We chatted with one of our dance mums, Chantelle Lawes, about how their family manages the show. Chantelle has two daughters, Carys and Alyssa, who both dance in multiple classes with us per week. Read on to see her tips and tricks - just in time for rehearsals this weekend. 

D247: Can you tell us a little bit about what the show experience is like for your family?

CL: We LOVE Show time!  It's like Show fever takes over in the lead up - Carys and Alyssa are practicing little parts of their dances wherever they are, singing the show songs in the car, the show shirts arrive and MUST be worn every day (or there will be trouble), asking who is coming to watch, if tickets have been purchased for the 10th time and for the last couple of years, me upping my 'Dance Mum' skills and blinging some of the costumes to help out.  

D247: What tips would you give for a first-time show parent? How do you survive the chaos while still having fun?

CL: My best advice is to be organised and just take the time to enjoy it all!  Behind the scenes for the show is very busy so it can be overwhelming for some dancers, especially little ones.  There are a few things I really recommend:

• Make sure your dancer knows who is in their group and are comfortable with their parent helper (for both nights if they are different) - easy to do this in the week leading up to the show and especially during the Dress Rehearsal weekend.

• Spend some extra time watching some of the dances during Dress Rehearsal so your dancer(s) can see some of the other show items and how much fun all of the other kids are having too!

• Pack loads of snacks (colour free to not damage any costumes etc) and fun things to do when they're not dancing, ie puzzles, colouring in (pencils recommended, not pens!), books etc, this will help keep them entertained.

• Be on time!  Or even early - the last thing any parent needs is to be stressed out because that can and probably will stress out your dancer!  

• If you need help or have questions, speak up.  Even though all of the teachers and the team at the studio are busy in the weeks leading up to the show, it's important that everyone knows what they need to be doing and are totally comfortable with what's going on - it's much easier to resolve any issues or queries before Dress Rehearsal or Show Weekend!! 

D247: How do you juggle watching the show while also feeling like you are supporting your daughters behind the scenes/backstage?

CL: I've only ever watched the show 4 times!  Alice, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, Dora the Explorer and The Nutcracker (the Mini Mover years for both Carys & Alyssa).  Every other year I've been backstage at both Shows - partly because I've been told I have to be (guess which kid!?) and also because I prefer it. It's so much fun getting the kids ready and seeing their excitement before they head on stage, but the best part is when they've danced and actually hearing how much fun they'd had and that they thought they danced great before quickly getting onto the next costume change.  I get to sit down with the kids - and sometimes with a group of studio friends - to watch the show when the show video is released.

D247: Is there anything you have found helpful in preparing your daughters for the show in terms of the week leading up to it? Do they get nervous at all? How do you help them through that?

CL: My girls get so excited but there are moments that they get a little nervous or anxious. We talk about how feeling nervous shows that you care and how the feeling of being nervous or excited is exactly the same, so to change the feeling from nervous to excited is about being positive and remembering that the best part of doing the show is dancing, with all of your friends on stage, to an audience filled with the most supportive people.