New Teachers,

Here’s how to run your class during costume week!

It can be tricky, so be sure you understand the below.

How to run your class during costume week:

  1. Get them into the studio as quickly as possible.  There is no time for a warmup.

  2. The windows will be covered.  Let them run their dance one time and quickly fix anything you need to.

  3. Slip their costumes on.  OVER their leotard, no need to take time to change them entirely.  (If you think you need extra hands in your class room ,let us know immediately so we can line up help for you).

  4. Make a big deal about how fabulous they look – even if they don’t look so great!

  5. If Sallie’s costume is huge on her, and Emma’s costume is too small – switch them out.  Give Emma the larger costume that will fit her better.  The office makes a “guess” on sizes, you may need to bump some around.  You make the decision.  Again, parents have paid money for these – don’t send them out in something that looks 3 times too big for them or that is super small.  Switch them around and market them work. Switch around whatever you need to!

  6. You’ll have safety pins in the room – use them if you need to, but use them quickly! Your time management is super important.

  7. Invite the parents in with the most excitement as if it’s Christmas morning!  “Parents!  Ya’ll come in and see how great we look!  Isn’t this costume beautiful!  We are going to look fantastic onstage.  I love this color on them…..”

  8. Do your dance one time for them.

  9. They will ask questions – look over that document and listen to this voiceover for answers to commonly asked questions.  Here are some that you will for sure get and need to answer:

    1. “What color tights do they need to wear?”  Whatever is listed for your class.  You should know, it’s probably pink for ballet and tan for everything else. They have to purchase tights from us so that we all are uniform onstage. They can purchase on our website, or in the office.

    2. “How should their hair be?”  All hair should be pulled in a bun on the back (not top) of the head.  No whispies.  Lots of hairspray and bobby pins.  (There is a tutorial on how to make a bun on our holiday page on the website).  We sell bun makers in the boutique and online via our website!

    3. “Sallie’s hair is too short, what do I do?”  Just pull it up and bobby pin it back the best way you can!

    4. “How long does the show last?”  Usually around 1 hour and 1/2 .

    5. “Can I pick Sallie up during intermission?”  No, dancers are not allowed to leave once the show has begun unless it is an absolutely emergency. We want all dancers to attend the final Curtain Call.

    6. “What about a head piece?”  We will have headpieces for you at the theater.  Those will be put on during dress rehearsal by our staff members, so you don’t have to worry about keeping up with one now!

    7. “Make up?”  Dancers should wear basic stage make up (there is a tutorial on our holiday page website).  Red lipstick, blush and a little mascara (if possible) is a must!  We sell make up kits in our boutique and online!

    8. “I want to volunteer backstage, how do I do that, and do I need a ticket?”  You can sign up to volunteer on our holiday webpage!  You do not need a ticket to be backstage and you’ll have the best seat in the house!  You’ll be onstage with us in the wings watching the dancers perform.  (It is VERY hard for us to get volunteers backstage, so you need to sell that and make it sound like the best job every!

    9. “When can we drop the dancer off backstage?”  45 minutes prior to the show at the Dancer Drop Off door in the lobby – which will be clearly marked.  You’ll be given a Security Card that you’ll need to keep and present to pick your dancer up after the show.

    10. “How do we pick them up after the show?”  Come back to the same drop off door with your security card.  Please only send one FEMALE backstage, it’s very busy backstage and we don’t’ have room for siblings.  No brothers or dad’s – no boys backstage b/c girls are changing.

    11. “What time is our dress rehearsal?”  KNOW YOUR TIMES SO YOU CAN TELL THEM.  WRITE THEM DOWN AND HAVE THEM HANDY.  They can also find them online via our holiday page on the website.

    12. “How long is dress rehearsal?”  Dress rehearsal is only 10 minutes.  They run the dance two times.  You are welcome to film and take pictures!  We run exactly on time, tell them it’s important to arrive, and be dressed and ready at least 15 min. prior to their onstage time.

  • Tell the parents to give the dancers a big hand and tell the dancers to say thank you to our audience.  You can say something like “we’re going to change now and we’ll be back out at the end of class!”. You should quickly change them back so you have time to run your dance several times before they leave.

  • Shut the door… and get into full speed.   Take costumes off, put them back in bags or on hangers.  (If hangers, you must put a hanging garment bag over them and tie it at the bottom before it can leave the studio.) 

  • Garment bags over costumes. Each costume on a hanger goes home with a garment bag over it. This will take your time up if you aren’t prepared before your class begins. You’ll want to prep your bags before class by tearing them off and getting them ready to go over the costumes.

  • There will be a flyer in the studio that you need to stuff in the bags with the costumes that contains the Shining Star information. Put it in the actual bag that is going home when possible as opposed to handing out. We know it will get home with the costume.

  • Run and clean the dance as much as you possibly can.

  • You must end the class on time – you have to this all again the next class, so they must start on time.  If you are good, it’s fine to release them about 5 minutes early this week – ONLY IF THEIR DANCE IS PERFECT!

 Have fun – be confident, prepared and organized ahead of time – and you’ll have a stress-free class.