Dear Parents and Dancers,
For 27 years Crystal River Ballet School has provided students with an exciting performance opportunity with our annual SPRING PRODUCTION.
A big part of the dance training process includes learning through performance. The experience builds self-esteem, self-assurance and contributes to a sense of confidence. Although performance opportunities can help prepare some students for a possible career in dance, they also contribute to children’s success in non-dance activities. That on-stage experience can result in better in-school presentations, improved social skills, and strong interview skills for future college or job opportunities. The rehearsal process is a tremendous learning process as well. It helps children develop retention skills, and by collaborating with classmates in a group performance, they learn the positive aspects of working as a team to create the best result.
Dedication to performance commitments is the responsibility of both students and their parents. I’ve created this handbook to clarify what I expect from you in terms of commitment and responsibility to \"Alice!\", the school and other students and parents. Participation is not mandated, and it is perfectly acceptable to opt out of the production without it affecting one’s participation in weekly classes. Please give plenty of notice if you make the choice not to participate, as I will assume your participation otherwise.
Performance Updates
As the season progresses, additional information or updates will be posted on the Crystal River Ballet School Student Performance Information page on our website and in the lobby of the Launchpad. Email updates will also be sent out, as necessary. It is your responsibility to keep abreast of this essential information. Please be sure to add my email address to your contacts. It is my goal to make the performance experience organized and exciting for all involved. It is a team effort; students, their parents, and I are all key players in the shows and the dancer’s success.
Home Study
To ensure that students feel confident about their performance, I ask parents to encourage them to rehearse the choreography on a regular basis. Link to the music on iTunes or Spotify will be available in the Parent Portal. Where appropriate, videos may be available in the portal as well.
Costumes
I spend many hours determining the correct costumes for each class/student. They are always age appropriate and of the highest quality possible. Most are handmade and uniquely crafted for our production. I do not have each student purchase their own costumes for the show. A nude foundation camisole leotard may make your dancer feel more comfortable and make quick costume changes easier. Please consider ordering one in advance. At Crystal River Ballet School, I loan out costumes to you, and you do not get to keep them after the show. The performance fee is required of each student to cover my costs of loaning you the costumes, upkeep, alterations, cleaning and maintaining the costumes. The fee is due no later than APRIL 1ST. It is posted to your account and will run with your autopay.
Tights are required of all students. The color of tights differs per role. Please verify color before purchasing and order your tights early as shipping delays can be an issue.
- Butterflies, Hedgehogs, Roses: PINK TO MATCH BALLET SLIPPERS
- Cards (all suits except jazz): WHITE
- Jazz class: Nude or tan to match shoes
- Main Cast: BALLET PINK/ NUDE TO MATCH BALLET SLIPPERS/POINTE SHOES PER ROLE.
Ballet and Jazz shoes
All shoes should fit close to the form of the foot, like a glove and should not be bought with “room to grow.” Ballet slippers for girls should be ballet pink or skin tone for boys I prefer black or white shoes. Students dancing en pointe must have enough shoes to get through the entire run of rehearsals and performances.
Hair
Most dancers will wear their hair in a mid-level ballet bun. Bangs or any other hair that is on the face creates unwanted shadows on the face under stage lights and it is most important for dancers to have a clean look for performances and must be pulled back. As in every aspect of life, people feel more at ease and confident about themselves when well-groomed and prepared. These qualities are evident in a dancer’s performance. If another hairstyle is required, it will be determined and posted at a later date.
Makeup
All students need to wear stage make-up for the performance as the stage lights will wash out their faces. See age groups below:
- Ballet Lower school students (ages 3 to 7): makeup if needed will be applied at the theater by the backstage team. Please do not apply or send children with their own makeup.
- Upper School students [level 2 and above classes-ages 8 and up]: Need to apply their own foundation matching the color of the skin and well blended. They also need to apply their own mascara-black, lightly, with no clumps and eyelashes separated not clumped together. Any other make-up will be applied by our make-up artists at the theater with hypo-allergenic, non-comedogenic, non-animal harming supplies. Please do not apply your own lipstick, blush etc.
- Youth Ballet Company Members: Dancers are expected to do their own stage makeup / hair and have their own supplies. A list and tutorial were handed out at the beginning of the season and is also available in the parent portal.
Pre-planning
The performance is not a one-day activity. Prepare in advance by gathering all tights, shoes, make-up, hair necessities so that you will know if you are missing something. Make a checklist of dances your child is in (especially if she is in more than one dance class). Bring an extra pair of tights, hair ties/pins, etc... Other helpful items include baby wipes, safety pins, baby powder (for itchy costumes), clear nail polish, ibuprofen, band aids, hair gel/spray, cotton swabs. Do not forget your water bottle!
Dress Rehearsal
The staging/ dress rehearsal allows the students to become familiar with the auditorium surroundings and feel comfortable with their performance, costume(s), and being onstage. Lighting, music cues, set changes, and all other logistics for an organized, SAFE, and professional performance are rehearsed so that the students can make the best impression possible. For the safety of all dancers and because dancing is a team activity, participation in these rehearsals is mandatory. I will do my best to run an organized and timely dress rehearsal; I can only do this with your help. Please plan to arrive 10 to 15 minutes before your scheduled rehearsal time. Otherwise, you may not end up on stage and ready at the specified time. (Time for potty, shoes, etc.) Unforeseen circumstances can happen, and we all need to be patient and understanding about any effects on our schedule. If you arrive at the time shown to be on stage, you will be LATE for rehearsal.
Dressing Room Etiquette: Students must respect other students’ space and property in the dressing rooms. The students will spend more time in the dressing rooms than on stage or in the auditorium, so please do your best to keep them organized and clean. Only snacks that will not stain or mark costumes are allowed.
Parents other than designated chaperones are not allowed in dressing rooms for the comfort and privacy of all dancers. Closed stage rehearsals: Please, no parents, grandparents, siblings, or friends who are not enrolled at the school. Staff, performers, and chaperones ONLY are allowed. It can make many children nervous to rehearse in front of adults before they are ready, and we will be respectful of that. We have plenty of chaperones, teachers, and assistants available. Thank you in advance for your understanding.
Backstage
Family members and friends do not belong backstage or in the dressing rooms during either the stage rehearsal or the performance. This applies during intermission and after the show as well. There is a lot of activity in a limited space, and dressing rooms are a private area. Please remind your family and guests to be respectful of these areas. Those who wish to greet a performer after the show or present flowers should do so in the lobby.
Snacks allowed backstage must not be of a type that could stain or mark costumes.
All dancers should have a backpack or bag labeled with their name in which to place their personal belongings.
All personal belongings should be labeled with your dancer’s name including tights, leotards, and ballet slippers.
Volunteer Information
Volunteers are needed and a necessary and integral part of our performance. Volunteer opportunities are posted in the Parent Portal starting April 1st. Please keep an eye out for it. Performance can be a hectic time; all volunteers must always work in a cooperative manner. Backstage can be especially hectic; I ask that all volunteers rely on the backstage manager’s experience and follow their instructions always. Please do not bring guests, including non-performing children/siblings, with you while you are volunteering. We need volunteers to be fully focused on their tasks.
- Chaperones: Ensure that children are safe and accounted for when not on stage. Check for proper costumes, hair, and make-up. Escort children to and from the stage for their performances. Attend to children’s needs (potty breaks, water, snacks, games, coloring etc…) Chaperones will be able to watch their children perform from the auditorium. You will be needed for both the dress rehearsal and the performance. (Usually a female-not a job for dads-sorry) Must arrive 15 minutes prior to dancers scheduled times.
- Hair/Makeup: Does hair for dancers who didn’t come with hair in the proper updo or need help touching up. Applies makeup to dancers according to roles. Arrives with earliest dancers scheduled.
- Box Office: Will call at the event and sell tickets for the performances through our ticketing app. Will need to arrive one hour before curtain.
- Concessions: Setup before shows and sell at the concession booth during intermission. Clean-up after the show. We use Venmo for concessions sales and all sales are BY DONATION – we do not set prices on individual items. It is imperative that this tradition continues in my mother’s honor. Thank you for understanding. Arrives one hour before curtain time and leaves after clean-up is complete.
- Load-in/OUT: Bring in/OUT all costumes, props, and stage/backstage supplies during the day on the day of dress rehearsal and after the final performance.
Tickets
All studio accounts (tuition, performance fees, etc.) must be paid in full before any family can purchase tickets. Tickets will be sold online starting in April and at the door. Cost is $25 for adults; $18 for children ages 11 and under and seniors over age 65. Ages 3 and under are FREE. There will be a family rate of $65 for members of the same immediate family available.
Auditorium / Audience rules
- Please do not bring your own food or drink. Concessions are available in the lobby during intermission and benefit our Youth Ballet Company program and our scholarship students. Please keep food in the lobby and do not bring it into the auditorium.
- NO SMOKING/VAPING.
- NO PETS except service animals according to the rules of the venue.
- PLEASE TURN OFF ALL MOBILE DEVICES.
- Dancers must remain with their class during dress rehearsal and the performance even when they are not on stage. Please do not take your child away from their group without letting us know in advance, this has resulted in the performers being feared missing, causing undo fear and frustration as well as not being on stage on time or missing their bows.
Video and photography
Parents/guardians may shoot photos of their children only when the students are off-stage and NOT in the dressing room. Absolutely no flash photography is allowed while dancers are on stage performing. We will have a step-and-repeat set-up for photo opportunities.
Due to copyright laws, I cannot allow videotaping of the show. I have a volunteer video for each performance in its entirety. We are struggling with posting these videos online due to copyright laws and are working for a solution. We will update when possible.
Thank you for reading this handbook in its entirety with your dancer. The Spring Production is a special time of year for the dancers and teachers as we wrap up the school year and look forward to class advancements, summer camps and achievement of goals set. We hope your family enjoys it as much as we do and congratulations on a successful year of dance!
Ms. Jeni | Director
Ms. Nicole | Associate Director
Ms. Sarah | Stage Manager
Questions? Email Ms. Jeni msjeni@crystalriverballet.com