Costume Care

Here are just a few tips to keep your costumes looking their best during the competition season.

If the costume is cotton, the iron is fine on low heat with steam. If the costume is lycra, it can be ironed with steam on the reverse side of the fabric, or with a towel over top. If there is metalic on the lycra, only iron from the back side ot it will stick to the iron. As long as the heat is low it will not melt. If there is hot glue on the costume (jewels or trim), do not iron becuae they will fall off. Also, if they get lipstick on the fabric, it will come out with DISH SOAP and water.

Lastly, PLEASE if you rip a seam, or break a strap, or loose a costume piece, or a crystal falls off…please let Christian or Tracy know. I keep scrap fabric at home and have extra hats etc… in case someone looses something. I have no problem doing touch ups. It is better to fix the problem, then to be on stage pinned together.

Thank-You Tracy for all of your hard work. The costumes look amazing.

Please remember to label all of your costume pieces, as well as your shoes. Please check you tights before you leave home to ensure that their are no rips or runs in them.

Other Important Information
Solos/Duos/Trios

• Ensure you bring Two copies of your music on a CD (parent volunteers will ensure that each teacher has provided you with a copy of the latest version of your music) in case one is misplaced. Your studio representative may not have your music with them.

Costumes
• Make an inspection to ensure all the pieces of your costume are included in your dance bag including any head bands, hats, gloves bows or other accessories that came with your costume. It is also important to ensure that each costume piece has the dancer’s name or initials in it. You are also responsible to ensure all pieces of the costume are collected at the end of the show. The back fitting rooms are often very busy and it is easy to leave things behind.
• Tights – for many costumes you are required to have beige tights. Please ensure you have checked with the teacher to find out if tights are required.
• You may want to have a button up shirt that you can put over the costume while putting makeup on or waiting for final results so costumes don’t get damaged or stained before the next competition.
• Second skin – many dancers prefer to wear a second skin under their costume making changing easier in the back dressing rooms. Second skins also come with clear straps.
• Nude/beige colour underwear/bra with clear straps .
• Dancers should all wear their Just for Kicks jackets when they come to the theatre. Again ensure your name or initials are inside the jacket so you get your own back.
• Dancers are not permitted to wear jewellery. Earrings are limited to small gold posts or hoops unless teachers have specified something other. Body tattoos are not permitted. If you have a real tattoo- please cover with foundation.

Makeup* and Hair
* Please ensure you have your own makeup. It is not sanitary to share make up. Please ensure you have the following items:
• Red lipstick. Some teachers may also ask for pink lipstick but they will advise you. Lipstick should be a bright red. Class reps will discuss with teacher and communicate what is to be bought.
• Blush
• Foundation – often dancers will look washed out on stage if they don’t have foundation on.
• Brown eye shadow or eyeliner or other as required by the teacher.
• Fake eyelashes. Most dancers prefer the style no 105 but please ensure they aren’t too long.
• Bobby pins.
• Clear or black hair elastics.
• Bun net for those required to have a bun.
• Hair spray and hair gel.
• Comb and brush – comb should be the type that can be used for backcombing.
• Hair pieces – your teacher will advise if there is a requirement for hair pieces.
• Hair curler or straightener as required for the dance.
• Dancers should ensure all nail polish and temporary tattoos have been removed prior to arriving at the theatre. You may want to ensure a bottle of nail polish removal is in dance bags as a back up to remove any nail polish that has not been removed prior to arrival.

Dance Shoes 
– as competition schedule nears some stores sell out of specialized footwear.
Please do not leave this too late.
• Jazz classes will require either black or beige jazz shoes – your teacher will advise which is required. Please ensure the name of the dancer is in the inside of the shoes so you get the right pair back.
• Lyrical classes may require foot undies – plain beige unless your teacher has advised otherwise or jazz shoes.
• Hip Hop runners as approved by the teacher.
• Special dance shoes as required by your teacher i.e. Tap/Irish.

Good Items to Bring...
• Water is available at most theatres but can be pricey – please ensure dancers have some water to stay hydrated.
• Healthy Snacks – again often theatres sell food which can be pricey – carrot sticks, apples and other healthy snacks should be packed as dancers can be several hours waiting for competition results.
• Money – most competitions charge parents for entry into the theatre (usually $2 - $5) and for a program – ranging from $3 - $8 so you will want to be prepared. Some not equipped to handle credit cards for admission.

General Information
• Competition schedules often require that children will miss school for periods of the day. If you are requiring parent help for car pooling, please contact your parent rep who can help coordinate rides.
• If you don’t have a Just for Kicks dance bag you may want to buy one or ensure you have a bag that is large enough to hold all your items.
• Make sure you don’t leave valuable items out in the open or in the back fitting rooms where they can be taken. People are coming and going and expensive items have gone missing in the past.
• Dancers are required to stay until the awards for their category or section. If you have a conflict please speak to your parent rep who may again be able to assist with carpooling so your child can stay. It is important that the class stay as a group for their awards presentation.
• Competition dates are now posted on the website and in the waiting room so please mark your calendar. You will be notified of the exact time of when you perform usually 2 weeks prior to the competition.
• All dancers need to be at the theatre a full 1- 2 hours prior to the show to provide enough time to do hair and makeup and allow the dancers to warm up and run through the dance. Dancers should be in costume and ready to dance no later than 1 hour prior to their posted time.
• Parents are a great help to each other. Please don’t feel that you can’t ask another parent to assist when you can’t make a competition date due to work commitments. We know we can work together to help each other and ensure our children and dancers are successful.

No comments:

Post a Comment