Dance Teacher Blog: Teaching Performance & Theater Etiquette

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Dance Teacher Blog
Teaching Performance & Theater Étiquette

Kodak Theatre Los Angeles

Teaching the basics about theater étiquette is so important for any performing arts student.  This also makes for an excellent lesson and topic of discussion for Junior High and High School students.  I take about a week to teach Theater Étiquette and give a fun quiz at the end.  I always say, "If any of you walk into a professional theater I want them to know you are well trained."

This coincides with the lesson on dance étiquette, room étiquette, and dance basics.  Performance is an intricate part of dance in K-12 education.  In California it shows up in our Dance Content Standards:
Visit: http://www.cde.ca.gov

2.0 CREATIVE EXPRESSION
Creating, Performing, and Participating in Dance

Students apply choreographic principles, processes, and skills to create and communi­cate meaning through the improvisation, composition, and performance of dance.

CONTEXT OF THE LESSON

1. Explore the rehearsal process
2. Discuss rehearsal habits, rules, étiquette
3. Help students discover their own good, habits, rules and étiquette
4. Tell stories about your own theater experience
5. Teach perspective;  the Directors perspective, the audiences', the Stage Managers
6. Go over roles: Director, Stage Manager, Choreographer, Production Manager, Technichians
7. Remind students they are part of a cast, or an ensemble
8. Costume étiquette: Always hang it up yourself!

A great book to share with your advanced students, or Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12 is Dance Performance From Rehearsal to Opening Night by Kristin Kessel.  It has great topics on theater étiquette that will help guide and prepare your dancers for the big day!  

 "It is important to be present at every scheduled rehearsal.  Each one is an opportunity for you to learn and participate, and is the next step towards a fabulous show.  You are part of a team that can only succeed if each member contributes equally.  If dancers are missing from rehearsals, how will the show improve before the recital?"  

~Kristin Kessel Dance Performance From Rehearsal to Opening Night

Break a leg!