Congratulations! You’re Officially a Dance Parent...

Welcome to the club, dance moms and dads!  Now that you’ve formally signed your child up for lessons and you’ve gotten all the pertinent information about the season, you are officially a dance parent at Expressions Dance!

Being a dance parent here is a little bit like being in a secret society; there’s this new lingo to learn and a whole culture that you are now a part of.  Here’s the inside scoop on what you need to know for your new status as an Expressions Dance mom or dad:

• Study up on your dancewear vocab.  A leotard is the form-fitting bodysuit that dancers wear to class, and tights are worn underneath (kinda like pantyhose). Tights and leotards take the place of underwear, make sure to take those off before putting on their tights!  Ballet shoes are usually pink and should fit snugly on your child’s feet; don’t buy them with room to grow!  Tap shoes are the noisy ones, and jazz shoes look a little like slip-on ballet shoes, except with a small heel.

• Practice how to do a bun.  A bun is the hairstyle we recommend for most classes, as it allows students to move freely without getting hair in their face.  Our favorite method can be found in our tutorial video HERE. A quick Google or YouTube search will give you oodles of tutorials to choose from—or just ask us!  We can give you a demo right here in the lobby.

• Pack a dance bag.  Dance shoes, a water bottle, extra dancewear, and hair supplies … all of these things belong in your child’s dance bag.  (Avoid allowing your child to wear their dance shoes outside; it’s damaging.)  Be sure to label everything with your child’s name or initials! 

• Learn about the recital.  At Expressions Dance, we offer an opportunity every year for our students to perform.  The recital, as it’s commonly known, is when each class performs a routine onstage and in costume, and family and friends watch the show from the audience.  Stay tuned all year to our emails and handouts for all the need-to-know recital info!

•  Introduce yourself to the other parents.  We love building a community of like-minded moms and dads who understand our culture and enjoy having their children involved in dance.  Our super-friendly dance parents are some of the best people we know, so we encourage you to introduce yourself in the lobby.  Share stories, find carpools, plan playdates, or ask about their personal experiences at Expressions Dance! 

 Being a dance parent is pretty awesome but being a dance parent at Expressions Dance is even better!  We hope this primer serves you well and helps you feel welcome at the studio.  We’re glad you’re here!

New Teacher? No Problem!

Having a new teacher in class can be an awesome experience for any student, and especially a dance student!  Because dance is passed down from generation to generation and learned from person to person, every teacher’s perspective brings something special to the classroom.  Whether it’s the way they introduce a concept or how they explain a correction, a new teacher’s unique viewpoint can offer unexpected “lightbulb moments” in a child’s learning experience.

Just like classes at school, our dance classes may have new teachers in place at the beginning of the season, at the new semester, or if a teacher requires a substitute during the year.  Here at Expressions Dance, we understand that having a new dance teacher can be fun for some students and nerve-wracking for others. 

 It’s important to remember that if your child is feeling anxious about having a new teacher, those feelings are completely normal!  And there are a few things you can talk to your child about to ease their mind and make the transition smooth:

• New teachers are going to be different—but in a positive way

  • Going into class with an open mind is key to having a positive experience with a new teacher!  Talk to your child about the kinds of things they might learn from a new teacher, or what they want to know about that person.  Remind them that the previous teachers they’ve loved were once new to them too!  With time, this new relationship will develop and feel more secure.

•  Having a new teacher is great practice for school

  • It’s reassuring for your child to know that this won’t be the only time in their life that they meet a new teacher.  The dance classroom is a great place to practice getting to know someone new, because we all already have something special in common: We love to dance!  Finding those shared likes right away helps build the teacher-student bond no matter where you are.

•  A new teacher is eager to get to know their students

  • We know that any new teacher at Expressions Dance is going to be excited to get to know the dancers in their class!  Talk to your child about how to show that they want to make a good impression, perhaps by raising their hand to answer a question or giving the teacher an extra “thank you” when class time is over.  A new teacher will appreciate the extra effort as they are getting to know each student.

 We also suggest that you explain to your child that their teacher is probably a little nervous too!  And everyone will feel more comfortable once the dancing begins.  Dance unites us all in a pretty amazing way.  It helps us connect as humans, and gives us the confidence to try new things and welcome new people into our lives!

Awesome Audience Etiquette

With the date fast approaching for recital, we thought this would be the perfect time to share with you our tips for awesome audience etiquette!  Following these tips will help us ensure an enjoyable recital experience for everyone involved.

Tip #1: When entering the theater take a quick note of where the exits are, just in case of an emergency.

Tip #2: Plan to turn off or silence all of your devices prior to the start of the show.  The sounds and screens are very disruptive.  There is no need to use your phone during the performance, because we have a professional photographer and videographer attending the show! Sit back and relax while you enjoy watching your child perform live instead of through your phone screen!

 Tip #3: It is courteous to applaud after each routine in the recital, but please avoid shouting or screaming as it can be distracting to both the dancers on stage and to other audience members.

Tip #4: There may be some high-energy routines where you are encouraged to clap along in time to the music; we invite you to do so.  (Just remember: no hollering!)

 Tip #5: Avoid entering or exiting the theater while there are dancers performing onstage.  A good rule of thumb is to only move from your seat in between routines, if necessary.

 Tip #6: Following Tip #5, if you have a baby or young child who is sitting with you and they become disruptive, please exit with them quickly and quietly between routines.

 Tip #7: Refrain from talking or whispering with other audience members while the dancers are performing.  Quick comments in between routines are OK!

 Tip #8: Don’t litter.  Please take care not to leave any belongings or trash behind so we do not incur an unexpected cleaning fee.

Expressions Dance has an excellent reputation for being well-organized, gracious, and respectful of our venue so we will be welcome back!  As members of our recital audience, your cooperation is much appreciated in helping us maintain this good standing!  If you will be inviting other family members and friends to the show, please share these tips with them too.

As you enjoy the show, don’t forget that our students are dancing their hearts out for you, the audience!  Show them your appreciation by following these tips and recognizing their hard work. 

Please let us know if you have ANY questions before the big day!

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!