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WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE DRESS REHEARSAL?

The Dress Rehearsal is an extremely important event in the lead up to our actual Showcase performance which ensures your child is fully prepared for the ‘real event’. 

The purpose of this event is to acquaint your child with the theatre and their new surroundings, prepare them for the fact they’ll be dancing in front of hundreds of ‘seats’ (audience members). The teachers and staff at the theatre will educate your child on correct theater etiquette, OH&S requirements, stagecraft, theatrics to expect and many other aspects of what it takes to be a performer dancing in a real theatre in front of a live audience. Students will be orientating themselves with the new size of their space (stage), choreographing their entrances and exits from the wings, choreographing what ‘markings’ on the stage they are to line up with to ensure their formations and spacings are ‘spot on’ for the real event. Modifications to choreography may need to be made as the stage is wider than the KGD studios, therefore students may need extra time to run on and off, or extra steps filled in to avoid lengthy runs, backstage run-arounds need to be rehearsed and so many other aspects critical to the success of the dance. 

In addition to this, this will be a hugely beneficial experience for your child to add to their repertoire of theatre skills and self-confidence leading up to the event and to serve them well into all other areas of their life. 

 

WHO MUST PARTICIPATE IN THE DRESS REHEARSAL?

Every year we hold our annual ON-STAGE DRESS REHEARSAL at the same venue that our actual showcase will be held; Bunjil Place Theatre. 

Please note this year unlike previous years, our PRESCHOOL and BEGINNER levels will NOT be participating in this event. Instead we will be holding a separate ‘Dress Rehearsal’ in the last week of classes at the KGD studios on the following dates:

Thursday 7th December (normal class times)

Friday 8th December 9:30am 

Saturday 9th December 9:00am onwards (normal class times)

Monday 11th December 4:15pm onwards (normal class times)

Tuesday 12th December 9:30am

Wednesday 13th December 10:00am

This will occur during normal class times for that particular week and families involved in this will be emailed separately with extra information on what to bring etc shortly.

 

For all other students at KGD from our Sub Junior (POISE) level, right through to our senior levels, this will be a COMPULSORY event. This is an extremely important event for all students who are participating in our showcase, failure to attend without good reason will result in contact from KGD and discussions with Miss Karlie as to whether your child may participate in the actual showcase. Unfortunately every year we may have a very small handful of students who do not show up, which jeopardizes the rehearsal for other students in their class, as they are unable to reap the value of the occasion and fully benefit from the reasons we run the rehearsal as explained above and it’s disappointing for the students involved in those particular dances where there were absentees, not only this but it will affect the performance of the missing child on the day as they will be running around on stage disorientated, not knowing what wings to enter and exit from, or markings on stage to line up with, unsure of their positions on stage etc it is unfair to place your child in this situation, hence why we prioritize this as a compulsory event. 

Preschoolers and Beginners are only excluded from this event this year, due to them only standing on the one spot for the duration of their routines and limited traveling and formations to remember. 

Should there be an extremely important reason your child cannot attend, such as a school Orientation or Graduation event, you must contact Miss Karlie prior to notify us, then discussions can take place to see if this can be accommodated.

 

WHERE IS THE EVENT LOCATION AND WHERE DO WE PARK AND ENTER?

The event is held at the Bunjil Place Theatre:  2 Patrick North-East Drive, Narre Warren. Right next to Fountain Gate Shopping Centre. 

There is plenty of parking surrounding the theatre, we suggest first try the Casey Arc car-park, then around near the old council offices. Once parked, you are to walk around to the backstage door ‘Magid Drive’. Enter through the ‘garage/roller door’ into the loading bay area, please stick to white pedestrian walk-way for safety. Older students may have a parent drop them off in this loading dock then leave straight away through the exit roller door, to avoid stopping traffic. This would be strictly drop-off only, there is no car-parking in the loading dock. Younger students that need entry with an adult will need to do as suggested above (park elsewhere then walk around to the roller door on Magid Drive).

 

Please remember; punctuality is important on this Dress Rehearsal day, as we have so many classes, most groups will only receive 10 minutes stage time. It is crucial that this day runs like ‘clock-work’, as late comers will affect the flow of the whole day, leaving our older students dancing late well into the evening. When arriving, please allow plenty of time for car-parking. 

In the event of an emergency or you are running late please phone the studio landline on 03 9769 8820, which will be diverted to Miss Karlie’s mobile phone.

 

PLEASE ARRIVE AT LEAST 20-30 MINUTES PRIOR to your allocated time, to allow for parking, find your way, have your hair styled, costume on and warmed up ready to go. Older students may arrive earlier to allow extra time for warming up, to ensure your first run through is your best run through.

 

ONCE IN THE BUILDING, WHERE DO WE GO?

The dressing rooms will be located on ‘ground’ level, along with the stage (same level you will enter on), we will only be using the ground level rooms for this day, as these are close to the stage. We will be mainly using the ‘Green Room’ and most costumes will be distributed here. On the actual day of the showcase we will have allocated dressing rooms for each group split across 3 levels. 

 

DO WE WEAR FULL COSTUMES, AS WELL AS MAKEUP AND CORRECT HAIRSTYLES?

Hence the name ‘Dress Rehearsal' students will be required in full costume for this event. All costumes are currently being fitted in class or custom-made as we speak and KGD hires a 6 tonne truck to transport all costumes and props to and from the venue, for both the Dress Rehearsals and the actual Showcase. 

No stage makeup will be required for this event, to avoid getting make up on the costumes before the performance.

Hair must be in a neat slicked back ballet bun.

All students are to wear their correct tights and dance shoes for each dance routine. Please see attachment for the list of dances and what the correct shoes, tights and hairstyles are for each dance routine.

All personal jewellery and nail polish is to be removed. 

ADVANCED AND SENIOR STUDENTS, PLEASE WEAR YOUR NORMAL CLASS ATTIRE

(Black leotard and ballet tights - Theatrical pink.)

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WILL THE 'COMPETITION TEAM' MEMBERS BE REHEARSING THEIR ROUTINES? 

No competition routines will rehearse on stage this year, due to time limitations, along with the fact that these students have had multiple ‘stage experiences’ already this year to acquaint themselves with a real theatre. 

 

CAN THE PARENTS WATCH?

Parents or carers will not be allowed in the auditorium or side stage to watch this rehearsal. We like to keep this a surprise for the special day and we find the students become distracted and we need them to be fully focused for this process. Parents or carers of the Beginner (Aspire) level students are to please stay in the dressing rooms the whole time your child is required, in order to help them with their costume changes. In the event that you cannot, please either arrange for a friend to help your child or notify reception so we can be sure to arrange a designated helper for them. Students will be escorted to and from the stage by teachers, staff and our senior student helpers.

Please clearly label your child’s bag and belongings as the change areas can become congested at times.

 

CAN THE STUDENTS WATCH THEIR PEERS REHEARSE ON-STAGE IN THEIR BREAKS?

If there are students who have to wait around for quite some time, they are highly encouraged to sit in auditorium to watch, as they will not see each other perform on the night and students can also gain a lot from watching these stage rehearsals through observation (stagecraft and performance inspiration from their peers and senior students, etc) along with supporting their fellow peers and building camaraderie. 

 

WHAT ELSE DO WE NEED TO BRING TO THE DRESS REHEARSAL?

Please pack lunch, snacks and drinks for your child if they are to be there for a substantial amount of time, however  food must not be eaten in the costumes. Please bring a dressing gown or KGD Jackets in case to cover costumes while not on-stage. No sticky lollies or cordial, soft drinks etc (water only) please. In the event a costume becomes ruined or stained as a result of food and drink you may be liable for the purchase of a new one. 

Please pack any activities to keep your child entertained if they’re to be there for a long duration eg; ipad, book, activity sheets, pencils (no textas, to avoid staining costumes).

 

We have many new dance families joining us this year and we understand that this first-time process can be daunting. Any experienced mums who feel they can offer their assistance to any new ‘first-time’ mums on the day, please feel free to do so it would be greatly appreciated! ☺