Information for Performers and Families

Thank you for making a commitment to our company!  It is our goal to provide dancers with the opportunity to perform in a fun and joyful atmosphere.  Below we’ve outlined our expectations and requirements for our performers.  If you have any questions at all, please reach out to a member of the Artistic Team: Aimee Tye, Gene Chua or Angi Polderman.  The quickest way to reach us is via Remind (text @tyechua to 81010 to sign up).  You can also email info.tyechuadance@gmail.com for a same day response.  The Remind text notifications are required for all Company members.  It is the primary way we communicate.  Almost all notifications are sent via Remind and email.  Please do your part and read all communications sent (we try to keep them to a minimum!)
CONDUCT
Tye Chua Company members must treat each other with respect. 
Ways we show respect to each other:
- Arriving to rehearsals and performances on time.
- Arriving to rehearsals and performances prepared.
- Listening to instruction.
- Asking for help when we need it.
- Attending our regular classes.
- Attending all scheduled rehearsals.
- Maintaining a positive attitude.
- Supporting one another.
- Parents must walk children under 10 all the way to the studio and pick them up at the studio.
- Dancers MUST wear street clothes at all times in the building except in the studio space or theater space.  
- Please make every effort to arrive on time at both drop off and pick up times.  Our faculty are teaching classes back to back which means we cannot monitor children before and after their class times.  Thank you!
Everyone must also commit to showing respect to the space around us.
We show respect to the space around us by:
- Taking our street shoes off before entering our floor or the backstage area.
- Speaking quietly in the hallways and lounges so we don’t disturb those working in the studio.
- Picking up any trash or debris either made by us or found.
- Waiting quietly in the performance space while respecting property that doesn’t belong to us.
- Speaking quietly and being respectful of the rest of the building.

FAMILY COMMITMENT
In addition to the Tye Chua Dance performance fee, each family must commit to selling 5 tickets per show.  We encourage those of you with social media to please share our posts, especially those pertaining to performances.  We have a 400 seat theater and we’d love to fill it for our dancers!
Families must also commit to help strike the show after the last performance.  There are many jobs to do, so the more bodies we have, the better (and faster!) it will go!  This typically takes just 15 - 30 minutes.

PERFORMER REQUIREMENTS
ATTENDANCE
Because we strive to minimize the number of rehearsals, attendance is critical.  Please ensure that all rehearsals are attended, unless other arrangements have been made with the Artistic Team.  Performers with three unexcused absences will have their roles re-evaluated.  PLEASE NOTIFY A MEMBER OF THE ARTISTIC TEAM ABOUT ANY CONFLICTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
WHAT YOU NEED
The following items are required for this show:
- Ladies - a flesh colored, thin strapped leotard (fleshie).
- Gentlemen - both a flesh colored tank top and a white tank top
- Ladies - Ballet Pink or Flesh Colored (NOT black) tights and shoes for girls – these should be clean and free of holes.
- Dancers en Pointe - Pointe shoes MUST be pancaked to a ballet pink or flesh tone (to match the tights worn).  Shiny pointe shoes are not allowed for performances.
- Gentlemen - Black dance tights or Black leggings, black socks and black ballet slippers.
- Hair supplies (hair ties, bobby pins, hair nets, brushes, hair spray) WEBSITE -BOTTOM OF DRESS CODE
- Warm up clothes (colored leotard, rehearsal tights, warm ups, etc.)
- Water and snacks (NO NUTS)
- Dress clothes for after performances (Performers may not go into the audience without dress clothes)
- ONLY PERFORMERS WILL BE ALLOWED BACKSTAGE so please ensure that your child has everything needed when they walk into the building!

PLEASE NOTE - If you need assistance with any of these items, please don’t hesitate to reach out.  
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Dancers are often called to rehearse over meal times.  Dancers should pack only water (for costume safety!) and items which can be quickly eaten between rehearsal times.  In order to optimize rehearsal time and minimize the amount of time dancers are in our studio, there are no set meal times (with the exception of Family Lunch between two daytime shows which is provided by our generous donors.)  Dancers will need to find time to eat when they’re not called to be in the studio.
- While in the studio, dancers can eat in the hallway only.  No open food in the dressing rooms or studios please, except during family lunch, which may be eaten in the studios.
- NUTRITION IS VERY IMPORTANT
- While in the theater space, dancers may eat only at the 2nd floor (same floor as the stage) lobby.
- Dancers age 12 and up are expected to know how to hand sew.  Multiple sewing kits are available for dancers to use at the studio, but it’s not a bad idea to keep your own sewing kit with a needle, small scissor and thread on hand for your personal use.  Dancers are never asked to sew more than their own shoes (this is a requirement - adults please do not sew your dancer’s shoes!), or hooks and eyes.  All costume creation is done by the Directors or selected Volunteers.  All costume sewing must take place in the studio.  Our costumes are handmade and invaluable so they are not allowed out of the building.  If a dancer needs help sewing, first ask the older dancers, then seek out a Director for guidance.
- Parents and Guardians - we know the desire to check in on your kids is real - we’re all parents too!  But please try to allow for as much independence as possible for your child.  This includes staying in the lobby during class, and sitting outside of the theater during rehearsals.  (Watching from the 2nd floor lobby is ok!)  We are all highly trained and highly skilled to work with children. From the youngest dancers, they are expected to (and do!) take responsibility for their own belongings, hang up their own costumes, put their costumes on themselves.  We find too often that dancers turn to their parents/guardians to do these things for them when they’re visibly present.
- Rest assured that if your child is having a hard time, we will bring them to you if necessary!
WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW
- Please share with your Directors any concerns or issues that may arise as soon as possible.
- Please let us know what your “black out” dates are - what days you have conflicts, as soon as possible, as this impacts our casting decisions.  Any dancer who has multiple conflicts we were not made aware of before casting may be recast.
- Please share any illness or injury information with us as soon as possible.  Our goal is to have a healthy and happy company!  Our Directors are adept at navigating injuries and working within a dancer’s medical recommendations.  An injured dancer will never be asked to do things they are not advised to do!
- Please share any social/emotional concerns with us as well.  We want to make sure everyone is having a good experience and know that includes being mindful of these considerations.
- Any major changes.  If your dancer is struggling with school work, or the dynamic changes in the family, please keep us aware so we can provide support as needed.

SHOW TIMES
Call times will generally be 2 hours before each performance for dancers in Ballet III and above, and 1 hour before performance for younger dancers.  This ensures that all performers can inspect their costumes, warm up and prepare for the shows.  In cases where there is a need to have additional stage rehearsal time (unexpected illness or injury, etc.), we may need to announce earlier call times.  The run time for our shows is over 1 hour.  After the show we have a flower call, where dancers can receive flowers from their audience on stage. Please refer to the rehearsal week and performance day schedule for more details