Dear Parents,
This newsletter gives you more details about That’s Entertainment which takes place in The Corn Exchange in Witney on Saturday 29 March at 6pm and Sunday 30 March at 2pm and 6pm. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased from Angela at all ballet lessons or online.
During the concert your child has to be happy to stay back stage with the supervision that we will provide. There is absolutely no room back stage for parents under any circumstances. Please let us know as soon as possible if you now feel your child will be unable to take part.
In addition to your child’s usual lessons, there will be two rehearsals at the Corn Exchange itself – on Sunday 16 March (for all pupils) and Friday 28 March (for selected classes only). The exact time your child is required on these two dates is given on the attached sheet. It is important that all children attend these rehearsals as some children will not be familiar with stage lighting. They will also be unfamiliar with their positioning on the stage. Please ensure your child arrives ten minutes before the time on the sheet as we want everybody to be ready to dance at the stated time. Please enter through the main Corn Exchange entrance (off Market Square) and come straight through into the auditorium. For these rehearsals your child will need their leotard and ballet shoes.
Dress Rehearsal and Performances
For the dress rehearsal and performances, grade 1 to 7 pupils will require ballet shoes and pink tights. Pre-Primary and Primary pupils will require ballet shoes only, no socks or tights. Everybody will also need to bring a red lipstick and a hairbrush (labelled with the child’s name). Children should arrive with their hair in a bun at the back of their neck if possible. Monday’s Primary and Pre-Primary classes need their hair in bunches. Please don’t worry if you can’t do this as we will do it if necessary. If their hair is too short it can simply be clipped back.
Dressing Rooms have been allocated as follows:
Grade 1 (except Monday pupils), Grade 3 and Grade 4 pupils will be in the front of house upstairs dressing room.
Primary pupils will be in the front of house downstairs dressing room.
Grade 1 (Monday pupils only), Grade 2 and Pre-Primary pupils will be in the back stage downstairs dressing room.
Grade 6 and Grade 7 pupils (& Jessie) will be in the small back stage dressing room.
For the dress rehearsal and all performances you should enter the Corn Exchange as follows:
•
If your dressing room is front of house you should come to the main Corn Exchange entrance,
If your dressing room is front of house you should come to the main Corn Exchange entrance,•If your dressing room is back stage you should come to the Stage Door in the alleyway adjacent to the Corn Exchange.
If your dressing room is back stage you should come to the Stage Door in the alleyway adjacent to the Corn Exchange.You may want to take the opportunity to check the location of your dressing room and the entrance you need to use during the rehearsal on Sunday 16 and ask if you are unsure. When you bring your child to the dressing room you will be given a ticket with your child’s name. This will be required by whoever collects your child.
Dress Rehearsal - Saturday 29 March, 12.30pm
All pupils should arrive by 12 midday - except for Saturday Pre-Primary pupils who should arrive at 2.30pm. Please arrive at the correct entrance from where you will directed to your dressing room. The rehearsal will finish at approximately 3pm. Please could all parents wait in the foyer until called into the auditorium to collect their child. After the dress rehearsal pupils should return home for a rest before the evening performance.
First Performance – Saturday 29 March, 6pm
All children should arrive back at the Corn Exchange by 5.15pm and go directly to their dressing room via the entrance mentioned earlier. The performance will last just under 2 hours including the interval. Please see below for instructions on collecting your child.
Second Performance – Sunday 30 March, 2pm
All pupils (except for Pre-Primary) should arrive by 1.15pm and go directly to their dressing rooms. Tuesday Pre-Primary pupils should arrive at 1.30pm and go straight to their dressing room. During the interval Pre-Primary pupils should be collected from their dressing room and can spend the second act in the audience with their parents.
Between performances on Sunday all children who are in both shows need to bring a packed tea and they can sit in the auditorium to eat this. We will provide adult supervision. If you wish to take your child then please stay in the auditorium after the Sunday matinee performance and we will return your child to you as described below. If your child is old enough to go into town by themselves then you must send a written permission slip otherwise we will not allow them to leave the building.
Third Performance – Sunday 30 March, 6pm
All pupils (except for Pre-Primary) who have gone home should arrive back by 5.15pm and go directly to their dressing rooms. Saturday Pre-Primary pupils should arrive at 5.30pm and go straight to their dressing room. During the interval Pre-Primary pupils should be collected from their dressing room and can spend the second act in the audience with their parents.
At the end of the Saturday evening performance and Sunday performances one parent or career will be required to wait in the auditorium for their child. We will make sure they get changed and then take them to the stage to be handed over once the audience have left the building. Whoever is collecting your child will need to present their ticket to a member of staff before the child is handed over. Please do not just take your child – we must ensure that every child leaves with the correct adult. Please could you explain this procedure to your child so they understand what is happening.
Please may I take this opportunity to thank all parents for their help and co-operation during rehearsals and during the performances. Your assistance is really appreciated.
If I don’t manage to see you during the show then please can I take this opportunity to wish you a Happy Easter. The children have all been working really hard this term and we hope to put on a wonderful show for you to enjoy.
Patricia Clapton
