Dear Studio A Parents,

Recital week is almost upon us! Thank you so much for another great year. The following is a more comprehensive list of suggestions to help rehearsals run smoothly. Please take the time to read through this so you and your dancer can arrive ready and prepared. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us (919) 929-5202 or meggen@embarqmail.com. Thanks so much and see you soon.

REHEARSALS AT THE STUDIO:

These rehearsals are meant as a run through to get our dancer’s accustomed to dancing in front of lots of people. It will help the transition to the theater at East much easier. Please arrive 10 minutes early. Upon arrival, please find your class and sit down together. Once everyone has arrived we will begin. Dancers are not required to wear their costumes for these rehearsals. We will run each dance twice. Dancers are free to leave when they are done. Please park up at the Legion and walk down to the studio. There is not enough parking for everyone in the lot immediately outside, therefore it will help us avoid congestion. Thanks

REHEARSALS AT EAST CHAPEL HILL HIGH SCHOOL:

Friday Dress/Tech Rehearsal (Movement Classes): This is the first time in the theater for many of our young dancers. It is an exciting time, but can also be scary for some of the younger ones. The stage is a big place, but we have lots of helpers to help your dancer transition nicely. Please arrive 10-15 minutes early. Upon arrival at East, bring your dancer into the auditorium and help them find their seat designated by class. Please make sure they use the restroom first! When it is their turn to dance, their “big helpers” will bring them backstage and to their place. Please do not come backstage with your child. We have plenty of helpers! If everyone tries to come back stage it gets too crowded and crazy. Help us run things smoothly by staying out in the audience to watch your child dance. After your child is done dancing, they will be led back out to the audience to sit and watch. However, once they are done, you are welcome to leave. Please make sure that you let their group leader know you are leaving. It will help us keep track of the kids. Remember dancers should arrive in costume, and with appropriate hair and makeup (nothing fancy). We suggest that dancers have their hair securely fastened out of their face. Please do not use big bows or colored hair ties. In terms of makeup, a little bit of blush and lipstick is recommended (it helps us see their cute little faces from the audience). More details are listed below.

Friday Dress/Tech Rehearsal for (Technique Level Ballet, Fusion, Contemporary ONLY):
Please arrive 10-15 minutes early and wait in the audience. Please do not crowd backstage… it makes things crazy! Dancers should arrive in costume and the appropriate hair & makeup (details listed below). We suggest that all dancers have their hair pulled securely back from their faces (unless otherwise specified). We will run the act in order, through the act finale. Dancers will be allowed to sit out in the audience to watch the other dances. They are old enough to know when it is almost their turn to go backstage. Please stay until the very end. We realize that it is a slow process, but it is necessary in order to prevent problems on the recital day. We appreciate your patience. Please come prepared with homework or other activities. Parents, please stay in the audience, NOT backstage. We will have plenty of helpers to take care of the youngest groups of dancers, so there is no need to worry. When the dancers are done, they will come out to the audience to find you. Make sure you leave with everything you came with. We are not responsible for lost or stolen items. Once again, it will be a long day. Please remember to feed your dancer before coming to the theater. We are not allowed to have food inside the auditorium, so remember to eat a hearty meal earlier on in the day. Take extra care of your costumes!!!

Saturday Recital:

It’s Showtime! Please arrive 15-20 minutes prior to showtime in costume and makeup.

Find your assigned seating area in the audience (just like we will practice on Friday). “Class helpers” will instruct you what to do when it is time to start. We will take classes an act at a time backstage and return them to their assigned area after their acts finale. Please DO NOT try to find your child backstage… that gets chaotic. We assure you that things go much smoother if you and other family members wait until all dancers are seated before going down to meet them. We know it’s exciting, but please help us avoid potential disaster. You are welcome to stay and enjoy the whole show, but may leave after your act. Please wait until dancers are back in their seats from an act to come and collect your dancer.

HERE IS A LIST OF RULES AND SUGGESTIONS THAT WILL HELP MAKE ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE:

1. Talk to your children about listening and following directions. This week is unlike any other, as dancers have to learn to work in large groups. There will be a lot of kids at the rehearsals during these days, and things can get a bit crazy. As always, we expect the dancers to be well behaved. However, it is an exciting time and a precautionary word from the parents would be much obliged.

2. DIRECTIONS TO EAST CHAPEL HILL HIGH SCHOOL: East is located at 500 Weaver Dairy Rd., Chapel Hill, NC 27514.

3. PARKING AND WHERE TO GO AT EAST: Please park in the visitor’s parking lot. When entering ECHHS from Weaver Dairy Rd. you are directed to the right. Take the first left and follow it around the “drop off” circle. The visitor’s lot is on the left. From the visitor’s lot, follow the signs outside the school for the auditorium… it is the entrance at the top of the hill by the gym.

4. HAIR needs to be off faces either with hairspray, styling gel, hair elastics, clips, etc. This goes for boys AND girls. We have to be able to see each face during rehearsals and the show. *** Girls in the Ballet should wear their hair in a tight bun… bobby pins are a girl’s best friend***

5. COSTUMES are required on Friday (dress rehearsal) and Saturday (the recital). Remember, once costumes leave the studio on the day teachers distribute them, they are the responsibility of the student. We have no extras. Please be extra careful with where you store them. It might be wise to write your names inside, just in case. Also, please do not stuff them in a bag. No one wants to look at a wrinkled costume on stage. Please try to hang up your costumes. If they need some extra care… there is a great invention called the steamer 🙂

6. MAKEUP is required on Friday (dress rehearsal) and Saturday (the recital).

MOVEMENT CLASSES: Don’t go crazy! We recommend a little bit of rosy blush, and some lipstick. Stage lights bleed out the color from the dancers, so it helps us see their cute little faces from the audience.

BALLET/ CONTEMPORARY/ FUSION: In general, dancers should apply foundation, black eyeliner, eye shadow, black mascara, rosy blush, and a dark burgundy lipstick. *** Colors may vary class to class… if you have questions please direct them to the appropriate instructor.
NO SOCKS!!! It is a dance teacher’s worst nightmare to see a student wearing socks on stage. First off, it is dangerous. Secondly, it’s ugly! Please do not even think about it. Save yourself the trouble, and take them off! (Ballet students, make sure your bunny ears are tucked in and/or ribbons secure!!!)

7. NO CHEWING GUM!!! Like the socks, don’t even think about it. In fact, don’t even bring gum to the theater. If one of us sees a child chewing gum on stage, we will come on stage and stick it on their nose! 🙂

8. NO JEWELRY… ESPECIALLY DANGLY EARRINGS!!! Likewise, they are dangerous to dance in.They get caught on costumes and people. Let’s avoid all potential disasters and take them off! **Simple stud earrings are acceptable.

9. SNACKS: We do not allow food and drink in the auditorium. We know that these days are long, so please feed your child a hearty meal before they arrive. If they will be at rehearsal for multiple acts, send your dancer to the theater with a water bottle and a light snack to tie them over. Please try to organize snacks that are not messy. Dancers who choose to eat may go outside in the hallway.

10. CONCESSIONS will be sold in the lobby on the day of the recital. We will have snacks and drinks at our concession stand before the show, at intermissions between acts, and after the show. All proceeds go toward recital expenses.

11. DVD’s & THUMBDRIVES will be available upon a pre-order/pre-pay basis. Our professional videographer will be back this year, so if you would like the convenience of not having to bring your camera, sign up early. Pre-order sign-up sheets will be posted at the studio in advance. You must pre-pay by check made payable to Jay Schmitt. DVD $35 THUMBDRIVE $40.

12. This year we are trying something new. You will need a ticket for the recital. This is to help make sure that everyone has a seat. Each dancer will be allotted 4 tickets. (Plus a dancer pass) Tickets are free and available at https://studioa.ludus.com Thanks for your patience.

13. End of the Year Party will be held at Studio A on Monday June 3rd from 4:30pm-6:30pm. It’s time to celebrate, so we hope to see you all there! We will be showing the recital video while enjoying light snacks and refreshments provided by Studio A.

Good luck and thank you for a great year!

Melody & Stephanie