It’s that time of the year again! Scheduling auditions, signing up new dancers, and thinking about how to make a new unforgettable performance. And while the excitement is front and center, deciding which show to adapt is not always the easiest part.
If you still haven’t decided on a show or theme for your recital, do not panic! We have some useful tips to achieve the ultimate performance. From show ideas to music-inspired productions, here is all the guidance you need to make the greatest dance recital ever.
Several Approaches to Dance Recital Ideas
One of the hardest tasks as a dance teacher is picking the perfect themes or shows for a new dance year. It could be rather intimidating going through the countless shows or possible themes that would best showcase the growth and talents of your dancers. How does one pick a dance theme? There are several approaches you can take to help ease the process. The following are some of the possible areas you can draw your themes and show ideas from:
What’s New on Broadway?
Shows are constantly being advertised for Broadway, and Grosh Backdrops and Drapery is your perfect source for new releases or hot show ideas to hit the stage. Keeping up with the latest Playbill news is sure to give you the jump on what will take the world by storm and put your dance company ahead of the performance game!
Newer shows allow you to bring something groundbreaking to the table. You can take Kimberly Akimbo or Pictures From Home as a bright example. It’s also great to freshen your ideas and ensure new experiences for your dancers and audience.
The Classics
You can never go wrong with a classic. Some shows have never stopped being a hot commodity in the world of dance and theater. For starters, you can never go wrong with a lighthearted adaptation of beloved musicals like The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, or Aladdin. These plays never go out of style and are always fun to produce.
Now, let’s say you want more gravitas – present something slightly mature and questions larger than life, classics like Chicago, Moulin Rouge, or Once on This Island could be the perfect choice for you.
If you are looking to add a modern twist to surprise your audience, you can also go for contemporary classics like Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, or Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Seasonal
The time of the year is another thing to keep in mind! Is it the Holidays? Springtime? Making sure to attend to these points will help guide your thoughts and ideas and possibly determine the ideal show for your troupe. A snow-themed backdrop, for instance, would be a perfect way to tell your rendition of the Nutcracker or any other wintery idea you’d like to perform.
If spring is around the corner, think about adding a flowery setting to welcome the arrival of this colorful season.
Or let’s say the weather is warming and that hazy feeling is floating in the air, there are no better choices than Mamma Mia, Music Man, or Footloose to experience that unforgettable summer love.
And if the scary season is getting close, a haunted house or a graveyard can be ideal for that spooky dance number to celebrate All Hallows Eve.
The dance steps almost create themselves!
Fun Locations and Events
Other things to consider are different destinations or fun activities to do. You can ask yourself, is there a particular destination you would like to visit? It could be Hawaii, Africa, or maybe Europe.
Or some iconic locations like Broadway, Hollywood, or Las Vegas.
Or how about a fun event? It could be the circus – can never go wrong with some Barnum and Bailey excitement, or perhaps Mardi Gras, which certainly adds some levity and a lot of room for creativity.
And who says hootenanny has gone out of style, or even under the sea?
And if you want to add a fun twist, you can use more creative themes like Art Deco or abstract art, or choose a genre like Western, fantasy, or medieval.
The options are endless!
Retro
Nothing wrong with falling back into a safe zone. “Through the decades” is one of the most common themes for any event, and retro in particular is sure to get everyone onboard with some nostalgia.
Let’s start with the 50s, the era of rock and roll, I Love Lucy, and Bossa Nova fever. You can’t go wrong by adding some fun 50s Doo Wop. But in case you want to get more thematic, a 50s diner or even a drive-in movie theatre can take any production to new heights.
Next comes the ’60s, which were trademarked by some Apollo action and iconic Beatles performances. What an era!
The 70s were rather defined by strobe lights and a new age of freedom. Nothing like a mirrorball to represent the dance moves that determined an entire decade.
Finally, we get to the 80s, which brings us to the arrival of music videos, computers, and the ever-so-iconic Walkman.
Throwback events are fun and allow parents and grandparents to relive special times in their lives and see what their friends or family members would like under that nostalgic light.
Popular Music
Celebrate the variety that the music industry has to offer and dance to it! First off, you can go for a little urban with a Hip-Hop performance.
Or if you’d like to go for a more rock and roll approach, an Elvis tribute might be the way to go, or perhaps a mash-up of different artists.
You can also go for a classic ballet recital, honoring the delicate craft behind the acclaimed dance genre — or maybe a country recital, using only the most iconic songs from your favorite artists.
There is a world of music-based themes to choose from that you can set your own unique dance twist to.
Mix and match… make it your own
It’s easy to get stuck in a dance rut, performing the same show year after year. Instead, how about selecting several different scenes from well-known shows? Or songs from popular artists?
For instance, say you’d like to put on a Halloween-themed production, begin by jotting down some fun ideas, monster-related shows/musicals/songs that are associated with this spooky time of the year, like Rocky Horror Picture Show, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” Phantom of the Opera, or maybe even the Monster Mash or Sweeney Todd! After writing down your ideas, think about some of the more memorable musical scenes from each production.
Or if you want to go for a different route, you can make an Easter-themed production, with a powerhouse rendition of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston’s “Make You Believe.”
Nothing would get a crowd on their feet faster than hearing a classic tune and watching their friends and loved ones get down to it, which makes for great memories as well as social media posts!
Your Scenic/Prop Providers
Many scenic and prop houses cater to dance studios in particular, so it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary to find inventory that is vibrant, abstract, and whimsical, made especially for dance.
Your regular consultant at Grosh Backdrops and Projections is a great source for performance ideas. Grosh has been working with dance teachers for 85 years, which has granted us the experience to help you bring your production to life.
There you have it! A few tidbits that may help narrow down the search for your next show. No need to fear drawing a huge dancing blank on your stage; it just takes stepping outside the box and letting your imagination take off.
Although making the ideal show is the goal, it is important to keep in mind that dance is fun and meant to be enjoyed on every level of the process, even the technical parts. The only one that can limit you is you, so let those creative juices flow.
