What are Festivals?
First and foremost, festivals are a celebration of dance.
The students learn dances to perform on stage in front of an audience. These can be solos, duets trios, quartets or group dances. An adjudicator, who has many years of dance experience will give the students feedback after their performance.
As a school we try not to focus on the competitive element of festivals, but use it as an excellent opportunity for children to experience not only the end product of dancing on stage in front of an audience, but also the process of learning, perfecting and practicing their dances.
Depending on the children’s level, age and ability, teachers can enter them for a variety of dance genres including ballet, modern, character, lyrical, tap, greek, national, contemporary and song & dance.
Festivals start by taking place locally, and then as the competition increases, regionally and finally to the prestigious National Finals. The rehearsal process and time required to take part in these competitions does require a high level of commitment from both students and parents alike.
The Festival Experience
Festivals are a wonderful way for our students to learn about the theatre and have opportunities to gain stage and performance experience.
Each student is at a different level and as such, their goals are too. Some students may be dancing for the first time and will be learning performance skills or how to control their nerves. Some may be a little more experienced and will be learning a new style of dance or how to dance with a partner. Others may be very experienced and are concentrating on perfecting their dances to the highest level.
We all have our own paths to follow and we must make sure that we are not comparing our child to another at a differing level.
Our main goal is that the experience is a good one so to help first time festival go-ers we have put together this guide to help you know what to expect.
Before the festival...
Learning your dance: If you have been offered a solo, duet, trio or quartet you will be booked in for private lessons to learn this. Costs are on the fees and costs page. As a guide we plan up to 2 hours to learn a solo, longer for more complex dances involving more students or vocabulary.
It is best to bring a recording device in order that the dance can be reproduced accurately.
Rehearsal: You will be expected to learn and perfect your dance at home and if you have a dance with others, you will be expected to get together and practise.
Following this you will be booked in for further coaching sessions with a teacher to work on fine details.
Music: Much of our music is now in digital format and uploaded to the festival in advance. You should be given a CD and a digital version as back up to keep on your phone to take to the festival in case of any problems. If the festival is still totally analogue you should hand in your CD before your child's section, usually at the front desk.
Costume: You will be given a costume and may even have props as part of your dance. Depending on what your dance is, you may have a particular hairstyle, headwear or footwear which will be discussed with your teacher beforehand. All these items will be your responsibility while you have this dance. Please make sure you look after it.
At the Theatre...
In the theatre building: Students should be supervised by a parent, friend or family member in the theatre.
Backstage: Students should be supervised by a parent or licensed chaperone only, until they are taken to the stage door, at which point they will then be supervised by a festival appointed, licensed chaperone.
In the changing rooms: Student teachers will be around to help new parents, but cannot be left in charge of your child here. Parents should please ask for the family changing rooms if you are bringing a child of the opposite sex. Remember to stay calm and positive in the changing areas, the students always perform better when they are relaxed and happy.
Costumes: Performers are not allowed Front of House in costume and food should be kept well away from them. You are responsible for your costume and should take it to the theatre and home again afterwards.
Arriving...
Arriving with time to spare: We ask everyone to arrive at least an hour and a half before the time stated on the festival timetable. This should give us enough time to do hair, make-up, costume and warm up before the section begins.
Hair and make-up: Usually senior students are on hand to help out with hair and make-up, so don't worry if you are unsure. Along with the items here you will need gel spray, a hair brush and comb. Spare items and a box of the school's make-up will be at the festival.
Petticoats and bloomers: You may have been told that your child's dance requires these. Usually they are taken to the festival where you can find a set for your child. You will be notified if you need to collect a set from your Scholars class in advance. Only if you were given them in advance should you take them home again. They should be returned to your next lesson.
In the Auditorium...
In the auditorium: please only enter or leave the auditorium during applause. No eating or drinking in the auditorium please.
Please politely applaud every dancer, but cheering is not for the theatre.
Please try to keep siblings as still and quiet as possible.
Recording: Unfortunately, recording or photography on any device is not permitted due to copyright and child protection. If you ignore this rule you will be asked to delete anything you have recorded. Some festivals have professional photographers who photograph the dances and you are able to purchase photographs from them.
Dancers from other schools: Allied Schools of Dance is always known to have polite, happy, confident students with a professional attitude. Regardless of how dancers from other schools perform we always maintain our professionalism.
How it Works...
What is a section? A section is a small group of dancers that perform the same genre within the same age group. Each performer will dance in turn and at the end the dancers line up on the stage for adjudication. The adjudicator will speak to the audience and performers giving constructive feedback.
Marking: Depending on the festival we are attending, medals are given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd, as long as the correct mark is achieved. Everyone will get a certificate with their marks, and a comments sheet from the adjudicator.
What if my child doesn't win a medal? The students learn to be happy for their peers and classmates as well as learning how to be gracious in their successes. The students learn to listen to the adjudicator and take their feedback away to work on for the next time. The only person they should be competing against, is themselves.
We try to make every moment a positive experience.
Afterwards...
Costumes: Remember to pick up all parts of your costume and take it all home with you. Tutus should be returned to your next Academy Scholars lesson.
CDs: You should collect both of your CDs from the festival before leaving.
Certificates: The certificates and reports will be collected by the teacher only and distributed in class after they have been read and logged.
enquiries@livetodance.co.uk
0118 9671600
