Preparing for your child’s dance recital

It’s never too early to start thinking about recital! Participating in a recital is the perfect way for your child to celebrate their hard work throughout the year in dance class. It’s also a wonderful way to create lifelong memories with your family!

While dance recitals are a ton of fun, many parents worry that a large performance may be stressful. We’re here to reassure you that while recital is a busy time, it is also a fun time.

It’s definitely an experience that should be enjoyed by parents and dancers alike! To help make sure that your recital experience is the very best that it can be, we’ve compiled several helpful tips to help get you and your dancer prepare…

Practice makes a perfect dance

The importance of practice is simple: as with any skill, the more often you practice something, the better you will get. Think of any top athlete…how often do you think they practice? Olympians often train anywhere between four and eight hours per day depending on their sport.

NFL players work practice for about four days a week, five hours at a time. That doesn’t even include general workouts! In preparation for their Christmas show, the world-famous Rockettes practice eight hours a day, six days per week.

As you can see, reaching your full potential in any area takes time and commitment.  It is important to attend all weekly dance classes and scheduled rehearsals, and communicate with your teacher if you need to be absent.

Dance recital preparation is the perfect time to develop a practice schedule for your dancer at home. By practicing your dancer’s recital routine at home several times a week, they will become comfortable with the choreography. Ask your dance teacher for the name of the routine song and see if there is a video of the choreography available for practicing at home. Once your dancer is confident with the routine, they will be full of excitement for the opportunity to show off on stage!

Helpful hints for showtime

• Make sure you pack snacks although not messy ones! You wouldn’t want anything to spill on your costume. It’s also a good idea to bring things to do backstage. If in doubt, ask your dance studio: most companies what to bring and what to leave at home.
• Layout your costume the night before to ensure you have all the pieces (headpieces, tights, shoes, etc.)
• Do a trial run with hair and make-up so both you and your child know what to expect. This helps eliminate stress on show day.
• Pack extra hair elastics, bobby pins, safety pins, clear nail polish (for runs in tights), and hairspray just in case!
• Label all your costumes and accessories to make sure that things don’t get mixed up.
• Make sure you pack your camera to capture the magical moments. Do check your dance studio’s photography policy though as most do not allow photography during the show for safety reasons. You can, of course,  take pictures before and after till your heart’s content!

Once you and your dancer feel prepared for the dance recital, the fun really begins. On the big day, your dancer will get to put on their most beautiful smile. As a parent, you can sit back and enjoy the show…

Its showtime! Dance to EvOLvE recital in Chicago is a fun experience.