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Winter Recital Guide

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

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

Performance Schedule

Act 1

Class NameClass day/timeInstructor
AP BalletWednesdays 6:45-8:15Mr. Christian
2-3 Dance DiscoverySaturdays 10:00-10:30Ms. Abbey
3-4 Hip-Hop & TapTuesdays 4:45-5:30Ms. Dani
7-9 TapMondays 5:15-6:00Mr. Marty
5-6 Hip-Hop & Tap TAP DANCETuesdays 5:30-6:30Ms. Dani
10+ JazzThursdays 6:45-7:30Ms. Abbey
VariationsWednesdays 8:15-8:45Mr. Christian
Adult TapMondays 6:00-7:00Mr. Marty
7-9 Hip-HopTuesdays 6:30-7:15Ms. Dani
5-6 Hip-Hop & Tap HIP-HOP DANCETuesdays 5:30-6:30Ms. Dani
10+ BalletWednesdays 5:30-6:45Mr. Christian
3-4 Ballet & TapSaturdays 10:30-11:15Ms. Abbey
AP TapMondays 8:00-9:15Mr. Marty

Act 2

Class NameClass day/timeInstructor
Tap Rep 2Thursdays 8:15-9:15Mr. Marty
Tap Rep 1Thursdays 7:30-8:30Mr. Marty
5-6 Ballet & Tap TAP DANCESaturdays 11:15-12:15Ms. Abbey
7-9 Ballet / Jazz / Lyrical BALLET DANCEThursdays 5:15-6:45Ms. Abbey
10+ TapMondays 7:00-8:00Mr. Marty
PointeWednesdays 8:45-9:15Mr. Christian
5-6 TapMondays 4:45-5:15Mr. Marty
5-6 Ballet / Tap BALLET DANCESaturdays 11:15-12:15Ms. Abbey
7-9 Ballet / Jazz / Lyrical JAZZ DANCEThursdays 5:15-6:45Ms. Abbey
10+ Hip-HopTuesdays 7:15-8:15Ms. Dani
Teen ContemporaryTuesdays 8:15-9:15Ms. Dani

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 NameClass day/timeInstructorCostume
Dance DiscoverySaturdays 10:00-10:30Ms. AbbeyBlack leggings, pants, or skirt, recital tee, dance shoes or barefoot
3-4 Ballet & TapSaturdays 10:30-11:15Ms. AbbeyBlack leggings, pants, or skirt, recital tee, Tap shoes
3-4 Hip-Hop & TapTuesdays 4:45-5:30Ms. DaniBlack leggings, pants, or skirt, recital tee, clean sneakers
5-6 Ballet & TapSaturdays 11:15-12:15Ms. AbbeyBlack leotard, tights, black leggings (for tap), recital tee, Tap shoes, Ballet shoes
5-6 Hip-Hop & TapTuesdays 5:30-6:30Ms. DaniBlack leggings pants or shorts, recital tee, Tap shoes, clean sneakers
5-6 TapMondays 4:45-5:15Mr. MartyBlack leggings pants or shorts, recital tee, Tap shoes
7-9 Ballet & JazzThursdays 5:15-6:45Ms. AbbeyBlack leotard, tights, leggings for Jazz, recital tee, Ballet shoes, Jazz shoes
7-9 TapMondays 5:15-6:00Mr. MartyBlack leggings or pants, recital tee, Tap shoes
7-9 Hip-HopTuesdays 6:30-7:15Ms. DaniBlack leggings or pants, recital tee, clean sneakers
10+ BalletWednesdays 5:30-6:45Mr. ChristianBlack leotard and tights, Tutu (studio provided), Ballet shoes
10+ JazzThursdays 6:45-7:30Ms. AbbeyBlack leggings or pants, recital tee, Jazz shoes
10+ Hip-HopTuesdays 7:15-8:15Ms. DaniBlack leggings or pants, recital tee, clean sneakers
10+ TapMondays 7:00-8:00Mr. MartyBlack leggings or pants, recital tee, Tap shoes
Tap Rep 1Thursdays 7:30-8:30Mr. MartyBlack leggings or pants, recital tee, Tap shoes
Teen ContemporaryTuesdays 8:15-9:15Ms. DaniBlack leggings or jazz shorts, recital tee, Jazz shoes and barefoot
AP BalletWednesdays 6:45-8:15Mr. ChristianBlack leotard and tights, Tutu (studio provided), Ballet shoes
VariationsWednesdays 8:15-8:45Mr. ChristianBlack leotard and tights, Tutu (studio provided), Ballet shoes
PointeWednesdays 8:45-9:15Mr. ChristianBlack leotard and tights, Tutu (studio provided), Ballet shoes
AP TapMondays 8:00-9:15Mr. MartyBlack leggings or pants, recital tee, Tap shoes
Tap Rep 2Thursdays 8:15-9:15Mr. MartyBlack 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

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? 

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