Dear Parents and Students,
The Nutcracker Ballet. It’s a rite of passage for thousands of dancers; a chance to shine in front of family and friends, anticipated by dancers with nervous excitement!
A significant part of the dance training process includes learning through performance. The experience helps build self-esteem, self-assurance, and contributes to a sense of confidence. Performance opportunities contribute to children’s success in non-dance activities. That onstage experience can result in better in-school presentations, improved social skills, and strong interview skills for future college or job opportunities.
The rehearsal process is a tremendous learning experience as well. It helps the children develop retention skills, and they learn the positive aspects of working as a team.
It is the responsibility of the ENTIRE COMMUNITY, students, parents, teachers and directors to do their part to make a great show. The shows are only as successful as WE make it - let's work together to make the shows a magical experience for your child!
We’ve created an online survival guide in an effort to clarify Gotta Dance!'s Nutcracker Ballet process. It can be found below.
We look forward to two stunning performances!
Director & Staff
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NUTCRACKER CAN BE FOUND BELOW
THERE IMPORTANT EVENTS AND DATES YOU MUST BE AWARE OF:
DECEMBER 11-14, 2023 (Monday through Thursday)
MANDATORY REHEARSALS
Friday, December 15, 2023
SHOW #1 - 6:30 pm curtain
Saturday, December 16, 2023
SHOW #2 - 6:00 pm curtain
GOTTA DANCE! PRESENTS:
THE NUTCRACKER BALLET 2023
DATES:
- Friday, December 15, 2023
SHOW #1 - 6:30 pm curtain
Saturday, December 16, 2023
SHOW #2 - 6:00 pm curtain
FRIDAY SHOW TIMES:
- Dancers: Required to sign-in by 5:00 p.m. sharp
- Doors open: 5:45 p.m.
- Performance: 6:30 p.m.
SATURDAY SHOW TIMES:
- Dancers: Required to sign-in by 5:00 p.m. sharp
- Doors open: 5:15 p.m.
- Performance: 6:00 p.m.
VENUE:
Leo Rich Theater
Tucson Convention Center
260 S Church Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701, United States
- The seating is reserved.
- All attendees require a ticket (except lap children).
- There are designated wheel chair assigned areas.
Technical Rehearsal
THERE ARE TWO TECHNICAL REHEARSALS.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2023: ACT 1 ONLY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2023: ACT 2 ONLY
DANCERS MUST BE SIGNED IN AT THE THEATRE BY 4 PM.
(click on link below for specifics)
AT LEO RICH THEATRE
Dancers must be signed in by 4:00 pm SHARP!
It is our goal to make the entire Nutcracker experience a complete JOY for you and your child.
The goal of this time is to familiarize your child with the theatre stage, backstage, dressing room and performance process. The lighting and music is set during this process so that the dancers can see and hear what it will be like during the actual show.
PLEASE HAVE YOUR CHILD WEAR HIS/HER COMMEMORATIVE NUTCRACKER T-SHIRT THAT WILL HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED IN EARLY DECEMBER.
EVERY DANCER IS REQUIRED TO ATTEND TECHNICAL REHEARSAL. FAILURE TO ATTEND TECHNICAL REHEARSAL WILL PREVENT THE DANCER FROM PERFORMING IN THE SHOWS.
Dress Rehearsals - There are TWO!
First Dress Rehearsal:
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2023
Second Dress Rehearsal:
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023
LOCATION:
Leo Rich Theatre, Tucson Convention Center
DANCER SIGN-IN TIME:
4:00 PM SHARP!
- All dancers must be signed in by 4:00 PM.
- Click below for IMPORTANT dress and details.
Pre-Order DVD
Our professional video is available for $30.
There is no photography or videoing allowed during the show due to copyright and theater etiquette.
We understand how important it is to preserve these memories.
Our professional videographer does just that! DVDs will be available for pick up at the studio in mid-to late January.
Pre-Order Flowers
Avoid the chaos of getting the family ready to attend the show on-time and having to stop at the grocery store for flowers for your dancer!
Your dancer's bouquet will be ready for pick-up in the lobby at the show.
This package contains 3-Stem Rainbow Tinted Rose Bouquets. Each bouquet includes 3 Long Stem Rainbow Tinted Roses, Leather Leaf and Baby's Breath in an attractive plastic sleeve.
The roses are white roses and then dyed so they are random multicolored.
These roses are truly unique and colorful and our dancers LOVE them!
Last Day to Order: TODAY!
$14 each.
Tickets
- All seats require a ticket.
- DO NOT purchase a ticket for your dancer.
- No ticket required for lap children.
- Please read our ticket policy.
- TICKETS GO ON SALE ON 12/1 at 12pm AZ TIME. TICKET SALES Close 30 min into showtime
$30 each (there are various tiers of pricing- go to ticketing site for details)
What to Bring
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Your child must pack a LABELED water bottle for rehearsals and for show day.
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No food is allowed backstage or in rehearsal waiting rooms. (If your dancer has a medical reason to have juice for example, just let the Director know at least one week before Dress Rehearsal.)
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If your child has anaphylactic allergies, please let the Director know at least one week before Dress Rehearsal.
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Ensure your dancer brings a dance bag with their dance shoes inside.
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Make sure that every item is clearly marked with your child's name.
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Do not bring any extra items that can be lost, broken or stolen.
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We have entertaining games and arts and crafts to keep the dancers busy backstage.
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Gotta Dance and the Theatre Staff will not be held responsible for ANY lost, broken, or stolen items while at the theatre.
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NO electronics are allowed backstage. Teenagers will be required to stay off of their cell phones during the rehearsals and show.
Hair and Make-Up
HAIR: Your child’s hair should be in a clean, tight, high ballet bun with no hair on their faces.
Click the link for instructions on how to make a bun hair style.
For safety purposes, ABSOLUTELY NO JEWELRY is permitted on Dress Rehearsals Day or Show Days. (Small stud earrings are permitted for females. No earrings for boys, especially those lifting partners!)
Make-up: Makeup is necessary to avoid a washed-out look under the bright stage lights.
Click the link for the instructions.
*Boys must wear stage make-up as well.
Video and Photography
Video recording and photography is not permitted during the shows under any circumstances.
- No photography will be permitted.
- No videoing is permissible.
Anyone seen videotaping or taking photos will be escorted out of the audience.
Please do not test us on this issue.
We have had to remove parents from the audience before and hope to never have to do it again.
Preserving these moments in time is SO important for parents and that is why Gotta Dance! goes to great expense to have the show professionally video recorded.
DVDs are available for purchase.
Please respect these rules.
Gotta Dance! purchases the rights to some of the choreography and music so that our recording is legal.
Personal videoing and/or photography is not only against Gotta Dance!'s rules, it is also illegal.
How to Prepare
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Ensure your child has slept well the night before.
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Ensure your child has had a good breakfast and lunch and dinner before tech and dress rehearsals and the shows.
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Please ensure that your child has gone to the bathroom BEFORE you sign them in at the theatre. There are restrooms in the main lobby by the sign in station.
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Students MUST arrive to the theatre dressed in their tights and fleshy with a coverup. (The tights go on first and the fleshy goes on next.)
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Students MUST arrive to the theatre with their make-up done and their hair in a ballet bun (unless they have received different instructions.)
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Remind your child to ask a grown up for help if needed backstage.
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Gotta Dance! has arranged many staff members to help with this year's performance so that YOU can sit back and enjoy the performance.
In case of Emergency
Gotta Dance! makes every effort to create a safe, fun, positive, rewarding and enjoyable experience for your, your guests and your child.
If your child has a medical condition, please make sure that you advise the studio director of this by via email at least one week before the show.
Rest assured that we always pay special attention to our Type 1 diabetes dancers given the exercise etc.
Should there be a case where we need to contact you; it is your responsibility to ensure that your emergency contact information is correct in our database.
We will have access to the phone list during the recital. We can hold up to 4 telephone numbers per family.
We ask you to check, correct and add cell phone numbers and an emergency contact number such as, aunt, uncle, or grandparent.
Program Inserts
We are excited to offer you the opportunity to include a good luck Nutcracker Program Message, a Nutcracker Program Dedication, or a Nutcracker Program Business Ad.
There is no limit to the number of messages and/or dedications for each dancer.
They can come from Mom, Dad, siblings, grandparents, friends – anyone!
Dancers can also send these Program Messages to their fellow dancers and teachers!
The program makes for a wonderful keepsake after the show.
A Nutcracker Program Message is words only and a Nutcracker Program Dedication includes words and a photo. A Nutcracker Business Ad has several options. See the links below for samples, details and pricing.
Last Day to Order & Submit:
November 18, 2023
Tights
Tights will be issued to dancers at OR before the Tech Rehearsal. These are part of the Performance fee package.
Your dancer must wear these same tights for Dress Rehearsal and the shows.
If they rip, your dancer will let us know. We will give your dancer another pair.
It is a good idea to put them back in the packaging between wears to protect them from snags etc.
Fleshies
A “fleshy” – a nude/flesh colored leotard, worn under costumes - is a standard in the industry and allows dancers to make costume changes in the stage wings and in the dressing rooms without fully undressing.
Every female dancer must wear a fleshy to Dress Rehearsals and the shows.
The good news is that they are so stretchy that they can be worn through growth spurts.