2026 Summer Recital | making the band

 Recital is our annual end-of-year performance and one of the most important parts of a dancer's education.

Throughout the year, dancers spend countless hours learning technique, building confidence, and growing as performers in the classroom. Recital is their opportunity to take everything they have learned and share it with an audience.

While class time is incredibly valuable, performing is a core part of becoming a dancer. There is simply no substitute for stepping onto a stage, working through those butterflies, and experiencing the excitement of a live performance.

Recital is also a chance for families to see just how much their dancer has grown throughout the year. Many dancers transform when they step on stage. Shy dancers become confident. Quiet dancers light up. It's often a chance for parents and family members to see a side of their child they don't get to see every day.

And honestly? It's just a lot of fun. It's a celebration of a year's worth of hard work, growth, friendships, and memories.

 All rehearsals and performances will take place at the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre (VPAT), located at:

1010 Ulatis Drive, Vacaville, CA 95687

Both rehearsals and all three performances are held at VPAT.

Parking is free and plentiful in front of the theater. We do recommend planning ahead for traffic—especially on Sunday afternoon—as travel times can be longer than expected.

If this is your first recital, don't worry! DDS staff and volunteers will be available throughout the week to help direct dancers and families where they need to go.

 For both Wednesday and Thursday rehearsals, dancers should arrive at 5:30 PM.

For performances, dancers should arrive 45 minutes before showtime:

• Saturday 10:00 AM Show → Arrive by 9:15 AM
• Saturday 6:00 PM Show → Arrive by 5:15 PM
• Sunday 2:00 PM Show → Arrive by 1:15 PM

Please plan ahead for traffic, especially on Sunday afternoon.

 We strongly prefer that siblings do not come backstage.

The backstage area is extremely busy and crowded, with dancers changing costumes, preparing to perform, moving between dressing rooms, and getting lined up for the stage. We need to keep the area as organized and distraction-free as possible so dancers can safely and efficiently prepare for their performances.

We appreciate your understanding in helping us keep the backstage environment focused on the performers.

 Great question! The recital fee and costume fees cover your dancer's participation in the show, including their costume, recital t-shirt, administrative costs, music licensing, show production, and all of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into creating recital.

Ticket sales help cover the cost of the theater itself. We are incredibly fortunate to perform at the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre and provide our dancers with a professional theater experience complete with professional lighting, sound, stage crew, ushers, and theater staff. Those costs are covered through ticket sales.

 Children ages 2 and under are free, but VPAT still requires them to have a reserved ticket.

 No. Absolutely no photos or videos are permitted during the performance.

We will have ushers in the audience and theater staff monitoring the auditorium. Audience members who are recording will be asked to stop and may be removed from the theater.

There are several reasons for this policy:

• Recording is distracting to both performers and audience members.
• Phones and tablets often block the view of those seated behind you.
• Dancers can see phones being held up from the stage, which can make them nervous and distract them while performing.
• We hire a professional videographer so families can enjoy the performance without worrying about filming it themselves.

Please sit back, relax, and enjoy watching your dancer perform.

 No.

For the safety and privacy of all dancers, photos and videos are never allowed backstage, in dressing rooms, or during costume changes.

 We strongly encourage all dancers to attend every performance, especially dancers in Level A classes and above.

When dancers are absent, formations become uneven, spacing changes, and other dancers can become confused when someone is suddenly missing. In some routines, particularly acro and partner work, missing dancers can significantly impact the choreography.

We understand that recital weekend can be long, especially for our youngest dancers. If you have a preschool dancer and feel that attending every show would be too much, please let us know.

For older dancers, attendance at all performances—especially Sunday's show—is expected whenever possible.

 Stage makeup is not about making dancers look older or more glamorous.

Professional stage lights are extremely bright and tend to wash out facial features. Without makeup, dancers can appear very pale, tired, or difficult to see from the audience.

Even a small amount of makeup helps the audience see your dancer's eyes, smile, and facial expressions from the stage.

For our younger dancers, we encourage families to do only what feels comfortable. A little blush, mascara, lip gloss, or lipstick is often enough.

Unfortunately, no.

To keep rehearsals running efficiently and safely, we can only accommodate one parent or guardian per dancer during rehearsal.

Dress rehearsal is designed for technical practice, spacing, lighting cues, costume changes, and preparing the dancers for the performances. Allowing additional guests would quickly overcrowd the theater and would not be fair to the many families who purchased tickets to attend the actual performances.

We kindly ask that family members attend one of the ticketed performances instead.

Absolutely! We love when dancers stay to support their fellow performers.

However, if your dancer would like to sit in the audience after they are finished performing, they must have a purchased ticket, just like every other audience member.

Yes. Once your dancer has completed all of their dances, they may be checked out and taken home. Please make sure you check out with a DDS staff member before leaving. Dancer safety is our top priority, and we must know where every dancer is at all times.

 We recommend:

• Water bottle
• Quiet activities (coloring books, books, sticker books, card games, etc.)
• Clearly labeled shoes, tights, and costumes
• Simple, mess-free snacks (crackers, pretzels, granola bars, fruit snacks, etc.)

Please do not send messy items such as slime, paint, glitter, markers, or anything that could damage costumes. We also ask that dancers avoid messy foods or snacks that could stain costumes, such as chocolate, Cheetos, or anything sticky.

While tablets and other electronic devices are permitted, we do not recommend bringing expensive personal items backstage. Recital week is a wonderful opportunity for dancers to spend time together, make memories, and support one another.

Please note that Dixon Dance Studio and VPAT are not responsible for any lost, damaged, or stolen items. If your dancer brings personal belongings backstage, they do so at their own risk.

 That's completely normal!

Almost every dancer—from our youngest preschoolers to our most experienced performers—gets nervous before going on stage. Learning how to work through those nerves is one of the most valuable parts of performing.

Our teachers, staff, parent volunteers, and older dancers will be there every step of the way to help your dancer feel supported and successful.

By the end of recital weekend, most dancers are already asking when they get to do it again!