RECITAL PHOTO DAYS
This two day event is held at Gotta Dance! Studio.
Class group photos will be taken at an appointed time and if you wish to order individual photos of your dancer, they will also have individual photos done. The specific schedule for your child(ren) can be found by clicking the buttons on the recital page under "Photo Days" Your child's photo time(s) will NOT necessarily be at the same time as their usual class if they have class on Saturday.
PLEASE NOTE: The entire studio is taken over during Photo Days. The ONLY classes that will be held on Saturday are the advanced classes.
It is mandatory that your child attend photo day if they are going to be in the Recital. It is NOT mandatory that you order photos, though. If you do not order photos, your child will not be photographed individually, but will be part of the group photos. It would be best if you fill out the photo order form before coming to the studio for photos. (You will receive the order form in a separate email the week leading up to photo days) The photographer’s staff will be available to answer all questions on Photo Days and Gotta Dance staff are unable to answer questions about the photographer’s form.
Please understand that we also use photo day as another costume check, to ensure that everyone’s costumes fit, etc. The seamstress is on hand to fix problems, so this is an important day for more than photos.
How long is this going to take?
We expect it will take about 30 minutes to complete the process per class. Thus, if your child only has one class, pick him or her up 30 minutes after their photo time. If your child is staying for several classes, come at 30-45 minutes after their last scheduled class photo.
WHAT DOES MY CHILD WEAR TO PHOTO DAYS?
All girls should arrive in their tights and fleshy. Girls not wearing a fleshy will NOT be allowed to try on their costumes and will be left out of the group and individual photos. There are simply no private dressing areas and fleshies are mandatory. IF YOU ORDERED A FLESHY, THEY WILL BE HANDED OUT THE WEEK BEFORE PHOTO DAYS.
Every dancer will receive a pair of recital tights and they will be passed out at the studio during the week prior to Photo Days. All tights are provided by the studio and match each other so please don’t assume that your dancer can wear her own tights previously purchased.
No girl dancers should be wearing underwear that is visible. As cute as our Tiny Tots are with their princess undies, we don’t want underwear showing in photos! If your child insists on wearing underwear, please make sure it’s not showing.
If her fleshy has a choice of solid vs. plastic straps, please use the plastic.
If your child wants to wear a cover up to walk into the studio, please consider a robe or a long button up shirt. This makes it easy to remove and doesn’t involve pulling it off over her head and risking messing up her hair.
WAIT! MY DANCER WAS ISSUED TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT COLORED TIGHTS! WHICH ONE DOES SHE WEAR?
If your dancer is in more than one dance class and/or they have different colored tights for their costumes, their teacher will have told them what tights go with which costume. This mostly applies to older dancers.
Dancers who are supposed to have fishnet stockings: The fishnets are at the studio. They will be distributed at the studio at the time of photos.
Lyrical dancers were given “convertible” tights. We will teach the girls how to roll these up to go from ballet to lyrical.
CAN MY CHILD WEAR NAIL POLISH FOR PHOTO DAYS?
We prefer not. Please make sure feet are clean and nails are trimmed for all lyrical and/or barefoot dancers. Several of our older dancers’ costumes call for bare feet for photos. Very subtle nail color is okay but we would prefer none. No nail polish on fingernails unless it is clear.
WHAT DOES MY MALE DANCER WEAR?
Boys should be wearing form fitting, white T-shirts and bike or compression shorts. The t-shirt shouldn't have a lot of design or writing on it. It should be white or very light colored. A boy’s or man’s undershirt would work. Their shorts should be tight fitting. i.e.: A swim team bathing suit or bike shorts work well.
DO I HANG OUT WITH MY CHILD ON PHOTO DAYS?
We are asking parents to drop their child off. We will take care of getting their costumes on and getting their photographs taken. From experience, we know that the children do better without family there for photo day. Additionally, we are operating in a very small amount of space. Additionally, we can’t have parents trying to take photos – as it’s against the professional photographer’s rules.
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HAIR AND MAKE-UP?
Makeup is not mandatory for photo day. It is completely up to you as the parent to make this decision.
Hair must be up in a bun.
WHAT ELSE SHOULD MY DANCER BRING?
DON’T FORGET TO BRING BALLET, MUSICAL THEATER, LYRICAL, HIP HOP, AND TAP SHOES! The Hip Hop shoes should be ALL black or they can wear BLACK musical theater/jazz shoes if they have them.
SHOULDN'T I HAVE MY CHILD'S COSTUME?
No, costumes will be kept at the studio and your child will be assisted in getting into their costume by Gotta Dance! staff. The costumes go home with your child the night of recital, after they have performed.