Sunday, October 25, 2020

It's beginning to look a lot like a A VERY COVID CONCERT!








         2020 CONCERT SERIES 

Dear Stepping Out Families,


Thank you for your love and support throughout the challenges of 2020.  We feel it is very fitting and very necessary that all of our beautiful students get the opportunity to shine on stage and take a bow to the year that was.  Given the restrictions imposed by Covid and our continued dedication to the safety, health and well- being of our students and their families, our Concert season is going to look a little different this year ( but it will be no less spectacular and certainly if we have our way, even more sparkly!!) 


STILL, CONCERT COMES WITH ITS CHALLENGES! 

For those who have danced with us in previous years, you know how much we love to be organised but this year’s concert comes with ever changing rules, restrictions and government policy that we need to adhere to.  AND, it could all change tomorrow!  It may be necessary that we will have to update you as time progresses so we ask for your patience and flexibility.  


The highlight of most students' dancing year is their Concert. Our end of year concerts are a massive showcase that all students get the opportunity to perform in. Why is it so important? It’s your child’s chance to shine on stage, to perform for their friends and family, and show how much they have improved over the year. Every dancer needs an audience. The SODF Concerts provide a truly memorable and magical stage experience that celebrates the dedication, talent and achievements of every single student.

We are grateful to be able to provide this performance opportunity for our students, after such a tumultuous year. Here is your complete information guide to our 2020 CONCERT SERIES:


This year there will be 5 concerts over two days ( depending on demand and all parents/ families/ fans obtaining tickets.We may need to open up more shows but we feel we have done the Maths correctly) We're excited that all of them will be held at the absolutely first class facilities of DRTCC.  The theatre there holds 500 (normally, though only 246 under Covid restrictions). The lighting and sound is brilliant, and there's a great view from every single seat in the audience thanks to tiered seating and an intimate layout. We know you're going to LOVE seeing your kids dance in this awesome theatre. We do recommend getting your tickets on the first day of sales as there is going to be high demand. 


In order to ensure that all students have a special someone in the audience cheering for them, we have had to split our beautiful school into three spectacular productions. 


SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5th 11am & 2pm- JUNIOR SCHOOL PRODUCTION “IT’S A WRAP!” This show will feature all students aged 8 years & U.  Our preschoolers will only perform in one show but all other students will dance in two shows.  


Classes Featured are;

  •  8 years Performance - Special Opening Act 

  • Pre- Primary Ballet

  • Primary Ballet 

  • Grade 1 Ballet 

  • 5/ 6 years Jazz

  • 7 / 8 years Jazz 

  • Junior Tap 

  • Junior Acro

  • Junior Contemporary 

  • Junior Musical Theatre 

  • Junior Hip Hop 

  • Ready Set Dance/ Ballet Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday classes 11am SHOW 

  • Ready Set Dance / Ballet Thursday & Saturday classes 2pm SHOW 

With Guest Artists from our Senior School 


SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5th 5pm - CLASSICAL BALLET & PERFORMANCE STUDENTS “AN EVENING FULL OF STARS!” Starring our Classical Ballet students and our beautiful performance teams performing repertoire from the 2020 season ( which due to Covid was not performed at eisteddfods.) 


Classes featured are;

  •  Grade 2 Ballet 

  • Grade 3 Ballet 

  • Grade 4 Ballet 

  • Intermediate Foundation Ballet 

  • Advanced Ballet 

  • Pointe 

  • 8 years Performance Team

  • 10 years Performance Team

  • 12 years Performance Team

  • 14 years Performance Team

  • Open Performance Team 

  • Special Graduating performances of Performance Artists 


    SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6th 1pm & 5pm “ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE” Starring our Jazz, Hip Hop, Acro, Musical Theatre, Contemporary & Tap students from 10 years up 


    Classes featured are;


    •  9/10 years Jazz

    • 11/ 12 years Jazz

    • Pre- Senior Jazz

    • Senior Jazz 

    • Intermediate Tap 

    • Pre- Senior Tap

    • Senior Tap 

    • Intermediate Acro

    • Pre- Senior Acro

    • Senior Acro

    • Intermediate Musical Theatre 

    • Senior Musical Theatre 

    • Intermediate Hip Hop

    • Pre-Senior Hip Hop

    • Senior Hip Hop 

    • Intermediate Contemporary

    • Pre-Senior Contemporary 

    • Senior Contemporary 

TICKETS.

The audience is such an important part of the concert experience. For a young dancer, nothing is more thrilling than hearing the roar of an enthusiastic crowd applauding, feeling proud of their accomplishments knowing that their family have come to watch, cheer and show their support. Those who have been to our concerts before will tell you that an SODF dance concert is like nothing else. Our aim is to create outstanding entertainment and spectacular production. 

 

Tickets sales open on Monday 9th November. We have scattered the times for each concert to go on sale to help avoid site traffic issues, and in fairness to those who need to purchase tickets to multiple shows. 

​MORE INFORMATION ABOUT TIMES OF SALES WILL BE ADVERTISED VIA ​FB & EMAIL UPON CONFIRMATION WITH DRTCC. 

Due to extremely limited seating (as a result of government Covid restrictions), unfortunately we will not be able to provide child or aged-pensioner discounts this year. It just isn't possible with the high venue costs.  ALL TICKETS TO ALL SHOWS WILL BE $30. 

COSTUMES.

Students get so excited by their beautiful costumes each year and we aim to keep the costs as low as possible whilst still ensuring that they are a high quality keepsake.  We love seeing our costumes star in all manner of school events or in class in the following year or just be a part of your family’s special memories.  We are very proud to say that the costume budget has not increased in 4 years, despite many costs rising. We understand that family budgets are tight, and we do everything we can to provide super high quality costumes at an affordable price. Order Forms will be emailed within the next week and each student will require a costume for each dance style they are enrolled in.  Please adhere strictly to the payment closing date. 

We aim to keep the costumes within the following budgets

JUNIOR SCHOOL COSTUMES - $65​

SENIOR SCHOOL COSTUMES- $75 

Performance Teams information regarding your costumes will be given via our studio Performance Team Closed Group Page on Facebook.  Your beautiful tutu’s have arrived this week and we aim to make use of your own extensive costume collections for other Performance routines ( as a means of keeping costs to a minimum.) 

Costumes will be available for pick up during the week before each age group's Final Rehearsal . Term Four fees must be finalised prior to collection. 

PERFORMER EXTRAS

Every performer in any of our end of year concerts will have the option to purchase a special Commemorative Concert T-shirt, filmed recording of their performance ( PRESS PLAY PRODUCTIONS) or photography ( WINKIPOP MEDIA.) 

All Students will also receive a special trophy in recognition of their stellar performance as a SODF SuperStar in 2020. 

HAIR & MAKE UP.

All information about Hair & Make Up will be supplied closer to the event. The make up enhances your children’s gorgeous features under the lights and assists so they don’t look washed out but rather allows their expressions to pop on stage. 

 

We will post some additional information and tutorials for stage make up on the Facebook group in the lead up to the concert, as well as a list of hair style instructions. 

BACKSTAGE.

Our number one aim is to make every child's concert experience an exciting and magical adventure, and a positive memory that they can treasure forever. This will be our 22nd year of putting on spectacular concerts and with many years of learning and experience we have developed a backstage management system that minimises stress for our students, and maximises efficiency and child safety. This year we will also be dealing with much smaller casts in each concert due to COVID. 

 A COVID SAFE CONCERT.

We take very seriously the responsibility to produce an event that is safe for our studio community, and we are working closely with Dubbo Regional Theatre to ensure that everything we do is within the current NSW Covid-safe restrictions and following recommended guidelines. 

Some of the things that we are doing include:

  • Only being allowed to sell tickets to 50% venue capacity

  • Special ticketing system that separates ticket holders into groups at point of purchase so that households sit together 

  • Ensuring hand sanitiser is available backstage and at the auditorium doors

  • Collecting all attendees information for easy and effective contact tracing 

  • Hiring additional dressing room spaces to ensure the 4sqm rule is followed backstage

  • Assigning marshalls specifically for coordinating backstage logistics

  • Cleaning the theatre between shows

  • Additional training for backstage volunteers

  • Audience members are welcome to wear a mask if they choose to

  • No sharing of food or makeup


We thank you reading this far and urge you to contact us if you have any questions.  This is our initial note but there will be lots more information coming your way in the coming weeks so please keep a keen eye on Facebook and your email inbox.  


We can’t wait to share in this very special event with you and your children.