OMG! Just sat through 4.5 hours of a dance recital!

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I would love to come see you and Beth dance, Amy!!!

Add us to the list of those who have recital split into multiple shows over multiple days. I love it- that way I can volunteer to be a backstage mom for some shows and still be able to watch my DD's main show (she is Company so she is in all of them, but her core classes are usually focused in one show) from the audience. They last about 2 hours with intermission. Siblings are almost always in the same show. Finale's are company only, so the little ones can leave after their number is over. Solos are allowed for graduating seniors only, and most of the competition numbers aren't thrown in there either.

It is always a top notch show, well themed and moves along quickly. I love to watch but even so, no way could I handle 4.5 hours...or 7 hours like a PP mentioned!

Thanks Jen! I would love to see your DD dance too! At least I've been able to see video of her on FB! Ahhh, how I wish I still have two good knees... LOL!!!

 

[BC]

Just wanted to clarify a few things....

I dearly love my niece, (actually she is my great niece) we are very close and I would never let her know I did not enjoy sitting through the entire 5 hrs. I agree that each child deserves a chance to show off their talent, but many of the same kids were seen over and over. It actually took away from the show as it then became boring. After the 35th tap routine, they all began running together!

I certainly know how hard these girls work all year. Like I posted previously, she takes dance 4 days a week and still keeps honor roll grades, which I think is pretty impressive.

I still think it is crazy the way you have to pay for every breath you take at the studio and beyond! Having to pay for recital tickets is nuts! As much as they pay all year and as many students as they have, surely they could afford to rent the building and put on the show without charging. Her parents spent over 10 grand this year on dance!

And I mentioned she had to "try out" for next year's classes, Well, today she got her results and was devastated! She called me sobbing on the phone because she did not get in the class she wanted. There is way too much drama at that studio! It is always something. I guess at age 11 it doesn't take much to upset you, and when you get lots of young girls together especially that are competing, you're gonna have hurt feelings, but it is tough to hear her upset.

Thanks to all of you that responded. It is interesting to see the different point of views.

 

[cabanafrau]

I wouldn't even sit through that for my OWN kids. DS15 took hip hop for a few years. Being unschooled in the ways of dance recitals, we showed up at the beginning and stayed until the end, 3 1/2 hours later. The following years we had him let us know about when he would be on, came just before that, left after he was done. There were people coming and going (not during the actual dance but between so we weren't the only ones). This is also why we never invited any relatives to these things. My sister invites us ALL THE TIME. Um, nope, sorry.

Unless your shows had a tremendous amount of blackout between #'s or you were coming & sliding into a vacant row at the back, how on earth could you get in & out w/o disrupting the audience watching other performances? We have ushers at every door & will only open them at applause between #'s. It's gotten increasingly tricky now that we try to have a continuous show w/ little to no blackout. But that's one of the ways we've cut at least 1/2 hour out of the show.

People go to football, baseball, basketball, hockey, etc. & it's at least 3 hours. If your kid is playing one of those sports, or golf even in your case, you do that multiple times per season. For many dancers the recital is the one time per year they perform for an audience. I'd be mighty peeved if you were coming in & getting seated or walking out & blocking my view of my kid dancing.

Just something to think about.

 

[MELSMICE]

I still think it is crazy the way you have to pay for every breath you take at the studio and beyond! Having to pay for recital tickets is nuts! As much as they pay all year and as many students as they have, surely they could afford to rent the building and put on the show without charging. Her parents spent over 10 grand this year on dance!

And I mentioned she had to "try out" for next year's classes, Well, today she got her results and was devastated! She called me sobbing on the phone because she did not get in the class she wanted. There is way too much drama at that studio! It is always something. I guess at age 11 it doesn't take much to upset you, and when you get lots of young girls together especially that are competing, you're gonna have hurt feelings, but it is tough to hear her upset.

I don't know what that studio's expenses are, but I know that I must charge for tickets in order to pay for my venue & we have it at a high school. My tuition fees would never cover the cost of the venue.

I won't go in to the details of my business expenses, but there some weeks that I don't get a paycheck. I don't want to raise the tuition costs though as I am on par with other studios in the area.

Unless your shows had a tremendous amount of blackout between #'s or you were coming & sliding into a vacant row at the back, how on earth could you get in & out w/o disrupting the audience watching other performances?

I was thinking the same thing. We don't do any blackouts at all. The only blackout is right at the end of the first half when the curtain closes for intermission.

As one class is exiting the other is entering. Our stage is never empty, so if people are coming in & out & standing up between numbers they are disrupting the other audience members.

 

[DebD4T]

Unless your shows had a tremendous amount of blackout between #'s or you were coming & sliding into a vacant row at the back, how on earth could you get in & out w/o disrupting the audience watching other performances?

That is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. Every year, people come in late to the recital. The ushers do their best to have them wait to take their seats until a number is over, but of course, when the get to their row, they usually argue who is sitting where. Why can't people show up on time???

 

[Maridw]

I didn't read all the posts on this, but one thing I can tell you is the reason they mix the dances up is to allow for costume changes.

Our dance school just had our recital on Saturday and we always try to limit it to 2 hours. We had a total of 37 dances which included the finale that everyone was in. Of those 37, our Babies (3-5 yo) had 4 dances, our Intermediates (5 to 11 yo) had 5 dances and everyone older than that had from 3 to 10 dances each. We always include an intermission. As it was our 2nd act had quite a few quick changes for some students (1 dance to change costumes). We always try to keep the time between dances to a minimum, 30 seconds or less.

There are other studios in town that have longer recitals with NO intermission. One studio who has 2 locations splits their recital. One location is on Friday, the younger students in the afternoon on Saturday and the older students on Saturday night. I have been to rectials where the time between dances is over a minute and a half (which doesn't sound long, but when you are sitting in the dark waiting for the next number to start, seems like FOREVER!

Any good dance school owner should know that the average song should be no longer than 3 minutes. To help figure the length of time that the average show will be is to take the average length of song and multiply it by the number of songs, then add in the length of any intermission. If there is award presentation, estimate the length of time for this too. We started our show at 7:30 and I was on my way home by 11:15. This allowed for the show, award presentation, meet & greet after the show with family and then cleanup and packing my car - Under 4 hours total.

 

[Maridw]

good for you.

This 53 year old dancer is doing tap to Ballroom Blitz

What doesn't kill us, only makes us stronger

We used to have a dancer at our studio who was a Rockette when she was younger. She danced into her 60's and could out tap anyone at our studio.

I will be 50 this year and do a ribbon solo. Every year parents ask me what I will be doing for a solo. I did one to the theme from Harry Potter and everyone loved it. When I repeated it a couple years later to help fill in for a quick change, they were glad to see it again. This year I used the song "Pure Imagination" and got lots of compliments on it.

 

[Imzadi]

Here's my rant - the "old people" (I'm talking 40 - 65 range) are in the recital too. WTH - I don't get that. I understand taking classes for exercise etc, but a dance recital. I was even more amazed that the group shows up in costume for picture day. Maybe they send the photos to their kids and grandkids.

I'd say something nasty, but I know the best revenge is that you will become an "old person" quicker than you realize. You might change your attitude and ideas about what old is and what old can do.

 

[MELSMICE]

I didn't read all the posts on this, but one thing I can tell you is the reason they mix the dances up is to allow for costume changes.

We always try to keep the time between dances to a minimum, 30 seconds or less.

I have been to rectials where the time between dances is over a minute and a half (which doesn't sound long, but when you are sitting in the dark waiting for the next number to start, seems like FOREVER!

Any good dance school owner should know that the average song should be no longer than 3 minutes. We started our show at 7:30 and I was on my way home by 11:15. This allowed for the show, award presentation, meet & greet after the show with family and then cleanup and packing my car - Under 4 hours total.

I did a cut & paste on your post to highlight a few of things you mentioned.

Yep, the dances are mixed up to allow for changes. Some students only get one number to change. I tell them.......if you have 4 or more numbers you have no problem changing in the dressing room; 2-3 numbers to change....change in the quick change room; one number to change....keep your butt backstage & good luck. Thank goodness for volunteers.

Like I said, our show is just one continual running performance & with the exception of 1 student on Saturday afternoon that did not tell us she had a 1 number quick change, the stage was never empty.

Our Sunday show started at 12:30 & also included a small presentation at the end & a finale. It was our last show so everything had to be dismantled, we did clean up & took everything back to my studio. I was home by 4:30 & I live about 25 minutes away from my studio location. Recitals should not be long.

I tell my instructors that dances should be approximately 2 minutes in length - give or take a few minutes. The senior girls usually get a longer routine.

Good for you for doing a solo. I got on stage with my DD's this year, but my solo days are long gone. No way, no how. I might get my butt up there with a class or my DD's again, but my alone time is when I pop out on stage for 30 seconds at the end of the show before I bring out my instructors, etc.

 

[Cruisin]

We used to have a dancer at our studio who was a Rockette when she was younger. She danced into her 60's and could out tap anyone at our studio.

I will be 50 this year and do a ribbon solo. Every year parents ask me what I will be doing for a solo. I did one to the theme from Harry Potter and everyone loved it. When I repeated it a couple years later to help fill in for a quick change, they were glad to see it again. This year I used the song "Pure Imagination" and got lots of compliments on it.

Good for you

I'm sure that you are an inspiration to many people who see you dance.

I'd say something nasty, but I know the best revenge is that you will become an "old person" quicker than you realize. You might change your attitude and ideas about what old is and what old can do.

It is absolutely amazing how your perspective changes as you go thru life, isn't it.

 

[Imzadi]

It is absolutely amazing how your perspective changes as you go thru life, isn't it.

Here is a performance by a woman who was 60 when she did this. She was still performing at the age of 69 last year.

She left a horribly abusive marriage to an absolute scumbag, with what little money she had on her at the time. Because she left their business, too, which was a partnership, she was sued by various business people for all the profits lost because of her. But, she has willingly paid each and every one of her debts off, though it took years, than go back to her husband. She eventually made a name and career for herself, without her husband.

She is one of the most electrifying, inspiring, powerful women I can think of. To me, she is the benchmark of the kind of strength, resilience, wisdom, life experience, grace, dignity, sexiness and power I would love to have at 60.

The video isn't very good quality, but, if you look at the effect she has on her audience during this performance of her peers and many even younger, I'd say these people have no problem watching an "old woman" of 60!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQgkp4EK5do

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Just wanted to clarify a few things....

I dearly love my niece, (actually she is my great niece) we are very close and I would never let her know I did not enjoy sitting through the entire 5 hrs. I agree that each child deserves a chance to show off their talent, but many of the same kids were seen over and over. It actually took away from the show as it then became boring. After the 35th tap routine, they all began running together!

I certainly know how hard these girls work all year. Like I posted previously, she takes dance 4 days a week and still keeps honor roll grades, which I think is pretty impressive.

I still think it is crazy the way you have to pay for every breath you take at the studio and beyond! Having to pay for recital tickets is nuts! As much as they pay all year and as many students as they have, surely they could afford to rent the building and put on the show without charging. Her parents spent over 10 grand this year on dance!

And I mentioned she had to "try out" for next year's classes, Well, today she got her results and was devastated! She called me sobbing on the phone because she did not get in the class she wanted. There is way too much drama at that studio! It is always something. I guess at age 11 it doesn't take much to upset you, and when you get lots of young girls together especially that are competing, you're gonna have hurt feelings, but it is tough to hear her upset.

Thanks to all of you that responded. It is interesting to see the different point of views.

Your poor niece...

I never wanted to imply that you didn't care about your niece and THANK YOU for sitting through her recital because I'm sure it means a lot to her. I wish my aunt could have done the same for me.

 

[BC]

Disneygirl, I never thought you meant that....just wanted everyone to know I certainly was not complaining because she wasn't worth my time, just about the way it could be done versus the way it was done. Believe me, I would sit an entire day for her if that is what it took.

Oh, also wanted to mention they did a "Daddy Dance' with lots of the girls dancing with their Dads. It was so moving! I just love it... that one dance is worth the wait!

 

[cabanafrau]

Our studio has contemplated many times splitting the recital into younger groups & older groups. The problem is that the older dancers often participate in several to many #'s because they take more classes/styles. Their costume change is during the littles' numbers.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Disneygirl, I never thought you meant that....just wanted everyone to know I certainly was not complaining because she wasn't worth my time, just about the way it could be done versus the way it was done. Believe me, I would sit an entire day for her if that is what it took.

Oh, also wanted to mention they did a "Daddy Dance' with lots of the girls dancing with their Dads. It was so moving! I just love it... that one dance is worth the wait!

The Daddy Dance must have been so cute! My husband LOVES watching the little kids dance - I have to admit I do too! LOL!

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

The Daddy Dance must have been so cute! My husband LOVES watching the little kids dance - I have to admit I do too! LOL!

Our studio does a Dad's Dance but it's completely not what you think. Dads sign up and practice their own routine for about 2 months. They then perform at each and every recital. They don't dance with their daughters, they dance their own routine. It gets huge amounts of applause. It's always themed to the recital theme. Last year the recital theme was "Totally Awesome 80s" and they danced to Thriller. One year it was Disney themed and they danced to "Lost Boys" from Peter Pan. The dads do an amazing job and everyone loves it!!

 

[design_mom]

My nieces' studio does a Father/Daughter dance, too. It was both girls' favorite part of the recital.

My 5yo niece danced to "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" with my BIL. My 7yo niece danced to "Beat It" with BIL. The "Beat It" choreography was pretty complex with the kids and the dads appearing as completing "dance gangs," like in the video.

 

[NY Disney fan]

I must be in the minority because I love to sit through dance recitals! I could see 7 hours worth! I used to dance and perform and did recitals when I was younger.

 

[DebD4T]

I must be in the minority because I love to sit through dance recitals! I could see 7 hours worth! I used to dance and perform and did recitals when I was younger.

Add me to the minority!!

 

[nenner1]

I did a cut & paste on your post to highlight a few of things you mentioned.

Yep, the dances are mixed up to allow for changes. Some students only get one number to change. I tell them.......if you have 4 or more numbers you have no problem changing in the dressing room; 2-3 numbers to change....change in the quick change room; one number to change....keep your butt backstage & good luck. Thank goodness for volunteers.

That made me giggle- my DD has a one-number Quick change this year and the song is under 2:00. She exits the previous number stage left and the QC booth is stage right. I told her just start stripping stuff off the second she gets offstage but I can so see her ripping off costume pieces while still in sight in the wings.