HANDBOOK. Joshua Brooksher and Natasha Brooksher Artistic Directors. Copyright 2013 Brooksher Ballet, LLC All Rights Reserved

HANDBOOK Joshua Brooksher and Natasha Brooksher Artistic Directors Copyright 2013 Brooksher Ballet, LLC All Rights Reserved

General Information Performing is an exciting and exhilarating experience. However, there are rules and regulations that we all must follow in order for everything to get accomplished in an orderly manner, and for the performance to flow smoothly. WHAT TO BRING: Bring everything from the Ballet Bag/Locker contents PLUS Extra tights, dance briefs & undergarments (like the bottom half of a leotard), dance belt (men) Appropriate shoes for your pieces Your costume accessories Robe & Warm ups Towel (for stretching/sitting on back stage) Facecloth Blanket (sitting/stretching in dressing room) Snack food/drink Something to do Full Stage Makeup kit Full Hair Kit GENERAL THEATER RULES AND REGULATIONS: BE AT THE THEATER ON TIME Do not be late. The times specified allow you time for everything to be accomplished. Give yourself enough time to get to the theater and park and get to where you need to be. DON T FORGET TO SIGN-IN Everyone will be required to sign in when they arrive at the theater. This lets us know you are here and are ready to perform. Do not sign your friends in. PARTICIPANTS, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS ONLY BACKSTAGE In order to maintain a secure environment for the participants, only registered volunteers, staff and participants will be granted access to the backstage area. GET YOURSELF READY TO PERFORM Your main focus should be YOUR PERFORMANCE Any issues that could affect your performance should be addressed by speaking with an artistic faculty member who will be available backstage. Be prepared for delays in the theatre. There are a lot of things happening to prepare for the performance that you may not be aware of and they all take time. Being professional means doing nothing that could affect your performance in a negative way. Your behavior in the theater is representative of more than just yourself. It is a reflection of all of your training. Remember that you are representing Brooksher Ballet every time you perform. DO NOT EAT OR DRINK IN COSTUME NO GUM ANYWHERE IN THE THEATER DO NOT SIT IN COSTUME Unless you are sitting on a towel, blanket, or stool. Sitting on chairs will scrunch up your costumes and create wrinkles. If you are in a dress, flip up the skirt, DO NOT SIT ON IT.

DO NOT GO OUTSIDE IN YOUR COSTUME DO NOT APPLY MAKEUP IN COSTUME Unless you have appropriate clothing covering your costume. DO NOT LEAVE THE THEATER WITH YOUR MAKEUP ON This is very important. It is unprofessional to be seen outside the theater with your makeup on. NO TALKING BACKSTAGE, IN THE WINGS, OR ONSTAGE FOR ANY REASON ENTER THE SATGE FROM THE DOWNSTAGE SIDE OF THE WINGS AND LEAVE ON THE UPSTAGE SIDE OF THE WINGS ALWAYS STAND EITHER BEHIND (OFFSTAGE) OR DOWNSTAGE OF THE LIGHT BOOM Otherwise we can see you from the audience, and standing in front of the light boom blocks the stage lighting. NO RUNNING OR ROUGH PLAY BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHERS THINGS AT THE THEATER BE RESPECTFUL OF THE STAGE MANAGER AND CREW AT ALL TIMES IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, BRING IT TO THE ATTENTION OF ONE OF THE ARTISTIC STAFF IMMEDIATELY Trying to solve the problem yourself may take valuable time the artistic staff needs to solve the situation. The sooner you let us know, the better chances are we can help you.

Code of Conduct Brooksher Ballet is dedicated to creating an environment of artistic and academic excellence so that participants may flourish as young artists and individuals. We insist upon the observance of the highest moral and ethical standards by our staff and Nutcracker participants. To further this objective, Brooksher Ballet strives to provide a community that fosters its Nutcracker Participant s wellbeing, safety and a healthy social environment. Our student body represents various nationalities, cultures, religions, races, and age groups. This diversity makes it incumbent upon Brooksher Ballet to hold our community accountable to a coherent set of standards of conduct and behavior. Beyond respectful, courteous, mature, and ethical behavior, Brooksher Ballet also insists upon the observance of the highest moral standards by its staff and Nutcracker participants. As the ages of participants range from 5 years upward, our conduct must particularly suit the needs of our youngest participants. Brooksher Ballet expects of its older participants conduct that projects positive and wholesome models on the young, both in and out of rehearsal and performance. Use of cigarettes, alcohol, or illicit drugs or sexually permissive and promiscuous behavior will not be tolerated. The following rules are the most essential and must be specifically addressed in our common interest: 1. To maintain casting, a participant must demonstrate satisfactory artistic progress and exhibit the physical and mental requisites for further successful performance. 2. Prompt attendance at rehearsals, performances, and meetings is required. 3. Respectful, courteous, and friendly treatment towards Brooksher Ballet staff, classmates, and visitors is necessary at all times. 4. Any behavior that compromises the good name of Brooksher Ballet is unacceptable. 5. Participants are expected to choose their dress within generally accepted norms of good taste and respectability. 6. Please keep your personal items in a safe place. Dance bags may be brought into the studio and left by the door. Participants are responsible for their things. BB is not responsible for items lost or stolen. 7. Participants may not smoke at any time. 8. Participants may not possess, use or distribute illicit drugs, in or out of rehearsal and performance. Participants ages 21 and over may not consume alcohol or distribute alcohol to minors at any time. 9. Brooksher Ballet reserves the right to search lockers/cubbies and dance bags and any other places or articles under the immediate supervision of Brooksher Ballet staff, volunteers or faculty. Items prohibited by law or by school regulations will be confiscated. 10. Areas restricted to staff, such as the employee lounge, utility, storage, and maintenance facilities, are off limits to participants. Tampering with fire alarms or other safety equipment is prohibited.

11. No incendiary materials, knives, or weapons may be kept by participants in their lockers/cubbies or used as decoration. 12. Participants are obligated to uphold the Code of Conduct and any additional rules and regulations established by Brooksher Ballet. Brooksher Ballet may dismiss any participant for any reason it deems appropriate. Parents and participants are expected to have read the Code of Conduct, and to recognize and acknowledge that its provisions shall be binding on the parent or guardian and the participant while involved in any Brooksher Ballet project or program. Upon evaluation of the seriousness of a violation, the Directors may decide to issue an official warning, assign restrictions, place a participant on probation or consider additional disciplinary action. The Directors decide the appropriate form of discipline, suspension or dismissal on a case by case basis. Participants under review for a violation will be required to appear before the Directors. The Directors will render their decisions in private and report their decisions in writing to the parties involved. There are NO REFUNDS for any participant incurring such violations that result in restrictions, suspension or dismissal.

BOYS GIRLS Extra tight fitting plain white t-shirt Extra tights/shorts (black) [see dress code] Extra dance belt Ballet shoes Legwarmers/sweatpants Sweatshirt/jacket Slippers Water bottle Hand towel Deodorant Sewing kit o Needles o Small pair of scissors o Black and white thread Dance Bag Contents Extra leotard Extra pink tights (no holes) Sewn ballet shoes Sewn pointe shoes Warmups, sweatpants Sweatshirt/jacket Slippers Sewing/Pointe shoe kit o Needles o Scissors o Matches o Black, white, pink thread o Extra ribbons o Extra elastics (thin for slippers, thick for pointe shoes) o Molefoam o Pliers o Heavy duty scissors o Tape Hair kit o Spray water bottle o Hair spray/gel o Brush o Hair elastics o Hair nets o Bobby pins o Hair pins o Scrunchy, flowers, ribbons and other small decoration Foot/Medical kit o Nail Clippers o Nail File o Bandaids

o Alcohol, peroxide, iodine o 2 nd skin, NewSkin o Athletic tape o Athletic pre-wrap o Ace bandage o Instant ice pack o Mineral Ice, Tiger Balm o Foot Roller o Theraband o Ibuprofen o Preparation H, Oragel o Corn, bunion pads o Extra toe pads o Scissors o Sterile gauze, cotton Personal hygiene o Deodorant o Baby powder o Tampons o Hand towel

Stage Make-up Kit Boys Make-up kit (minimum needed for stage) Cake or stick base Makeup sponge Loose powder Powder brush Deep red/rust blush White and brown eye shadow Blush brush Eye shadow brush Deep red/rust lipstick Lip brush Black and brown eyeliner Mascara Girls Makeup kit (minimum needed for stage) Mirror Cake or stick base (slightly lighter than skin tone) Makeup sponge Cover up (much lighter than skin tone) Loose or pressed powder (lighter than skin tone) White and brown eye shadow Rose blush Black eyeliner, pencil and liquid Mascara Liquid eyeliner Red and coral lipstick Blush brush Eye shadow brush Lip brush Eyebrow pencil Pencil sharpener Fake eyelashes Eyelash glue Kleenex, Q-tips, cotton makeup pads Vaseline, Baby Oil, eye makeup remover Baby wipes Washcloth, soap Moisturizer

Stage Makeup Tips Most of the makeup you will need can be found at any grocery store or pharmacy. They need not be expensive name brands. We have found that Max Factor stick base works very well, and that the Coty brand loose powder is very good and inexpensive. Almay and Neutrogena are also good for sensitive skin and eyes. Most any brand of eye shadow and pencil are OK. The main objective of stage makeup is to highlight the features so they can stand up to the bright lights of the stage. The lights completely wash out all of a dancer s natural features, and so it is necessary to use makeup so the audience can see facial expression. Makeup can also be used to emphasize a character role. In order to highlight the features of the face, it is necessary to begin with a blank palate. The base, cover-up and powder create this at the beginning of the process. It is absolutely necessary to use a base that covers completely and a lot of powder when applying stage makeup. Natural skin reflects light and will take away from the effect of the makeup. Any shine must be eliminated. The basic steps of applying stage makeup are as follows: Start with a clean face. Face should be washed so no previous makeup remains, patted dry and a light moisturizer applied. Apply the base. Cover the entire face, neck and ears (lightly on the ears), with the base. Blend well into the hairline and around the neck. Make sure to also blend into all creases around the nose, mouth and eyes. Apply the cover up to the eyes----the whole eyelid, and under eye area. You can also use the cover up to highlight certain areas you wish to stand out a little on the top of the cheek bones, forehead, and chin and along the spine of the nose (if your nose is already quite pointy, do not do this). Apply the loose powder over the entire face. I recommend using a makeup powder puff instead of a powder brush. Apply eyelashes. Put a small bead of eyelash adhesive on the edge of the eyelash, and let sit for a few seconds (let it get sticky). Apply eyelash to top lid as close to natural lashes as possible. You may have to cut the lashes to fit your eye. Make sure the adhesive is in full contact with the eye lid and let sit for a few minutes for the glue to set. For extra drama, or for really big theatres, double up with two sets of lashes. Shape the eyebrows. Using both pencil and eye shadow helps to create a full and neat eyebrow. Eye brow should start in line with the inner edge of the eye, and extend past the outer edge of the eye. The apex of the curve should occur at the outer edge of the iris and slightly taper down and out. Apply contouring. Contouring is probably the most crucial step in stage makeup. Without it features will not stand out properly, no matter how much color you put on top. With good shading, less actual color is needed, and the look is more real and natural. This can be done with a blush brush for cheek/forehead/chin and an eye shadow brush for eyes/nose with brown matte eye shadow. You only need a very little bit! Do not overdo this or you may look like a skeleton! Shading should be lightly applied underneath the cheekbones, along the chin line, at the temples and along the side of the nose (straight down from the inside edge of the eyebrow). This will help create sharper, stronger looking features. If you already have a prominent chin or nose etc., do not do this as much instead soften the lines of your prominent features with a little blush. Again apply powder after this step to blend the whole process. Apply eye shadow. Apply white eye shadow to entire eyelid/under the eyebrow area. We recommend using browns and grays for most stage makeup. Try to stay away from the blues, purples and greens (they will make your eye look smaller). Apply the desired shade of brown or gray to the crease in your eyelid that lies between the eyeball and the brow ridge. Do not go too far into towards the nose with this shading, and extend the shading a little farther than the end of the eye on the outside. Make sure to blend well so no abrupt lines are shown.

Apply eyeliner. I have always preferred either cake or liquid eyeliner, as I found it much more durable under the lights and sweat of the performance. Upper lid: Eyeliner should begin at the very inside corner of the eye on the upper lid, and follow the eye. The line should get a little thicker as it progresses out towards the edge of the eye, and slightly curve upwards (not straight out to the side) at the outer edge of the eye. This is to mirror and accentuate the effect of the eyelashes. Lower lid: The eyeliner under the eye should start a little bit away from the inner edge of the eye, slightly below the eyelash line, and end very slightly past the edge of (almost equal to) the eye on the bottom. The line should extend straight out (only a little) ---do not curve up or down, and it should not be too long. Apply blush. Blush should be applied to the top of the cheekbone, and sweeping up to the temple. Do not use too much, or it looks like a red blotch instead of a healthy face! Start with a small amount---you can always add more later, but it s very difficult to take away something once you ve applied it. Also apply a little to the chin line, temples, forehead by the hairline, and tip of the nose (just a little, unless you have a prominent nose---then this technique will help it not to stand out so much). Apply a little powder just to blend. Apply mascara. Apply lipstick. Lipstick should be applied with a brush, and then outlined with a slightly darker pencil. You can even use brown eyeliner for that. Take the lip brush once you ve finished and apply a small dot to the inside of each eye. This helps creates the illusion of bigger eyes on stage as it mimics the real anatomy of the eye Apply powder. Lightly one more time to make sure there is no shine. The same process applies to men, except that not as much color is needed, especially on the cheeks and lips. Base, powder, contouring, eyebrows, eyeliner, some eye shadow, a little blush, and a little lipstick will be enough.