We have two performances per year – one in December and one in June to provide our students with the opportunity to shine! It is a very exciting time where our students get to show off what they learned in class and feel like star! All dance, tumbling and music students perform in the same show(s) to allow our students to share their talents and hard work with family, friends and community.
AMA’s Annual Winter Performance: Home for the Holidays
We have 2 shows on Sunday, December 14th where half of the students are performing in Show A at 12:30pm and the other half in our Show B at 2:15pm. Please take a look at the cast lists below to note which show your child is performing in. You do NOT need to purchase a ticket for any performers. There is no limit to the number of tickets you may purchase.
RECITAL DATE: December 14, 2025
RECITAL TIMES: Cast A: 12:30pm & Cast B: 2:15pm
PERFORMANCE VENUE: Oakton Community College’s Footlik Theater, 1600 E. Golf Road, Des Plaines
CAST LIST/SHOW ASSIGNMENTS
CLICK HERE for a reminder of the students assigned to each of our shows. Show ORDERS will be published the week of December 8th!
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased at https://25256.
- Rows B-C: $35 online/$39 at the door
- Rows D-G: $30 online/$34 at the door
- Rows J-P: $25 online/$29 at the door (Ages 13 and older)
- Rows J-P: $17 online/$29 at the door (Ages 6mos.-12 years)
- Babies under 6 months in carries are free.
- Please be sure to either save your e-ticket in an easily accessible place on your phone or print a paper copy. This will help for a speedy admission process.
- Performers do not require a ticket for the show they are performing in as they will remain backstage throughout the entire performance.
DRESS REHEARSAL
This is a reminder that our mandatory Dress Rehearsal is Saturday, December 13th at Oakton Community College’s Footlik Theatre between 2:00-6:00pm. Dress rehearsal is vital to the success of your performer so they can practice their routine onstage exactly as they will perform on show day! Show A Dress Rehearsal is 2:15-3:45pm and Show B Dress Rehearsal is 4-5:30pm. Please plan to be their for the entirety of your window as we run the rehearsal in the same order as the recital. We practice the “end of show bows” at the start of dress rehearsal with the entire cast. Once your class is finished practicing their class routine, you are free to leave. 1 parent is allowed & required to sit with your performer in the auditorium during the rehearsal.
DRESS CODE & COSTUMING for DRESS REHEARSAL & PERFORMANCE
Music Students: Wear holiday best (no jeans/gym shoes). Students in both music and dance/tumbling wear their dance costume.
Dancers & Tumblers: Full costume, hair in low bun, light makeup (eye shadow, blush, lipstick), correct tights & shoes.
- Label everything – shoes, headpieces, costumes, etc. with painters tape.
- Multiple Costumes: Bring second costume in a labeled laundry basket. Wear a nude leotard underneath.
- Order performance tights and/or nude/base leotards here.
- Your costume is a RENTAL and must be returned to AMA’s office during the week after the show. A $90 costume replacement fee will be charged to your account if not returned by December 20th or returned with missing/damaged items.
- Do not wash, iron, alter, sew, cut or modify the costume in any way. If your costume is a little big, use safety pins to adjust size.
- Keep the costume in a safe place and do not wear it around the house (top shelf of a parental closet is highly recommended).
CLICK HERE to view our 2025 Costuming by class!
RECITAL GIFTS
CLICK HERE to order your recital gifts & sign up to volunteer!
As you may know, it is customary to surprise your performer with a gift after their performance. We want to take away the stress of finding that perfect something AND we will even have a bow on it for you! With our pre-order system, you can easily GRAB and GO! Our AMAzing recital gifts become a wonderful tradition for our AMA families! AMA RECITAL GIFT MERCHANDISE is PRE-SALE ONLY.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
- Volunteers Needed: We need 5 parents per show to help backstage in the “Green Room”. All parents that volunteer in the Green Room will receive a Backstage Pass to watch their child perform. CLICK HERE to sign up to volunteer for the recital.
- Arrival Time: All dancers should arrive to the theater 30 minutes prior to the start of their show. Drop your performers backstage 15 minutes prior to the start of their show for check in. Signs will be posted and staff members will be on hand to direct performers to this area.
- Backstage Area: Please note that our backstage area is reserved for performers and recital volunteers only. Performers remain backstage with their classmates for the entire show. No parents or visitors are allowed backstage in order to maintain an organized and secure environment both before and during the show.
- Doors Open for audience admission 20 minutes prior to the start of each show.
- Videotaping/Photography:
- Dress Rehearsal: Photos and videos allowed (no flash).
- Performance: NO photography or videography allowed. All families receive a digital download of the show as a part of your participation package.
CAST LIST/SHOW ASSIGNMENTS
CLICK HERE for our Home for the Holidays Recital Handout!
AMA’s Annual Spring Performance
RECITAL DATE: June 2026
RECITAL TIMES: TBD
PERFORMANCE VENUE: Oakton Community College’s Footlik Theater, 1600 E. Golf Road, Des Plaines
Why Perform?
When a child performs on stage in the performing arts, they develop many important skills to set them up for success!
In addition to creating special memories that your family will cherish for many years, students learn and develop skills, such as adaptability, pride, communication, confidence, time management, creative thinking, perseverance, collaboration, reward and commitment through performing.
