Tips for Structuring Your Recital Into Suites

How to structure your recital

...if your school is large (e.g., 70 different classes)

• Two performances for larger venues; more for smaller venues

• Seven possible suites, five dances per suite (35 dances total for each performance)

• 2- to 2-1/2-hour duration, including intermission

...if your school is small (e.g., nine different classes)

• One performance

• Three advanced classes performing Act II of Swan Lake, followed by two suites of four or five dances, intermingling preballet classes with intermediate and advanced

• 1 hour, 45 minutes duration, including intermission

Sample Dance Suites

"Once Upon a Time"

Music: Sleeping Beauty, Act III, by Peter Tchaikovsky

Total time: 11 minutes

Dances: "Puss-in-Boots and the White Cat": Beginning children

"The Blue Birds" (sections 1 and 3): Advanced lyrical

"Red Riding Hood and the Wolf": Intermediate tap

"Cinderella and Prince Charming": Ballet III soloist with Ballet I corps

"Hop-o'-My-Thumb and His Brothers": Hip hop/funk

"Jumping Rag"

Music: a medley of Scott Joplin songs

Total time: 10 minutes

Dances: "Carrie Gone to Kansas City": Beginning tap

"A Real Show Drag": Level II ballet

"Hilarity": Intermediate jazz

"Cannon Ball": Hip hop or break dancing