Getting into the whole ‘dance mum’ era was daunting for me. I felt immense pressure to make sure that my daughter had everything she needed so she could confidently get on stage and just do her thing. Other dance mums might think some of my tips are ‘common knowledge’, but for a newbie these are some of the things I wish I knew before my first concert. Hopefully these tips will make you feel confident so you can enjoy your child’s time on stage without too much behind-the-scenes stress!
- No VPL
Stands for ‘visible panty lines’, but what does that even mean? Basically, no undies. It kinda took me a little by surprise at first. But looking back now, it makes a huge amount of sense. There is nothing more distracting in a routine than a flash of bright pink love hearts outside of a black leotard. I still remember watching one routine at a dance competition and most of the girls’ undies were hanging out of their costumes. Unfortunately, that’s all I remember about their routine ☹
As a bit of a side note, our studio is a huge advocate of wearing stocking under costumes. It not only helps with footwear and covers any scrapes or bruises, but also provides a bit of coverage down there. Especially when dancers are doing floor work, splits and leg kicks, just knowing your child has some coverage in case of costume malfunctions gives a parent so much piece of mind. And there is plenty of different stocking types to suit every genre and style.
- No Privacy
Speaking of… agh… seeing more than you need to see, one of the things I learned that most of the time there is no privacy in dressing rooms. There is no time to duck to the bathrooms or a nice changing room… it’s pretty much get dressed in front of everyone in the dressing room. If you plan to be a professional performer, you can’t exactly be shy about your body. But kids, especially when things are developing, tend to get a bit coy about having to change in front of people. And honestly, I don’t blame them. It’s either or something you need to make peace with or go a grab a Danzcape or Change Robe.
- Stock up on stockings
Speaking of… agh… seeing more than you need to see, one of the things I learned that most of the time there is no privacy in dressing rooms. There is no time to duck to the bathrooms or a nice changing room… it’s pretty much get dressed in front of everyone in the dressing room. If you plan to be a professional performer, you can’t exactly be shy about your body. But kids, especially when things are developing, tend to get a bit coy about having to change in front of people. And honestly, I don’t blame them. It’s either or something you need to make peace with or go a grab a Danzcape or Change Robe.
- Don’t wing it! Bring it!
Having the reputation for being the mum who has everything is an awesome accolade. It also relieves the stress of thinking you’ve forgotten something. If you have used it on your child – bring it. Also, our handy checklist will help make sure nothing is missed.
- Big bags are a pain in the tailfeathers
Who doesn’t love to show off their giant costume duffel? However, space is often limited. If your child has only 1 or 2 costumes… it’s overkill. Consider reaching out to another parent to share hanging spaces. It also helps create a community and connections.
Whilst I’m on this point I’m a massive advocate for being organised and utilising space effectively. I designed the Chookas GloAnywhere so not only is it storage for your makeup AND hair accessories, but is a portable Hollywood mirror so your makeup is always on point and everything you need it right at your fingertips.
- Get used to it
We might be makeup pros when it comes to our own faces, but putting makeup on someone else, especially a wiggly little one, can be a whole new ball game. To avoid smudged mascara or uneven lipstick, a little practise goes a long way. Grab a friend, your child, or even a doll and rehearse the steps. View our handy tips for doing your child’s makeup in our other blog post.
- Label, label, label!
It was so important I needed to stress it 3 times! When you label, include your phone number. It’s so much easier to get your stuff back when it’s easier to contact you. At one comp, we lost a new pair of studio leggings. They were clearly named but they didn’t have my phone details. However, it had the studio’s logo. We never found them. Not everyone has the time to drop something into your dance studio, or even bother to Google the studio to let them know. Just make it super easy by including your phone number.
- Boredom busters
No one can blame a kid for getting bored when they’re waiting for their turn on stage. Be sure to pack some snacks, pencils, colouring books, fidget spinners, puzzles or games. Ensure nothing you pack can leak, stain or damage their costumes. It’s also a great ide to pack a scarf or shawl to cover costumes when young kids are eating.
- Quick and Clean
Start with a clean face and body. I always make sure that my children have taken a shower so that they are refreshed and clean. Makeup shouldn’t be applied on a sweaty or dirty face. Additionally, I choose loose-fitting clothing for them. My daughters wear tie-up or elastic dresses which are easy to wriggle out of and don’t have to be pulled over their heads. For boys, baggy shirts and shorts are a good option. The clothing should be such that it won’t interfere with the makeup or hairstyle when they change into their costumes.
There might be a few more tips that I could add, but I don’t want to take too much of your time – you have a concert to get to! I hope you feel more knowledgeable now that you’ve learned about VPLs, labelling, and packing for concerts. There are bound to be more useful tips that Dance Mums should know – do you have any? We would love to hear them!
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