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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

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Original poster

Helping out backstage at dance shows, what does it involve?

68 replies

BramwellBrown · 13/03/2015 20:02

DD(6) has volunteered me to help out at her first dance show and the teacher got quite excited that I'm DBS checked, what have I been signed up for this time? The show is children 3+

OP posts:

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 13/03/2015 21:52

I did DDs as s chaperone last year, it was full on, hard work, exhausting, but very rewarding. Take everything others have listed, colouring sheets and pencils (not felt tips too risky that they'll get it on their faces/costumes) and practise buns and make up on your DD, the parents are supposed to do the buns but most of those in my group were very badly done and we had to redo them (they were 5 year olds in their first show). Getting the make up on them was a nightmare too, they wriggle, screw up their eyes, rub it off.

Print out all emails with instructions in advance to take with you, read them thoroughly and try to get to the theatre early to orientate yourself.

LittleRobots · 13/03/2015 21:54

Hmmm. I'm wondering whether I should un-volunteer. That wouldn't look good would it?

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 13/03/2015 21:56

No, don't unvolunteer, you'll be fine, but maybe have a bottle of wine lined up for the evening! I can't do it this year and I'm a bit sad about it.

morethanpotatoprints · 13/03/2015 22:01

No, don't unvolunteer, we had to suffer.

You'll be fine, honestly.
Oh, if they are a mixed age school and you are assigned the older ones they can be worse.
they can manage own make up and hair, but I had 2 16 year olds scrapping about a bf, they went on stage and even managed a bit of a kick at each other.
They are trying to get out of fire doors for quick smokes etc.
if you have a choice get the young ones but not the diddy ones.

Gunpowder · 13/03/2015 22:09

Do NOT, under any circumstance, watch 'Dance Moms' it will freak you out but it's brilliant

Love all the answers containing gin.

Original poster

BramwellBrown · 13/03/2015 22:20

I assume I'd be with my daughters age ones, I will make sure I ask.

Dance Moms is added firmly to the do not watch list and i will stock up on gin.

OP posts:

taxi4ballet · 14/03/2015 08:27

Don't let anyone use aerosol hairspray - it sets of the fire alarms and you will find yourself having to evacuate the theatre mid-performance.

Yes... it HAS happened to me!!!!!!

dancestomyowntune · 14/03/2015 16:23

Some of these answers are hilarious! I Enjoy doing it. Perhaps I'm mad!

taxi4ballet · 14/03/2015 17:15

And if there are two shows on the same day, beware the mum who watches the matinee and then demands to take her young dancer home because she's 'tired' (because Mummy has seen the show now and can't be bothered to come back to collect her later more like), and you are then one person short for the evening performance!

LittleRobots · 14/03/2015 17:43

I did that with my little girl last year for gymnastics. She was only 2 months into full time reception and they'd rehearesed saturday, 2 x 3 hour shows sunday. By lunch time sunday she was in tired-tears and there was no way she was going to manage the whole day.....

Yr 1 show I said we could only do it if we only did the morning. She is fit as a fiddle but physically couldn't manage it.

Luckily for ballet its 2 evening shows...

DeeWe · 14/03/2015 17:48

Hehehehe...

If they're doing it by the book, then even if you're dbs then you can't take them to the toilet, be in the same room as children changing, or be alone (without a chaperone) with any dc that isn't your own. You need 1 trained chaperone per 12 children. We got inspected 6 weeks ago. That was fun.

Watch out for the tantrums, sulks, complaints that they aren't centre in every dance, and moans about costumes-that's just the other parents.
Plus the mum who sneaks her dc out to show loving grandparents 5 minutes before curtain up, the dad who comes in to take photos while the dc are changing, and the instructions to make sure pfb is first on/not next to other dc/you check their hair before they go on.

But it's fun as long as you have the support from the dance teacher so you know that if anyone gets out of hand you can put it in her direction and she'll sort it.

balletgirlmum · 14/03/2015 17:53

I love chaperoning.

At dds previous dance school only licensed chaperones were allowed backstage/ in the dressing rooms but they did have a separate set of volunteer stage crew.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 14/03/2015 17:54

Depends on your venue I suppose, but in the theatre we use it would be impossible to sneak a DC out for photos, or a Dad in, they are very strict about manning the stage door and exits. We never had any moans or tantrums from anyone, parents or dancers, either.

HSMMaCM · 14/03/2015 18:44

Everyone will love you for it, but you won't get to see your own DD perform. Just assume everyone else has forgotten everything they need and you'll be ready.

I've got off lightly tomorrow, just transporting costumes (you learn which are the best jobs to volunteer for).

LittleRobots · 14/03/2015 19:28

A "licensed" chaperone? What on earth is that?

HSM - there's different mums for different nights with ours so we watch one and volunteer the other. We have to help with the 2 long rehearsals too though.

I'm reading and learning....

HSMMaCM · 14/03/2015 19:33

I just know when I get there with all the costumes, I will end up helping them dress, sorting matching hairstyles etc

balletgirlmum · 14/03/2015 19:36

A licensed chaperone is a person who has registered with the local authority education welfare officer to look after/supervise children who take part in performances.

You have to have 1 chaperone for every 12 children & they are responsible for enduring that the laws regarding children performing in theatre shows, modelling, film or TV are adhered to.

KatyMac · 14/03/2015 20:00

To other Ballet mums reading this "Be nice to the volunteers - even if they are a bit arsy"

I volunteered I made several sets of costumes, altered many over 4 months, still altering when the dress rehearsal came & I was told "If you'd done the job Miss Ballet-teacher paid you for these costumes would be ready"

I was fuming!!

& 2 minutes later some one came & said "My DD has got chocolate icing on her white costume" (despite the no eating in costume rule) & was surprised when I said she'd better "take it home & wash it then"

& another who said "My DD has torn off this ribbon" & then was shocked rigid when I handed her a needle & thread & told her to get on with it

I am a bad, bad volunteer - in my defence I was getting tired by then

HSMMaCM · 14/03/2015 20:53

KatyMac. I've never forgotten my mum handing DD a carton of ribena when she was wearing a white tutu. I've never moved so fast!

unlucky83 · 14/03/2015 21:00

Toilet thing for really little ones...make sure you ask them well in advance and know where the loo is and what the layout is like ...and be ready for some of them to want to keep going as it adds a bit of interest...and last minute dashes.
I've done this a few times - agree with all the lists but toileting has been my worst nightmare.
First time I did it I had 12 4yos (one was mine). I had no idea what the loo was like. Found it was one large disabled loo (allocated to us) in a corridor a good minute walk away from our area and next to an open door to outside. I was expecting a 'ladies loos' type scenario - a bank of cubicles with communal handwashing. About 20 mins before they were due on I asked and 10 did want to go - so I took them all (left the other 2 with another chaperone - I was on my own though a lack of volunteers - whatever you do please don't pull out -just makes it harder for everyone else.) They were all in costumes and needed help to get redressed -OMG - I probably broke every rule in the book...couldn't take them one by one from the area (didn't have time especially cos all they all needed to hand wash in the loo), couldn't really leave them on the corridor as I went in to help them get redressed (too near the door) and also the time factor. I had them backs turned in the big cubicle weeing 'in front' of each other, one weeing whilst another was washing hands. (I know!!! -never felt more out of my depth). I am disclosed though so not as bad as it could have been....

Another time - more organised and knew where the (different) loo was. Older children (6ish) and had them all toileted well in advance....except about 2 min before she was due on stage one said she really needed to go, couldn't wait. I rushed her down the corridor to the loo -someone was in - so we went to another one (large bathroom type off a narrow corridor -with older dancers needing to get along it . She went in and I had to move away as I was blocking the corridor, then she couldn't get her skirt undone (needed to take a leotard down) so then had opened the door looking for me - I battled past the big ones and went in and did it for her and said just go I'll turn my back -she refused. I said you have to be really really quick - you are going to miss your dance. She refused. I left her and went outside and down the corridor until she called me again to help her with her skirt -it absolutely reeked - obviously the urgent toilet visit was due to nerves, no wonder she wouldn't go with me in the same room I should have realised . Anyway she made it on stage with seconds to go...and was fine for the rest of the shows...just first night nerves.

KatyMac · 14/03/2015 21:11

Ribena?? I'd have cried

balletgirlmum · 14/03/2015 21:12

You're soeaking to the woman who had to hand wash Ribena covered ballet socks in a sink & dry them under the hand dryer.

(Not my child I hasten to add)

UniS · 14/03/2015 21:21

I'm soooo glad I only ever did stage crew ( scenery shifting ) or lighting operator on dance shows.

UniS · 14/03/2015 21:28

Also relieved that DS is in a dance group that perform at festivals in a uniform of shorts and shirt ...tho He did have to to be prodded into changing out of bright pink socks and into the black ones ( he had in his bag and should have put on with his shirt) just before they went into the arena last year.

unlucky83 · 14/03/2015 21:45

MY DD1 older (maybe 11) had a chaperone who was a bit laid back - must have thought by that age they can sort themselves out...and my DD1 obviously couldn't!
So one night her first dance the dancers were dressed all in black - except DD1 who was l wearing white (glow in the dark!!! -or they looked like it ) trainers -she'd had forgotten to change into her black jazz shoes....(she was right in the centre at the back - so it could have been deliberate)

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