when inserting bobby pins, the FLAT side is UP and the WAVY side goes down, towards your scalp.

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 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 in unchartered 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.

• Make-Up Basics: Blush, Eye Shadow, Eyeliner, Mascara, Lipstick

• Extras (if desired): Foundation, Fake Eyelashes, Concealer

• Make-Up Remover Wipes

• Q-tips and a small packet of tissues

• Small Mirror