Dance Recital Gift?!

[Traveliz]

I hadn't thought of tying it in with her routine, that is a great idea. I like your suggestions! I didn't want to spend a fortune but wanted something that would be memorable.

Thanks - another thing I did for my daughter and now my grandaughter is to keep a dance only scrapbook. So for my grandaughter I take home the scrapbook every year after the recital and add to it. It's usually just 2-4 pages added with the program as the first thing for each year and then pictures of her in her costume, the number if you have that, pictures of her with friends afterwards. I add appropriate stickers and voila - a great memory!

This year she dance to a Madonna mix so I am using stickers that represent the 90s (that was the decade her class was dancing to).

Liz

 

[Traveliz]

Sorry to hijack your thread... any suggestions for boys? We always just get flowers for DD, but this year DS7 is dancing, too. I may just get flowers for him, too, but would love to hear any other ideas.

For my nephew I did a picture frame or an ornament that was reflective of the dance - one year he did a Phantom of the Opera thing so I got the mask type ornament as a gift. I will say boys are a little bit harder.

Liz

 

[amomma23]

We just do ice cream after because DS never wanted flower and I wasn't into the idea of actual gifts.

Then when DD started dancing we just stuck with ice cream. They are both very happy with that after hours at a recital. I think we also went this rout because there can be a lot of performances between my kids each year.

If I was going to by something special for DS it would probably be a small Lego set or candy, mime would never have liked flower that would have been to girly for him.

I don't really want to give gifts, either and I think he'd be gracious, but a little disappointed with flowers, too. I like the idea of going out for a treat after, but our show isn't over until close to 10:00. Maybe I'll give him a card with a gift card to our local ice cream place and we could go the next day.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

If you want to get her something, get her a keepsake of her first dance recital, not a toy. The recital itself should be the gift. And give it to her somewhere other than AT the recital.

 

[h518may]

I don't really want to give gifts, either and I think he'd be gracious, but a little disappointed with flowers, too. I like the idea of going out for a treat after, but our show isn't over until close to 10:00. Maybe I'll give him a card with a gift card to our local ice cream place and we could go the next day.

That would work great.

I so understand about late recitals, last years recital was late. We started out the day with DD's first recital at 10am, then DS had his first recital at 1pm, then DD had to be at the second recital at 2, then DS had a second recital at 7 that went to 11. It doesn't help that my kids can't dance at the same studio. DD's studio doesn't offer hip-hop, his studio doesn't offer dance for special needs kids(not many studios do), so different studios for each.

Oh and after that day my two got treats the next day also, luckily this year the recitals are different days.

 

[DSNY4ever]

15 years as a dance Mom, and we never did anything beyond flowers, unless you count going out for ice cream after.

Yeah, I did ballet for 18 years, my parents never gave me anything other than flowers and a big hug for a job well done. My "gift" was the opportunity to do ballet in the first place, and I was appreciative.

 

[diamondpixienc]

Seasoned dance mom here (6+ years) We are doing a charm bracelet and additional charm for DD(4) because it is her first and DD(9) is getting another charm for her bracelet and will be getting an award on stage from the studio this year. Other than that the usual flowers and out to eat afterwards their pick. Only requirement is the restaurant can not have a drive-thru... Lol. Now, we did get our son a Lego set for his first recital but it was kind of a result of a "I dare you to not only take tap lessons but do the recital too" He did it, I had to buy a Lego set, and he stuck with it 2 more years (tap and hip hop) Then he decided he wanted to play football and retired from dancing.

 

[1Princess1Prince2006]

DD has only gotten flowers after her recitals.

This year she is doing her first solo in the recital and I did get her a necklace with ballet charm. Next year we'll go back to flowers.

 

[PHXscuba]

Depending on her age... something that is a reminder of the number - so if she was a frog or a duck (young ones) then a stuff animal or ceramic piece as a reminder, a collectible figurine that is a dancer (Precious Moments, Snowbaby, etc), picture frame with dance shoes on it or similar colors to recital costume, charm bracelet with dance charms on it, nail polish with a dance title (OPI has some good ones), Chocolate Dove flower,....I am sure I can come up with more...did this for years for daughter and nieces and loved every minute of it!

Liz

We have done that ... a couple years ago younger DD10 was Dopey in a story ballet production of Snow White and I got her a stuffed Dopey, and her older sister (13) some cupcake baking supplies as one of her roles was a dancing cupcake in a dream scene.

I do flowers occasionally. They only do one recital per year and it's a big event for our family, as I usually stage manage and even my older DS has helped out on stage crew.

PHXscuba

 

[clori]

My girls are on their 11th and 7th year of dance. Flowers are as you know the most common gift. We see teddy bears as the second most common gift followed by jewelry. I've seen plenty of girls getting either a build a bear or American Girl doll as a present. There is always a concession stand selling flowers and various gifts such as ballerina jewelry boxes and decorative pointe shoes. Balloons are also given occasionally.

At this point the girls get the dance tshirt with the names of all the dancers on the back. While they may get it early they understand it is their gift. Typically every dancer gets a certificate and ribbon with medal for the winter recital and certificate and trophy for the spring recital. Depending on times of recitals we may go out for a quick dinner or ice cream.

 

[laughinplace199]

DD's 12th dance recital is coming up and we've never done anything more than flowers. I don't know anyone who does gifts.

 

[jessp1021]

Thanks - another thing I did for my daughter and now my grandaughter is to keep a dance only scrapbook. So for my grandaughter I take home the scrapbook every year after the recital and add to it. It's usually just 2-4 pages added with the program as the first thing for each year and then pictures of her in her costume, the number if you have that, pictures of her with friends afterwards. I add appropriate stickers and voila - a great memory!

This year she dance to a Madonna mix so I am using stickers that represent the 90s (that was the decade her class was dancing to).

Liz

I LOVEEEE this idea. It would be a great way to document everything and something neat to show her children and grandchildren one day. Thank you so much for sharing

 

[joybeth]

I used to give my daughter a small keepsake that would be in keeping with the theme of one of her dances, figurine, christmas ornament, something like that. As she got older and more serious, I gave her a Pandora charm that was a reflection of her dance (character, glass bead the color of her costume, etc.). One year she did a funny chicken dance and I got a chicken pandora bead. Not everyone gives gifts, but it is common in our area. The bracelet is a treasured keepsake that she wears almost daily.

jb