Q. How long is the show?
A. The show is 1 hour long.
Q. Do you have a Vendor Number?
A. Yes, we do have a Vendor Number.
Q. Does the school have to supply anything?
A. Art of the Dance World will provide: costumes, props, sounds system, microphone, etc. The school will need to ensure students wear white or dark shirts and dark pants for certain roles.
Q. Where do the children wait when they're not on stage?
A. They have front row seats! The young performers not only share the stage with professional dancers, but they also get to see their peers bring the ballet to life. When not on stage, they sit in the audience in costume in assigned spots and enter and exit from there.
Q. How do you get boys to participate in a ballet?
A. The male Teaching Artists are terrific role models and elite athletes. In addition, performance roles for boys are very appealing: Elementary school boys might be soldiers or Russian Cossacks or comical elves or scary bats. Middle and high schools boys might be Matadors or sword fight in a scene from "Romeo & Juliet".
Q. Do the teachers have to do anything to prepare students?
A. If desired, Art of the Dance World will provide suggestions. A prepared “study guide” might include listening to certain music selections, painting a backdrop, connecting ballet to social studies content and a reflection after the event.
Q. What can we expect on the day of the rehearsals / events?
A. Please prepare rehearsal space by moving chairs, desks or tables to the perimeter. Dancing will occur in the center of the space. If needed, please also ensure that necessary changes are made to the classroom’s normal daily schedule. Finally, regularly scheduled physical education classes may need to be relocated to ensure adequate rehearsal / performance space in the gymnasium or cafeteria.
Q. We don't have a stage in our school. Can the performance be held in the gym?
A. Absolutely! A "stage" area can be taped off and the children will sit cross-legged on the floor. Folding chairs can be set up for family and friends.
Q. Can English Language Learners participate?
A. Certainly! The international language of dance is a wonderful nonverbal expressive medium. As one boy eloquently said, "Ballet is sign language! I understand all!"
Q. Can students with special needs participate?
A. Art of the Dance World welcomes children in wheelchairs and children who face various challenges such as autism, Fragile X Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida, language processing issues, and behavioral concerns. Choreography is always customized to highlight children’s strengths. The performance experience results in a sense of success and accomplishment.
Q. Our school is more than two hours away from New York City. Can you come to us?
A. Yes. Upon request, pricing quotes will factor for travel and accommodations. If extensive travel is required, a block of bookings at nearby schools would be preferred.
Q. Do family members and friends have to pay to attend the performance?
A. No, admission is always free.
Q. Where do the children and teens change into costumes?
A. Most of the costumes for elementary school students go right over the children's school clothes. Teachers are provided with plastic Ziploc "chests" with the costumes for his/her class. Teachers will help children pull on elastic waist tutus, put on hats, and so on. The teacher brings the "chest" with all the unused costumes back to the Teaching Artists. Immediately following the performance, the children take off the costume pieces at the assigned location. The teacher then puts everything back into the chests. The process is surprisingly quick and easy but in some schools select parents are invited to help the teachers. For more elaborate programs, the middle school and high school students have time to change in classrooms or restrooms for evening performances.
Q. Can teachers and administrators become involved?
A. Absolutely! We find that the youngsters love having teachers and administrators perform with them. No dance experience is necessary and the costumes are one-size-fits-all. In a production of “The Nutcracker" an adult is needed to play a Father or an Aunt in the first and last scenes. In a production of "Swan Lake," a Queen and an Evil Sorcerer or Sorceress are needed. In "Romeo & Juliet" and "Don Quixote" there are optional roles.
Q. Where do Teaching Artists/Dancers change?
A. We can change in the wings but if there is no room or if we are in a gym, we can bring pop-up "changing rooms".