Planning, Preparing, & Packing for the Big Day

We are just a few short weeks away from the recital, can you believe it!?

With that in mind, we’ve created this checklist to make sure you’ve planned, prepared, and packed!  And of course, we are just a phone call or email away if you have any questions.

•  First things first: find a few quiet minutes to review your recital information.  This is absolutely our #1 request because you will not only feel informed, you’ll have peace of mind!  Our team spends hours making sure we’re organized behind the scenes, and we want you to be caught up on all of the pertinent details, especially arrival/dismissal times and security precautions.

•  If you have guests outside of your immediate family who are attending the show, make sure you have shared with them the need-to-know info, particularly about tickets, parking, and audience etiquette.

•  In the days leading up to the show, encourage your dancer to keep a balanced schedule: help them get lots of rest, healthy snacks, plenty of water, and make sure they aren't putting too much stress on themselves for dance.  Even young dancers can internalize outside pressures, and we want to keep recital preparations feeling fun and exciting for them.

•  Label everything!  Add your child's name or initials to the tags inside their costume, tights, shoes, and any other important items in their dance bag or garment bag.  An easy way to do this?  Write on a small piece of masking tape or painter’s tape and stick it inside the item.

• Remove your child’s nail polish prior to the big day (it can be distracting from the stage) and have a practice session with their hair and make-up.  Not only is this fun, it will ease any nerves you have about making sure they are confident and ready-to-go!

• Before leaving the house for the recital, make sure your dancer’s costume, tights, shoes, and accessories are packed!  This seems obvious of course, but in the busyness of the day, it helps to double and triple-check before heading out the door.  Remember to leave valuables at home so they will not be left unattended in the dressing room.

And hey, don't forget to give yourself a pat on the back for being an awesome parent!  We truly have some of the most attentive, involved, and supportive parents (and grandparents) here at Expressions Dance, and we're happy you're one of them.  We appreciate your dedication to your dancer at this extra-special time of year!

Performing to Show Progress, Not Perfection

“Practice makes perfect.”

 Chances are you’ve heard this saying many, many times in your life.  (We sure have!)  It’s one of the most well-known proverbs, with roots that go all the way back to the 16th century.  And while we appreciate its intention, here at Expressions Dance, we much prefer to say “practice makes progress.” 

Why?  Because we don’t teach perfection as a goal.  Especially when it comes to the recital, we strive for every dancer to showcase their knowledge and skills, and to express their joy.  We want the performance to be their opportunity to celebrate achievements big and small, public and personal.  And a focus on perfection detracts from all of those things. 

We do need to be clear that although we don’t teach perfection as a goal, we do teach excellence.  Excellence, to us, is different than perfection.  Excellence means we are holding our students to a high standard yet still giving them room to grow, to be themselves, and to develop at their own pace.  Excellence is realistic; perfection is unachievable.

We know all too well from personal experience that perfectionism can be a difficult mindset, one that takes years to overcome.  For dancers, perfectionism can result in frustrations and tears because they do not see any other path forward.  We’re working to change that mentality!  Part of our mission is to uphold an environment where every mistake is actually a learning experience, and every disappointment leads to a stronger work ethic.

Live performances, too, always have some measure of unpredictability.  Sure, we plan and rehearse (and plan and rehearse!), but we do so with the understanding that the recital is still a live event, which means there may be moments where a dancer forgets a step, stumbles, or freezes.  And the power of that moment is in their ability to keep going and finish strong, not in the anguish of missing the target of perfection.  They can only find that power if we instill it in them.

There is beauty in the real-ness of the recital, the true reality of it.  In no other way can you see—up close—the courage, vulnerability, strength, and pure emotion that dance brings to your child.  It will take your breath away to see all of this onstage!

So when you watch your child onstage at the recital, we want you to rejoice in their growth.  Witness their joy.  Tell them how proud you are of their effort and confidence onstage.  Show them you see them.  And celebrate their path to progress!

Taking Care of Costumes - Dos & Don’ts

There’s nothing else quite like a dance costume—it carries the excitement of the performance yet to come, and of course, there are all those sparkles!  For many children, wearing a costume brings out the confidence and poise they’ve been working so hard on in class, and it is one of their most favorite parts about dancing on stage. 

Because dance costumes are made from specialty fabrics, they can’t be treated like regular clothes.  From stretchy lycra-blended leotards to the embellishments of sequins and beading, costumes are made from finicky materials.  For this reason, we do not recommend washing them, but a little extra TLC can go a long way! 

Taking care of your child’s costume can be simple if you keep these Dos and Don'ts in mind:

• Do encourage your dancer to find a safe place at home to keep their costume.  Help them understand that this will keep it in tip-top shape for photos and performance time.

• Don't allow playtime in the costume.  If something spills on it or it rips, it is too late to purchase a new one!  Save the dress-up time for after the recital.

• Don’t allow your child to eat messy foods or drink anything but water when wearing the costume for photos or the performance.  This helps prevent irreversible damage that can be caused by the dyes and enzymes in food and drink.

• Do keep tutus upside down on the hanger, unless otherwise specified by your child's teacher.  This helps keep the tutu fluffy!

• Do purchase a nude leotard undergarment for your child if they complain that the costume is itchy.  These undergarments can be worn at all times for comfort and modesty; ask us for recommendations.

• If the costume is wrinkled, Do allow it to "rest" outside of the garment bag.  Using a steamer is OK too if you are experienced with one.

• Don't forget that costumes are made-to-order but not custom-made, so small alterations (such as tacking straps or hemming pants) may be needed to ensure the fit is just right.

• Do make sure the costume is ready to go when needed!  Make sure it is not crumpled or missing anything, and bring it with you in its garment bag.

If you ever have a question about the best way to store or care for a specific dance costume, please ask!  We understand that costume care can feel like completely new territory, so we're happy to help anytime.

Practicing at Home: Recital Edition

We absolutely love it when our students say they want to practice their recital dance at home.  Their enthusiasm is contagious, and then everyone in the class wants to practice at home too! 

But as a parent, how should you go about encouraging this?  Is there such a thing as a too much practice?  We’ve got all your practicing-at-home answers right here:

Should I make my child practice their recital dance at home?

The short answer here is no.  We don’t believe practice should be forced, or it can become completely unenjoyable.  But we do think it’s helpful for you to encourage it!  You might say, “Why don’t you practice your dance for 10 minutes and then we’ll play freeze dance together...  are you in?”  (Of course, then you have to follow through on your promise to freeze dance!)

When my child practices, there seem to be a lot of forgotten or rushed steps.  Does this mean she’s going to be a mess at the recital?

Nope.  Keep in mind that the recital dance is a group dance, and so practicing at home is completely out of context.  Your child is well-oriented with her group in the studio classroom, so remembering everything at home by themselves is a challenge.  Remember also that every child develops memorization skills at their own pace.  It will “click” for them in time!

What if my child expresses that they’ll be nervous onstage?

Know that this is completely normal and expected for nearly every dancer.  Reassure them that it’s OK to feel nervous (that most people do) and their familiar classmates and teachers will be with them during the show.  Talk with them about building up the courage to do their best, and remind them that you’ll be smiling and clapping for them from the audience.  Remind them that you’ll be proud of them no matter what.

Should I practice the steps with my child?

Not necessarily.  We recommend that children practice on their own in order to build their self-reliance and confidence, without mom or dad swooping in to help.  Practicing for the recital is not like studying for a test, where you might be able to cram the material into a short amount of time.  We want the recital to truly reflect all of our students’ abilities and progress, not what they drilled at home.

What else helps with practicing at home?

Listening to the recital music is really helpful, even if it’s in the car on the way to school.  Knowing the music is key to understanding the counts and rhythms in choreography, so the familiarity can make a big difference in your child’s learning curve and confidence.  Also helpful?  Encourage your child to ask questions in class if they’re not sure about a step!  Our teachers welcome their communication so we can make sure everyone feels prepared. 

The excitement for recital is HUGE for some dancers and a little scary for others.  Keep the conversation going at home by supporting your dancer’s efforts to practice without any added pressure.  We want to keep their spirits high and their insecurities low!