A Recital Like No Other

For most dance schools this year, recitals looked very different than they have in the past.   Due to a variety of mask, social distancing, and capacity limit mandates, it seemed like no two recital experiences were alike.  Across the country, dancers performed in either an outdoor, virtual, or in-theater show.  In places still affected by lockdowns (many of our friends in Canada, for example), the shows were either virtual, postponed, or canceled altogether.

A Balancing Act

When studio owners (SO’s, from this point forward) began to plan their spring recital, they had a mountain of factors to consider.  Here in New Jersey, an early epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, we had strict limits to adhere to for maximum capacity back in the winter.  For a long time, we just didn’t even know if an in-person recital was going to be possible. 

SO’s started making plan after plan, trying to research outdoor venues while keeping an eye on the ever-shifting mandates.  As our infection rates began to plummet in April, we became more hopeful than an indoor experience would happen after all.  Our SO forged ahead with plans to host the event in our local theater, which has been our go-to venue for the life of the school.

To maintain social distancing and crowd capacity limits (what was in effect at the time, anyway), our SO scheduled one show for competition-only numbers, plus five mini-shows for company and recreational students (on a different day).  She also created a seating chart to maintain social distancing.  With these measures in place, we would be in compliance with existing guidelines.  Our SO did her best to arrange the shows so that siblings would be in the same show as one another, and that our company’s non-competition routines were all in at least one show together.  I can’t even imagine the hours of coordination and planning this took!  

Times, They Are A-Changin’

With less than two weeks until the big days, our governor relaxed many of the mandates that would apply to our event.  When I first heard the news, I thought of our SO and said, “Damn, she did all that work for nothing!”  While we were all thrilled that the show would happen like it had in the past, I felt so sorry for all that wasted time and effort. She opened up the rest of the seats for ticket sales, and people planned to attend multiple shows now that seats were available.

It was far too late to change the schedule, so the plan to have a company-only show on Thursday and five mini-shows on Sunday went forward as scheduled.  My girls would have eight/nine numbers on Thursday, and would be performing in 31 numbers on Sunday!  We knew Sunday would be a long, grueling day, but as they say, the show must go on.

True Professionals

I was most concerned about the last show on Sunday because my girls (and many of the other teen/senior dancers) had several instances of one-number quick changes.  Behind the curtain, there was only enough room for about five dancers.  So most of the dancers had to run downstairs, get changed, and come back upstairs within a three-minute window (multiple times).  Plus, they were already exhausted from the previous four shows that day.  I feared the worst, but hoped for the best.

We got “the best.”  As expected, our dancers rose to the occasion and delivered amazing performances throughout both days of the recital.  There were some snafus – Thing 1 couldn’t find her headpiece in time for her solo (it was in the garment bag, go figure), and her earring nearly ripped her ear while tugging off a costume during a quick change.  Another dancer suffered an injury when a teammate’s foot came down hard on her finger.  Aside from these and some other minor mishaps, however, everything ran smoothly.  

To say that these kids were amazing is an understatement.  With the energy and enthusiasm pouring off the stage, even at the end of the longest of days, we audience members would have had no idea that the dancers were exhausted, hurting, or otherwise in less-than-peak form.  They are the embodiment of grit, determination, and perseverance, and we are all so proud of them.

A Tough Situation

As fantastic as the whole event was, I hope we never have to use that format for our future recitals.  The day was too long and draining for everyone, especially the dancers.  Dragging my girls out of bed for school the next day was a Herculean task, and I had a splitting headache that kept me home from work.  Thankfully, the SO gave the company members off on Monday night to rest and recuperate. 

All in all, I’m so incredibly thankful that my kids got to have a recital at all.  So many families had something virtual, or outside (during a blistering heat wave), or nothing at all.  As we slowly return to normalcy, we can be grateful for any and all opportunities that give our children a chance to shine. 

Work hard, have fun! – Danielle

At the end of a long season, many moms feel like they’re Crossing the Finish Line (check the meme to see if you agree)!