What’s so great about a dance Recital anyway?
If you are new to the dance world, you might be wondering what’s the big deal about the end of year recital? I’ll admit, that on the surface, it may be hard to see why all this time, effort and cost goes into a one-day event. Well, I’m here to give you a few reasons why Recital is such a big, important day for our entire dance family.
So what do our dancers gain by taking part in our end-of-year Recital?
1. Increase Confidence
It’s not an easy thing to get up on stage in front of hundreds of people, but it does help to grow a very important skill- confidence.
Weekly class rehearsals (plus hours spent at home practicing!) help to build confidence throughout the year. Then, on Recital day, we get a chance to see that confidence really shine! Backstage I will often hear dancers talk about how they are nervous or scared and sometimes they aren’t sure if they want to go on stage, but go they do!
My favorite part of the performance isn’t seeing them rock their dance. It is after when they step off that stage with a cheer and a big YES! because they did it and they had so much fun. That kind of pure joy is priceless.
2. Work on Goal Setting
Whether it’s your 1st Recital or your 15th Recital, there is a major sense of accomplishment at the end of the day when you take your bow. Dancers work hard week to week to learn new choreography and how to perform it with the plan of achieving a fun, inspiring and joyful en-of-year performances.
The euphoria of hitting that goal of performing on stage is something that stays with a person long after dance lessons finish. Achieving goals and targets is something that is useful all throughout life and a dance recital is an amazing place to learn and grow that skill.
3. Teamwork
Working together as a team to in order to put on a fabulous show is such an amazing bonding experience. They spend hours preparing together, helping each other, and eventually performing together on stage, teaching them the value of teamwork.
On Recital day, they will feel a great sense of excitement to step on that stage together. Backstage, I love seeing how supportive they are with each other, holding hands, helping to fix costumes, smiling and laughing together.
4. Making memories
This is by far the best part of performing at the Recital! The memories that are crafted through the day are priceless. Younger dancers love watching the older dancers shine on stage and can’t wait to be “one of the big kids” themselves one day. Older dancers can be seen snapping selfies with friends, dancing around to music, helping each other stretch and so much more! 12 years ago we had a class whose music stopped in the middle of their dance. They ended up having to sing their way through the rest of the dance! When I see those dancers out and about, they still talk about that even now as adults with fondness.
Recital is also a special day to share with friends and family! There is nothing quite like seeing a loved one up on stage sharing something they love with people they love (and hundreds of audience members!). Speaking as a mom myself, watching my son dance on stage is just pure joy! Recital day is especially a special day for Grandparents (and know because they tend to be the ones giving the biggest bouquets of flowers after!).
I’m curious- which reason is your favorite? Is there anything that we missed and should add to our list? Let us know!
Talk soon,
Miss Lindsey
Joy of Dance is a place where children become dancers and dancers become family! Here at Joy of Dance, we embrace dancers of all shapes, sizes, and ages, from the young to the young at heart. This is a studio where creativity, individuality, and self-expression are encouraged and we have a community of teachers, students and families who are passionate about performing arts.