Strap in! Here’s everything you need to know about our forthcoming show From Ballet to Broadway and our 38th Presentation Afternoon
Rehearsals
We need pupils to be present in their classes EVERY WEEK, especially as we will have to work hard to put that special JMDS ‘polish’ and professional touch on all performances.
ALL pupils are required at some time or other over dress rehearsal weekend on 26/27 June, whether they are performing in a number or 'just' in the Presentation Afternoon Grand Finale walk on.
We do our best to ensure parents/children are not hanging around unnecessarily. Younger students will have more rehearsal time than older ones.
You will see from information below that we rehearse Presentation Afternoon the other way round from the order of events on the day. We rehearse the bows and Grand Finale in the morning of rehearsal day, followed by our annual school photograph, followed by a run through of invited dances. This means anyone not dancing in the programme this year can go home at lunch time.
Rehearsal schedule for Ballet to Broadway and Presentation Afternoon.
Timings are approximate
SATURDAY 26TH JUNE: FULL DRESS REHEARSAL OF BALLET TO BROADWAY, 10am-5pm, RUDOLF STEINER SCHOOL, LANGLEY HILL, KINGS LANGLEY
Item numbers 1 – 4 10 – 10.45 am
Item numbers 5 – 8 10.45 – 11.35
Item numbers 9 – 12 11.35 – 12.10
Item numbers 13 – 15 12.10 – 12.45
Break: 30 mins
Item numbers 16 – 19 1.15 – 2.00pm
Item numbers 20 – 23 2.00 – 2.45pm
Item numbers 24 – 28 2.45 – 3.30pm
Item numbers 29 - 34 3.30 – 4.15pm
CURTAIN CALL REHEARSAL 4.15 – 5PM
Once baby ballet students have rehearsed, they may leave.
Baby ballet students are not taking part in the curtain call bows for the show
All Primary students upwards will be involved in this, so you may need to either wait until 4.15pm to rehearse, or leave and come back.
SUNDAY 27TH JUNE: REHEARSAL FOR OUR 38TH PRESENTATION AFTERNOON, 10am-1pm, RUDOLF STEINER SCHOOL
All JMDS students, in full JMDS uniform ready at 10am (not walking into the building at 10am!)
Baby ballet students to arrive at 11.30am to practise.
Annual school photo 12.15pm
Finish at 1pm latest.
Rehearsal for invited performers (as per programme) from 2 – 5pm
Performance Times
3RD JULY 2021 - Ballet to Broadway - 2pm & 6pm - same students performing in both shows. Download the running order.
4TH JULY 2021 - Presentation Afternoon 2021 - 2pm-5.30pm - all students. Download the running order.
No pupils will be 'slipped into' the Grand Finale on Sunday 4th July if they have not been placed and rehearsed their bows on rehearsal day.
HOWEVER, pupils missing rehearsals will still be required to attend on Sunday and be ‘placed’ on stage at an appropriate moment by one of our stage crew. This is important in case you have been nominated for an award. But no rehearsal: no walk on and bow!
The reason for this is that the Grand Finale bows are timed, and children need to know which way to walk on stage, who they are partnered with, what lines they are put in, and where to go and stand. It never looks messy on Presentation Afternoon, and this is why.
Presentation Afternoon
Presentation Afternoon is when the whole school comes together and take their bows, being on stage for the presentation of many awards.
This is a properly exciting afternoon really showing off what the Jayne Marie Dancing School can do. It is a time for parents and pupils to sit back and enjoy the celebrations and the work that all our lovely students do week by week.
As usual, please purchase a seat for yourself PLUS a seat for your child to sit in the audience in their JMDS uniform so that you can watch the first half Showcase together. (More ticket info below.)
⭐Please note, every pupil is on stage for the Grand Finale and presentation of awards and speeches regardless of whether they are performing or not. ALL pupils, including our very youngest, are expected to attend this special day. The dates were sent out last September and again in January.⭐
All pupils are welcome to watch the first half of our Presentation Show – this will be an hour long and will consist of some wonderful solos, duets and groups. Many of our younger/newer students and parents are often surprised and inspired when they watch the first half. JMDS pupils have a special priced ticket for this.
In the interval all pupils should come back to the main dressing room immediately. It is essential that if they are watching the first half they do so already in their uniform and are ready to be lined up by Miss Jayne for the Grand Finale whilst parents, relatives & friends enjoy refreshments including tea, coffee, cakes, snacks, Prosecco, wine and beer.
Alcohol tickets will be sold prior to the interval and at rehearsals. Presentation Afternoon is ALWAYS sunny (it's the law) so Prosecco outside is very much on the cards for those who fancy it.
Baby Ballet students will be taken care of and accompanied to the stage to sit at the front. Although they are too young to walk on and take bows/curtsies, they are our young dancers and performers of the future and as such are an important part of the school.
I therefore strongly believe that they should experience this important celebration and have the opportunity to be inspired by the older students. Some of them may even win a trophy if they have been nominated by their teacher. I will give them the chance to sit with parents once we start the awards. Some do, and others like to stay at the front!
Children who are in Primary grade and above will come on to stage to take their curtsey or bow and stand on stage for the presentation of awards. Teachers nominate pupils for awards, and it is extremely important that all pupils are in attendance. Unless you have already advised Miss Jayne, all pupils are expected to be present. Any student who has been nominated for an award and who is absent will forfeit their trophy.
Tickets & Performance Etiquette
It is vital that you purchase your tickets online in advance.
Tickets will be on sale from 20th May and full details will be emailed to you very shortly.
Performances will start promptly so please allow time for on-site parking.
No one is permitted to sit on the stairs of the theatre.
JMDS pupils can either purchase a reduced seat if they wish to watch the first half or wait in the dressing rooms.
This is a continuous performance, although during the applause in between items in the first half students who are performing will be allowed to leave to change for their item and return after their item, but there will be no breaks and pupils must not run in and out.
Parents are asked not to enter or leave the auditorium whilst performances are on stage.
Please do not use your mobile phone. The light can be seen by performers on stage and by other audience members.
As our Presentation Afternoon is a special occasion for our students many parents 'dress up' a little bit for the afternoon.
Uniform, Make Up & Grooming
Please ensure pupils have all their exam and year badges and medal belts READY for rehearsal and Grand Finale.
Please ensure that all uniform is correct and clean!
Your child should wear clean ballet shoes without holes in.
No nail varnish or jewellery of any kind.
Ballet tights should not have holes in.
No underwear showing beneath the uniform.
No hair bun coverings - I have an aversion to scrunchies and crocheted things around buns!
Please purchase bun nets from chemists or from our Wardrobe Manager Melanie Ward.
Red elastic belting for medal belts can be purchased from https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/351643736344. Order pronto to avoid missing out!
Younger students should wear basic stage make up: foundation, blusher, blue eye shadow, mascara, RED lipstick.
If you require any help or advice at all please see Melanie Ward, our costume and quick-change organiser. We are a big JMDS family and new parents are always given help if they need it to ensure that it's an enjoyable experience for all.
If you have any questions at all, Miss Jayne is here to help. For some JMDS pupils this will be their first Presentation Day and for others it will be their 15th and sadly their last, but however long they've been with us and whether they receive a trophy or not, it’s a time for all of JMDS to be together and for us all to be proud, especially after the dreadful year we've all had.
Thank you all so very much for your cooperation. It will be worthwhile, and it will be wonderful!