Preparing Your Students for the Holiday Show: Tips to Shine on Stage

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As the holiday season approaches, excitement for the Holiday Show or Nutcracker starts to build! There's nothing quite like a holiday performance, whether it’s the thrill of performing on stage, the beauty of festive costumes, or the joy of sharing this experience with loved ones. To ensure your students are ready to shine, preparation is key. Here are some tips and tricks to help you clean routines, excite your dancers, and engage parents for a successful, joyous event.

1. Set Clear Goals for Rehearsals

Rehearsals are where the magic happens! To make the most of these valuable sessions, set clear and achievable goals. Break down each routine and focus on specific sections that need improvement, whether it’s timing, transitions, or facial expressions. Create a rehearsal schedule that allocates time for reviewing choreography, cleaning details, and practicing full run-throughs.

To keep things moving smoothly, consider creating a visual or written checklist of skills and steps for students. Mark progress as they master each section, allowing them to feel a sense of accomplishment along the way. This will help prevent the process from becoming overwhelming and will build confidence leading up to the big show.

2. Incorporate Fun to Boost Excitement

Holiday performances should be full of joy, so build that excitement with your students! Try incorporating fun, festive elements into rehearsals, such as:

  • Holiday-themed dress rehearsals: Encourage students to wear Santa hats or holiday socks during specific rehearsals to add a festive flair. Have a spirit week leading up to the show where there is a different theme each week.
  • Countdown to Show Day: Set up a countdown in the studio to build anticipation. Use stickers, stars, or small rewards to celebrate each day as the performance gets
  • Interactive Games: To break up the seriousness of rehearsals, add games or challenges like “Freeze Dance” to holiday music, or challenge students to smile for an entire run-through. Show and tell is also a great game to play during this time.

Engaging students emotionally during the rehearsal process keeps the energy positive and helps them connect with the show's story. They mustn’t be just going through the motions but feeling the magic of the performance they’re preparing for.

3. Clean Up Routines with Focused Corrections

Cleaning routines can be the difference between a good performance and a stellar one. Focus on these key areas to make sure your routines sparkle:

  • Synchronization: Ensure all dancers are moving in Use clapping or vocal cues during rehearsals to help them stay in sync.
  • Transitions: Smooth transitions between formations and scenes are essential to maintaining the flow of the performance. Run these repeatedly until they’re
  • Details, Details, Details: Small details like pointed toes, extended arms, and proper facial expressions bring a routine to Have each dancer perform for their peers and receive constructive feedback.
  • Video Review: If possible, record rehearsals and watch them back with your students. This allows them to see areas they may need to improve and helps them take ownership of their performance.

4. Engage Parents and Get Them Excited

A key to having a successful holiday show is getting parents excited about their child's performance. Start by keeping them informed and involved throughout the rehearsal process. Consider these engagement strategies:

  • Communication is Key: Send regular updates via email, texts, or newsletters about rehearsal progress, show dates, and costume fittings. This keeps parents in the loop and allows them to feel connected to their child’s experience.
  • Behind-the-Scenes Access: Share sneak peeks of rehearsals on social media or via private videos sent to This creates anticipation and helps them visualize the performance before buying tickets.
  • Family-Friendly Promotions: Encourage families to attend the show by offering early bird ticket sales. Additionally, include special holiday-themed promotions like “Bring a Toy, Get a Ticket” to tie in a charitable aspect, making the experience even more meaningful.
  • Encourage Social Media Sharing: Ask parents to share their excitement and promote the show by posting about their child’s This helps build buzz within the community and can lead to higher ticket sales.
  • Parent Participation: Inviting parents into the classroom gives them a chance to experience a bit of the magic. It is fun to teach them a small section of the routine their child will be performing. This not only gets them excited to see the rest of the routine, but it also gives them an appreciation for all of the hard work that goes into learning, memorizing, and performing a routine.

5. Create a Memorable Experience

Above all, remember that the Holiday Show or Nutcracker is not just about perfect choreography—it’s about creating memories for your students, their families, and your dance community. Make it an event to remember by incorporating small touches like photo ops before and after the show, personalized programs with student names, or a cast celebration after the final bow. These details elevate the experience and leave everyone with lasting holiday memories.

Your holiday performance will be a shining success by setting clear goals, making rehearsals fun, cleaning routines efficiently, and engaging parents. Here's to a festive, exciting, and joyous show for everyone involved!

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Pam Simpson is the founder, president, and driving force behind Forte Arts Center, which was established in Morris, Illinois in 1993. In addition to building her business from a small, one room studio to a large, multi-location organization that offers dance, tumbling and cheer programs as well as private music lessons, Pam is a leading force in the realm of small business ownership in the dance and tumbling industries as she travels all over the country speaking to and educating for large organizations such as Rhee Gold Company, Dance Teacher Summit, and More Than Just Great Dancing. When not working on her businesses, Pam enjoys spending time with her family and visiting her daughter, who is a performer at Walt Disney World.

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