Shannon Gallagher
Helpful Hints for a Successful Recital
I want your Dress Rehearsals and Recitals to be successful and enjoyable! Here’s a few helpful tips I’ve learned along the way…
Label EVERYTHING with initials or name - it’s no secret that every pair of size 3 ballet shoe looks like pretty much every other pair of size 3 ballet shoes (or even size 2 or 4!). If something is left behind, we’ll have a better idea of who it belongs to and hopefully we’ll be able to contact you so you don’t go crazy searching for that missing pair of pink tights.
Bring a laundry basket! Start the show with the laundry basket empty and costumes & accessories laid out in the order they are needed. As your dancer finishes a dance, put that costume & its accessories in the laundry basket! Easy-peasy! No missing pink tights, and no clean up at the end of the night! Everything is right there in the basket ready to go home!
Don’t sweat the small stuff. The teachers at Premier never yell at students or parents, so if something goes wrong, like your dancer sticks her finger right through her last pair of tights, don’t worry - nobody is going to yell at anyone. Ask around to see if someone has extra tights (ask Shannon too, she might have a pair or two stashed away for just such an emergency). If nobody has spare tights, well, then take a deep breath and send your dancer out on stage with a hole in her tights. There are worse things in life.
CHEER FOR YOUR DANCER AND EVERYONE ELSE TOO! It’s not easy to get on stage and perform, especially at the first dress rehearsal. It doesn’t matter how many years you’ve been dancing, that first time doing a new dance on stage is difficult. The more you cheer and the more relaxed our dancers will be on stage.
No matter what happens on stage, please tell your dancer you are proud of her/him. Our dancers worked hard all year and as stated above, it’s not easy to get on stage. It’s important that they know you are proud.
Please try not to yell at your dancer or anyone else. Everyone is trying their best and if you treat everyone with respect everyone will have an enjoyable experience!