Dear Parents and Students,
The biggest event of the year is MDE’s “ALOHA” Recital! It is a chance for your child to showcase their skills that they have been working so hard on all year long—both individually and as a TEAM.
Recital weekend should be treated as a “special weekend”. To work for everyone involved, it might mean having to put our daily routines and priorities aside, and make some exceptions and compromises—missing a different sporting game or a birthday party, staying up past bedtime, getting a sitter for younger siblings, etc. It is a BIG DEAL! Recital is the social occasion that brings dancers, parents, and families together, and encourages feelings of mutual support and pride.
Performance completes our understanding of dance. Performing teaches confidence, the ability to work under pressure, and the importance of teamwork. Different from taking dance class at a rec centre, MDE offers our Recital as a performing opportunity for your dancers to share what they have learned with others.
It is their time to shine on stage and show off their ‘craft’, talent and confidence! The more a dancer performs, the more relaxed he/she will become on stage and in front of other people. A confident dancer often equals a more confident person in other areas of their life.
For recreational dancers, this is their one and only performance of the year. This is what they have been focused on, and have worked for all year long. Each week, dancers enjoy their classes and learning, but Recital is the “cherry & sprinkles on top” experience!
Thank you for coming together as one large MDE family and supporting your children and others. Thank you for your attention reading this information. We hope that this upcoming recital weekend makes many happy memories for you and your dancer.
We look forward to a fabulous recital with you!
Carla Mellado-Robertson and MDE Staff
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RECITAL CAN BE FOUND BELOW
All students need to arrive at least 45 min prior to their scheduled rehearsal time. When you arrive to the theatre you will sign your dancer in with our MDE Recital Team. We ask that you arrive to the theatre with your dancer dressed and in their costume/hair and make up completed. Please have one female parent/guardian attend dress rehearsal to supervise/help with costume/hair changes that your dancer requires. Once your dancer has completed their routine(s) they are encouraged to leave rehearsal.
DATE: May 29th & 30th 2:00-10:00pm. All Classes will have a scheduled Rehearsal Time.
VENUE: The Act Theatre, Maple Ridge, 11944 Haney Place, Maple Ridge
STUDENT SIGN-IN TIME: Doors and change room areas will open 45 min prior to the first routine.
STUDENT SIGN-OUT TIME: Dancers are free to leave once they have rehearsed all the routines they are involved with.
No parent will be allowed backstage/in the audience during the rehearsal (no exceptions). Your dancers will be in the best hands (with our amazing staff) when they are backstage.
We cannot stress how important Dress Rehearsal is! We are lucky to have this time! Dress Rehearsal is a time for teachers to space out the dances on a larger stage, for dancers to learn how to use the wings and have a trial run without the pressure of having audience, for costumes to be tried & danced in, for lights & music to be set, etc. etc
DATES:
Show #1 – Friday May 31st. @ 6:00pm
Show #2 – Saturday June 1st. @ 12:00pm
Show #3 – Saturday June 1st. @ 6:00pm
Show #4 – Sunday June 2nd. @ 12:00pm
Show #5 – Sunday June 2nd. @ 6:00pm
THEATRE DOORS OPEN: 1 hour prior to Showtime
SHOW TIME: Curtain will open at 12:00pm or 6:00pm
VENUE: The Act Theatre
11944 Haney Place, Maple Ridge
STUDENT SIGN- IN TIMES: 1 Hour prior to show start time (11:00am or 5:00pm)
STUDENT SIGN-OUT TIMES: Approximately 3-3.5 hours after show time
VENUE: The Act Theatre, Maple Ridge
11944 Haney Place, Maple Ridge
WEBSITE: www.theactmapleridge.org
PHONE NUMBER: 604-476-2787
HOW TO PURCHASE:
Tickets are RESERVED SEATING
SALE DATE: Saturday April 27th 10:00am
Online:
Website: https://theactmapleridge.org/tickets
In-person at Theatre Box Office:
Address: 11944 Haney Place, Maple Ridge
Over the phone:
Phone Number: 604-476-2787
The recital ticket fees cover the cost of the entire experience for your little dancer. For example, the theatre venue, theatre & backstage staff, online ticketing
We strongly encourage everyone to purchase their tickets ONLINE.
TICKET PRICES:
Senior/Student: $26.00
General Admission: $28.00
Plus theatre service fees
Max. 20 tickets per family/per show for the first week. All tickets are sold on a first come, first serve basis.
**DO NOT buy your dancers a ticket for the shows they are performing in – they will not be able to watch as they will be required backstage – no exceptions!**
We will sell out! Get yours early to avoid disappointment.
- Ensure your child has slept well the night before.
- Ensure your child has had a good meal before heading to the theatre.
- Please ensure that your child has gone to the bathroom BEFORE signing them in. (There are bathrooms in the lobby of the theatre)
- Please arrive to the theatre with your dancers hair and make up completed. Pack extra make up and hair supplies in your dancers bag for touch ups’s or costume changes.
- Mellado Dance Elite has arranged many staff members and recital volunteers to help with this year’s recital.
- Please pack food and drink for your child. Water and non-staining food.
- Dress in layers. Dressing rooms get hot.
- Please use disposable packaging so that there is less to keep track of during the show.
- Make sure your child has brought all costume pieces, shoes, tights, and accessories the theatre and that every item (and we mean EVERY ITEM including makeup) is clearly marked with your child’s name.
- Please feel free to pack your dancer with a little blanket and a quiet activity.
- Do not bring any extra items that can be lost, broken or stolen.
- Mellado Dance Elite and the Theatre Staff will not be held responsible for ANY lost, broken, or stolen items while at the theatre.
DRESSING ROOMS
The dressing rooms/studio theatre is used as the holding area for all dancers before and after their big moment on stage.
Dressing Room Assignments will be given to dancers when you arrive at the theatre.
Male dancers will be assigned a male dressing room. See recital team for dressing room assignments when you arrive.
Dancers are backstage for a lengthy period of time. It is the dancer’s responsibility to bring their own water, snacks and activities to keep entertained. Volunteers are there to supervise and assist only – NOT to provide snacks, etc.
Remember to pack water.
Please do not pack messy foods or drinks for your child, as we don’t want any spills on the costumes. We do have students and staff with nut allergies. PLEASE DO NOT BRING NUTS or NUT PRODUCTS. Remember to pack water! Changerooms can get very warm. Dress in layers (class mom’s too)
Do not bring items of value. Remember to put your dancers NAME ON EVERYTHING.
Phones/ Cameras are not to be used in the changing areas. No exceptions. Feel free to take photos in the lobby, or outside.
Recital is just around the corner, which means we are now scheduling our wonderful Class Moms for our “ALOHA” recital/shows.
‘Class Mom’ volunteers are an integral part to our recital shows being a success!
These moms assist in supervising the dancers in the dressing rooms backstage, helping out with costume changes, hair etc. It takes a village.
We highly encourage moms to volunteer backstage for at least one show.
Class Mom/volunteer assignments are limited – we are limited to not only space, but also by the restrictions enforced by The Act Theatre. Class Mom spaces will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Class Mom Sign Up lists will be posted in the studio lobby shortly. Please be sure to sign up your name ahead of time. Be sure to sign up for the correct show # of your preference.
IMPORTANT – By signing up to be an official Recital Class Mom, you are agreeing to the following:
1. You are committing to volunteer for the ENTIRE show length. Not just a portion of it. You are required to be the Class Mom Volunteer until all children in your care have been signed out. You will not need to purchase a ticket to this show, as you will be in the dressing room with your dancers and not watching.
2. You are committing to being on time. We cannot let dancers into their dressing rooms until we have a class mom present. Class moms will be allowed in first before dancers, so please be on time. Class moms need to be at the theatre by 10:30am and by 4:30pm.
3. You understand you are NOT permitted backstage. Class moms are not permitted backstage during the performances to watch the dancers on stage. Backstage is a hub of chaos during the show with dancers prepping before they hit the stage, as well as all the recital staff managing the show and The Act Theatre staff. We cannot have any more bodies backstage. This will be enforced by our recital security and Mellado Staff. We have dancers in two shows, so parents have the opportunity to be a class mom and then also have a show to watch.
Note: Pre-registered Class Moms will be the only adults/parents allowed in the dressing room areas. If you have not signed up to volunteer for a specific show, you will not be permitted in the dressing rooms. Your child will be safely escorted to his/her change room by MDE staff. We run a well-organized event; this is for the safety & security of our dancers.
Please be sure to consider the following prior to signing up:
When to arrive to The Act Theatre
ARRIVE by 10:30am if helping out during a MATINEE Show
ARRIVE by 4:30pm if helping out during an EVENING Show
Your expectations as a Recital Class Mom:
– keep group together for duration of the whole show (from when they are signed in, until they are signed out again)
– make sure all dancers have the same hair/makeup, accessories, costumes etc. and are READY TO DANCE in time for their recital performance (class mom’s will have all hair/makeup sheets for all the groups they are responsible for)
We thank you in advance for your consideration to signing up for the Class Mom volunteer position.
We greatly appreciate the time, effort, commitment & positivity given by all of our Class Mom volunteers – the dancers do too!
All MDE dancers have pre paid for all recital photography and videography as part of their Recital Media Package Fee. All routines will have professional photos taken by Cakewalk Media. These photos will be taken during rehearsal as well as all shows. Photos will be available to view and download approximately a week after the last show. Once available we will send a link to all families.
Videography. All shows will be professionally captured by Cakewalk Media videographers. Your downloadable link will be available approx. 4 weeks after recital has completed. We will email all families once this link is available.
Red Carpet Photos. Be sure to take advantage of this extra – FREE OF CHARGE. Take your photos with your friends and family on our red carpet. You are welcome to take photos with your own camera, but our Cakewalk Media team will be available to photograph your special moment 
(these photos are also available as part of the fee you paid with your package)
Please note that it will take time to upload thousands of images and hundreds of videos. Thank you for your patience
DIGITAL Programs!
Printed Programs will no longer be sold or available in the lobby.
Digital programs will emailed out to families prior to recital weekend. We encourage families to please print them off and bring them to the shows you are planning on watching. We do not want people checking the program on their phones during the show. The light from the phone is distracting to fellow audience members as well as to the dancers performing on stage.
We will be pre-selling mixed-flower bouquets that you may purchase and give out to your dancer during Recital weekend.
Flowers are picked up at the theatre during recital weekend. Please pick up before the show, or during intermission.
* Submit your order to the office by Saturday, May 11th
Programs will be available for purchase in the lobby before the start of every show. Our programs are great mementos for any dancer.
We will be pre-selling mixed-flower bouquets that you may purchase and give out to your dancer during Recital weekend.
Flowers are picked up at the theatre during recital weekend. Please pick up before the show, or during intermission.
* Submit your order to the office by Saturday, May 21st.
All flowers are from Flowers By Celia- fresh and beautifully wrapped with kraft paper.
Need Tights?! Dance Shoes?
The Dance Box has you covered. 2 locations to choose from. Visit them to purchase any dance supplies you might need.
Be sure if you have been requested to have tan tights to purchase Light Tan (Light Suntan for Preschool sizes)
Address: 435C North Rd, Coquitlam, BC V3K 3V9
(604) 936-7615
Hours:
Monday to Friday 11:00am-5:00pm
Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm
Sunday 10:00am-5:00pm
Address: 20226 Fraser Hwy #114, Langley, BC V3A 4G1
(604) 530-7615
Hours:
Monday to Friday 11:00am-5:00pm
Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm
Sunday 10:00am-5:00pm
Our online store makes SUPER simple for parents to purchase everything their dancer needs for class. Find exactly what your dancer needs and have your items shipped directly to your home. Sample sizes are available at the studio for your dancer to try on. Parents LOVE the convenience and 10% discount!
Be sure to select Light Tan (for tan tights) (Light Suntan for Preschool)
Sizes are organised by Toddler, Kids and Adult sizes. Size chart links are available if you are unsure of sizing.
