(Today’s post comes from AMA dance instructor, Miss Kimmy!)
It’s that exciting time of year again!! Our dance and tumbling classes are beginning choreography for our June recitals and costumes are arriving and being handed out! If there’s anything else that can get a kid (almost) as excited as they do on Christmas morning, it’s costume day!
Jazz/Tap class (ages 4-6) trying
on their costumes for “A Spoonful of Sugar”
As I’m sure many of our AMA parents have noticed, several classes have already received their costumes. So, what determines when your child will receive their costume? The simplest answer: shipping dates!
Though we ordered all of the costumes back in December, it takes the next several months for the costume company to fill our order. Some costumes arrive earlier because it’s a popular style the company has already been producing for months in anticipation of costume season, while others are strictly “made-to-order,” so they don’t begin production until the moment we purchase the costume. Rest assured that all of your costumes will arrive in plenty of time for one of our picture days and our June recital!!
Costume Care
It’s important to remember (and remind our younger performers) that our dance costumes are not like regular clothes and they’re also not dress-up or play clothes… at least, not yet! Imagine your horror if there was suddenly a food stain or the newest piece of artwork all over that sequined tutu! A damaged costume is not an easy fix!
Here are some tips on maintenance and keeping your performer’s costume looking new for the stage:
- Costumes should be kept in a cool, dry place, like mom and dad’s closet, away from direct sunlight, as this can fade the color of the fabric. It should also be kept out of reach from any hands that consider themselves part of the dress-up crowd. 🙂
Costume fit:
- After your AMA performer tries their costume on in class, discuss any sizing issues with their teacher. Costumes with a little extra room for growth might fit quite well in a couple months for the recital!
- For any costumes that need adjustments, like tighter straps or a shortened hem, AMA will be providing a seamstress, free of charge, to tailor your costumes. Dates and times that our seamstress will be available will be announced in an upcoming newsletter; don’t miss it!
- If your costume is especially wrinkly, take it out a few days before picture day and/or recital and gently use a steamer or hang it in the bathroom while you take a hot shower. Definitely avoid using an iron! This could ruin the fabric and melt any kind of sequins and other embellishments.
- Costumes with tutus likely got a little crushed together and wrinkled during the shipping process. To help fluff it back up to it’s fun shape, take it out of storage a few days before picture day and recital, and hang it upside down in a place where other clothing won’t press on the tutu. Gently pull any layers apart, into their normal shape. After a day or two, gravity will have worked its magic and helped give your tutu it’s bounce back. Hanging it in the bathroom during a hot shower will also help the process along.
- Keep all costume pieces together!! If your costume has an extra headpiece, gloves, etc., keep everything in a Ziploc bag or something similar, and hang it right on the hanger with the rest of the costume by punching a hole through the bag with the hanger’s hook.
Tights:
- As we get closer to picture days, everyone will also receive their “recital tights” that go along with their costumes. These are just like costumes; not for dress up or the classroom either! We want all of our performers to look their very best on stage, with hole- and run-free tights. When you receive these, we recommend also keeping them in the bag with your costume, so they don’t get mixed up with your regular, weekly dancewear.
**Bonus tip: See a snag in your tights, small hole, or run: use clear nail polish on it to prevent any further damage and keep them lasting longer!**
Transport:
- For picture day and recital, we know that it’s usually easiest to ready at home and arrive with your dancer in their costume (especially for the little ones). Beware the car-ride snack and other potential spill opportunities!! An easy precaution is to slip one of mom or dad’s old t-shirts on over their costumes; this acts as a kind of smock to prevent any accidents between home and the stage.
- If you have multiple costumes, make sure they stay hung up in the car and inside a garment bag. Whether it is the plastic one you receive your costumes in, or a more sturdy option that you purchase from the store, this will keep your costumes looking performance quality!
We can’t wait to see all of our AMA stars on stage in their fabulous costumes this June!!
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