 There is no way around it… no matter how much you prepare or how many years you have under your belt, recitals are STRESSFUL. For a new student (and parent) to dance, a recital can be truly overwhelming. When I started the DiscoverDance program 14 years ago, I wanted to introduce my little ones to their first performance experience without the stresses of the usual recital. I created a showcase event that has proven to be little stress with big success. This unique approach not only prepares my little ones for their future recitals, but it offers a shorter performance (which keeps our audience happy) and creates an opportunity for our families to come together and celebrate their dancer.  We used to hold these events at our dance studio, but as our program grew, we could no longer accommodate the large crowds. Because we wanted to keep these showcases simple and less stressful than our annual summer recitals, we opted for a space that had a smaller stage with ample room for chairs and event activities. A ballroom, school cafeteria/gym equipped with a stage, or a performing arts space would all work well. We keep the stage and house lights up for the duration of the event, so lighting capabilities is not a concern. If the space does not have a sound system, I highly recommend you invest in a portable speaker. This speaker is also great to use at outdoor events and parades!  We hold two showcases per regular dance season, one mid-season and one at the end of the season. If our 2-4-year-old dancers would like to participate, they have the option to perform in one or both showcases. Both have separate participation fees. In addition to these fees, there is one costume fee. This costume is a simple dance dress that they will use for both showcases. Male dancers wear a solid colored shirt and pants or shorts. All of our classes wear the same costume. You can certainly have each class wear a different costume and make those choices fancier, but again, we are going for less stress for both our families and the studio staff!
These hour-long themed events include 6-8 dance routines. There is also a craft section, cookies and juice reception, and a character meet and greet. We combine smaller classes and hold two events to accommodate all of our families. We also invite our company to open and close the student showcase and volunteer during the event.  Because there are no costume changes and the performance is kept short, our little ones get a glimpse of backstage life without the stress of being held captive for hours. :) With books, coloring activities, and those awesome company volunteers, backstage is a breeze! After the performance, dancers are divided by age and taken to one of the three activity stations. This is where the parents join their little ones to enjoy the remainder of the event. If you have been thinking about having a separate performance opportunity for your little ones, I hope you have found some inspiration here. Stay tuned, because coming up soon I will dive into the details on how we make it all come together. I’ll even be sharing a sample showcase and checklist!
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The number one reason you should be performing in your recital is to SET THE EXAMPLE. We can talk the talk all we want, but if we want our students to encompass all that is necessary to become a successful dancer, performer, entertainer, artist, and HUMAN BEING, we must show them. When we perform, we show our students…
Tips for Success. Time is probably the biggest factor keeping many teachers out of the spotlight. We are busy humans! This is why I recommend performing choreography that has already been created. We choose dances from past recitals. As you can imagine, our students get super excited to see our interpretation of their old dances. We use recital videos to learn the choreography on our own, then come together for 2-3 hours to rehearse. Remember, we are professionals performing choreography intended for our students… it’s less stressful for us but really special for the kids who were in the dance and those who remember the dance from previous years. Parents love it too! To build suspense and add an extra touch of fun, we let the students vote on the style we will perform. We create a ballot of four different styles. The dancers choose the style they want to see us perform and add a dance request (if they have one). They don’t know which style won UNTIL the rehearsal. It is a fun surprise! If your time is really limited, consider coming out for a few 8-counts during the finale or curtain call. Again, it doesn’t have to be anything elaborate. Lastly, parents and students WANT to see you on stage. If you were lucky enough to see your teachers perform, you know the magic it creates inside a little dancer’s heart. I specifically remember watching my “Miss Sally” perform when I was little. It is one of the reasons I got into this biz. I thought, “I want to be just like her!” Fast forward and here I am planting those same seeds in my dancers’ dreams. How cool is that!?!? So, let’s hear it… Do you perform in your own show? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. It's the most wonderful time of the year! Here are a some activities to bring festive fun into your classes. Enjoy! Winter Movement Cards Download these fun-themed movement cards for FREE! You can laminate to make them last for years to come. These are great to include in your obstacle courses, lay them around the room for open exploration (great for parent/tot classes), or send them to your dance families so they can continue the dance fun at home! For older dancers, make it a fun choreography game! Divide your class into small groups. Have dancers randomly draw cards and place in an order. Dancers work together to create a short choreographic phrase they can share with the class. Winter Playlist I’ve put together some of my favorite winter action dances here. These are great for ages 2-6. If you approach your classes conceptually, here is a list of the songs and the concepts they explore. There are also some freeze dances on the playlist you can include in your winter lessons. North Pole Party Freeze Dance- PLACE Walk and Freeze- PLACE, ENERGY Shake Them Santa Claus Bones- BODY PARTS The Christmas Action Song-PLACE The Winter Hokey Pokey- BODY PARTS, RELATIONSHIPS Jingle Bell Opposites-DIRECTIONS, LEVEL, SPEED Reindeer Pokey- BODY PARTS, RELATIONSHIPS Snowflakes, Snowflakes- LEVEL, DIRECTIONS Did You Ever See a Penguin?- DIRECTIONS, PATHWAYS Ring Those Bells- PLACE Jingle Jingle Little Bell-SPEED, LEVEL Moving Story-PLACE, LEVEL Frosty- SPEED The Reindeer Dance-DIRECTIONS Santa Shuffle-DIRECTIONS, LEVEL Xmas Hop- DIRECTIONS, BODY PARTS Swirl and Twirl: Step #1 of The Snowflake Dance- PLACE Swirl, Twirl, Melt and Pop Up: Step #2 of The Snowflake Dance- PLACE, ENERGY Happy winter exploring!
Andrea Trench Halloween is my favorite time of the year. I love the crisp air, dressing up, and a good scary movie. I even get the whole fam involved in my excitement! :)
 You can add your own kid-friendly Halloween fun to your classes with the ideas below! Halloween Movement Cards Download these 10 fun-themed movement cards for FREE! You can laminate them to make them last for years to come. They are great to include in your obstacle courses, lay them around the room for open exploration (fun for parent/tot classes), or send them to your dance families so they can continue the dance fun at home! For older dancers, make it a fun choreography game! Divide your class into small groups. Have dancers randomly draw cards and place in an order. Dancers work together to create a short choreographic phrase they can share with the class. Halloween Playlist I’ve put together some of my favorite Halloween action dances here. These are great for ages 2-6. If you approach your classes conceptually (if not…what are you waiting for?? :) ), here is a list of the songs and the concepts they explore. There is also a welcome and goodbye song on the playlist you can include in your October lessons. Enjoy! Halloween Freeze Dance Song- PLACE, WEIGHT Witches on their Broom-PLACE, ENERGY Shake Them Skeleton Bones and Dry Bones- BODY PARTS Horns, Fangs, Knees, and Claws- BODY PARTS Ring Around the Pumpkins- PLACE, RELATIONSHIPS The Monsters Stomp Around the House- PLACE, SPEED Halloween Finger Family- PLACE, BODY PARTS Bats Are Sleeping- PLACE, LEVEL Spider, Spider, Spider- DIRECTIONS, LEVEL, BODY PARTS Spider Up and Down- DIRECTIONS Spooky Loo-BODY PARTS, RELATIONSHIPS If I Were-PLACE, ENERGY Fly Little Bats-PLACE, SPEED Can You Make a Happy Face- PLACE, SPEED, SIZE Knock, Knock, Trick or Trick- PLACE, ENERGY, WEIGHT, SPEED Halloween Shark- SIZE, PATHWAYS Scarecrow- PLACE, LEVEL Halloween BraindanceFor your older dancers (ages 6-8), check out Kate Kuper’s Haunted House Braindance. Listen here. Learn more here. Happy Halloween Exploring!
Andrea Trench |
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June 2019
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