October 19 - 24th: Costume Week (in regular class time)

Monday, November 30th: MANDATORY Theatre Rehearsal at the Concourse Theatre - rehearsal times are in blocks, refer to the drop off and pick up times spreadsheet for your child's specific allocated time

Monday, November 30th: Regular classes at TDC are cancelled.

Friday, December 4th: Regular classes at TDC run as normal.

Saturday, December 5th: Regular classes at TDC are cancelled.

Saturday, December 5th: Recital Performance Day at the Concourse Theatre!! Refer to the drop off and pick up times spreadsheet for your child's specific allocated times for this day.

As always, the safety of our dance family is our #1 priority. 

DO NOT contact us via email on November 30th and December 5th (we will not be monitoring our inbox on those days). Please send us a text message to 0414 102 295 if you need to contact us.

1. When students arrive at the rehearsal and recital, they are to be checked in by a parent or guardian and must be checked out when it is time to leave.

2. Failure to attend the mandatory theatre dress rehearsal will result in the student not being allowed to dance in the show.

3. Students are not permitted to leave the venue while the rehearsal and concert are running. 

4. No student is to leave the backstage area during the intervals, with no exceptions. 

5. Only TDC staff are permitted on the side/back stage areas. 

6. We cannot run messages or food to students, so please ensure they have everything before they come backstage for rehearsal and the recital. 

7. Please do not bring anything valuable to the theatre. Electronic devices are NOT ALLOWED. 

8. Mobile phones are not to be taken backstage or in the changing areas during the rehearsals & recital. Dancers are NOT ALLOWED to have mobile phones with them. If they bring them to the theatre, they must be checked in at the sign-in desk and collected when they sign out. If they require them to contact a parent/guardian, they can ask a TDC staff member.

9. Our studio and the venue will take no responsibility if any personal item is damaged, misplaced, lost, or stolen. 

10. Private videography and photography are strictly prohibited as we will have professionals attending on the day to provide these services for us, leaving you free to sit back and enjoy the show in the moment!

11. Any audience member caught using their phone to video or take photos during the show will immediately be removed from the theatre and will not be allowed back in.

12. Explicit language, inappropriate attire, offensive clothing, and criminal behaviour will not be tolerated. 

13. ALL students are to have their names marked off when they arrive at the venue. If your child has any Medical Conditions that may require attention whilst in our care or are carrying any medication with them, please notify our supervisors when you sign in.  For those dancers with allergy & medical condition action plans, your action plan will be shared with the first aid staff at the theatre. 

14. Students MUST arrive with their hair and makeup done and dressed in their first (or only) costume. {Exception for those who have a hair and/or make-up booking.}

15. When being picked up, all children need to be checked out of the venue by their parent / guardian. Please avoid asking your child to meet you outside the venue or in the car park as a parent must be seen for you to pick them up. If someone else is picking your child up, they need to have a permission note to show who will be supervising them.

16. Costumes are not replaceable, should you lose your costume you will not be allowed to perform in the show.

17. There are no refunds on any fees associated with the recital (tickets, costumes, etc.) whether you participate in the show or not.

18. Please be patient with all security, theatre & TDC staff. We want to make sure each child is looked after and safe.

19. Please ensure students are picked up and dropped off at the designated areas only.

Click the link below to view the dancer drop off and pick up times for Monday, November 30th and Saturday, December 5th. Please note that the times will be different on each day.

Dancer Drop Off & Pick Up Times

Costume Lists & Costume Week

Each class has a different costume and different requirements such as shoes, hair, accessories, etc. You can find all of this information on the costume information tab in your parent portal. These will show up in your portal account during our Costume Week. Please triple-check that you have all items packed and labelled before coming to any rehearsals.

Costume Week: October 19 - 24th

During our costume week, we will distribute the performer's costumes during their regular class. One parent/guardian is allowed to attend class this week. We will go through all the costume information during class and dancers will be dancing in their costumes to ensure everything is okay. 

Please note that costume material can be itchy or feel 'scratchy' for dancers who have never worn a costume before. It should be tight-fitting, which might feel uncomfortable for some children at first.

Caring For Your Costumes

Please keep all costumes in their garment bags/carry bags until the rehearsals and actual show day, so they are kept as pristine as possible. Once the show is done, they are yours to do with what you like.

We highly suggest that costumes are not washed until after the performances but if needed, when washing your costumes, please ensure they are hand washed in cold water only, preferably using a lingerie wash bag to ensure that they are not damaged. Costumes should not be tumble-dried, and it is important not to over-expose them to direct sunlight. 

We take as much care as possible in choosing sizing for each student when ordering costumes, but sometimes adjustments are needed once we try costumes on. If your child requires their costume to be adjusted, it is your responsibility to have these adjustments completed before the first dress rehearsal.

Undergarments

Regular everyday underwear is not to be worn under dance attire and especially costumes. If your child requires any undergarments, they must be dance-specific. 

We highly suggest that all dancers have a body stocking (nude leotard) to wear under their costumes. This can eliminate any uncomfortable feelings of changing costumes in a full dressing room. 

Underwear must be skin-coloured and not visible beneath your child’s costume (this applies to all ages).  Any undergarments worn must be proper dance undergarments. You can purchase these from the TDC shop in your parent portal, online from Capezio or any Bloch store.

Shoes & Tights

Pre-ordered tights will be in your child's costume bag when they collect it during costume week.

Please ensure your child has the correct-coloured footwear. If they need new shoes, it's best to get them ASAP so they have time to dance in them and make them comfortable for the show.

ALL tights for the show must be purchased from TDC so that everyone has the same shade of tights on stage. This may sound like a trivial detail, but under bright stage lights, different shades are very noticeable. If your dancer has dark brown or black skin colour, please contact us so we can refer you to purchase tights that are appropriate for your child's skin tone. 

We strongly advise each student to have a minimum of one spare pair of tights in their costume bag for emergencies. This will ensure they are prepared for any unexpected situations.

If your dancer ruins their tights backstage and requires a new pair, TDC will provide a new pair of tights. However, please note that your account will be charged the cost of the tights and a $25 fee for this service. We want to ensure that all families know this potential cost and take an extra pair of tights to avoid it.

Ballet classes 

- Pink ballet shoes with elastics and tan-footed or convertible tights will be required. 

Tap classes

- Caramel (tan) tap shoes with buckles and tan-footed or convertible tights will be required. 

Jazz classes 

- Tan slip-on jazz shoes and tan-footed or convertible tights will be required. 

Hip Hop classes (Boys & Girls)

- White plain joggers, tan footed tights and white socks will be required.

Acro class

- Tan MDM Base Acro shoes and tan-footed or convertible tights will be required. 

Boys 

- Will require black ballet shoes with elastics, black slip-on jazz shoes, and black lace-up or slip-on tap shoes. 

- Boys will need black socks to go with their costumes.

Hair

- Hair for our Junior Academy is a low bun with a middle part. 

- All buns require bun pins (at least 12), elastic, and a hair net. Bun donuts are optional. 

- For dancers with short hair who cannot put their hair in a bun, please slick back your hair into a ponytail with no part.

- Hair must be neatly slicked with gel and hairspray (no flyaway bits, please).

- All fringes must be gelled back off the face. 

- Boys' hair is to be neatly styled.

Makeup

- Pink blush and bright red lipstick.

- Long stay/smudge proof lipstick is preferred.

To view photos and a video tutorial click the link below.

Junior Academy Hair & Makeup

Note: Junior Academy dancers will be required to leave school early on this day.

What happens at a Dress Rehearsal?

At a show dress rehearsal in a theatre, the performers run through the entire show in full costume, with lighting, sound, and stage effects. It mimics the actual performance conditions, allowing dancers to practice transitions, spacing, and timing with all technical elements in place. The focus is ensuring everything runs smoothly, identifying any issues with costumes or staging, and making final adjustments before the live show. It’s the last chance to polish the performance in a real-time setting.

Why is this important for performers?

As the theatre is a new environment for our dancers, they need to be in the space to see it, understand what and where they will be going, and practice on the stage with the stage lights. Having this experience before performing in front of a large audience helps them prepare for the show day, leading to a better performance experience.

Theatre Education

We use the dress rehearsal to prepare our performers for their show and to educate them about how a theatre works, from the theatre staff who help us create a show to being a good audience member and from a performer's perspective. Knowing and learning this information creates an understanding and respect for live art, which we hope they will carry with them throughout their lives.

Dress Rehearsal Breakdown:

1. Arrive at the theatre (dressed in costume with hair and make-up done, unless you are coming early for a hair and/or make-up appointment) and check in at the check-in desk next to the lifts.

2. Dancers will be escorted by one of the TDC staff or volunteers to place their box/bag in their dressing room and then go and sit in the theatre.

3. We will call the classes up on stage when it's their turn to perform. Dancers will walk up the stairs on either side of the stage and gather in the centre of the stage. 

4. Each dancer will then have an individual photo taken on stage with the professional photographer. After each individual has had their photo taken, we will then take a group photo. 

5. It's now time to perform! We will recreate the lighting as it will be for the show so the dancers can experience it before they perform on show day. 

6. After they dance they will go to their dressing room to change into their next costume or return to sit in the theatre. 

7. They will then sit and watch the other routines and learn how to be a respectful audience member in a theatre setting. 

8. When it's time to leave the theatre, they will collect their box/bag and line up at the pick-up area.

Important - Our dress rehearsal is mandatory. Failure to attend will result in your dancer not being allowed to perform on the show day. 

Our junior academy dancers perform in ONE show {Show A} on Saturday, December 5th. There are no limits on ticket purchases.

Click the link below to view the detailed ticket information page that includes, pricing, where to purchase tickets and ticket release dates.

Recital Ticket Information

For information about the theatre, location, address, parking, etc, please click the link below.

Theatre Information

It's SHOWTIME!!

Show day is a bustling day full of nervous and excited energy. Please be kind and patient as our staff and volunteers navigate getting over 150 children ready to perform on stage. 

IMPORTANT: Performers are NOT ALLOWED to bring mobile phones or any kind of digital devices backstage including digital cameras.

Please keep these items at home.

Bags will be checked at the check in desk and items confiscated if found.

Supporting your dancer on show day

Firstly, make sure your dancer has a nice early and relaxing night the evening prior to the show. Secondly, make sure your dancer has a healthy breakfast and drinks some extra water in the morning. Your support can make all the difference in helping your child feel confident and calm on show day. Encourage them with positive words, reminding them that it's all about having fun and enjoying the experience. Keep the atmosphere light and avoid putting pressure on them to perform perfectly. Being on time and prepared will help ease nervousness. Most importantly, let your child know how proud you are of them for being part of the special day!

Junior Academy Show Day Process:

1. Check the traffic conditions first thing in the morning. As it's a Saturday on the North Shore, traffic can get very busy. Plan your leave time accordingly.

2. Early arrival at the theatre is crucial to allow for parking time and getting to the check in point. This sets the tone for a smooth start to the day for your performer.

3. Please check in at the drop-off point next to the lifts. Ensure your dancer has everything they need, including snacks, a water bottle, and all of their costume items and dance shoes.

4. Your child will be in good hands. They will be escorted to their dressing room where our dedicated teachers and staff will be warming them up and keeping an eye on them during their time backstage.

5. You can then proceed upstairs to the theatre lobby and enjoy a snack, beverage and some social time before the show. 

6. The show will begin, and your dancer will perform on stage. 

7. After performing, they will return to their dressing room to change into their next costume or stay there until pick up time.

8. After the show, please have one parent line up at the pick-up area. When you arrive at the front of the line, your dancer will be brought to the stage door to be picked up. 

9. Please take a moment to tell your dancer how proud you are of them and celebrate their win for getting up on stage and performing. It takes bravery and courage to perform, and they should be recognised for it. 

For a detailed list of what to bring and what not to bring, please click the link below.

Packing Lists

Click the link below to read about the policies surrounding photos and videos at the recital performances.

Photos & Videos

The at home practice companion

The Google Classroom provides a space for each class to connect as a community. Practice makes perfect, as the old saying goes, and it is true, except we prefer 'progress' rather than 'perfect'! Dancers who practice their dance skills outside of class progress quicker, feel improvement faster and enjoy their classes more. As for performing on stage, practice is essential for the dancer to feel confident and for them to enjoy their performance. 

Having a well-practised routine will ensure that the dancer can then focus on the performance aspect of their routine, smiling and expressing emotion whilst doing the choreography. Dancers who have practised their routine well will have more confidence on stage and enjoy the performance more as they can focus on what they feel as they dance and not just think about what step comes next.

Each dancer is an individual and will have difficulties with different styles or sections of dances and therefore practice time between dancers will vary. We suggest that each student should commit a minimum of 10 minutes a week per dance. This could be 5 minutes a day or split up into lots of practice on certain days. It does help if it's scheduled into their weekly activities calendars. 

We provide a free at-home practice companion, which will include class videos of choreography as well as their routine music to use at home. If you are not already in the class Google Classroom group you can click the link below to find the information links.

TDC Google Classroom Links

Your TDC Parent Portal is a wealth of information! What you will find there: 

- Your dancer's class name/s

- Your dancer's academy level

- Your recital drop-off times

- The TDC shop: purchase tights, shoes, hair items, etc. 

- Your dancer's costume lists that include hair & make-up requirements

Click the link below to access your parent portal.

TDC Parent Portal