It’s dance season. And that means one thing:
Terror for the new dance mom as she tries to navigate these unchartered waters. This is my third go around, and I was lucky enough to have been befriended by a veteran mom who shared a few tips with me before, (some after), our first performance, but the rest I learned the hard way. Here’s what I tell every first-time dance mom that they need to know before the big performance:
1) Those in-studio photos? You’re expected to bring your child in full-make-up and hair. Don’t do what I did the first year. I picked up the Princess Cupcake from school with one costume shoved in my purse, changed her in the bathroom and got in line. Then I noticed the girls in front of us were in full make-up and ringlet hair. Uhhhhh…. I was embarrassed, but she wasn’t thankfully. Still cute none-the-less.
2) You don’t have to purchase the in-studio photos. In fact, unless your studio has a really fun photographer, don’t do it. My favorite dance photos of the Princess Cupcake are when I took responsibility for costume photos into my own hands. Well, Loudmouth Photography’s hands. We love her incredible images.
3) The lightweight zip up garment bags are great for their costumes. Don’t ball up the costumes into your Vera Bradley bag. Hang them up a week – yes, a whole week — or so before. Steam or iron the wrinkles out and transport them in a garment bag. Put all the accessories (hair ties, shoe ties, belts, etc) into a zip lock bag with her name on them and keep it in the garment bag with the corresponding costume.
4) Label all your dancer’s clothing items. Costume changes for little bitties is a flurry of activity and everything looks the same. Put your kiddo’s name on all of her stuff. Not only will it eliminate the arguments for who’s is who’s, it might elevate your chances of getting that one lost ballet slipper returned to you.
5) If you child has costume changes during the performance, (the cupcake wears 3 different ones!) get the nude leotard with the clear straps for her to wear underneath. That way your precious one isn’t running around naked backstage between outfits. Here’s an example from getdancewear.com.
6) Pack a cooler with snacks and drinks. Do this for dress rehearsal AND performance day. Those are really, really, really, long days for a little dancers and a snack break can help smooth out any grumpiness. No one likes a frowning ballerina with stink eye.
7) Even if you put her make-up on at home, pack your make-up and brushes, hairspray, etc for backstage. Remember, these are little girls. They don’t know how to eat granola bars without eating their lipstick too or that if they rub their eye, their eyeliner will be all over their face! For that matter, bring some baby wipes in case you need to start all over.
8) Take your camera to dress rehearsal. This is where you’ll get the best photos. You can get close to the stage and it will look like you had the greatest seats for the performance.
9) Take something for you to do during dress rehearsal. And possibly your dancer if she is sitting with you during it.
10) Bring an extra pair of tights. Tights get holes and run, especially when little girls are crawling around on their knees. Be prepared. Remember, you won’t be with her the hole — er, whole, time. 🙂
11) Payless Shoe Source has dance shoes and they open at 10 a.m. This I found out when the Princess Cupcake lost ONE ballet shoe right before our dress rehearsal. We made it through with her street shoes and lots of apologies to the teacher, but I was scrambling to find a replacement pair prior to check-in on performance day. Call the store first, confirm they have the size you need, (Breathe.), and go get them. As a side note, some dance studios have a basket of shoes that dancers have outgrown. You can also check there if the studio is open.
12) Tip your hostess with small gifts or cash. This may or may not apply to you depending on how your studio handles the backstage activities. For us, we have sweet high school dancers that are assigned to an age group to help them with costume and hair changes. They do this voluntarily and let’s face it, you know what it’s like to chase your little angel around to get her hair done or put mascara on her. Imagine what it’s like for a teenager to have a whole group of them! They’ve earned it.
13) Bring flowers or a small gift for her when she is done with her performance. Obviously this isn’t mandatory, but she’ll be soooo excited to get her own bouquet of flowers like the big girls do.
14) At the end of their 3 minutes of fame onstage, don’t – under any circumstances – add up the hours or the money you’ve spent over your past 9 months devoted to dance class — especially if your daughter froze on stage and couldn’t remember what she was supposed to do. It will make you sick. Dance class is much more than the 3 minutes they are performing. Say that over and over to yourself and you’ll likely need to say it to your husband as well.
15) Buy the DVD. I know it’s expensive and you probably filmed it yourself too but you’ll regret it later if you don’t. And besides, you can torture your visiting relatives at the holidays with it.
Happy Dance Days!
What tips do you have for the new dance mom?
It is IMPERATIVE that the new dance mom learn how to thread a needle and USE it! Anyone can sew by hand and there will be lots of “projects” that require it. It also helps when those costumes need just a little bit of altering to make them fit properly, tutus need tacked or little things added to make them look better on stage.. My motto is this… “If it can be put IN by hand (sewn), it can be taken OUT by hand!!!” Anything can be undone and redone if/when necessary!
What a great suggestion! Thanks for adding it.