You need to supply:
1. underleotard (girls) -- any color; sleeveless or short sleeved
2. black tights (girls)
3. black ballet shoes (all)
4. black long-sleeved turtleneck (boys)
5. black leggings with black socks or tights (boys)
Rats from former years have donated both tights and ballet shoes.
You can check for things that fit your child at the next rehearsal.
Rest of costume is provided:
hat
black gloves
long-sleeved black turtleneck leotard (for girls who don't own one)
vest, necktie, and tail (for all but Rat King)
cape and belt (for Rat King)
There is a costume fee of $25 per
child (a flat fee, regardless of how many parts the child dances) that covers purchase,
repair, and cleaning of the costumes. Make check payable to Hanneke
Lohse, and give it to Carole (or let her know, if you pay
through a different part).
Dressing for the performance:
Hair should be pinned down flat on top of
the head. The exact style doesn't matter, since the hat completely covers
the hair, but buns can stick out from the head and make the head look rather
lumpy. (If your daughter is dancing rat and flower in the same show, she'll
need a bun. Just try to make it fairly flat on the head.)
If you want help with the hair from the backstage parents,
bring your daughter's comb/brush and hair ties or clips when you
drop her off.
NO JEWELRY. Remove watches, bracelets,
necklaces, and earrings. Even small metal earrings glitter distractingly
in the stage lights. Worse, if an earring should fall out onstage,
a pointe dancer could injure herself by slipping on one of the pieces.
Rats should show up at the theater in their underleos, so
they won't need privacy when putting on their rat leos. Rats who have to
change to Flower should remember to put on their black tights over
the underleo. They can change from black to pink after the rat dance,
or they can wear pink under their underleo and just strip the black ones
off.
Some parents bring food that all the children can
share backstage, mainly healthful snacks like bagels or fresh fruits
and vegetables. If you want to send something, either for your child
or to share, make sure to avoid anything that stains. Chocolate, nuts,
and anything sugar-coated are absolutely not allowed: chocolate stains,
some of the dancers are very allergic to tree nuts, and sugar crystals
can stick to costumes and glitter.
Rats go onstage midway through the first act. Please drop off your child
by 40 minutes before the show starts. We will call in replacements for
anyone not present 30 minutes before showtime.
If your child is sick on the day of the
performance, contact Carole, Laura, or Jan as soon as possible.