How to Prepare Your Child to Perform

It has been awhile since your child has performed for a live audience. And now, it's finally time for their big show. Your child has been learning tons of new skills in class and after months of practicing, it's time to share with family and friends. A recital is an exciting time for dancers, and we want to share 6 tips for their best performance experience.

1. Practice at home

To help your child feel confident on stage, make sure they know their routines. Regular attendance in class is the best way to do this, followed by practice at home. Teachers will send videos so that you can practice with confidence at home and to have the music. At home, be their audience, so they can get used to dancing in front of others without nerves. The more your child practices, the better they will feel.

2. Gather Friends and Family

When you invite family and friends to share the moment, you make your child feel loved and supported. Just knowing that parents and loved ones are in the audience can help calm a nervous dancer. If you can™t invite family or friends, have them send flowers or supportive messages. And then send them the video to watch it again with your child.

3. Keep it fun and positive

When you talk about their performance, stress the fun of the experience. You can help relieve any extra pressure by letting them know that it is normal to make mistakes. When you talk about the recital, use uplifting words and tell your child how excited you are to see them try their best. Added pressure can make a child feel like they have to perform perfectly, which can stop them from even wanting to get on stage. Make sure they know that you won™t be mad if they make a mistake. Children can easily pick up on their parents™ emotions, so if you are nervous, your child will likely be able to sense it and may feel more pressured.

4. Get Organized

Preparing ahead of time will help diminish the nerves on their big day. It adds a ton of stress when your child is late or they forget something for the show. So stay organized! Read all the emails, texts, and signs to make sure you know where and when your dancer needs to be at dress rehearsals and the show.

Staying organized also means you have everything you need for the performance. The night before the recital, set out every piece of the costume, plus the dance shoes and label every piece. Do a trial run of the entire costume with hair and makeup so that there aren™t any unknowns on the actual day. Be sure to pack more than you need, including extra hairspray, bobby pins, makeup, and snacks. It™s better to be over prepared than to forget something at the last minute.

5. Prepare for the Day

Get a good sleep the night before. It's hard to think clearly and play accurately when you're tired! Try to get a little extra sleep to ensure you're well rested.

Eat well on recital day. Feeding your body good, healthy food will help you feel and perform your best. Eat a little extra protein for energy, and avoid foods that don't make you feel good.

Avoid stress. Recital days aren't the time to confront someone or stir up trouble. Try to avoid extra stress so you can focus on doing your best.

Arrive early and give yourself extra time. For young dancers, it can be helpful to walk them exactly where they need to be so they don™t get lost or confused.

6. Make Them Feel Special

Your child has likely been practicing for a long time, so be sure to celebrate and make the recital special. Pack a little love note in their costume bag, or put a fun snack in their bag for after the recital. Bring them flowers after the performance or take them out for a fun treat. Celebrating the recital will make them less nervous and more excited for future dance performances. And be sure to take lots of pictures”you™ll want to remember the special performance for a long time.

Our dance Festivals are a very exciting experience for both performers and audience. When you take the time to help prepare your child, you can guarantee that they will have a great recital experience!

Thank you to our amazing community for the honor of teaching your child and giving us the opportunity to CHANGE LIVES THROUGH DANCE!

Laguna Niguel, CA