Etiquette for performances

[dressage]

For us parents newer to the ballet scene, it would be nice if someone would go over traditional etiquette for performances. Please include who is supposed to get gifts like leads, AD.... Perhaps thank you notes from the parents/kids to the AD. What do most people do? My daughter just finished the Nut and we usually give gifts to her co-dancing friends and leads. I did see the AD with lots of gifts, we didn't because I wasn't sure what to get??? I thought maybe my daughter could send her a personal note , what do you think?

[msd]

With our Nut, parents organize and collect $$s for both a cast party and gift (usually gift certificate) for the AD. Dd always writes (and mails after the closing) a letter to the AD, thanking him for the experience.

 

Staging tomorrow, school shows Thursday, opening night Friday ...Dd is psyched!

[GretchenStar]

Not a parent... one parent usually buys a card (one of those huge cards) and the students sign. We have so many dancers in our performances (our Nutcracker that we're in the middle of performing has 100 students) so we don't collect $ for a gift.

 

I think a personal letter or card sounds great- could incorporate that with a Christmas (or holiday) gift, if you choose.

[Momof3darlings]

I'm sure the answers are as varied as the number of performances represented here. Other than making sure your own DD has some flowers and yes, I'd do something for the AD or at least her rehearsal leader if that is someone different.

 

Now, I will tell you, we've bought alot of small tokens for AD's in the past, however, nothing brought more joy to the AD than a handwritten note my DD gave her after one performance. She wrote a good bit about the time, effort, family time missed, etc that the AD had given up to bring such joy to her life. It was heartfelt and the AD was in tears. We may never buy another gift again!

 

vj

[Jacqueline]

There are many, many variables of course.

 

As for the dancers themselves, at our school, there are Secret Snowflake exchanges at the top levels. All the kids draw names and great pains are taken of course to ensure that everyone is included. There are four or five small gifts and one larger one at the end, given at specified intervals during rehearsals and performances, each time with a clue as to who the giver is, i.e. "In one of your dances, I am behind, beside or in front of you." or "I have never been a Mouse." It has become a great tradition and the girls love it. The final gift, and the "reveal" of who your Secret Snowflake is are at the cast party after the final performance.

 

As for the AD gifts, a few years ago, we started doing group gifts so that we could get the teachers something really nice (we've done pashmina shawls, cashmere sweaters, Coach bags, and engraved champagne flutes in the past) and also to eliminate the pressure on everyone to do individual gifts (and the pressure on the teachers to write a lot of thank you notes!) The ADs/teachers have loved and cherished these gifts. They open them at the cast party. Of course, those who want to do their own gifts are absolutely free and welcome to do so.

 

 

All of that said though, I don't think you can go wrong with a personal note!

[hannahbeth]

For us parents newer to the ballet scene, it would be nice if someone would go over traditional etiquette for performances.  Please include who is supposed to get gifts like leads, AD....  Perhaps thank you notes from the parents/kids to the AD.  What do most people do?  My daughter just finished the Nut and we usually give gifts to her  co-dancing friends and leads.  I did see the AD with lots of gifts, we didn't because I wasn't sure what to get???  I thought maybe my daughter could send her a personal note ,  what do you think?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

We have co-AD's. One is my dd's teacher, she always gives him a holidy gift and card from her. He loves whole grain breads and different types of tea, so I usually bake him a couple of small loaves of whole grain breads and put in a basket with various teas and whole fruit jams. Since I work closely with him (I design makeup for the performances) I feel comfortable giving something like this. She usually gives the other AD as well as the ballet mistress holiday cards thanking them.