Important Show Newsletter January 2025

DRESS REHEARSAL

SATURDAY 8TH FEBRUARY at the Venue ACT Theatre, Kingston College (address above)                                                                                                                  

Please drop your child off at the College Reception at 11am (Chaperones, your dancing child and Seniors from 10am)– we will begin at 12.00pm sharp! No packed lunch/tea needed, please ensure your child has a big breakfast! Please send your child with a drink and a snack (no chocolate or anything that could stain)

Hair and make-up MUST already have been done at home. This information is further on in the newsletter.

Dancers must have all named costumes and clean shoes with them- Individual Costume Lists will be given out over the next week. Please also put Make-Up and Hair bits and pieces in your child’s bag for touch ups.

Only parents who have offered their help backstage at either of the shows are able to stay at the Dress Rehearsal. It is very important if you are helping backstage or in the dressing rooms that you attend this rehearsal- it helps the children get to know you, and you them. It also means that the show runs more smoothly if everybody involved has a rehearsal- not just the children.

Your child will be ready for collection at 15:00 from the College Reception, starting with the TINY TOTS & PRE-PRIMARY’S. The rest of the School will be ready from 15:30, all Dancers need to be collected by 15:45. A register will be taken at each rehearsal and Show, marking each time a child enters or leaves the Theatre, and another register during the show. 

TDC Dancing uniform is NOT required for the DRESS REHEARSAL, please arrive in comfortable loose clothes.

If you are chaperoning in the Dressing Room you will not be able to bring any other children with you for the Dress Rehearsal and Show performances, if needed please arrange childcare.     

PLEASE NOTE ON THE DRESS REHEARSAL THERE WILL NOT BE TIME FOR GAMES ETC, SO PLEASE DO NOT SEND THEM IN WITH YOUR CHILD ON THIS DAY.

SHOW DAY

SATURDAY 15TH FEBRUARY –AT THE ACT THEATRE, KINGSTON COLLEGE (ADDRESS ABOVE)

PERFORMERS ARE NOT TO ARRIVE IN COSTUME

ALL CHILDREN ARE IN BOTH SHOWS!

I would like the children to arrive at 12pm (1 hour and 30 minutes before the Show is due to start). Please do not arrive any earlier as we will be getting things ready for them, and not any later as this may make them feel rushed. Chaperones for the 1.30pm performance, please arrive 1/2 an hour before the children (you may of course bring your dancing child with you at this time).

TEA TIME: Because of the short amount of time between the end of the first show and the beginning of the second, I would like the children to stay at the Theatre. After the afternoon performance, the whole school will have their packed tea in the canteen, before going back to their dressing room areas to get ready for the evening performance. Only parents helping in the dressing rooms will be able to come into the canteen at tea time or anywhere back stage. 

If both teams could be there at tea time that would be great, and an ideal time to discuss queries that have cropped up. Last Show, it was felt that there was not enough tea-time help especially for the little ones, please do stay and help or arrive early for the next performance to help, about 15:45pm.

AGAIN LIKE THE DRESS REHEARSAL HAIR AND MAKE UP MUST BE DONE PRIOR TO GETTING TO THE THEATRE. PLEASE SEND YOUR CHILD WITH MAKE UP, HAIRSPRAY AND HAIR ACCESSORIES ETC FOR TIDYING UP AND TOUCHING UP MAKE UP.

TDC Dancing uniform is NOT required for SHOW Day, please arrive in comfortable loose clothes.  Please do not put a fitted top on your child as our Chaperones do not want to mess their beautiful hair up! Onesies have been popular with our students in past shows.

Please send your child with a book to read or games, and/or card games to play. TDC will not be responsible for any devices brought into the theatre so if bringing any please make sure they are named and also stored appropriately when  not in use.

PARENTS: please name all costumes, shoes, lunch boxes etc.

PACKED TEA AND REFRESHMENTS

Please send your child with a packed tea, enough to keep them energized throughout the whole day. Due to allergies please make sure your child’s packed tea does not include nuts. 

They will need a packed tea and plenty of water. Sport top bottles are a great idea in case of spillages!!

Please avoid sending your child with chocolate, Ribena or fizzy drinks- as these can ruin the costumes! PLEASE SEND YOUR CHILD WITH PLENTY OF WATER!

PERFORMERS FRONT OF HOUSE

Any one who is performing in the show is NOT allowed front of house (auditorium) in or out of costume, at any time or for any reason. Our performers are not able to come to the stage door during the show, interval or in between SHOWS to see family or friends, so please do not ask our security. This may feel very strict but we take the keeping your children safe very seriously. I have lots of children who will be under my responsibility and I want to make sure they are looked after while in my care.  

OUR TINY TOTS (AND POSSIBLY OUR LITTLE PRE-PRIMARYS)

I just wanted to put a message out about our Tiny Tots who are very much apart of the Dance Company family. I want to reassure our Tiny Tots mums and dads that while you may be worried that the Dress Rehearsal and Show Day are both long days for your children we try and make the most comfortable and fun environment for the little ones. They may become upset, appear distressed and this may worry you but we do our best to give the children a positive and fun experience. We make the decision to not have parent’s in their own children’s dressing room as this is not always the best situation with separation etc. We have 50+ children who will also need a lot of attention with getting into costumes etc. If your child is still in nappies or being potty trained do please speak to myself or Harriet and we can of course come to an arrangement to make your child feel as comfortable as possible.

I also do not want you to be concerned the children will be asked to wear make-up and have their hair put into a bun. We suggest it for all the school as there will be lots of lights shining onto the children and their gorgeous faces will be seen better on film and from the auditorium. A little bit will make a lot of difference 🙂 

For nearly four decades Tiny Tots have been one of our favourite parts of the shows and we don’t want them to miss out on any part of the experience, they get the biggest applause of the shows when they take their bow in the Finale along with the rest of the school, it really is special………for reassurance even Miss Harriet was a Tiny Tot back in the 80’s and I was in the 90’s, our parents still have fond memories of this.

Myself and Harriet have spent the last few weeks analysing every area of the Dress Rehearsal and Show Day to ensure it all runs smoothly and safely. We have amazing Chaperones in the Tiny Tots area who we know will make sure your children are happy.

Thank you.

HAIR- WHOLE SCHOOL

Middle height classical bun, with a middle parting.

Gel hair back into a ponytail, making sure hair ties are the same colour as hair. No fringes or loose bits. Ponytail should be in line with cheek bones. Middle parting.

Twist and wrap hair around to form a bun. Hold in place with a bun net. Secure with hair pins and NOT Kirby grips.

Mousse or hair gel is by far the easiest and strongest to use. In addition, lots of hairspray.

Bun nets and hair pins must all match hair colour- PLEASE DO ASK ASAP IF YOU NEED GUIDANCE ON HOW TO DO A PROPER CLASSICAL BUN. 

BOYS- Neatly styled with hair gel- hair off the face.                            

STREET DANCE- Hair in a high ponytail with a middle parting, no fringes.

MAKE-UP- WHOLE SCHOOL

TINY TOTS & PRE-PRIMARY

Cover the face with tinted moisturiser or a light covering of foundation.

Use a gold colour eye shadow to cover the whole eyelid.

Blusher for the cheeks. A little bit of bronzer.

Red lipstick

No mascara needed

SATURDAY 10:45 CLASSES + AND WEEKDAY CLASSES

FULL GLAM SHOW MAKE UP

Cover the face in foundation.

Use LIGHTER GOLD eye shadow OVER THE WHOLE EYELID. DARKER GOLD/ BROWN eye shadow on the OUTER PART OF THE EYELID INTO THE CREASE TO MAKE A SMOKY EYE 

Deep blusher on the cheeks. Also use a bit of bronzer.

RED lipstick

Mascara. Aged 13+ heavy mascara or false eyelashes.

Aged 13+ Fake Tan body

JEWELLERY 

Please do not send you child in wearing any jewellery or nail varnish. They will not be allowed on stage with earrings in or nail varnish on. I am not comfortable asking Chaperones to remove a child’s earring. Last show this happened and a gold earring was lost. TDC will not accept responsibility for lost jewellery.

Please do not put glitter on your child’s face as this is something we may do and if we do the dancers will all look the same.

VIDEOS AND PHOTOGRAPHS

Please don’t forget that there is to be no use of video cameras or cameras in the auditorium during either performance. This includes iPads. The performance will be stopped if someone is seen using any device to film or take photos.

Any member of the audience seen using a device will be asked to leave and this may affect the running of the performance. Thank you for your co-operation in this health and safety matter.

No photography or videoing is allowed to be taken backstage by Chaperones, especially on mobile phones. We are all so used to filming & taking pictures without thinking, but you do not know who has NOT given me consent for their children to have pictures taken, and the various reasons for this. VERY IMPORTANT, AND TO AVOID EMBARRASSMENT PLEASE RESPECT THIS REQUEST. If you see someone taking photos or filming, please let me know immediately. Thank you.

THE SHOW IS BEING RECORDED AND PHOTOGRAPHED ON THE 15TH FEBRUARY. EMAILS WERE SENT ON 4TH JANUARY 2025- IF YOU HAVEN’T RECEIVED PLEASE LOOK IN YOUR JUNK MAIL OR LET ME KNOW.

Thank you all for your co-operation.

GENERAL ROUND UP OF WHAT IS NEEDED FOR 8TH AND 15TH FEBRUARY

A gentle reminder that your child needs to arrive with:

• Costumes- on individual named hangers, preferably in a costume bag holder, or even covered by a black bin liner
• ALL dance shoes- named
• A packed tea/lunch (no foods with nuts please) (SHOW DAY ONLY), plenty of food for the day.
• Plenty of clear fluids- it’s a long day.
• Hair and Make Up done- (make-up and hair bits and bobs in your child’s bag)
• If any children are on any medication or antibiotics please do not put them in your child’s bag, they must be handed in named to me or Harriet as you drop your child off.

Don’t forget to invite your family and friends to come and see your fantastic children’s amazing work. There are currently only 14 Afternoon tickets and 9 Evening tickets left to purchase so spread the word. Please remember you will not be able to view the show without a ticket and I anticipate the SHOW will sell out so get those last remaining tickets quick 🙂 https://stagestubs.com/the-dance-company/chapter-1

NEAREST PARKING OPTIONS:

The Rose- Multi-Storey Car Park, Kent Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2NB- Parking Charges apply at all times.

The Bittoms- (Surface Car Park is 24 hours) KT1 2AG. (Multi Storey is only open 7am-7pm). Parking charges apply.

Many many thanks to all the wonderful parents for all your support while we put together the first TDC show!                                                     

Finally, the children, Miss Talitha, Miss Arzu, Harriet and I have worked extremely hard to make this a fantastic show for you. We do hope you and your family and friends will enjoy watching it as much as we have had fun working on it. To my fab Saturday helpers Sophie, Summer, Naomi and Sofia, you have been wonderful, thank you.

Best Wishes

Meg x

Meg Edmonds
I.S.T.D. DDE Ballet & Tap, Associate Street Dance, First Aider
All staff hold DBS certificates
07376 397748
www.the-dancecompany.co.uk
E-Mail: thedancecompanyteddington@gmail.com