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Our annual recital will be held on Sunday, June 1st and Monday, 2nd at 6:00 pm at the Milton Centre for the Arts. All TDC dancers aged 5 and up ( including Primary Ballet, Pre-Jazz, Pre-Tap, Skip Hop Classes) will be participating.

Our Pre-School and Tots Ballet dancers will perform at our In House Performance at The Dance Class on Saturday, June 7th.

As a finale to our second season, The Dance Class will present “Once Upon a Time…”  We are thrilled to have our TDC dancers participate in this fun event!

A large part of the dance training process includes learning through performance. The experience helps build self-esteem, self-assurance, and confidence. Although performance opportunities can help prepare some students for a possible career in dance, the experience also contributes to children’s success in non-dance activities. The onstage experience can result in better in-school presentations, improved social skills, and strong interview skills for future college or job opportunities.

The rehearsal process for the recital is a tremendous learning experience as well. It helps the children develop information retention skills, time management, goal setting and achievement, and, through working with their classmates on a group performance, they learn the positive aspects of working as a team to create a unified end product.

Students and parents hold equal responsibility in committing themselves to our recital production, and it takes our entire studio to make the production a true success—from the directors to the instructors to the dancers to the parents to our volunteers. We’ve created this handbook in an effort to clarify what we expect from you in terms of commitments and responsibility to the annual recital. With a clear understanding of the event, we can provide an entertaining, family-oriented production that will be remembered by your dancer for many years to come!

12:00-2:00 pm Act I-Classes involved to be announced in April

2:00-4:00 pm Act II -Classes involved to be announced in April

4:00-5:00 pm “Finale” (last dance of the show) Rehearsal *

and Sat. May 24th  All TDC Classes- Schedule will be emailed soon

Sunday May 25th Recital Run Through at TDC   *mandatory rehearsal                             

12:00-2:00 pm Act I-Classes involved to be announced in April

2:00-4:00 pm Act II -Classes involved to be announced in April

4:00-5:00 pm “Finale” (last dance of the show) Rehearsal *

9:00-2:30 pm More details will be released closer to the date

5:00 pm Dancer Arrival Time

6:00 pm Show Starts 

We would like to invite all dancers participating in the show to join in our choreographed Finale number (last dance of the Show). All interested dancers are asked to attend TWO rehearsals on Sunday April 27th and May 25th from 4:00-5:00 pm. This is NOT mandatory but it is a great chance to be on stage one more time! Choreography will be simple and students will wear a costume from the recital. Participation is not mandatory, however dancers must attend both rehearsals if they wish to participate in the dance. Students must be present at both rehearsals to participate. Please sign up at the front desk. There is NO charge to participate in this dance.

Calling all dads! Want to be involved in TDC’s recital too?  No experience is required! Just a few hours of your time and a good sense of humor is all you need! Last year’s dads dance was a hit, and we are looking to go bigger and better this year!  Please see the information below about schedules.

(Please note, the dads dance will happen at the end of the show so all dads will be able to watch their son/daughter’s dance from the front)

There are 4 rehearsals listed below:

Recital Run Through- May 25th 2:00-4:00 pm

*extra rehearsal if needed May 25th 4:00-5:00 pm

Dad dancers MUST be available for ALL rehearsals and both shows.

All TDC students age 7 & up are ALSO invited to dance in the opening number of the show. (participation is optional)  There are 4 mandatory rehearsals that all willing participants must attend – NO EXCEPTIONS!  There is a $25 charge per dancer to participate. This will cover the cost of a costume piece and the dancers are asked to bring black dance shorts to the first rehearsal to wear with it.  The rehearsals are:

We must receive $25 cash payment by April 10th if your child is participating in this dance.

Tickets go on sale April 11th at 12:01 am!

Tickets are only available through the Milton Centre for the Arts Box Office. Tickets are $28.00 for Adults and $22.00 for Children 12&under including babes in arms which includes all service charges and HST.

www.miltoncentreforthearts.ca or 905-878-6000

We spend many hours choosing costumes for each class. We attend costume conventions and seminars to see the best products that are available for our dancers. Our costumes are always age-appropriate. Recital Costumes include all accessories (hats, gloves, etc.) with the exceptions of tights and shoes. Parents are responsible for purchasing the appropriate coloured tights and shoes as noted in the TDC dress code.

In an effort to ensure that costumes are delivered in time for photographs, costume orders are placed in early January. Costume manufacturers do not accept cancellations or offer refunds; therefore, the studio does not refund costume costs for any reason.

Costumes will NOT be handed out until accounts are paid in full.  All dances in recital will wear a high bun (unless noted by your child’s teacher in class.)

Alterations

Alterations are sometimes needed after the costumes have been distributed. Major alterations will be done by our in house seamstress, however small alterations like strap adjustments or pant hemming with be the responsibility of the parent.

Distribution

Costumes will be distributed in mid May. To ensure that there is no costume damage, students should not wear their costumes, accessories, or tights prior to the photo session. After picture day, students should only wear their costume for dress rehearsal and the performance. After recital, you may use your costume however you please.

Costume Care

We HIGHLY recommend that each student’s name be placed in his/her costumes, shoes, tights, and accessories. Please store all costumes in a safe place. Hanging them in the bathroom can work as a steamer. Please do not wash costumes in your washing machine; dry clean them only (after the recital) if you wish.

Class and individual photos will be taken at The Dance Class on May 23-24, 2014 by ‘Photography by Gary Roork.’ Please confirm your child’s time on the detailed schedule to be distributed with your recital detail sheet.

All students are requested to be present for their class picture. Class pictures will be displayed at the studio and are a great memento of the season. After the group photo shoot, students will also have solos taken in each of their costumes. There is no obligation to purchase photos. Please arrive at least half an hour before your child’s scheduled time, since the photo shoot may run ahead of schedule. Due to photographer availability, there will be no photography make-up dates, and we will be unable to accommodate latecomers.

Photos will be available for sale at the recital (before the show and at intermission.) The cost is $15 per combo which includes a group and individual shot. Only cash or cheques will be accepted. No Credit cards or debit can be used for photo packages.

Consider it the same as performance. All female students are requested to wear make-up: lipstick, blush, eye shadow (earth tones preferred), and mascara.

For photo day ONLY you may wear your hair how you would like. It is suggested that all female students wear their hair up off their face and neck.

We will have a professional videographer taping the recital. Advance orders will be required; additional copies may be available for purchase ($40) after the recital. Please see attached handout for pricing or visit the website at http://www.drcvideo.com/shop/studios/show/S0828 (will be active closer to the date)

Video and Photography

PLEASE NOTE: NO VIDEO OR PHOTOGRAPHY WILL BE ALLOWED AT THE RECITAL. The recital will be professionally videoed and photographed and you may purchase copies.

Auditorium Rules

No eating or drinking is allowed in the auditorium or the dressing rooms.

Backstage

Family members and friends are not permitted backstage or in the dressing rooms during rehearsals or the recital. The same applies during intermission and after the show. There is a lot of backstage activity in a limited space, and dressing rooms are a private area. Please remind your family and guests to be respectful of these areas. Any parent who refuses to follow the rules will be asked to leave the theatre. Students are also restricted from leaving the backstage area and entering the lobby during intermission unless they are being signed out for the duration of the show.

Dressing Room Etiquette

Students and parents must respect other students’ space and property in the dressing rooms. The students will spend more time in the dressing rooms than onstage or in the auditorium, so they are asked to keep their space organized and clean. Students may bring water bottles with water ONLY into the dressing rooms. Dry, non-messy, NUT-FREE snacks (goldfish crackers, granola bars, etc.) may be brought as snacks. (please, no yogurt, applesauce, fruit etc.)

Backstage Helpers will be in the dressing room with their designated class throughout the whole show. Responsibilities will include helping their designated groups change costumes, taking younger students to the bathroom, providing entertainment (for younger dancers), and making sure the group is lined up at the appropriate time for their dance(s) and the finale. Backstage Helpers will be able to watch their class dance from the wings of the stage.

ALL Backstage Volunteers will have a REQUIRED meeting on Saturday, May 31st from 3:00-3:30 pm at the studio- All volunteers must possess a current Criminal Reference Check. PLEASE sign up at the office.

If you have concerns regarding your child(ren) during the recital, please address your concerns before April 1st. If your child has special needs/accommodations, or requires any kind of accommodations, we absolutely MUST know about them ASAP. The recital is a busy time and individual concerns cannot be fully addressed at the last minute.

All dancers will be signed in and out of the backstage area for both dress rehearsal and both shows, through the MinMax theatre.  This is a necessary procedure to ensure the safety of each child.  No matter the age of your child, there will be a form to fill out and a ticket will be issued to the assigned “guardian” for pick-up.  Please be patient with this process and stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

We will be offering Summer Day Camp for ages 3 and up! Full and Half Day Programs are available. We have 2 weeks to choose from! July 21-25 andAugust 25-29. $95 + HST for half day and $195 + HST for full day campers.

Summer Intensive is also being offered for 2 weeks in August . Students aged 7 and up, who train at an intensive level are invited to attend this full Day Program. August 11-15 and August 18-22– $260 + HST per week/$475 + HST for two weeks.

Registration for next season will begin May 5th!

We will release our schedule the week before so check the website and bulletin board for updates! We recommend you register online to reserve your spot!

Like last year, there will be a special draw for all students who register before May 31st! The draw will take place at the recital on June 2nd. There are fantastic prizes so be sure to register early! (One year tuition for 1 class at TDC, FREE week of camp, a $50 dance boutique gift card and more!)