5 Weeks, 5 Recital Tips: Tip #4
Our final tip is brought to you on a very special day here at Xtreme... recital day! We are SO excited! This is our 9th annual show and we are bursting with joy knowing we will be watching our amazing dancers on stage in just a matter of hours.
Here is our final tip for you as recital season comes to an end:
Make the Most of It
With all the chaos of recital night, how can you make sure you make the most out of every moment? Here's some helpful hints that will make your night less stressful and more memorable:
1) Take Your Costume Organization to the Next Level
One of the best tips I ever learned as a dancer when it came to keeping my costumes organized was to bring a laundry basket to recital. Yes. A laundry basket (or hamper).
This is especially helpful if you have more than one (or several) routines to perform in. Here's what you do:
- At recital in the dressing room, find a space and set up your garment rack with your costumes lined up in the order you are performing in.
- Place your laundry basket right beside your rack. - Have all your costume accessories packed in a separate bag beforehand so you can keep track of them easily. Place that bag with your garment rack. - Once you are finished a routine, as you take off your costume and all accessories that go with it, throw them in the laundry basket. This way, when you get to the end of the night, all your costumes are not scattered all over the dressing room floor, getting mixed up with other costumes, lost, etc. They are all in a safe place for you to organize the following day.
2) Be Attentive
There are a lot of people backstage and a lot of things going on all around you at all times. Be sure you are listening for your name and/or routine names to be called so you can line up at the right time. You don't want to miss your call time and potentially miss out on performing!
3) Stay Backstage
It is a pretty standard rule that you have to stay backstage for the entirety of the show. It is important that you don't try to sneak off or go do your own thing if you get bored waiting. You can watch the show from the dressing room if a live feed is set up, you can stretch, go over your routines, etc. If you need help with anything, ask a faculty member or a volunteer.
4) Help Yourself First
Yes, this may sound selfish at first, but hear me out. Get yourself ready for what you need to do and where you need to be next. If someone needs help and they ask you, just politely tell them you need a few minutes to finish getting yourself ready and that you are happy to help them when you are finished. If you are unable to help them, point the
m to the nearest faculty member or volunteer. If you spend all your time making sure everyone else has it together, you won't have yourself together, causing you a lot of unnecessary stress.
5) Be Quiet & Respectful
The audience can see and hear so much more than you may think. Sound can really travel. Try to remain quiet in the dressing room, through the line up processes, and especially backstage. Also be aware of bleeding light. Always remember, if you can see the audience, they can see you. Stay back from the wings.
6) Take Pictures
At the end of the night, be sure to get lots of pictures with your dance besties, teachers, and whoever else you want to remember this amazing night with.
7) Say Thank You
Be sure to thank your teachers and studio owner for everything they have done for you. It is so appreciated more than you know as there is an enormous amount of work that was put into getting you on that stage, recital-ready.
8) Have FUN!
Soak up every ounce of applause. Live in the moments you are on stage. There is nothing like performing for an audience - you truly feel on top of the world. This is your moment. Shine on!
I hope you enjoyed our 5 tips! Which tip was your favourite and/or most helpful? Let us know in the comments below!
Merde, dancers!