Happy New Year, Dance Families!

It may be cold and blustery outside, but at Dance Imagination, it is time for us to begin planning our Spring Recital. There is so much involved and so very many preparations to make, and that is why it is important that we get started as soon as possible! Most everything is similar to years before:

RETURNING THIS SEASON: A signed Recital Agreement will be required for each dancer participating in the show. Agreement forms are attached to this email below and will be available in the studio lobby. You should return your signed Recital Agreement to your teacher.

WHEN & WHERE IS THE RECITAL TAKING PLACE? Please mark your calendars!... The Spring recital is scheduled for Saturday, May 10th at His Hands Church located at 550 Molly Lane in Woodstock, off Highway 92 in front of BJ’s and across from Lowe’s.

WHAT TIME IS MY DANCER’S SHOW? We will have many shows on recital day, and the exact time of your dancer's show will be finalized by the end of February.

WHAT IS THE THEME? Our theme this season is "Rockin’ in the USA”. 

WHAT IS THE FEE AND WHEN IS IT DUE? The fee schedule for Spring recital is as follows:

Paid in full by Jan 31st via cash or check = $145 or paid via credit/debit card = $150

Split into 2 payments via cash or check = $75 due Jan 31st and $75 due March 15th

OR paid via credit/debit card = $80 due Jan 31st and $75 due March 15th.

There is no sibling discount for recital fees. The fee is non-refundable, even under circumstances beyond our control. However, we will do everything we possibly can to ensure that the show happens even if it must be postponed. You may pay your fee in full no later than January 31st. Alternatively, you may split it into two payments as detailed above: the first due no later than January 31st and the second due no later than March 15th. You should indicate on your signed Recital Agreement which payment plan you prefer.

WHAT DOES THE FEE INCLUDE? The fee includes one costume that you will keep, one pair of tights, a themed recital t-shirt, two tickets to your dancer's show and a personalized trophy for your dancer.

WHAT ABOUT COSTUMES? Your teacher will begin measuring your dancer this week for her/his costume. During this time, song selections and costume selections will also begin. Please try to be punctual and present at each class so that you do not miss out on any of the action or announcements.

We will order costumes on January 31st. Costumes will not be ordered unless your January 31st payment is received and a signed Recital Agreement is in hand. We cannot guarantee costume availability if you pay late or decide to join after Jan 31st. Additionally, costumes will not be sent home until all recital fees are paid in full. There will be no refunds after January 31st. If you select the split payment option, you will still be liable for the balance no later than March 15th regardless of the circumstances. Once costumes are ordered, there is no cancellation or return accepted by any of our vendors and so we must also enforce this same policy. If there is any sizing or defect issue with a costume upon receipt, we can exchange for the appropriate fix within a certain window of time.

WHAT DANCES WILL MY DANCER DO? Each Fairytale Ballet & Tap class will perform two dances: one ballet and one tap. Hip Hop only class will perform one hip hop dance. Advanced Combo class will perform three dances – one from each discipline. Mommy & Me classes do not perform at our recitals.

Please communicate to your teacher your intent to participate in the recital so that she may ensure your dancer is on the list. It is important to commit one way or the other so that your teacher may proceed with choreography based on whom and how many dancers are participating. Remember that participation is not mandatory and if you choose to sit this one out, it will not affect your dancer's weekly class experience.

WHAT ABOUT ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AT THE VENUE? Currently, our venue, His Hands, does not have mandatory requirements regarding entrance and number of attendees that we must meet in order to be able to hold our recital in their church. If this changes, it will be communicated to all recital participants ASAP.

HOW DO WE BUY ADDITIONAL TICKETS? Each dancer receives two (2) tickets to her/his show with paid recital fee. We will allow families to purchase additional tickets for $10/each during a designated period of time prior to the recital date which we will announce and advertise. We may also sell tickets at the door on the day of the recital if available. No ticket = no entry. Every guest must have a ticket in hand to enter the recital, including siblings. Performing dancers do not need a ticket. Infants that you will hold in your arms for the entire time you are inside the building do not require a ticket. No strollers are allowed inside the auditorium.

HOW WILL BACKSTAGE WORK THIS TIME? We will again have a drop-off situation (Remember “Kiss-&-Fly”?) for the backstage area like we did for the 2024 Winter Recital, and if necessary, each class will have one (1) designated “Back-Stage Mom” who will supervise and assist the teacher before, during and after the class performs. Your teacher will inform your class and designate that person if she does need assistance from a backstage mom. If your class is your teacher’s only class for that particular show, then she may not need extra help. All parents should expect to be seated with their families in the audience for the duration of the show. We will again offer the front row reserved for moms to watch while their own dancer performs onstage this time. If your dancer requires exceptional assistance during the show, then your teacher will work that out with you prior to the recital day.

HOW LONG DOES EACH SHOW LAST? There will only be approximately 35 dancers permitted per show. That means that each show will run approximately 50-60 minutes long. You will be asked to arrive 30 minutes prior to your show’s start time. You will be asked to gather belongings and exit as quickly as possible following the end of your show. Our staff must reset the backstage area between each show and so we will need to clear the areas ASAP when the show is over to accomplish that and start the next show on time.

WILL THERE BE ANY STAGE REHEARSALS THIS YEAR? There may be stage rehearsals for your class this year if your teacher feels it is necessary. If so, the stage rehearsal schedule will be published approximately 2-3 weeks prior to your show date. Whether your class rehearses on stage or not, class attendance is extremely important for your dancer to feel confident and prepared. HEALTHY CHILDREN SHOULD BE PRESENT AT AND PUNCTUAL TO DANCE CLASS EACH WEEK. To have our dancers’ best attention and energy, teachers often teach choreography, stage direction and new material at the very beginning of class. Being tardy or absent will affect your dancer’s ability to learn and master the material prior to recital day. Late arrivals will miss vital instruction and are disruptive to the class. Make-up classes are extremely limited due to our limited class sizes. Please be aware that your dancer will not be able to learn what was missed in her/his own class by attending another class since each class has its own unique program for the recital.

HOW WILL THIS AFFECT FAMILIES WITH SIBLING DANCERS? Families with siblings who dance in different classes may expect their dancers to be either in the same show or in consecutive shows. We do our best to make it as convenient for sibling families as possible by putting siblings together. However, please be advised that due to the restrictions on the number of dancers allowed per show, your dancers may have to be scheduled back-to-back instead.

IS PARTICIPATION IN THE RECITAL EVENT REQUIRED? No, participation in our Spring Recital event is not mandatory. If you prefer to opt out of the event, please notify your teacher ASAP. She needs to know who is in and who is out so that she can choreograph the dances and arrange the staging accordingly. If your dancer does not participate in the Spring Recital, then her/his weekly class experience will remain the same with the exception of time set aside each week for choreography instruction. So, your dancer will still learn the same dance lessons as everyone else, you will just skip the event itself.

We understand that this is a lot of information to digest and might be a little bit different than you have experienced if you participated in different dance programs. We are extremely grateful and excited that we are able to plan this event for our dancers so that they can show off all the hard work, effort, and dedication they have put in this season as well as sparkle and shine onstage for their ardent fans…YOU!!! At the end of the season, it is most important to us that our dancers get the opportunity to experience “Showtime!” and receive the applause and appreciation they all deserve! See you in the studio!

 
Attachment:  PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL IN BOX OR OUR LOBBY FOR THE RECITAL AGREEMENT FORM.

Mrs. Amanda

Mrs. Christine

Miss Clara
Mrs. Lori

Mrs. Michaele
Mrs. Sarah