Dec reminders and Nutcracker rehearsal schedules

DanceStation December Reminders: Nutcracker is right around the corner!  The performances should prove to be a very magical weekend for dancers, parents, and guests alike!  December is a busy/hectic month. Please remember that tuition is due the first class of each month. Make sure your Dec tuition installment is in by Thursday’s dress rehearsal at the Hett on Dec 11th. If you ordered tights and nude leotards they are in! Hoodie and ornament orders will be available on Saturday. We need parent volunteers to help make the Nutcracker weekend run smoothly! The volunteer sign up is in the lobby. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE DANCESTATION APP! I have sent out multiple, very helpful reminders about weather, Thanksgiving break, tight and Hoodie orders, etc, that you are missing if you do not have the app and allow notifications. Thank you!

Next week (Dec 8-10^th) we have regular classes on Mon, Tues and Wed (with the exception of my SSDC kids who have Tech on Wed).

Saturday, Decemeber 6^th from 10am – 5:15pm – MANDATORY Dress Rehearsal and Class Pictures at the studio. We will be taking group pictures of each class in costume that day so please be on time, have your dancers come with their hair in a performance ready bun, dressed in their nude leotard if ordered, pink tights over the nude leo, and bring ballet shoes in their bags.  Dancers will change in and out of their rental costumes in the dressing room for rehearsal and pictures. Our SSDC volunteer moms and SSDC dancers help with the littles that day; you can just drop them off! Please use street parking as well – the back parking lot is very crowded this day!!!

*10am-12pm Party scene – parents, boys, and girls in the party scene, Clara, Fritz, Drosselmeyer, the three dancing dolls, maids, soldiers, the Nutcracker, the Mouse Queen

*11am – 12pm Mon 6:45pm class of Mice, Snow and Snow Queen

*12-1pm – Wed Ballet 3 Angels, Mon 5pm Bubblegum, Mon 5:45pm Gingerbread

*1:15-2:15pm – all soldiers, Wed 5:15pm class of Mice, Tues 5pm Lemondrops, Wed 4:30pm Bubblegum, Wed 6:30pm Gingerbread

*2:30-3:30pm – Thur 7pm class of Mice, Thur 5pm Bubblegum, Thur 5:45pm Gingerbread, Mon and Wed Ballet 2 Angels

*3:45-5:15pm – Candy Canes, Mother Ginger, Arabian, Spanish, Chinese, Reed Flutes, Waltz of the Flowers and SSDC finale.

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Thursday, December 11^th – MANDATORY Dress Rehearsal at the Hett. 4-9:30pm.  There are no regular classes at DanceStation that Thursday evening, since we will all be at the Hett.  Please allow 30 minutes past rehearsal time for running over if needed. Dress rehearsal is fluid – we are putting together lights, costumes, sets, backdrops, snow falling, etc. and things tend to take longer in some instances. We try very hard to stay on schedule with so many kids in and out this evening, but please be patient and allow for 30 extra minutes if needed. Please have your dancers come with their hair in a performance ready bun, dressed in their nude leotard with pink tights over the nude leo. Bring ballet shoes in their bags, they are not to be worn in the parking lot. Dancers will change in and out of costume in the dressing rooms for dress rehearsal and performances, and their name will be on a hanger with their costume.

4:30-5:30pm – (arrive at 4pm) Mice, Angels, Bubble Gum, Gingerbread in the Fri 6:30pm performance

5:30-6:30pm – (arrive at 5pm) Mice, Angels, Bubble Gum, Gingerbread and LemonDrops in the Sat 2pm performance

6:30-7:30pm – (arrive at 6pm) Mice, Angels, Bubble Gum, Gingerbread in the Sat 6:30pm performance

7:30-9:30pm (arrive at 7pm) run show in order with Party Scene first and all classes Ballet 4 and older (Candy Canes, Arabian, Mother Ginger, Snow, Flowers, all SSDC parts).

A few very important last-minute standard performance reminders and a checklist before the shows begin:

1. Arrive 45 minutes before the start of your performance. The house/audience will also open at this time. Dancers will remain backstage with supervision throughout the entire show.
2. Makeup is the same as recitals. Eyeshadow, blush, and lipstick for sure.  Mascara is at your own risk with the littles. 😊

I always post a bun tutorial on our Facebook page before dress rehearsals.  Look for it this week!

3. No jewelry or any earrings. Jewelry often gets caught on costumes and reflects the lights during videography.
4. Absolutely no eating while in costume. Only water is allowed in the dressing rooms and while in costume.  Please make sure students eat before coming to the show.  The full show runs 2 hours total – that includes a 20 min intermission – so they won’t be without food for long.
5. No gum and No nail polish other than clear is to be worn for the stage.
6. No underwear is to be worn under the costume – only the nude leotard if you purchased one. Tights serve the purpose of underwear.
7. Arrive in nude leotard and pink tights that are freshly laundered without holes. Dancers will change into costumes when they arrive. Make sure ballet shoes are performance ready and do not have holes!
8. Don’t forget your pink ballet shoes. Black or white ballet shoes for the boys, or black dress shoes for party boys.
9. Costumes are all rented and may not leave the venue.

Christmas/Winter Break:  No classes Monday, December 15^th – Sunday, January 4^th. We take a slightly longer winter break on Nutcracker years because of all the extra rehearsals and performances in December. The last week of class is hectic with several extra rehearsals that more than make up for the time off.

If you have any questions, you can email me at edancestation@yahoo.com or ask your teacher.  Especially for new families, these last two weeks can be confusing, so ask away!  ON TO THE SHOW! Thanks! Elizabeth