Why Volunteer on Top of Everything Else?
Yes, you pay tuition each month, you have paid for costumes, and in many cases you have paid for recital tickets for your family to watch the show. However, for some dance studios, extra help is needed and much appreciated. Your extra contribution as a volunteer will not go un-noticed, and it can be a fun way to get to know other studio parents, teachers, and students.

For example, if a studio sells flower bouquets at the recital, they have already purchased those flowers ahead of time. They also need to pay for someone to pick up the flowers that day, as well as their time in putting those flowers together. Before the show and during intermission, the teachers and studio owner will be busy making sure the stage is set and dancers, lighting and set decorations are in place, so it is helpful to have a volunteer parent stationed at the flower table to make sure all orders are picked up. Other volunteer positions include selling concessions, if the venue allows, and ushering guests to their seats for ticketed events.

Backstage Moms and Dads are Key
In many cases, moms, dads, grandparents, or older siblings and alumni may be asked to volunteer backstage. For larger shows with multiple costume changes, it is important to have volunteers placed in the dressing rooms to assist the students. In the case of male dancers, a dad or brother may be asked to volunteer to assist the boys in their dressing room as well.

For safety and security, most studio owners would prefer to have their own clients in these positions. The students will likely recognize them as a friendly family member from the studio which will keep them at ease backstage, and help calm their nerves if they have a very quick costume change. Also, current parents from the studio will have an idea of the costumes involved in the show, and will know how the show timeline works. They will have an understanding of who should be where, and when.

Volunteer Work is Greatly Appreciated
Dance recitals are large undertakings for studio owners and teachers, as a culmination of everything that has been taught over the course of the year, and any extra help is greatly appreciated. Many dance parents and family members who volunteer get a sneak peek at how the show is put together behind the scenes.

It can also be a comfort for some students to know that mom or dad is only a short distance away. If everyone in the dance “family” pitches in, the recital can be a magical day for dance students of every age and level.

Trying on the Costume
Usually, about a month before the show, a dance student will receive their costume at the studio. Some studios may send the costumes home for the students to try on, but most will try them on with their class to make sure everything fits correctly and no alterations are needed. Once at home, the costume should stay on the hanger, in a garment bag, to keep everything together for the show. It is a good idea, though, to have the dancer put the costume on at home, in a comfortable environment, with the parent. This helps him or her to feel more at ease in the costume, especially hearing how great it looks from mom or dad.

Explain why dancers wear costumes and make-up on stage, and how much fun it will be to wear this very special outfit on their very special day. This is also a good chance to see if anything needs to be sewn or pinned for the performance, and what accessories are needed.

Makeup and Hair Preparation
Most studios will prescribe a certain “look” for the recital, which includes hairstyles and appropriate stage makeup for girls and some form of makeup for boys. Nervous students may find some comfort in doing a dry run of their hair and makeup before the dress rehearsal day.

Sometimes, studios will hold a picture day where a professional photographer comes in to take pictures of the students in their costumes. This is a good thing for first-time students to participate in, since they can see the rest of their classmates in the same costume, hair and makeup. This also allows one more chance for the students to be dressed up in a comfortable setting before the day of the show.

Talking Students through Nervous Times
Each student will probably receive a recital handbook or guide with details on rehearsal times, dress requirements, dressing room numbers, and much more. This is a lot of information to take in, but it is a good idea for a parent or guardian to review everything with a dancer who may be getting nervous a few weeks before the show.

Knowing where they need to be, and at what time, will soothe the students who are afraid of the unknown. If the studio doesn’t have a chance to have a rehearsal at the performance venue, it is a good idea to arrive early to make students familiar with the building, entrances and exits, dressing rooms, and where they can meet back up with you after they are done dancing.

No matter what, a small amount of nerves, anticipation and excitement are normal and necessary for dance students. For dance parents or guardians, teachers and studio owners, it is important to build up these rituals of rehearsal, dry runs, and preparation so that students can feel more at ease.

Foundation should be applied that either matches the dancer’s skin tone, or is slightly darker. Naturally pale-skinned dancers should try to use a foundation that is darker or more pink than their natural tone. To highlight the facial structure and give more emphasis on the face when on stage, use rouge or blush in streaks – across the forehead, across the upper portion of the cheekbones, down the top of the nose, and on the chin. Remember to blend these streaks into the foundation with a sponge, which will create a softer, sun-kissed look.

A lip pencil can be uesd to make smaller lips more prominent. Outline the lips with pencil, and then fill in with a similarly-colored lipstick. Red lipstick is typically used because it stands out on stage, but any shade that is brighter than daily wear (in red or burgundy tones) will work. Using a lipstick that is too dark, or more on the purple side, will look out of place on stage. Many competitive studios will use a certain manufacturer and shade of lipstick so that their dancers are all uniform, so check with your studio to see if they have a particular shade in mind.

All dancers should use eyeliner to emphasize the upper line of the eyelids. To make eyes appear larger, slightly extend the line of the eyeliner from the outside corner of the eye. A smaller line should be used on the lower lids. For eyeshadow, natural colors work best, such as browns or dark purples. The “smoky eye” effect can provide a dramatic look onstage, but may be too much for younger dancers. The point of most stage makeup is to look like a more enhanced version of your natural tones. Whatever colors are used for eyeshadows, remember to put a bright color in the center of the eyelid just above the pupil to make the eye appear to be open wider. A bright blue works best for this technique.

A dark mascara (or false eyelashes for older dancers) will put the finishing touch on the look. Dancers should practice different makeup techniques before the day of the performance, to be sure that all their makeup is in good condition and the looks they create are appropriate for the venue and routine.

Article written by Terry Finch.

We’re excited to introduce a vibrant new dancewear collection here at All About Dance that has everyone buzzing for spring. Say hello to Motionwear, a dancewear brand focused on the ideals of fit, comfort, fashion, and value.

The twenty-five year old company was born when dance parent Emily Wilson found such qualities lacking in dancewear for her daughter and began designing and sewing her own styles. Today the brand still focuses on those same core qualities and produces superb apparel proudly made in the USA.

We’ve fallen in love with their wide variety of vibrant colors and gorgeous silhouettes for spring. We think you will too! Take a peek at these fresh new offerings for children, teens, and adults, and check back to see what Motionwear has in store for the future. It’s sure to be bright and fabulous.

A pretty tank with fancy back for children!

Leotards are made from super-soft fabric in vibrant colors.

Pretty back designs you'll love wearing to class.

Plenty of different styles and colors for every type of dance class.

But recitals also bring great moments of joy, pride, and accomplishment for both parents and their dancers. This quick recital survival guide will help you prepare for recital season and enjoy your dancer’s special performance to the very fullest.

Early Bird Planning
Plan ahead and keep informed to avoid last minute stress. Here are some ways to stay ahead of the game before your recital.

1. Read informational handouts as soon as they are distributed and mark calendars with important dates.

2. Return participation and costume forms right away, don’t wait until the deadline.

3. Order costumes and accessories early so you have plenty of time for alterations and adding extras like rhinestones or accessories.

4. Take an early inventory of costumes and accessories needed for the performance with special attention to needs for fresh tights, undergarments, shoes, make-up, and hair accessories. Don’t wait until several days before the show to stock up on these items.

5. Make lists of what dances will be performed, and what is needed for each of those dances. List the costume, color and type of tights, shoes, accessories, and any other extras.

6. Practice dances at home often in the weeks leading up to the performance. The more comfortable your dancer is with the choreography, the less nervous they will be on the big day.

7. Be informed about procedures, dates, and times for rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and performances.

8. Consider volunteering to be a back stage parent or to help out with other performance needs. For large schools, often only a handful of volunteer parents will be allowed back stage to assist the students. If you would like to be behind the scenes with your dancer, volunteering is a great option.

Preparing for the Day of the Show

1. Stay organized. The week before the show, gather your lists of what is needed and organize everything so it can be easily located for the dress rehearsal and the day of the show.

2. Label your costumes and accessories with your student’s name. Members of the same class will have similar looking costumes, tights, and shoes. You’ll want to be able to find yours in a jiffy for quick changes.

3. Get a good rest. Recital days are long and tiring for everyone, and especially younger dances. Being well rested will help you all feel great on the day of the show.

4.  Arrive on time so that your dancer has plenty of time to dress, warm-up, and be ready to hit the stage. Late arrivals cause a great deal of unnecessary stress on the day of a performance.

5. Bring quiet activities, games, water, and healthy snacks for long days. There is often a lot of idle time waiting backstage for your turn to perform. Quiet games, books, and other activities will help pass the time. Pack healthy, non-messy snacks and drinks for long days. Be sure they are allowed in the dressing room and keep potential spills far away from costumes.

6. Consider bringing a small flower arrangement or thoughtful gift to congratulate your dancer. This performance tradition makes every dancer feel extra special after a job well done. Some studios have a tradition of chipping in for a group gift for the teacher, or bring small individual tokens of appreciation to the recital. Ask what is customary at your studio if you are not sure.

7. Relax and enjoy. You’ve done such a wonderful job preparing, and now is the time to sit back, grab that camera, and enjoy watching your little star shine on stage. Give yourself a pat on the back and give your dancer a great big hug for all they have accomplished!

During the winter months dance studios can feel chilly, especially when students first enter. Although students work up a sweat by the end of class, the room may still feel quite cold to students who are just beginning a class. So how do dancers keep warm and cozy when the temperatures start to drop?

In order to keep their muscles warm and prevent injury while preparing for the most strenuous parts of the class, it can be beneficial for students to wear extra layers during warm-ups and stretching. If your teachers allow you to wear warmer layers over your regular dress code (usually a leotard and tights), go ahead and take advantage of this so you can warm-up comfortably and properly.

Today dance warm-ups come in many different colors, styles, and sizes. Choosing warm-up gear can be lots of fun and add style to your dance wardrobe, in addition to keeping those muscles nice and toasty. Here are some suggestions for different styles of dance class.

In ballet, it is important for your teacher to still be able to see your body lines and technique while warming up at the barre. Legwarmers are appropriate, since they keep your lower legs and ankles warm, but do not hide your ankles or feet. Ballet sweaters, or tight-fitting wrap sweaters, or shrugs can help to warm your arms, shoulders and upper back. When wearing a sweater, make sure that it fits snugly so that your body line and arms are still visible. It should also be secured in place, so that you don’t feel the need to adjust it or pull it back on your shoulders after every exercise.

In other dance styles, you may be able to wear sweat pants or a heavier long sleeve shirt over your dress code clothing. When wearing sweatpants, sweatshirts, or other pieces of warm-up gear, make sure that they are as form-fitted as possible and do not cover your hands or feet.

If you would normally warm-up barefoot in a particular class, it may be appropriate to wear socks to keep your feet warm. Be extra careful when doing certain movements in socks because your feet may slip on the floor. To prevent injury, it may be better to wear ballet slippers or another appropriate type of dance shoe if your feet are too cold to begin the class barefoot.

In all cases, it is important to listen to your teachers and follow the policies for dress code and dressing in colder weather. If you are able to wear extra layers for warm-ups, make sure that they are form-fitting, still show your body lines, and do not hide anything. Layers are for keeping your muscles warm and pliable, not for covering up your body. When you have finished warm-ups and begin the class exercises, you should be warm enough to start taking off your extra layers.

Pinterest users have been creating and browsing all types of boards on the popular web site to plan their weddings, put together recipe collections, or browse for inspiration on upcoming projects. Pinterest can also be a fun place for dance students and dance parents to pin favorite dance-related images. Are you on Pinterest? Here are some fun ideas to create dance-themed boards of your own.

CREATE A WISH LIST
You can use Pinterest to create a wish list for birthday gift ideas or your dance recital needs. All About Dance, for example, has pin-it buttons on each item on our website. Many other retailers do as well. Students can create a “Dance Wish List” board on Pinterest and pin favorite items from sites like All About Dance to show parents, grandparents, or whoever needs some help with great gift ideas.

Another idea to help keep organized at recital or show time is to create a “Recital Necessities List” on Pinterest with items that you will need to prepare for the show like costumes, tights, shoes, accessories, make-up, etc. You can share your board with other dance parents, and some dance studios pin recital costume essentials to help keep parents informed.

POST YOUR DANCE STYLE
Create a board with images that reflect your own dance style. You can include different leotards that catch your eye, warm-up gear that you use or would like to have, make-up styles that seem interesting to you, and many others. Find out who else shares your style ideas and follows your board.

PIN YOUR DANCE INSPIRATION
Pinterest can also be a creative place for you to pin your dance inspiration, whether it is photos of professional dancers, pictures of tricks or techniques that you aspire to master, or inspirational dance quotes. Your “Dance Inspiration” board can be a place for you to reflect periodically on the goals you have set and accomplished in the dance season, and a way for you to connect with other dancers who share your passions. If you are looking for inspiration, you can also find boards created by other dancers and students to share with the dance community.

PINTEREST BASICS
Pinterest is a visual pin board where you can post snippets of your online dance life, and anything else that interests you. First you’ll need to sign up for a Pinterest account. Pinterest has an excellent Getting Started guide for new users.

When pinning images on Pinterest, you can pin items from websites using the Pin It button, upload your own images from your computer, or re-pin images that others have posted. A Pinterest board is a set of pins, and boards can have an unlimited number of pins. If you see a board that you like, or a person whose boards you are interested in, you can follow them to see when they are updated. You can even invite those you follow to contribute to one of your own boards if you wish.

Take a peek at the All About Dance boards to get started and find tons of beautiful dance inspiration. Sign up to follow us for fun contests like Pin It to Win It Sweepstakes held several times a year when you can win items from your own wish lists! We hope to see you soon on Pinterest.

Based on the story of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffman, The Nutcracker ballet was first created in the late 1800s. This year marks the 220^th anniversary of the debut performance of The Nutcracker on December 5, 1892 danced by The Russian Imperial Ballet and choreographed by Marius Petipa.

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky composed the original score for The Nutcracker, which actually received poor reviews after its first showing. He died less than two years later, and was never aware of just how successful it would become. It is now known as one of his most popular compositions.

The Nutcracker quickly began to evolve into an annual tradition in Russia. Surprisingly enough, it did not transition to America right away. In fact, the first performance of The Nutcracker in the United States was not set on stage until 1944 by the San Francisco Ballet, 52 years after its debut in Russia.

Even in the 1940s and early 1950s, while The Nutcracker was performed quite regularly, it was not yet widely revered as an annual holiday tradition. That changed in 1954, when George Balanchine choreographed an updated version for the New York City Ballet with some new characters. Since then, for the past 58 years, The Nutcracker has been performed annually in New York City.

Balanchine’s version has become one of the most well-known among audiences, and it has been passed on through multiple generations, across dance companies and studios throughout the country. Balanchine was the first choreographer to use a child dancer for the role of Clara, simplifying the choreography for the role. He allowed the performance to be more accessible to children while still keeping the mystery and drama intact for adults.

The story of The Nutcracker centers on Clara, a young girl attending her parents’ Christmas party in their home. She is given a Nutcracker as a gift, and dreams of a world where she and her nutcracker prince encounter many wondrous things from far-away lands, and she watches as he defeats an army of mice led by the Mouse King.

Today, one can find The Nutcracker in a variety of settings, with a variety of dance styles and story adaptations, on stages, televisions, and movie screens around the world. Balanchine’s version for the New York City Ballet is usually easy to find on television during the holiday season if you would like to see the performance that solidified The Nutcracker as a holiday tradition in the United States.

Russian Pointe brand pointe shoes, ballet slippers, and creative learning products have become incredibly well known and respected among dancers from students to elite professionals for their superb quality and unique craftsmanship.

In addition to pointe shoes and ballet slippers, a new collection of Growing Through Arts educational products was recently launched.  The beautifully illustrated storybooks, play sets, and dress up apparel introduce children to great classical ballets like the Nutcracker, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and more.

These fun products are great tools that dance parents and dance instructors will adore sharing with their youngsters at home and at the studio. The books and adorable dress up items make great gifts for any young dancer.

Get to Know Russian Pointe and Growing Through Arts
Here are some fun facts to help you get acquainted with the wonderful world of Russian Pointe!

• Russian Pointe shoes are handcrafted in Moscow in the grand tradition of pointe shoe making.
• The pointe shoes come in a wide array of options to provide each dancer with a custom fit and are available with free Russian Pointe ribbon and elastic.
• The canvas ballet slippers have ribbon arch technology to conform to the arch of the foot. The shoes are available at 20% off retail on our website.
• Growing Through Arts, a new series of story books, play sets, and dress-up apparel are charmingly infused with the philosophy that children’s careers, educations, and social lives can be dynamically impacted by participating in the arts.
• Russian Pointe was launched by Aleksandra Efimova in 1998 as part of Aleksandra Enterprises, an organization dedicated to spreading access to the enjoyment of the arts across cultures.

Now offering the full line of Russian Pointe Shoes and Ballet Slippers

Pointe Shoes:

• Encore
• Entrada
• Muse
• Lumina
• Sapfir(Sapphire)
• Rubin(Ruby)
• Almaz(Diamond)

Ballet Slippers:

• Adante
• Noveau
• Apollo for Men

Preparation is key. Before the season begins, your child will probably start receiving schedules for dance and after-school activities. It is a good idea, especially in a multi-activity and multi-child family, to have a large family calendar in an easily accessible area of the house. When schedules come in, all activities should be added to this calendar. Mom and dad can add their events and activities, too.

When the calendar is updated, it will be easy to see where there are conflicts. If there is, for example, a graded band concert on a night when your child usually has dance class, you can advise the dance studio ahead of time that your dancer will be missing class that night. If rehearsals for a school musical are in direct conflict with dance classes, you can talk to the dance teacher to see if there is a different class available that fits with the schedule, or talk to both the show director and dance teacher to work out a compromise.

Participation in both activities helps to build overall technique, confidence, and performance ability. Most teachers and directors will be willing to work with you if you come to them in advance with conflicts. Your family calendar will help you do that.

It is important to add items on the calendar with the child present, so they are also aware of any potential conflicts. Take advantage of the opportunity to talk about prioritizing. For example, if your son is adding a big test at school to the calendar on a Friday, and he has two dance classes on Thursday night, discuss a plan with him to do the majority of his studying on Wednesday night so he can still attend dance on Thursday and do a quick review before going to bed. Scheduling time to work on large projects will also help to avoid last-minute stresses.

If it becomes apparent that there will be too many conflicts during the year, action should be taken as soon as possible. For example, if choir rehearsals and hip hop class are on the same night at the same time all year, perhaps talk to the teacher to see if there is a different hip hop class on the schedule. If not, the student may need to decide to drop one or the other. Similarly, if both parents have conflicts on the calendar on dance night, car pool arrangements may be in order, or you can contact the studio for different class availability.

Because dance students are typically involved in many other activities, it is imperative for them to become good organizers and to learn how to prioritize. They (and their parents) also need to be good communicators, so that everyone involved is aware of potential conflicts and can work out compromises where necessary. These excellent skills grow right along with great battements and pirouettes, and students will value the lessons well into the future.

The keys for this dance season are: organize, prioritize, and communicate! Then, of course, remember to have fun!