What to Expect at Your First Recital
Your child's first recital is an exciting time for both parent and dancer—and you both might be feeling some nerves! Here are some things you can expect to encounter at your first recital. We hope this blog leaves you feeling more prepared to enjoy this exciting experience!
Arrive with hair and makeup completed and ready for stage
A slicked-back ballet bun should be done at home, as well as your dancer's makeup. Young dancers really only need to wear mascara, blush and lipstick. Always check with your teacher to be sure that is what they prefer students to wear! Make-up helps your face to be seen clearly under the bright stage lights, which can easily wash out your little dancer. Be careful with lipstick for little ones, as it often ends up smeared all over their face by the time of the show. Watch out for fly-away hairs—you can almost never use too much hairspray! Teachers and staff will double-check students' hair and makeup backstage as well and make any last-minute fixes.
Triple-check your "call time"
The "call time" is the time your dancer needs to be at the theater! It is very important that you arrive on time, or even better, are 15 minutes early. Your call time will often be significantly earlier than the performance starts, as dancers need time to get into costume backstage and get organized before the recital begins. You will "check-in" your child at a designated area (usually a door or area that leads backstage) with a staff member.
What to pack in your dance bag:
Make sure your student arrives wearing their class uniform: pink tights, leotard, and ballet shoes. In their dance bag, you may include a labeled snack—but watch out for messy or sticky food! Some great snacks are bite-sized pieces of fruits & veggies, pretzels, string cheese, or bite-sized crackers. You may also want to pack some coloring pages & crayons (avoid markers!) for your dancer to play with while waiting to go onstage. Staff members will also be supervising the dancers and keeping them quiet and entertained during the show.
Before pulling out your camera...
Taking photos and videos during School of Ballet 5:8 performances is usually prohibited—so if you want photos of your little one on their first recital day, make sure to take them before or after the performance! Choreography and music are typically copyrighted, which is why photos and videos during the show are not allowed.
When do I pick up my dancer?
Once the recital is over, head back to where your dancer was dropped off to go backstage, and wait for a staff member to call their name. You may be asked for photo I.D.—this is not because we do not recognize or trust our families, but we want to make sure we are keeping your children extra-safe during a busy and sometimes noisy check-out process!
Celebrate!
After the recital is a great opportunity to take photos in the lobby of the theater with your dancer, as well as purchase a traditional post-show bouquet of flowers to congratulate your little one on a job well done!