“The theater is magic, and blessed
are those who make that magic.” -Author Unknown
It is
performance time for dance schools around the world. Young children gather at theaters, excited to
show friends and family members what they have learned in weekly dance classes,
and teachers excitedly anticipate the moment when they will feel a sense of
pride, knowing that they have been able to pass this art form on to another
generation.
Quite often
when teachers and students enter the theater, it is viewed as a finish line to
be crossed. It is important to remember,
that because dance is a performing art, the year-end performance, or recital,
needs to be treated as an educational experience in its own rite.
The theater
is a very different place than the classroom.
Since dance educators have spent countless hours in the theater, it is
easy to forget that this experience may be the first of its kind for many of
the students. Performing in a theater
can be overwhelming, and one of the dance educator’s jobs is to make the
experience a pleasant and educational one.
As the
performance approaches, class time should be spent learning and reviewing the
rules of the theater. Students need to be
taught about the hierarchy that exists backstage, how costumes should be
treated and backstage etiquette.
Upon
arriving, the younger students should be given a tour of the theater, including
dressing rooms and the house, as well as the stage area. Walking around in a small group both
backstage and onstage, in full light, can help quell any traces of fear or anxiety. The students should be taught the proper
names for the different areas of the stage, become acquainted with the wings
and the placement of lights and made to understand the importance of being
quiet backstage.
It is also
extremely important that the students meet the stage manager and stagehands and
realize that a show would not be possible without these important people.
The theater
is, and has always been, a sacred place, and young dancers need to be taught to
treat it that way. It is easy to forget amidst
the excitement and bustle of spacing and dress rehearsals that a dance
educator’s job is to teach dance students about all the aspects of the dance
form. Since dance is a performing art,
learning to respect the theater is as integral a part of a young dancer’s
education as is learning proper technique.
