Deciding to Perform
American Ballet Academy does two performances every year: our annual production of The Nutcracker and our Spring Showcase. They are not required, but it is expected that students will take part in these performances so they work to apply what they learn in class. Rehearsal and performances are an additional time commitment; please make sure your dancer is ready to make that commitment.
Please make sure to put the Academic Year Calendar in your family calendar at the beginning of each year. We provide the dates for Holidays (when ABA is closed), Performances, Technical Rehearsals at the theater, in-Studio Dress Rehearsals, and Days Off after each performance.
Rehearsals
Arrive 15 minutes early to all rehearsals to get ready and to stretch.
We start rehearsals for The Nutcracker as early as we can in September - the first weekend of classes, if possible. Spring Rehearsals begin in January. This is to allow the students to learn their choreography and give them as much time as they need to be prepared. It’s very important not to miss rehearsals because choreography, timing, and placements happen during rehearsals. Students can miss no more than three rehearsals per semester. If a dancer is going to miss a rehearsal, just like for class, please inform ABA Staff in advance so appropriate plans can be made.
The cast list will go up in the week before rehearsals begin. Changes may need to be made as we move through the process, but we do our best to keep them to a minimum.
All rehearsals on Saturday afternoons after morning classes. We try to avoid rehearsing in classes as much as possible as that time is meant to work on & improve technique.
Final In-Studio Dress Rehearsal
The Saturday before we move to the theater we have a Final in-Studio Dress Rehearsal. This serves several purposes:
Our Volunteers are invited to watch so they learn the order of the dances and what kind of help will be needed backstage.
This rehearsal is Mandatory; the dancers learn to put everything (including their costumes) together in order of the show so they feel comfortable performing.
Staff learns what needs more work or rehearsal time before we move to the theater.
Technical Rehearsals
The Technical Rehearsals at the stage (you’ll hear us say we’re going into Tech) are a chance for the Staff to add Costumes, Music, and Lighting to the performance. The dancers learn where they will change and how to get there & back in time. Please make sure to send your dancer with stage-appropriate snacks - they always need more than you think they will need. Additional details will come in our Packing for the Stage list which will be sent out in the weeks before performance. Please also send your dancer with books or coloring (NO markers or paints!) to keep them occupied backstage. Label anything you want to return home and consider leaving electronics or other expensive items behind. Parents may come backstage to drop their dancers off, but backstage is otherwise off-limits. Your dancer will be signed in to us at the beginning of the day and out to you at the end of the day for their safety.
Costume Rentals
Costume Rental totals will be shared with families as soon as casting is decided. Costumes that have already been ordered cannot be refunded as they are non-returnable. We do our best to keep our costume prices down. All costumes are owned (cleaned & stored) by ABA & rented to our families at a significant discount.
It is important that you fill out the Nutcracker Permission Form as quickly as possible a) so we have the answers to all our questions and know what you need; and b) so ABA Staff has an accurate count to start ordering costumes. Delaying or not filling this out may result in order & delivery delays.
We have a wonderful group of volunteers who help out in every way they can during performances and there is quite a lot of work that the staff needs to do before performances to make things as easy and smooth as possible.
Performance Fees
Performance Fees go toward renting the theater, printing specifically for the event, and all rentals and consumables (tape, bobby pins, hair nets, etc.) we use for each show. The Nutcracker and the Spring Showcase will both be held at Ponaganset High School in 22-23.
Tights: All students will be given one pair of new Ballet Pink tights per performance. If you would like extras or more to use during the class, this is a great time to order them. Ms Meg will send an email and post on Facebook asking if anyone would like tights - please respond to this email/post or let her know in advance. Ms Meg can also order skin-color tights for those who prefer.
Nude Leotards: Nude leotards are required for all female students. These are worn backstage as they’re getting ready, and under their costumes so they are covered during costume changes. Families are welcome to purchase their own or Ms Meg can order them in an appropriate color for each dancer. They are $20/each.
Performances
It is of absolute importance that you are early to your call at the theater so we have everyone ready when it is time to begin. Late dancers waste the time of everyone involved.
We will show you your space for your things. Please label all personal items and leave expensive items at home.
Please make sure you arrive at the theater according to your call each day - not just in terms of time, but also
readiness, with your hair/makeup/required items for the show.
Please make sure you remove all personal items at the end of each day - from the stage, the backstage, and the
dressing rooms. It is essential that we show respect to the space, not only because it does not belong to us, but
also because we hope to be invited back! We do our best to leave each space better than we found it.
Older students take a warm up class onstage before rehearsal begins each day.
Please pay attention and be respectful to all teachers, staff, and volunteers when you are at the stage. They are
trying to make sure that you’re where you need to be at each moment to make the most of the time we have.
Volunteers
We appreciate our volunteers so much!!
The Performance Permission Form asks if one/both parents/guardians would like to volunteer. There are opportunities to volunteer in Front of House (The Lobby), or Backstage.
If you help in the Lobby you may be asked to prep & hand out programs, work at the sales table, take tickets or check people in, sell raffle tickets, etc.
Backstage Volunteers mainly help with costumes & costume changes. Others help move scenery onstage during pauses and others help by watching younger dancers as they’re backstage. Parents will work with a group that their child is NOT a part of so they can focus on their work and their dancer can focus on their performance.