Tis the season for dance!
The dancers and their instructors have been hard at work in the studio, like little elves in their workshop, to bring you some holiday cheer! Our annual Winter Recital is our favorite winter tradition – with festive outfits and dances that celebrate Christmas, winter and the holiday season. Tickets are on sale now.
Date
Saturday, December 16th
2:00-2:30 dancer arrival time
3:00 show time
Location
Wheaton Academy
900 Prince Crossing Road
West Chicago, IL 60185
Tickets
$15 Adult
$10 Child (18 & under)
(under 3 free)
(dancers do not need tickets)
livestream
$15 Livestream ticket
Quick Links
Important Recital Details
Tickets
- Tickets are available for purchase online
- Dancers in the show do not need tickets
Ticket Prices
- $15 Adult
- $10 Child and Senior
- Kids under 3 free
Location and Parking
The Winter Recital will be held at Wheaton Academy (900 Prince Crossing Rd, West Chicago, IL 60185)
Ample parking is available directly to the west of the theater

Dancers: What to bring, what to wear
What to bring
- Any and all Recital dance shoes
- Any and all Recital costumes (see costume section)
- Any and all Recital tights and accessories
- Water bottle
What to wear
- Your first recital costume and tights if applicable
- Hair and makeup completed
- Arrive wearing street shoes, change to dance shoes after entering the theater
- Undergarments must not be visible in costume
- No additional jewelry or nail polish
Check-in Procedure
Dancers check-in upon arrival
- Dancers should stop by the check-in desk upon arrival (located downstairs)
- After check-in, you can walk your dancer to their designated holding area
- Dancers will stay in the holding area with their class until their performance
- There will be classroom chaperones and backstage staff the entirety of the performance
If your dancer is not performing in the first act
- Check-in upon arrival
- Your dancer may sit with you until intermission then proceed back to the check-in table at intermission
During The Show
Audience Etiquette
- No flash photography or videotaping allowed
- Please wait for the time between each dance if you need to enter or exit the theater
- Clap and cheer loudly! We all here to support, encourage, and celebrate these amazing young people!
- Be positive and refrain from negative comments – you never know if there is a dancer or family member sitting nearby
Changing Costumes & Dressing Rooms
- Dancers in any class with Ballet should wear tights and a black leotard as a base and wear other costume pieces on top of this base
- SEE THE COSTUMES SECTION FOR MORE INFORMATION
- If a dancer requires a dressing room to change, the dressing rooms are located towards the backstage entrance at the end of the hall on the left
- Parents may assist costume changes if necessary, but should not remain backstage
- Teachers and class chaperones are present to help younger classes change shoes
Dismissal Procedure
Dance Discovery, Classes for Ages 3-4, 5-6 & 7-9
- At the end of each act, all dancers in that act will take a bow
- Dance Discovery, and classes for ages 3-4, 5-6 & 7-9 will be dismissed directly from the stage following bows
- The curtain will be closed and dancers will be released one by one
- Please come to the front of the stage and wait for your dancer
- If your dancer is in both acts, they will remain backstage and return with the class chaperones to the holding area
Classes for Ages 10+
- Dancers in classes for age 9+ will be taken back to the holding areas to gather their belongings and exit in the theater lobby
Quick Links
Performance Schedule
Act 1
Class Name | Class day/time | Instructor |
---|---|---|
AP Ballet | Wednesdays 6:45-8:15 | Mr. Christian |
2-3 Dance Discovery | Saturdays 10:00-10:30 | Ms. Abbey |
3-4 Hip-Hop & Tap | Tuesdays 4:45-5:30 | Ms. Dani |
7-9 Tap | Mondays 5:15-6:00 | Mr. Marty |
5-6 Hip-Hop & Tap TAP DANCE | Tuesdays 5:30-6:30 | Ms. Dani |
10+ Jazz | Thursdays 6:45-7:30 | Ms. Abbey |
Variations | Wednesdays 8:15-8:45 | Mr. Christian |
Adult Tap | Mondays 6:00-7:00 | Mr. Marty |
7-9 Hip-Hop | Tuesdays 6:30-7:15 | Ms. Dani |
5-6 Hip-Hop & Tap HIP-HOP DANCE | Tuesdays 5:30-6:30 | Ms. Dani |
10+ Ballet | Wednesdays 5:30-6:45 | Mr. Christian |
3-4 Ballet & Tap | Saturdays 10:30-11:15 | Ms. Abbey |
AP Tap | Mondays 8:00-9:15 | Mr. Marty |
Act 2
Class Name | Class day/time | Instructor |
---|---|---|
Tap Rep 2 | Thursdays 8:15-9:15 | Mr. Marty |
Tap Rep 1 | Thursdays 7:30-8:30 | Mr. Marty |
5-6 Ballet & Tap TAP DANCE | Saturdays 11:15-12:15 | Ms. Abbey |
7-9 Ballet / Jazz / Lyrical BALLET DANCE | Thursdays 5:15-6:45 | Ms. Abbey |
10+ Tap | Mondays 7:00-8:00 | Mr. Marty |
Pointe | Wednesdays 8:45-9:15 | Mr. Christian |
5-6 Tap | Mondays 4:45-5:15 | Mr. Marty |
5-6 Ballet / Tap BALLET DANCE | Saturdays 11:15-12:15 | Ms. Abbey |
7-9 Ballet / Jazz / Lyrical JAZZ DANCE | Thursdays 5:15-6:45 | Ms. Abbey |
10+ Hip-Hop | Tuesdays 7:15-8:15 | Ms. Dani |
Teen Contemporary | Tuesdays 8:15-9:15 | Ms. Dani |
Quick Links
Costumes, Hair and Makeup
Costumes
Winter Recital costumes are simple and festive, with basic dancewear as a base, the winter recital t-shirt, and various accessories from the studio.
Dancers who are in classes with Ballet will need to wear tights and black leotard as a base and if they are in other styles, will add those pieces on top.
Class Name | Class day/time | Instructor | Costume |
---|---|---|---|
Dance Discovery | Saturdays 10:00-10:30 | Ms. Abbey | Black leggings, pants, or skirt, recital tee, dance shoes or barefoot |
3-4 Ballet & Tap | Saturdays 10:30-11:15 | Ms. Abbey | Black leggings, pants, or skirt, recital tee, Tap shoes |
3-4 Hip-Hop & Tap | Tuesdays 4:45-5:30 | Ms. Dani | Black leggings, pants, or skirt, recital tee, clean sneakers |
5-6 Ballet & Tap | Saturdays 11:15-12:15 | Ms. Abbey | Black leotard, tights, black leggings (for tap), recital tee, Tap shoes, Ballet shoes |
5-6 Hip-Hop & Tap | Tuesdays 5:30-6:30 | Ms. Dani | Black leggings pants or shorts, recital tee, Tap shoes, clean sneakers |
5-6 Tap | Mondays 4:45-5:15 | Mr. Marty | Black leggings pants or shorts, recital tee, Tap shoes |
7-9 Ballet & Jazz | Thursdays 5:15-6:45 | Ms. Abbey | Black leotard, tights, leggings for Jazz, recital tee, Ballet shoes, Jazz shoes |
7-9 Tap | Mondays 5:15-6:00 | Mr. Marty | Black leggings or pants, recital tee, Tap shoes |
7-9 Hip-Hop | Tuesdays 6:30-7:15 | Ms. Dani | Black leggings or pants, recital tee, clean sneakers |
10+ Ballet | Wednesdays 5:30-6:45 | Mr. Christian | Black leotard and tights, Tutu (studio provided), Ballet shoes |
10+ Jazz | Thursdays 6:45-7:30 | Ms. Abbey | Black leggings or pants, recital tee, Jazz shoes |
10+ Hip-Hop | Tuesdays 7:15-8:15 | Ms. Dani | Black leggings or pants, recital tee, clean sneakers |
10+ Tap | Mondays 7:00-8:00 | Mr. Marty | Black leggings or pants, recital tee, Tap shoes |
Tap Rep 1 | Thursdays 7:30-8:30 | Mr. Marty | Black leggings or pants, recital tee, Tap shoes |
Teen Contemporary | Tuesdays 8:15-9:15 | Ms. Dani | Black leggings or jazz shorts, recital tee, Jazz shoes and barefoot |
AP Ballet | Wednesdays 6:45-8:15 | Mr. Christian | Black leotard and tights, Tutu (studio provided), Ballet shoes |
Variations | Wednesdays 8:15-8:45 | Mr. Christian | Black leotard and tights, Tutu (studio provided), Ballet shoes |
Pointe | Wednesdays 8:45-9:15 | Mr. Christian | Black leotard and tights, Tutu (studio provided), Ballet shoes |
AP Tap | Mondays 8:00-9:15 | Mr. Marty | Black leggings or pants, recital tee, Tap shoes |
Tap Rep 2 | Thursdays 8:15-9:15 | Mr. Marty | Black leggings or pants, recital tee, Tap shoes |
Hair
- Girls hair should be slicked back in a clean bun
- Short hair may be worn down or slicked back
- Boys hair should be tidy
Making a great looking bun is easy! Just follow this quick tutorial
Items Needed:
- Hairnet
- Bobby pins
- Hairspray
Makeup
Light stage makeup enhances the facial features and helps ensure faces are not washed out in the bright stage lights. While we do not endorse the use of makeup for young girls on a regular basis, stage makeup serves a specific purpose for dance performances and is highly encouraged.
Stage makeup is easy! Just follow this quick tutorial
Items Needed:
- Foundation
- Powder
- Blush
- Eyeliner
- Mascara
- Lipstick
Quick Links
Frequently Asked Questions
Where and when is recital?
- Wheaton Academy (900 Prince Crossing Rd, West Chicago, IL 60185)
- December 16th, 3:00 pm showtime (2:00 pm dancer call)
When do I need to be there?
- DANCERS: between 2:00 and 2:30 pm
- AUDIENCE: after 2:30 pm
Do I need to buy tickets?
- 2 complimentary tickets are included in your recital fee
- Friends and family are welcome – if you would like to purchase additional tickets, click the link below
- Click here to purchase recital tickets
Does my dancer need a ticket?
- No
Is there a livestream?
What does my dancer wear?
- Find your dancer’s class in this chart
- measurements recently taken were for costumes for the June recital, which will be provided to you in the Spring
Can my dancer sit with me in the audience?
- The show has 2 acts. If your dancer is NOT in that act, they can sit with you and watch the show! Before the act they ARE in, please bring your dancer to a designated check-in table downstairs, and they will stay with a staff member backstage for the entirety of the act, and be released to you at that same check in table after the act.
what if my dancer has a clothing or shoe change?
- Parents are welcome to assist their dancer with costume changes, but should not remain in the dressing area
- Staff will assist with shoe changes
can I take pictures and videos during the show?
- No flash photography during the show
- Video taping is discouraged as the bright screen can be distracting to other audience members behind you
- The performance is recorded in high definition and you will receive a digital copy