BACKSTAGE GUIDELINES
To make sure keep our dancers safe and our venue clean, please review our backstage guidelines listed below.
Only parents that have signed up to be backstage parents will be permitted backstage during dress rehearsals and performances. Parents are not permitted in the audience during dress rehearsal.
Dancers should be dropped off at the stage door at Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center. When you arrive, enter through the main entrance, walk straight and all the way back. When you reach the back, you'll see our sign-in table on your left. Volunteers will need to grab their name tag and proceed downstairs. Backstage helpers must arrive at least 15 minutes before their group's call time! We can't have dancers arriving without a backstage parent for their group yet.
There is a costume fee for each dance the dancer is in. More information can be found on the Getting Ready page.
THERE IS TO BE NO FOOD OR DRINKS IN THE AUDITORIUM DURING ALL CAST REHEARSALS.
All cast rehearsals are to be as quiet as possible!
We try to do other things at these rehearsals but please keep in mind that rehearsal requires quiet. Students are not to be running the aisles or playing. Please help in this manner.
Videotaping is permitted during the full cast rehearsals at the back of the auditorium.
No one will be permitted into the Pasquerilla Center Auditorium during dress rehearsal.
Taping is not permitted at the PPAC rehearsal. Flash photography is not permitted at any time during rehearsal or performances for the safety of our performers.
ANY ONE WHO IS NOT ON THE LIST TO BE BACK STAGE IS PERMITTED BACK THERE!
Do not ask to come back for any reason unless of an emergency! Even then if you must remove your child, it will go through Monica or Harry and your child will be brought out. If a child becomes ill, the parent or guardian will be contacted to take the child. We do not pay for security guards. Parents volunteer and they in no way should be pressured to allow anyone back. Also, there will be additional people at key doors. This applies to everyone! Also no one is permitted in the audience doing dress rehearsal.
The following are some important guidelines that we expect everyone backstage to follow:
Be safe and respectful!
There are a lot of people, sets, costumes, props etc backstage and we want you to be safe and be respectful.
Do not touch things that do not belong to you. Do not move anything unless you are instructed to do so. This is how things go missing!
Do not eat or drink anything other than water in your costume! Please refrain from bringing anything messy or anything with nuts to the theater. We have many people, including myself, who have very serious allergies. Appropriate snacks for backstage include pretzels, crackers, dry cereal, pita chips, etc.
Stage lights are very strong and give an illusion of having an obstructed view. This makes it difficult to be aware of the surroundings when moving quickly and dancing. They also get very hot so please do not rest on the booms (the lights in the wings) or place anything on them.
Be on the list or be elsewhere! Only people who are on our list to be backstage will be allowed backstage. If you have not signed up to help backstage, you will not be allowed past security. If there is a reason you feel you should be backstage, communicate that NOW!
Be hidden! Wings are used to enter and exit the performing area. These entrances and exits cannot be blocked and people should not stand in front of them. Use the general rule of thumb… if you can see a seat in the audience, they can see you!
Be prepared! Arrive to dress rehearsals and the performances at your scheduled time. Do not be late.
When you’re backstage waiting to go on, you should be in your assigned backstage location until you are called to come to the wings. (see below)
Be in costume with your proper accessories, headpieces, props, etc. when it is your turn to be “on deck”. Headpieces should be returned to the headpiece table backstage as soon as the dancer is able. This should be as soon as you come offstage from that dance.
If you have a fast change, make sure you have everything prepared for your fast change in the spot you will be changing in. Your fast change location will be assigned to you. Please see the fast change sheet. Make sure you have your shoes with your costume!
It is important to be calm and quiet backstage so as to not disturb dancers performing on stage. All dancers should sit or stand quietly backstage while waiting to perform.
Dancers in pointe shoes should wear booties or socks to cover their shoes when backstage. Do not forget to take them off and do not leave them anywhere that is in the way! They should be removed and placed in your dance bag when it is your turn to come to the wings.
This production has many props used throughout the show. Students who use props in the performance should always check to make sure their item is placed where it needs to be backstage before they go on to perform. There are prop tables stage right and left which is where props will live. PLEASE DO NOT MOVE OR TOUCH THE PROPS UNLESS YOU ARE INSTRUCTED TO DO SO. No one should touch or move props that do not belong to them. When you come off stage your prop needs to be returned to the appropriate prop tables.
We expect all dancers to practice proper backstage etiquette throughout the dress rehearsals and shows to ensure we can produce our best performances yet.
