Dear Starlight Families,

We at Starlight understand your concerns and have heard your feedback from previous Recitals. We strive to make Recital as enjoyable, fulfilling, and pain free as possible for all dancers! Here’s what we’ve done to improve your dancer’s performance experience:

DANCERS GET TO KEEP THEIR COSTUMES!

We’ve noticed the disappointment in dancer’s eyes when we’ve told them they don’t get to take their beautiful, sparkly costumes home with them after Recital. This year, all dancers get to keep their costumes after recital! We wanted to make sure all dancers felt beautiful and confident in their costumes, while also giving each class a unique and special look.

MUCH SHORTER DAYS WITH DRESS REHEARSAL EARLIER IN THE WEEK!

During Dress Rehearsal, we run the entire show with lights, music and costume changes. When we notice any issues (if any), Starlight Staff will be stopping and starting to make accommodations so all dancers can feel as comfortable as possible. We like to use this time to give all the performers a short tour of the space, show them where they need to be and what to expect, and most importantly, go over safety so then when it is dark backstage they feel safe. We want all dancers to feel confident about the show order, and knowledgeable about theater practices. A professional photographer will also be taking pictures throughout this rehearsal. Dress Rehearsal happens days before our actual performance day, giving dancers plenty of time to get comfortable in the theatre, process what is going on around them, and rest before they actually perform! We will have parent volunteers backstage during Dress Rehearsal and Performance day, in case dancers need anything.

On show day, dancers under the age of 6 no longer have to stay backstage all day! We understand that being separated from parents for extended periods of time can be daunting for little ones. This year, parents of younger dancers get to bring their dancer with them into the audience to watch act 1 of the show! Starlight Staff will take them backstage during intermission, and give each group of littles a designated parent volunteer to help entertain them while they wait for their performance.

MULTIPLE & SHORTER SHOWS

This year, Starlight will split our company between two separate recital performances. This will allow us to create much shorter & more enjoyable shows for all! Dancers will spend less time waiting backstage overall, parents will not have to wait through three hours of performances to see their dancer’s one routine, and everyone gets to experience the enjoyment of being apart of this big day.

PARENT VOLUNTEERS!

We understand that sometimes, it feels better to have a parent backstage with little ones who is focused solely on being a stand in parent for dancers. Parents are the best for hugs and love! We want that for all dancers who need it. If you like to help dancers in this way, it’s not too late to sign up to be a backstage volunteer. Click here for details.

AT SHOWTIME

It’s showtime! When it is your dancer’s turn they will be guided upstairs a few numbers ahead of their routine to get prepped in the wings and line up in order while we remind them of where to stand onstage. After their number they will be escorted back to the dressing rooms to change into their next costume or wait until bows, which will come at the end of act 2. When they are not actively dancing or changing, we have so much to entertain them! We have a bin stocked with snacks, all kinds of fidget toys, ball bearing puzzles, pop its, slinkys, playing cards, coloring pages and coloring pencils, an iPad, sticker activity pages, i-spy books and more. Plus there is a green room where they can even watch the show live on tv from backstage! They will have a team of backstage parents with them at all times who are entirely focused on keeping them safe and happy. At the end of the show everyone will join us onstage for the bows and awards!

This may seem like a big and crazy day, and it is. At Starlight, we have a dedicated team of Starlight Staff members and lovely parent volunteers to look after dancers on show day. Our team will have parent phone numbers on our emergency contact sheets. Should anything happen, we would not hesitate to stop the show and make sure a dancer is taken care of. Keeping kids safe and happy is what we do! We love all our dancers, and do our best to make sure Recital is a wonderful experience. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns, we are more than happy to help.

Thank you for trusting us with the most important people in your world!

With Love,

Dance Director Shelby Holton & all of Starlight Staff