Recital Lineups for May 30, 2026 2pm-4pm (15min intermission) & May 31, 2026 2pm-4pm (15min intermission)

Location: Villa Maria Academy High School, 370 Central Ave, Malvern, PA 19355

Finale, Arrival Time, What to Wear: The following applies to both recital days May 30 & 31. Attend based on what show your dancer is in, if your dancer is in both shows, they come to finale rehearsal both days. If your dancer is in the May 30th recital, they attend finale rehearsal on May 30th 12:30PM to 1PM. If your dancer is in the May 31st recital, they attend finale rehearsal on May 31st 12:30PM to 1PM. If your dancer is in both recitals May 30th and May 31st, they attend finale rehearsal on both days May 30th and May 31st 12:30PM to 1PM. All dancers ages 3-18 must be present for finale rehearsal and arrive 12:15PM ready to go in recital hair and makeup of their first dance. Dancers ages 3-6 need to wear the costume of their first scheduled dance for finale rehearsal so we can dismiss from finale rehearsal by class for those ages. So, dancers in any Mini Ballet/Jazz ages 3-4 class and dancers in Beginner Ballet/Jazz ages 5-6, Beginner Ballet/Tap ages 5-6, and Beginner Jazz/Tap ages 5-6 need to wear their first costume for finale rehearsal so they are easily identifiable and can be dismissed to parents of those ages in the audience. Ages 7-18 can put on their first costume at 1pm when they are finished finale. Again, finale stage rehearsals are 12:30PM-1PM May 30 & May 31 , and shows run 2PM to around 4PM with 15min intermission

. The doors to the auditorium will open at 1:30pm each day for people to start officially taking their seats. 

Only parents of ages 3-6 should sit in the auditorium from 12:30PM-1PM during finale stage rehearsal time so we can easily dismiss our youngest dancers into the audience after finale rehearsal and they can be taken to their dressing room by their parents. Parents must clear the auditorium at 1pm on recital days and no one should be in the auditorium again until 1:30pm as we have videographers setting up, and other things being done inside the theater before the shows start. Row A Center Section is blocked off, no one is permitted to sit there, as it is reserved for Emily’s family only. 

Dressing Rooms: Recital dressing rooms are the same as dress rehearsal. All girls ages 3-18 can put their belongings in the big dressing room (the big classroom with the hallway extension). All Senior Dance Company girls put their belongings in the small dressing room next to the right wing of the stage. All boys ages 3-18 put their belongings in the separate divided hallway area. Restrooms are also very close by to the dressing rooms for dancers to use. There are separate public restrooms for audience members. Everyone should set up their bags, costumes, accessories, etc. in their assigned dressing room areas.

There will be four dressing room monitors in the girls’ dressing room for ages 3-18 keeping the kids occupied and keeping track of sign ins and sign outs of the dressing room. There will be one hallway monitor outside of the boys changing area that will keep track of the boys. Boys are to change in their designated area behind a big curtain divider, and once they are done changing, they are expected to come out into their designated hallway area and wait with the monitor. Ages 5-18 (students that are age 5 in any Mini Ballet/Jazz ages 3-4 class are an exception) are to stay in their dressing room for the entire duration of the show. We are assuming the show will be about 2 hours in length with a 15 minute intermission.

Dressing Room Check Out Rules: Keeping the kids in their dressing room helps us to stay organized and manage where the children are at all times. Dancers in any of our Mini Ballet/Jazz ages 3-4 classes (this includes dancers that may turn age 5 by recital) can be checked out of their dressing room by their parent/guardian and sit on laps once they are finished both of their class dances if you choose to do so, but you must sign them out on paper. Speak with dressing room monitors about checking your child out of the dressing room. If you choose to check your Mini Ballet/Jazz dancer out of the dressing room, please remember everyone is in the finale #32 (Saturday show) or #31 (Sunday show). Reminder, ages 3-6 come out at the very end of the finale, so Mini Ballet/Jazz dancers should be brought back to the dressing room before #26 in the shows. Make sure to tell the dressing room monitor when you check them back into the dressing room so they are aware.

Helping Your Dancer in Dressing Room: Parents of dancers ages 11+ are not to be in the dressing room on recital days while the show is running. Parents of these ages should watch the full show, as dancers should not need their parents helping them in the dressing room at this age. The dressing rooms get crowded as it is, so dancers ages 11+ are to get ready on their own. They need to take responsibility for their own costumes, hair, makeup, accessories, etc. We really recommend ages 9+ to be on their own but if you feel your dancer ages 9-10 will need help you can go to the dressing room during the show. For dancers ages 3-8, parents should go to the dressing room 4 numbers before your child’s dance to make sure they are in costume (they should already come to the show with full face of makeup and hair done for whatever their first dance is). Once you ensure they are dressed to go on stage you can go back and sit in your seat in the audience. ERDC DANCERS AND THEIR PARENT/GUARDIAN OF THE SAME SEX ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE ALLOWED IN THE DRESSING ROOMS. THIS IS FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL DANCERS. NO FRIENDS, OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS, ETC. ARE ALLOWED IN THE DRESSING ROOMS. THERE ARE NO PHOTOS NOR VIDEOS TO BE TAKEN IN THE DRESSING ROOMS. IF YOU SEE ANYONE TAKING PHOTOS OR VIDEOS IN THE DRESSING ROOMS LET ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS KNOW IMMEDIATELY.

When Are Students Called To Stage? We have helpers that will be gathering the kids from the dressing rooms 2 numbers before they go onstage and then bringing them to the stage, back to dressing room, etc.

Therefore, we have helpers that will be specifically monitoring the dressing room and helpers that will be taking the kids to and from stage.

Dressing Room Monitor Responsibility: It is not the dressing room monitor’s responsibility to get your kids ready for their dances, so that is the only time that you are responsible for your dancer ages 3-8 (possibly ages 9-10) in the dressing room. 

No Parents Backstage: ERDC staff will be in the left and right wings backstage. Parents are not to be backstage, as there is limited space, there will be dancers and other staff constantly coming in and out of there, we will be lining up dancers, etc. Backstage is the place for us to work with your children and get them ready to go onstage, so the less distractions and chaos, the better. Unless there is some kind of emergency, backstage is for staff and dancers only.

No Food/Drink Inside Theatre: There is absolutely no drinking or eating inside the theatre. You can bring food and drink into the dressing rooms, but again, please be mindful of what food and drink you bring as we do not want to make a mess of the venue. There should be no trash left on the floor either. 

What Do Students Wear for Finale? For finale, all students wear the last costume they danced in and whatever dance shoes they prefer (no tap or pointe shoes). The recital t-shirt that all students receive is just a souvenir, and is not worn during finale.

What Happens After Finale? At the end of the finale, we will acknowledge our high school seniors (if any), staff, assistants, and teachers, and then we will dismiss ages 3-4, then ages 5-6, then ages 7-9, then ages 10-12 from the stage into the audience, so parents can get their children and then you can go to the dressing room to collect your things. Ages 13+ can go right to the dressing rooms.

Tips/Tricks:

-Dancers should wear a button down shirt or zip up hoodie when arriving to dress rehearsals and recitals so hair and makeup does not get ruined when changing into costume. 

-pack lots of bobby pins, safety pins, extra menstrual supplies, small towels, water, non-messy snacks, emergency sewing kits, bandaids, hair nets, a hand held mirror, all makeup supplies you used in case of touchups, hairspray, ponytail holders that match your dancers hair color, make up remover wipes, liquid makeup remover, q-tips, makeup sponge or beauty blender.

-For dancers who are in more than one dance and have a number of quick changes, it is a good idea to layer pairs of tights accordingly. This means, dancers should wear tights on top of each other so they are easier to get on and off. Girls of age, should wear appropriate dance bra with clear shoulder and back straps or nude bodysuit with clear straps and high cut seamless nude underwear with costumes at all times. It is also a good idea to bring a small towel or paper towels for dancers who are in a lot of numbers and will be sweating a lot, as costumes can be difficult to get on quickly when sweaty.