Dance Festivals- Behind the Scenes

My last post was on what goes on "officially" at Dance Festivals.

This post is about what goes on behind the scenes among the participants and parents.

There is talk, talk, and more talk.

Dance Festivals are great for networking,
for making friends,
seeing friends not seen in a while,
spending time with your own studio dance friends,
and, let's face it,
gossiping.

And, as hard as I try not to gossip, it's just so tempting at Dance Festivals.

Let's just say that gossiping helps to explain and learn about people and why they do things.

Through Dance Festivals and Summer Intensives, one learns just how small a world the dance community really is.

And, because of this, dance gossipers try very hard not to be vicious and try very hard to be kind.

I just love my dance parent network!

Dance Festivals

What goes on at Dance Festivals?

First, it is NOT a Dance Competition.

Dance Festivals are put on by a group of dance studios in an area or region that come together once a year.

There are about four different events that happen at Dance Festivals:

1) Auditions for Ballet Summer Intensives
(More on this subject at a later date.)

2) During the festival, professional dance companies come as entertainment and to enlarge our horizons on the definition of "dance."
(There may be more on this subject at a later date.)

3) Professional dancers and dance teachers from around the country are invited to teach dance classes.

This year my children got to take some of their classes from Leslie Browne.

Note: The intention of this blog is not to name "names," nor is it to "name drop."

However, one of the reasons I fell in love with the art of ballet as a child was Mikhail Baryshnikov.

And, I loved the movie, Turning Point, with Baryshnikov and the young, up-and-coming ballerina, Leslie Browne.

So, back to the Dance Festival:

In order to defer my cost of attending as an observer, I volunteered to help.

My job was to take roll and make sure that the instructors had everything they needed.
(And, I got to help in Leslie Browne's class- twice.)

Volunteers were also so supposed to ask the instructors if observers were allowed to take pictures during class.
(Which Leslie Browne was so very nice about.)

Students took one and a half hour long classes in a variety of dance genres (ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, Hip Hop, etc.) -
on Saturday, they took three classes
and
on Sunday they took two classes.

4) Dance Showcase
of the participating dance studios'
Festival participants
(In other words, in order for a dance studio to have a dance number in the Showcase, the dancers in the number had to attend at least one class in the Festival.)

Oh, and least I forget, there definitely will be photos added to this post, as soon as my son helps me (which will be in the next few days!)

Nutcracker 101- Make-up

Let's start out by saying that this is not, by any means, an expertly written blog on stage make-up.

These are the things my little brain can remember after thirteen years of performances (this includes school performances and spring shows, as well as, Nutcracker).

As a quick side note:
Ballet dancers tend to wear less street make-up
(and often none)
than the rest of society.

The basics of ballet stage make-up includes:

1) Base that is one shade darker than one's skin color.

2) Eyeliner

a) Black or brown

b) Optional: White
(For between the upper and lower extended lines of the black or brown)

3) Blush
(pink or orangish)
(nothing with a blue tint*)

4) Lipstick with some shine to it.
(nothing with a blue tint*)

* Note: A blue tint makes one look blue and unnatural on stage because of the lights.

5) Eyeshadow
(usually the color of the eye color)

6) Make-up remover wipes
(Sensitive skin works best)

Some parts in Nutcracker have professional stage make-up, these include:

Drosselmeir,

Animated Toys,

Soldiers,

Gingerbread Children,

Mother Ginger,

and possibly,

Arabian,

Chinese,

or other character parts.

At some point, photographs will be added to better illustrate this post, because it is definitely difficult to describe everything in details.

Nutcracker Backstage Version

One of the fun things about Nutcracker is the camaraderie among the backstage helpers.

While sewing costumes, building props, moving into and out of the theatre, and working backstage during a performance, patterns begin to emerge in the way people act and react, often based on their part or their child's part in Nutcracker.

Over the years, a Nutcracker Backstage Version has emerged in our minds.

We have only discussed this version and never really written anything down, so here is my attempt at some of the ideas.

Act I: Scene 1

Backstage Costume Room less than five minutes before performance:

Costumes are being frantically sewn and pinned together at the last minute.

Young ladies with nervous giggles are being sewn into their tutus.

Pointe shoe ribbons and boys' shoe elastics are being sewn at the last minute and blood is being drawn with each stitch.

Party Men are nervously asking how to put the costume together.

And, Party Boys are being wrangled to make sure that their costumes are in order.

Act I: Scene 2

Backstage Wings:

Dancers are jumping up and down to keep warm and fight off nervousness.

Dancers are checking each others' costumes.

Little ones and some Nutcracker veterans are being yelled at by the backstage crew to leave the props alone.

And, there are lots of "shs" being sounded.

Act I: Scene 3

As Clara gets ready to go on stage, her mom is frantically making sure that every curl is in place with more hairspray.

Clara's hair ribbon is getting pinned to her head with cries from her mom of:

"Now don't cry!

I'm sorry!

Yes, I should have used a bobby pin, not a safety pin that was meant for your dress ribbon.

Stop yelling at me!

Smile, it's time for you to go on stage.

Remember to smile..."
(as Clara runs on stage just in time).

Act I: Scene 4

The director is frantically trying to get someone's attention on stage because they forgot to take off their backstage socks that they wear over the ballet shoes.

Note: Socks are worn over the ballet slippers backstage so that wax is not brought on stage, which could make the floor too slippery for the pointe shoe dancers.

Act I: Scene 5

The backstage crew is cursing under their breath because of all the Party props that have to be removed off stage before the Battle begins.

To top it all off, no matter which way they attempt to clear a path for themselves and the props, there are dancers and moms getting in their way at every turn.

Act I: Scene 6

The Snow Scene begins and beautiful dancers run on and off stage between their pieces.

All one can hear is "THUD, THUD, THUD"
(not to the music)
of the pointe shoes on stage

and

the PANTING of the dancers as they try to catch a quick breath before running back on stage.

Intermission:

Parents, family, and friends are flooding backstage to congratulate the dancers and take pictures among the chaos of trying to prepare for Act II.

The little ones are being wrangled to get their costumes off before they try to eat a snack.

Company Ballet Dancers are doing a last minute hair, make-up, and costume check.

Mothers are telling their daughters to go to "So-and-So" because it is easier to deal with another child that is not your own whiny one.

Act II: Scene I

Angel moms are obsessing over the costumes, trying to make sure they are "perfect" before their princesses go on stage.

As the angels go on stage, their moms are trying to take pictures with flashes on their cameras.

Note: Flashes should never be used at a dance performance because it can temporarily blind the dancers.

Note: Flashes going off backstage can often be seen by the audience- a very big "no, no."

Backstage crew is muttering under their breath about "newbies,"
as the angels and their moms take their time to leave the backstage wings and walk where they are not allowed in a possible "audience may see backstage zone."

Act II: Scene 2

Instead of dancers on stage, the moms and some dads in some very gaudy costumes have decided to imitate the dances that they have seen year after year to the same music that they hear year after year.

The dancers are looking very appalled backstage.

Act II: Scene 3

The backstage crew and props people have put police tape around the props as a reminder to not touch.

The Nutcracker has been wrapped in bubble wrap before being returned to Clara on stage because the backstage props crew is tired of repairing it year after year.

A few Party Girls are in tears because the Fritz took their chocolate and other candies and tried to rub it on them.

And, Fritz, well, let's just say he really is in
"Time Out"
(since spankings are no longer allowed in this day and age).

The End!

Nutcracker- My Daughter's Roles

My daughter could not wait
until she was old enough
to be in Nutcracker.

It was three years
after her brother,
(even though she is
two years younger),
that she was able to start
her Nutcracker career
at the age of eight (almost nine).

In 2005,
she was a
Small Mouse,
like her brother
had been.

Due to new choreography,
my daughter had to be told
that she could not teach
the other mice the part;
she was a little disappointed,
but she loved
that she got to steal a prop-
Clara's doll house.

In 2006,
she was a
Small Animated Doll.

She was great
at being motionless
at times
and
was very precise
and mechanical-like
in her movements.

And, she had her
adorable dimples
frozen in her smile.

In 2007,
she finally got to try-out
for Clara.

In the years leading up
to her first Nutcracker,
she would often tell
her ballet teachers
that she wanted to be Clara.

They would remind her
that she had to start
with other roles
and try-out for Clara
when she was old enough
and at the appropriate
ballet level.

However, 2007 was not
her year as Clara,
but she got to be a
Party Girl.

In 2008,
she knew that if she
did not get to be Clara,
she would soon be
too old for the part;
we were elated
when she got the role of
Clara.

Also in 2008,
my husband was finally convinced
to help build some props
(he led the family
in making the doll bed
for the Nutcracker prop,
as well as,
the life-size rolling bed
for the "living" Nutcracker)
and
he began working backstage
during performances.

In 2009,
my daughter got to play
a very mischievous
Mouse.

This time,
all the girls were older
so that they would
look bigger and human size.

Also, in 2009,
my daughter finally got
into the Second Act in the
Arabian Corp.

Most of the girls
had been looking forward
to the choreography
of the Arabian piece,
but it was changed.

My daughter did a great job
of learning and performing
the new piece.

After reviewing
my son's roles,
my daughter's roles,
and the family participation
(props, costumes, backstage)
of all that we did
for Nutcrackers in 2009,
it seems almost a blur
of activity-
but we really enjoyed that year!

In 2010,
my daughter joined Junior Company
and got the role of a
(French) Shepherdess
and danced "en pointe."

Shepherdesses costumes
were reconfigured from the previous
Mirliton costumes
by several volunteers-
It seemed we were always working,
reworking, and reworking some more
on the new Shepherdesses costumes.

During Thanksgiving holidays,
which was the week before
Tech/Dress Rehearsal Week,
I was handed a couple
of costume pictures
and a cardboard mock-up
of a Shepherdess hat.

After many hours spent
reworking the mock-up
and creating and sewing
a sample hat
out of rigid felt
during the Thanksgiving holidays,
I began Tech/Dress Rehearsal
with the goal of nine hats
to be made in a week.

The last couple of days
of Tech/Dress Rehearsal,
several volunteer moms
and dancers,
including some
of the Shepherdesses,
were sewing on the trim
and loops for bobby pins.

There were several
bleeding fingers
in this labor of love
to top off a great costume.

In fact, I was sewing
on the trim for the last hat
during the First Act
of the first performance.

Although a couple
of the girls
put on their hats
at the last minute
and they had to be readjusted
before they went back on stage,
none of them ever fell off.

In 2011,
my daughter was an
Arabian Demi-Soloist
and was in the
Rose Flower Corp.

After several years
of attempted bribes
to get my daughter
into full splits
before the next Nutcracker,
getting a role that required splits
finally encouraged her to finish
getting her splits.

And, this year it was even more fun
to watch the Waltz of the Flowers
with my daughter "en pointe"
and spinning in her skirt
with her beautiful smile.

Nutcracker- Clara Mom

While I try very hard not to be a "backstage" mom, when your children get "lead" parts, sometimes it just comes with the territory.

When my son was Fritz, he was ready to be out of the Party Scene after four years of being a Party Boy.

In other words, he was starting to need less time with me as a backstage "boy wrangler" and almost resented me making a big deal out of him being Fritz.

My daughter became Clara the next year.

Now, my daughter wanted to be Clara from the first Nutcracker performance she watched around age two.

She repeatedly told her ballet instructors this fact.

She could not wait until she was:
first, old enough to be in Nutcracker;
and then, far enough along in ballet to audition for Clara.

She enjoyed her first year in Nutcracker as a Small Mouse, just like her older brother had begun his Nutcracker career.

At the first rehearsal for Small Mice, my daughter had to be told that there was new choreography, so she had to stop trying to teach everyone the old choreography that her brother had used.

The next year she was excited to be in the Party Scene as an Animated Small Doll.

Her third year of Nutcracker, she was finally able to audition for the part of Clara.

She got the part of a Party Girl and she was happy.

The next year, she had it in her head that she would be Clara.

There was no talking her out of it.

It was difficult to prepare her for not getting the part because of her positive enthusiasm.

As a mom, I was extremely worried.

I prepared myself for a cry no matter what the outcome.

When we arrived at the ballet studio and saw the cast list, we were elated- she had the part of Clara!

I left the ballet studio as soon as possible, both to keep myself calm and to do some errands.

I called one of my best childhood friends in California.

The phone kept cutting out for almost ten minutes.

Finally, we got a good connection and I managed to tell her the good news through my tears.

The relief to finally cry was cathartic.

And then, Clara Mom was set in motion.

The reason Clara Moms act the way they do is mostly due to pressures.

The pressures include:

1) Three to four practices per week for Clara.

2) Learning and practicing the hair and make-up, which includes:

a) Putting lots of curlers in my daughter's long, thick hair; a task that takes at least an hour after a long day
.
b) Wearing curlers overnight and having a daughter who claims not enough sleep the next day because of it.

c) How much hairspray and what kind is needed before, during, and after curling in order to make the coiffure last.

3) Learning to help with the Clara quick change from party dress to nightgown in the dark.

4) Keeping Clara calm as the stress mounts the closer one gets to the performances due to:

a) Even more rehearsals

b) Special mini performances at schools, homes for the elderly, libraries, etc

c) Late night Tech Week

5) Nutcracker gifts for the cast
(While both my daughter and I love to craft our Nutcracker gifts, we chose to go a slightly easier route and bought mini Nutcrackers and my daughter hand-stamped cards and signed her name and I filled in the cast names.)

Of course, the hardest part is remembering to smile at people when your exhausted;
especially for me because am naturally a shy person and have to think about smiling anyway.

And, the best part of being a Clara Mom is helping other Clara Moms through the ordeal.

My daughter and I like to host an annual Clara and Mom Gathering where past Claras and past Clara Moms pass on their words of wisdom and memories to the current Claras and their moms.

As one of my friends reminded me when I started to get upset because I thought my daughter was being overlooked for a part, "Remember that she had the honor of being Clara."

I had the honor of being a Clara Mom.

Once a Clara Mom, always a Clara Mom.

Nutcracker 101- Casting

The most difficult part in dealing with Nutcracker is casting.

A cast for Nutcracker can include hundreds of people.

While most parts are for ballet dancers, there are some that might be cast to actors.

Those that are cast to actors may include:
Fritz,
Adults at the party,
Drosselmeir,
and
Mother Ginger

As a parent, there are parts that you would really love for your child to have, especially the "lead" parts.

The "lead" parts for girls include:
Clara,
Snow Queen,
and
Sugar Plum Fairy

The "lead" parts for boys include:
Fritz,
Snow Cavalier,
and
Sugar Plum Cavalier

Of course, there are years when your dancer also wants these parts too.

Let's just say that emotions run very high around casting time.

However, the thing that one must remember is that the Artistic Director has their own idea of what they want to see on stage.

This means that sometimes parts are cast based on dance ability, or "looks," or a combination of both, and, on very rare occasions, monetary contributions.

And, the Artistic Director does NOT have to explain their reasoning for the cast list.

So, at the end of the day, a dancer must embrace the part they are given and hope for the one they want next year.