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Holiday in Whoville 2023
Christmas Show Info & Frequently Asked Questions
The Christmas Show is a great time for dancers to celebrate their growth throughout the fall session and a magical way to kick off the holiday break.
- Our show is Saturday, December 16th at 10:00am at Monfort Concert Hall at Union Colony Civic Center – 701 10th Ave. in Greeley. [There is NO dress rehearsal for the Christmas show.]
- Production dues are $100 for the first dancer and $75 for each sibling. Fees will be charged to the card on file on 10/2.
**ACTION REQUIRED** Read the show info. and FAQ’s carefully, then complete one of the following:
- If you want your dancer to perform, click here and input your dancer’s pajama size by10/1. (If you are unable to complete the form in time, then you are consenting to our educated guess on pajama sizing for your dancer.)
- If you DO NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE in the show, you must fill out this OPT-OUT by 10/1. (Your child will NOT receive a costume. Your child WILL continue to participate fully in class for the remainder of the session, with NO penalty or changes to their normal class routine.)
Why is the show in Greeley? This venue is a dream come true from every angle of esthetics, professionalism, size and value. It’s worth the drive.
What do we wear? The “costume” is included at Christmas- we purchase pajamas for the dancers to wear. It keeps the costs down and has become an annual tradition for the Christmas performance at EDC!
Is this one of those three-hour dealies? My niece’s recital is SOOOOO LONNNNNG.
This year’s show will be approximately 2 hours total with a 15 minute intermission. There are no costume changes with this show, which speeds things along. It is important to note that nobody will be allowed to check out early, such as during intermission. If you will not stay for the entire show, then do not sign up to perform.
Do we have to participate? Participation in the show is 100% optional. About 95% of our student body performs in our shows. Imagine going to baseball practice week after week but never playing a game- the Christmas and Spring shows are our World Series. If you can swing it, we highly recommend joining in the fun.
Who should NOT do the show? Skip it if you have a scheduling conflict, you don’t want to invest the time or money, you are grumpy about driving to Greeley, you will not stay for the entire performance, or you are stressed in any capacity about naptime, peeing pants, being away from mom for a couple of hours, crying on stage, etc.- It’s okay to wait until this feels good for the whole family- dance is supposed to be fun! Rest assured your dancer won’t be treated differently or sit out during class time.
What are “Production Dues?” Is that just a way for you dance teachers to get rich?
We wish. The $100 non-refundable production dues collected in advance offset the high cost of producing the show, including but not limited to the venue rental, EDC staff plus additional support staff, venue custodial staff, a professional light board operator/stage manager/sound tech/stagehands etc., videography and editing, Christmas pajamas, a digital download of the show for every family, all of the photos our photographer takes, and more. We are very excited to offer the kids such a fun show experience while still keeping the fee affordable for our families.
What is not included? Tell me the true cost of participating.
- Tickets are not included in the production dues and must be purchased for every human in the auditorium. ($12.50-$25.00. Children under 2 on a lap are $3.50- which covers the venue ticketing fee for their free ticket. Performers do not require a ticket.)
- At this time there are no official limits to the number of tickets you’re able to purchase, however we ask you to try to limit yourself to no more than 6 tickets per student, and we are expecting a sell-out show at this 1600-seat venue for the first time ever.
- There will be OPTIONAL products and services offered to you at an additional cost such as flowers and cake pops for your dancer, bottled water, etc.
What else should I know about costumes?
- We will order and deliver Christmas pajamas to each performer ahead of the show.
- Parents are responsible for the correct style and color of shoes, as well as any required tights or leotard per our dress code. [You will not be asked to purchase anything outside of the required dress code for your dancer’s class/es]
- We’ll ask you to help style their hair and makeup before arriving at the venue. Details to come later.
What do I need to do as a parent? I come hang out and help the whole time, right?
Your role is an important one. First, we need you to support your dancer and be a bright, positive light in their dance experience, including show. Second, we need you to help your dancer arrive on time and prepared with their costume and correct shoes, and with their hair and makeup done. With this style of show, that is the extent of your involvement- easy peasy! ONLY EDC staff is allowed to help with this show. We have plenty of background-checked supervision backstage. Your child is in great hands, we promise. For more peace of mind, please watch this short video on EDC shows.
How many times will I get to see my dancer on stage?
This depends on how many classes your dancer takes. Each class performs one dance in the show, except Technique Conditioning, Open Barre, Pre-Pointe, Turns & Leaps, and Acro, which are strictly technique classes. Pre-primary classes perform ONE of their two styles of dance from their class, not both. Progressive Pre-Primary performs TWO of their styles of dance. All dancers will come out for an ending bow.
So it seems to me my dancer will only be on stage for a few minutes of the whole show. Is it really worth it? Absolutely! While it’s true YOU may only see YOUR child up there for a few minutes, it is a complete, delightful and entertaining show for you, and an entire experience for THEM. The kids LOVE to be a part of a greater whole- it’s very satisfying. Showtime is both a memory-maker and a learning experience for the kids.
At my son’s preschool, the teachers came out and did the performance with the kids. Why don’t you come out and dance with them so they look really good? We think they look great already! They are so darned cute the only thing we could do by being out there is distract you. We are not interested in teaching the kids to just follow the adults so they look better, we care about building the necessary skills (confidence, discipline, memorization, courage, independence…) so they can do it themselves and enjoy the lovely side effect of self-pride.
I didn’t grow up dancing, but all my 5 year old did was spin around and point her foot a few times. Can I get my money back? Respectfully, we disagree. We saw a dancer who was strong and confident enough to get out on stage in front of people and smile. We saw a dancer who knew when the dance began, how it ended, and even remembered some of the middle all on her own! We saw her plie, releve, bourre, arabesque, chasse, tendu and pique. We saw a dancer who got out on stage without an adult coaxing her along. We saw a child who tried something new and sort of scary to most people. We’re pretty proud. You should be too! Now head out and get that sweet dancer some flowers!
All right, we’re totally in. But I want my child to ROCK. What can I do to help?
- Yay! Ok most importantly, please help your dancer have fantastic attendance and arrive prepared to dance (shoes, hair, uniform). Try not to miss unless it’s really necessary. If a dancer has an injury (not a contagious illness), bring them anyway to observe the lesson and/or stand in their place in the formation if able.If your dancer misses four classes after the opt-out period ends, you will still receive your costume, but your dancer will not perform on stage.
- We often tell our dancers, “Practice makes confident.” If you can help your dancer practice at home by encouraging them to show you their dance, do it with them, have siblings do it together, or any other manner of encouragement, this helps. BUT don’t make practicing a chore, homework, or otherwise lame and boring. Dance is FUN!
- And finally, please leave the coaching to us. We value progress over perfection, and we’re excited for you to see the kids’ growth. Avoid the comparison trap of any kind, and help us celebrate your child on their own unique journey with dance.
You did not answer all my questions. Now what?
- We will post everything in the Recital Hub on your EDC app, which will cover burning questions in detail.
- Join us on Zoom for a Christmas Show meeting on Tuesday, September 19th at 7pm. Meeting ID 262 142 1166, password 5678.
- We know you may still have questions -especially if it’s your first show- so please do not hesitate to ask. We are here to help! Please email crystal@elevatedanceonline.com for any logistical questions, or dena@elevatedanceonline.com philosophical questions, and we will make sure you are confident and comfortable with all things for the Christmas Show!