I am a new dance business and I don't have lots and lots of student's yet. I am thinking ahead to our 1st recital and I am afraid to have classes on stage with only 1-2 student's trying to perform a good dance. If I combine my classes I will have a very short recital show. I was thinking to perform some type of story show (ie. Peter Pan) or something like that and incorporate the entire studio. Has anyone ever done something like this or does anyone have any great show story ideas?

It took me 3 years to have enough students for a recital in a theater. Untill then I had demonstrations and little performances. Let the recital (and the venue) grow with your studio.

I saw a recital from a very small studio, only 4 classes with a few little children.
The teacher made pictures during rehearsals, and showed them inbetween 2 dances, as a preparation for the dance coming and of course to fill time.
So she read a part of her self written fairy tale like story out loud, showed rehearsal pictures (children dancing like fairies) and let the children perform as fairies. Doing that four times plus a finale: it was a 45 minutes show! Not bad for 4 classes only being able to do very simple things yet.

I agree with Lidwina. I had only a Pre-Ballet class and a Level I ballet class at my first recital which I held in a community center. It was more a demonstration type of performance showing what the dancers do in class. It lasted about 40 minutes and was just right. I think you can have a nice little demonstration with the number of students you have now. I have a friend that had a small ballet school and had the whole school perform a short story ballet as you are thinking of doing. The last one she had was Hansel and Gretal. It was very well done! Peter and the Wolf is another short ballet that can be done with a small cast.

My first recital was small and short as well. We only ran 10 dances and it was only 35 minutes. I charged $5 and the parents were thrilled. I did combine classes and had older ones perform more than once.

It was "formal" but short.

Mine will be short next June if I manage to have my own. I run my Irish program out of a mainstream studio, and we've been performing in that studio's recital for the past 12 years. But that recital now stretches to 4 hours, so I think it's time to split off. I asked my students and parents how they felt about being so small and having our own show, and they were all jumping up and down, saying, "We don't care! We'd love our own show!" Now to find a place to have it......

Stepdancer wrote:

But that recital now stretches to 4 hours, so I think it's time to split off.

Holy Moly. My eyes would pop out of my head! And I'm an owner! I can't imagine what that must be like for Grandma Gloria.

This is my third year with my studio and we will be having our first recital in a months time. I don't have a lot of groups but I think with presentations and routines we can get together about an hour or more.

I, like you, am a bit hesitant but I know that we have to have our first recital sometime...Just take the dive and do a short demonstration for the parents with some supper and a speech. You don't even need to hire a hall, you could do it in the studio with some chairs set up against a wall if your space is big enough.

xxxK

Maybe you could opt out of the recital this year - do someting in your studio, maybe visit some nursing homes, or see if you can perform in your mall.

I like the idea of the story or a mini ballet.. I've never seen it done but they always seem to do it that way on TV and it sure looks like fun!!

i_am_me wrote:

Holy Moly. My eyes would pop out of my head! And I'm an owner! I can't imagine what that must be like for Grandma Gloria.

So it's not just me, right? Some people look at me like I'm nuts when I protest that 4 hours is just too darned long. Apparently 4-5 hour recitals are common here. But I've grown, my fellow SO has grown...it's time.

I was very fortunate, though, to be able to participate in his show back when I started with 1 class of 4 kids. I'd never even considered what I would have done for a performance at that point if his recital hadn't been an option. Probably just had something at the studio with folding chairs and refreshments.

I am in the same situation! I am a new studio and have about 10 dances and have been debating about doing a show. Doing something at the studio isn't really an option because there wouldn't be any room for people to sit. I am worried that the show will not be impressive because of the few number or dances. I was thinking of making it a dinner/dance thing or have a cast party after the performance to make it more of an event...ideas????
Thanks!

3 years ago when I started, I was very lucky and had 30 dances for our first recital. I would strongly suggest doing a mini recital and keeping the costs as low as possible. Since you are new, you probably are not really awarre of how mch a "real" recital costs. If you have less than 15 dances, go small, intimate. Have a party with cake and punch after. If I could get away with not dropping a BIG load of money on recital I would.