It is like Christmas around my house this time of year. Everyone is so excited about the upcoming dance recital. We watch past dance recital DVDs, they practice nonstop and we wait for the big day when they can finally wear their costumes. Although we are very excited, I know that is not the case for every parent and child faced with the approaching date of the big show. It is a big event with a lot of pressure behind it for the parents to make sure that the child has everything he or she needs. And for the child, it can be very scary to get out on stage and remember what they are supposed to do.
Whether it is your first or your fifteenth dance recital, I have compiled six tips that will hopefully help the whole day go smoothly.
1. Find a friend - Maybe it is another parent who has a child in the same dance class or a friend who took dance as a kid. Find someone who you can bounce hair ideas and lipstick colors off of in the days leading up to the show. This is someone who you can call when you forgot the bobby pins or hairspray. Also, encourage your child to make a friend in the dance class. Things always seem just a little less scary when you do them with a friend.
2. Ask Questions - If it is your first time being a dance parent (or even if it is your fifteenth) it is ok and good to ask questions. You are getting a lot of information about the color of tights and the eyeshadow. There are other parents who would love to help and guide you in the ways of the studio. Every dance studio does things differently so there is no question that is too stupid. Just a note: make sure if you are going to ask your child's dance teacher a question, you do it at least two days before the show. The day of the show the dance teacher will have a lot to do and answering your question about pink versus red lipstick will not be one of them.
3. Be on time...No, be early - Show day is not the day to run in 5 minutes after you were supposed to be there. You are going to be in a new place that your child has only seen once or twice and usually, the dressing rooms are filled with hundreds of children. So get there early and let your child (especially if they are very young) settle in. Let your child be comfortable in the space as others arrive instead of going into a room filled with lots of excited loud children. This also gives you time to check hair, makeup, and costumes. Arriving early can set a calm tone for the day.
4. Do a test run or two or three - Try out the hair and makeup before the day of the show. It is difficult for little kids to sit for more than a minute or two. It is difficult to put curls in the hair of a three-year-old or lipstick on a moving child. Both you and your child need the practice. Also, test run the costumes, make sure they fit and there are no loose pieces. Make sure you have all the bows and gloves you are supposed to and that there are no runs in the tights. There aren't many things more stressful than finding out a costume has a big hole on the day of the show.
5. Pack your bag at least two days before - It may seem crazy to pack so early, but this gives you time to go and get the extra bobby pins and hairspray. While you are packing, be sure to label everything. There will be 10 or so children in the dressing room who have the same costume, shoes and hair bows as you and you don't want a mix up to happen. Extra things you might want to pack are snacks and coloring books. Some shows are long with a lot of downtime for the little ones as they wait to dance.
6. HAVE FUN - This is more important than anything else. You as the parent should have fun, enjoy the time you are spending with your child preparing for this big day. Enjoy your child's performance, they have worked so hard all year for those three minutes on the stage. Yes, dance recitals are often long, sometimes hot, and somewhat painful (or a form of punishment if you ask my dad). But the more positivity you bring to the dance recital, the more both you and your child will enjoy it.
I grew up dancing and some of my favorite memories were at dance recitals. I know there may come a day when my daughter says that she doesn't enjoy it and doesn't want to do it anymore. I will be ok with that when/if it happens. But for right now, I love supporting her and watching her. It is something special that we share. Each day she needs me less and less, and soon it will feel like she doesn't need me at all. But as long as she dances I know that every June she will still need me to do her makeup, fix her hair, and most importantly, she will need me to be as excited as she is for her show.
Macaroni Kid Plymouth MA brings you a FREE family fun calendar filled with everything happening in Plymouth, Kingston, Halifax, Plympton, Carver, Wareham, Marion, Bourne, Rochester, and Mattapoisett. Our Free Newsletter is full of festivals, fairs, activities, events and more!
Never Miss a Thing when you are part of the Macaroni Kid Plymouth, MA Family.
Sign up by clicking HERE!
