Dance Concert Update
May 5, 2008

Important dance concert details are listed below along with rehearsal and photo schedule.  Please keep this information handy:

Q & A for common questions:

• Are both shows on the same day?
  No.  Heartbeat’s evening cabaret, “The Cotton Club” is Saturday, June 7th, at 7:00pm (dancers must be there by 6:00pm).  Heartbeat’s children’s’ matinee is Sunday, June 8th at 1:00pm (dancers must be there by 12:00 noon). 

• Must I/my child attend all rehearsals?
  Yes.  The rehearsals are the only time that all dancers get a chance to run the production together at which time many changes may be made in entrances and exits, stage placement, etc.  If the dancer is not at the rehearsals, he/she will not know the changes and stand a chance of making the dance piece that has been worked on all year turn into chaos on stage.   The theater rehearsals are the only time the stage tech crew can set lights and sound for each dance.

• Can my child come into the theater after his/her dance is done?
  No.  That is disruptive to the audience and each dressing area has a closed-  circuit TV set up so the dancers can watch the show in progress.  All dancers are required to participate in the finale’ after each show.  Adult supervision is provided for each group of students in the dressing rooms. 

• My, father (or other relative), doesn’t like to go to recitals so can he just leave after my/my child’s dance is done?
  It is disrespectful the dancers for any audience member to get up and leave during a show. Understandably, emergencies and restroom visits happen, but aside from those reasons, people moving about in a theater interrupt the view of the show for other audience members and is very rude to the dancers – all of whom have worked hard all year to present their show to all audience members. 

• If parents must go to more than one show, do they have to buy a ticket for both performances? 
  Yes.  Heartbeat has production expenses for each show that is produced.    The high school does not give us free theater space and in fact, charges a rental rate that is equal to or greater than collage theater rental fees.  Ticket dollars go toward theater rental, dressing room rental, lobby rental, ticket booth rental, building use permit fees, liability insurance policy, stage crew labor costs, technical director labor costs, program printing, and a building manager and utility use (AC or heat) fee.  Added to these expenses are rental fees for back drops and other set design pieces. 

• Can I take photos or a video of the show?
  No.  All performances are being professionally taped for transfer to DVDs which can be purchased by placing an order at the ticket booth the day of the show.  We would rather that you just sit back and enjoy the show and let others focus on the taping. Video taping is also prohibited due to copyright infringement of music and choreography contained in the show.   Flash cameras are quite simply a hazard to the dancers.  Flashes cause “blind spots” in the dancers’ eyes and cause momentary disorientation that can result in tripping, falling or bumping into another dancer.  Each performance is also being professionally photographed with cameras that do not use flash. 

• I am worried that my child will get hungry in the dressing room. Can I send food with him/her?
  No.  Eastview High School strictly forbids food or beverage in the theater or    dressing areas.  This is ALWAYS a sore spot with the high school after each of   our performance and they get angry!  Dancers should eat a meal before they come to the theater and then only bring bottled water with them.  Do not send snacks, McDonald’s food, Cheetos, or any other type of food with your child.  The shows only last 1-1/2 to two hours so if the dancers eat before they arrive at  the theater, they should be able to get by for two hours without food. 

• Besides, my child’s costumes, what else should I send?
  It is recommended that each dancer bring all of their costumes and dance shoes in their own personal container.  Laundry baskets work wonderful for this!  This way nothing will get lost and their costumes are kept in one spot.  The dancers should also bring a supply of hair pins, safety pins, hair brush and hair spray.  Munchkin, Child and Youth dancers only need to wear a little lipstick and blush if they want to.  Do not put eye make up on these young age groups.  Pre-Teens, Teens and Adults should wear full stage make up.  ALL FEMALE DANCERS OF ALL AGE GROUPS MUST WEAR THEIR HAIR IN A BUN.         MALE DANCERS MUST HAVE THEIR HAIR OUT OF THEIR LINE OF VISION.

• What do I need to purchase for me/my dancer?                       

• What show is my class in? AND When are my photos? Click here
• Click here to download and print the documents
• Back to Announcement page