Important Parent/Participants Week of Nutcracker Info

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Week of Nutcracker: Important Info on Rehearsals, Dress Rehearsals, & Performances

When we have our dress rehearsals, performing on a professional stage, and getting ready/waiting backstage there are a few things to know:

Double check and recheck your calendars for dress rehearsals and performance call times by reading the notes/more info/details/”>” IN the calendars.

The Dance Store is only open Monday – Thursday the week of Nutcracker; 3:45-5:00; please plan accordingly. If needing last minute items call/text Jen 307-250-5739 and she arrange for items and will charge to your account. *different roles may need different types of shoes; see costume list 

  • Dancers should NOT wear their costumes or dance shoes outside or to the auditorium.
  • To keep your dancers things together during dress rehearsals & performances, we ask parents to make sure names are marked on items (including dance shoes!) and to bring a marked laundry basket or something similar. It will be helpful for our volunteers if our youngest roles have their roles listed ON their basket with their name.
  • Females: undergarments (underwear & bras) are not to be worn under bodyliners/leotards & dance tights. Proper dance attire is designed with this in mind.

REHEARSALS

Dress Rehearsals are extremely important for not only the performers but the stage crew and instructors. There is a lot to work out and put together so that the show is the best it can be. Volunteers/Parents and performers can help it run smoothly and on time by: having all items needed like correct shoes, being on time to your rehearsal slot, if performers are not on stage; remain seated towards the front– this way they can see what’s going on and hear when it’s their turn, and keeping voices down. We know dress rehearsals can run long but it is very distracting and disrespectful to have kids rolling down aisles, running through the auditorium, and climbing over seats. Performers on stage need to be able to hear teachers instructions, and directors need to be able to communicate with stage crew, etc.

  • ALL rehearsals this week are MANDATORY
    • Monday rehearsals are at the studio
    • Wednesday & Thursday are at Wynona
      • If calendar is labeled in scenes; regular Nutcracker rehearsal attire is required
        • Boys: BLACK sweatpants or male dance tights, PLAIN WHITE t-shirt, black jazz or ballet shoes*
        • Girls: BLACK dance leotard, PINK tights, pink ballet shoes*, hair in secure ballet bun (no bangs). Optional: BLACK dance skirt, black dance sweater.
      • If calendar is labeled as a “DRESS Rehearsal” in the calendar, all costuming is need including proper shoes, correct leotards, & tights.
        • Not only does this help prepare your dancer for performance (knowing what they are to wear for what roles) but we also take professional pictures or have local papers there during rehearsals for future promotions and social media.
      • Kiss Corp & Arabian Corp are specifically listed when they need to be at rehearsals and when it is their dress rehearsal (costumes required). PLEASE read the notes/details in the calendars for this.
  • We will do our very best to keep this weeks rehearsals on schedule. It really helps if all dancers are on time, ready to go, and the auditorium remains calm & quite.
  • During rehearsals at the auditorium, parents/guardians are asked to help keep it a calm & quiet place to be respectful to all rehearsing. Dancers are to remain seated towards the front so everyone can hear & see what is going on.
    • Just like during a live performance, if younger siblings are at rehearsals they also need to stay seated and need to leave the auditorium if they begin to fuss loudly or become a distraction. Our decorators will be working in the lobby Thursday night so we ask that there is no running or playing in the lobby either.
    • During Rehearsals- Parents may video and take pics but we ask that videos are NOT shared via social media as we have had issues with Liz’s personal choreography being copied. Video and photography is NOT allowed during the actual performances. DVD order forms are available online and are due Dec. 11.
    • Unfortunately food AND drink (yes even coffee) is not allowed in the auditorium; it’s the auditorium rules, not ours and they do have a serious ant problem. Drinking fountains are located in the lobby.
  • ALL dancers must LEAVE the auditorium during scheduled dinner breaks as this allows Miss Liz, our stage, sound, and lighting directors to regroup.
  • Performers are allowed to leave after they have finished rehearsing ALL their roles scheduled for the night.
    • WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY: school is still in session so we need to take everything with us when we leave.

FOR PERFORMANCES:

ALL cast members perform in ALL performances (exception of Kiss Corp on Friday’s school performance as shown in calendars)

  1. Abbreviated School Access for All performances on Friday. Please note: Cody schools except Livingston (see email Miss Liz sent last week about this) have been emailed a list of students performing, so Cody students should already be “excused” from school. Powell and other area schools; we do not have all the contact information for what schools your child attends so you will have to notify your Child’s school that they will not be at school on Friday. 

2. Traditionally 2 full-length performances; 1 Saturday night & 1 Sunday afternoon.

See calendar “details” for call times (when dancers are to arrive) and other important info. Please DO NOT arrive sooner that your performers scheduled call time. 

  • Dancers SHOULD NOT HAVE ON or BRING: nail polish, watches, jewelry (including earrings), food- of ANY kind, or gum. Please understand earrings will be removed from dancers ears if they come to performances with them on so please just leave them at home so they do not get lost.
  • Females: undergarments (underwear & bras) are not to be worn under bodyliners/leotards & dance tights. Proper dance attire is designed with this in mind.
  • Dancers should come to all performances stage ready with light makeup applied & hair in secure bun (no bangs).
    • Stage makeup is light blush, foundation, mascara, and mauve lipstick, (NO eyeshadow or eyeliner) stage lights can flush out performers so makeup is to help enhance natural beauty, not overwhelm). Leave ALL makeup at home, including lipstick as it can make big messes backstage on costumes, on young “unsupervised” dancers, and in the carpet.
  • Parents should drop off dancers backstage at their call time (Younger Nut Roles come in by entering the right “side door” that is up the long sidewalk between High School & WT auditorium; Older Nut Roles (Ac 4) enter through the left “side door” backstage entrance between large HS parking lot & WT auditorium). We do try to have these doors marked. Once in the hallways, look for marked areas where the different roles will “set up camp”.
    • Feel free to get your child situated. Parents of younger dancers: it is very helpful for you to have your child try using the bathroom. Parents of kisses; please do NOT put costumes on as their roles aren’t until Act 2. We will have our volunteers helping with this.
    • Parents/guardians are not allowed to stay backstage for any performances unless they signed up beforehand to volunteer; volunteers will have name tags.
    • Parents are not allowed to attend a performance unless they have purchased a ticket as all seats are assigned.
    • During Friday school performances: parents are NOT allowed to stay watch as this is only for our elementary school area kids and seats are assigned. During full-length performances anyone wanting to watch must have purchased a ticket and all seats are assigned.
  • NO FOOD ALLOWED at all backstage; water bottles with only water in them is permitted and leak proof is preferred. Please label.
    • (IF we have more than one school performance back to back). Non-messy food is ONLY allowed backstage for performers who are performing MORE THAN ONCE on Friday for school performances
      • Non-messy food includes items that are not sticky, do NOT stain, and cannot be crushed into the carpet. Great options are apples, carrots, string cheese, dried fruit, chewy (non chocolate/not melty) granola bars– PLEASE NO CRACKERS, NO CANDY, NO goldfish or DRINKS OF ANY KIND. Remind kids to keep any food wrapped up as the ants WILL find it.
  • To keep your dancers things together backstage, we ask parents to make sure names are marked on items (including dance shoes!) and to bring a marked laundry basket or something similar.
    • It is also helpful for our backstage volunteers if our youngest roles have their roles listed ON their basket with their name.
    • Extra bobby pins, safety pins, hair bands, and a few clean quiet activities (NO MARKERS) can be helpful.
  • ALL performers must stay for the entire scheduled performance of all performances.
  • During full-length performance intermission: parents/guardians are NOT allowed backstage and ALL performers MUST STAY backstage.
  • After performances are over, parents can go and pick up your child(ren); please DO NOT come up the side stage stairs in the auditorium but go the way you dropped performers off.
  • FRIDAY: take everything with you and double check you have all shoes & costume pieces.
  • SATURDAY: costumes/shoes etc. can stay backstage.
  • SUNDAY: Make sure you leave with everything you brought; costume return is on Monday from 4:00-5:45! :).

OTHER

  • Traditionally flowers are given to dancers after they perform. We do sell fresh cut flowers in the lobby before performances, during intermission, and after (if there are any left). We also sell Nutcracker merchandise which can also be a fun gift for your performer.
  • Dance performance etiquette is different than orchestra or piano concerts. During dance performances; feel free to laugh, clap, hoot, and holler (appropriately) when something moves you at any time. Dancing is hard work and the dancers thrive off of the audience energy!
    • When attending live ballet and theatre; it is appropriate for audience members to dress up. Business sharp or cocktail attire is generally a norm.
  • EVERYONE needs a ticket to attend performances.
    • ALL Tickets for performances are scanned at the door and were emailed to you in your confirmation email (click yellow box at the top of the email). Please have these eticket(s) accessible on your phone OR printed out.
      • From the looks of it, we will be selling out so remind everyone to purchase their tickets sooner than later as we may not have any left at the door.
  • PARENTS OF YOUNGER PERFORMERS: we want your littles to have a great first performance experience, don’t forget to plan accordingly as our night performances don’t start till 7:00 which we realize may be your child’s bedtime– a relaxing day and naps maybe in order; and 2:00 performance may be during nap time so adjust as needed :). Also please know parents are NOT allowed to stay backstage unless signed up to volunteer.
  • FIRST TIME PERFORMERS: we have found that for most kids especially if they are really young, it is helpful to NOT talk about nerves or being anxious, scared, or butterflies. Some kids do not even know what nerves are unless someone says something or puts it in their heads. Performing is exciting! Be positive and encouraging but don’t make it a big deal. You can simply tell them to have fun, smile, and don’t forget to point your toes 

Download our FREE Studio App to stay up to date on all Nutcracker information: https://rmsa.app.link/A8L0kIMX8Q  

Join our RMSA/RMDT Dance Parents Facebook Page; where you can ask questions.

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