STAGE REHEARSAL
Tuesday, June 16 - Saint John's High School
Stage Rehearsal is one of the most exciting nights of recital week! Dancers will run the entire show from start to finish on the big stage (without costumes), so they can feel comfortable, confident, and ready for recital day.
We will run Stage Rehearsal exactly like the recital show, so dancers (and families!) know what to expect on the big day and can feel fully prepared and excited
Important Reminder: Both Dress Rehearsal & Stage Rehearsal are required part of recital preparation for all recital dancers.
Where: Saint John's High School - 378 Main Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01545
When: Tuesday, June 16
Stage Rehearsal Schedule:
5:00-5:15 Dancer Check In
5:30 Stage Rehearsal Begins
This is everyone’s first time on the stage, so we move at a slightly slower pace than recital day to make sure dancers feel supported and confident throughout the experience. The full show is approximately 45 minutes long. Dancers will be dismissed after the Finale.
What to Wear:
-
Regular class attire
-
No costumes needed or hair / makeup required for Stage Rehearsal
Arrival & Parking
-
Please park in the back of the theater (behind the building)
-
Enter through the back door
Check in Process
1) Upon arrival, all dancers will first check-in (by signing them in) at the Check In Table.
-
At check-in, each dancer receives a name lanyard with their name and their parent's contact information in case we need to reach you during the show, as well as, a name tag for the dancer's parent to wear. Only the parent wearing the name tag will be allowed to enter the dressing room, bring that child to the restroom, or sign out their dancer.
2) All dancers are asked to use the restroom before heading backstage (even if they just went at home!)
3) Parents will then bring their dancer to their dressing rooms to check in with their Class Volunteer
4 ) Once dancers are settled, parents may head into the theater.
Who May Attend:
In order to keep the experience calm, focused, and supportive for all dancers, staff and volunteers, Stage Rehearsal is a closed rehearsal. This means:
-
Only one parent or guardian per dancer may attend; no additional siblings or guests will be allowed in the auditorium during the rehearsal.
-
For the dancers’ focus and safety, parents will be in the dressing rooms only during check-in and check-out. There is no parent access backstage during the rehearsal.
What Does Stage Rehearsal Look Like:
-
The full recital runs in order from start to finish
-
Dancers perform all routines, transitions, and finale just like recital day
-
This is a full walk-through performance experience on stage.
After the show, dancers return to the dressing rooms.
Check-Out Process
1) At the end of rehearsal, parents will head to the dressing room to pick up your dancer.
2) Sign your dancer out with the class volunteer in the dressing room.
3) Return to the check-in desk to complete check-out by signing out your dancer and returning your dancer's lanyard.
⚠️ Dancers are not considered checked out until BOTH steps are completed.
Bathroom Policy During the Show
If a dancer needs the restroom during Stage Rehearsal or Recital, we follow a simple process to keep everything safe and smooth.
At check-in, all dancers are asked to try the restroom before going to the dressing rooms, even if they’ve already gone at home. This helps avoid interruptions during the show and keeps dancers comfortable. Please note, we are not able to hold the show if a dancer is in the restroom during their performance.
During the rehearsal/show, our volunteers will escort dancers to and from the restroom as needed. Please note, volunteers cannot assist with toileting.
For any child who is not restroom independent, we will text the parent listed on the lanyard. Please come to the dressing room right away, take your dancer to the restroom, and then return them to their dressing room and re-check them in with their class volunteer.
Pull-ups are always welcome if needed.
For the safety and privacy of all children and volunteers, our staff and volunteers are not able to assist with toileting. We appreciate your understanding as we work to keep this experience safe, respectful, and comfortable for everyone.
A Couple Important Things to Know...
-
No food or drinks are allowed in the theater. Water is the only drink permitted in the dressing rooms.
-
No filming or photography of any kind is allowed in the theater during Stage Rehearsal or Recital. This is very important to protect our young performers and to keep the theater a calm, distraction-free environment for all dancers.
-
Please silence all phones and remain quiet in the theater during both Stage Rehearsal and Recital. Phone use will only be permitted briefly for parents who need to be contacted. Bright screens in the theater are very distracting from the stage and can impact your dancer’s performance, so we kindly ask that all devices stay dark and put away while in the auditorium.
We can’t wait to see your dancers take the stage and celebrate everything they’ve accomplished this season!
A Note About Stage Expectations...
What parents of little dancers may see on the big day
We know that for preschool dancers, the stage is a big, exciting place! For some children it feels fun and thrilling, and for others it can feel a little overwhelming — both are completely normal at this age.At this stage of development, dancers may not always have the words to explain how they feel. Instead, we might see things like tears, hesitation, freezing, or not wanting to go on stage. This is all part of learning and growing.
If Your Dancer Feels Nervous
We will never force a child to go on stage.
If a dancer does not want to perform, we will calmly thank them for letting us know and their class volunteer will sit with them safely at the side of the stage to watch. Our goal is always to protect their confidence and make sure they continue to love dance and feel safe at the studio.
If you do not see your child on stage, please know they are safe, supported, and cared for. If anything ever goes beyond typical stage nerves, we will contact you right away.
What You May Also See (and It’s All Okay!)
Preschool dancers often surprise us in the most wonderful ways on stage.
You may see:
-
Forgetting parts of the dance
-
Standing and watching the audience
-
Doing their own creative version of the routine
-
Getting very excited and continuing to dance after the music ends
-
Needing a moment before they’re ready to go on
All of these are normal, age-appropriate, and part of learning to perform!
What We Celebrate
-
At this age, recital is not about perfect dancing — it’s about:
-
Trying something new
-
Being brave on a big stage
-
Learning confidence step by step
-
Celebrating a whole year of growth and joy
If your dancer shows up, participates in their own way, or even just takes a small brave step toward the stage… they are absolutely succeeding!