2026 Recital Hub
Your one-stop-shop for all things recital
Recital Weekend General Details
Our Super Bowl of the Season – Save the Dates!
Our annual recital weekend is the highlight of the Thrive season—the moment our dancers showcase 10 months of hard work, growth, and joy on a professional stage. We pull out all the stops to create a fun, seamless, and unforgettable experience for our dancers and their families.
📅 2026 Recital Weekend:
Dress Rehearsals: Thursday, May 28 & Friday, May 29
Shows:
Saturday, May 30 – 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM
Sunday, May 31 – 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM
Most dancers perform in one show (Company dancers may appear in multiple). Final assignments will be released in late January/early February.
Key Details
Opt-Out Event: We assume your dancer is performing unless you notify us otherwise.
Show Length: 2 hours each—no marathon shows!
Costumes: We keep costs as low as possible while ensuring a professional, exciting show experience.
Recital Costs
We’ve recently been notified of some upcoming cost increases related to our recital weekend—things like costumes and venue fees are on the rise. While we’re still working to understand the full picture, please know this: we are committed to keeping recital a joyful, meaningful, and accessible experience for every family. Our team is exploring options to maintain the value you’ve come to expect while minimizing the impact on your wallet. We plan to share updated pricing details and flexible payment options by the time classes begin in August so you’ll have plenty of time to plan. Thanks for trusting us—we’re excited to celebrate another incredible year of dance with you
Season Timeline
August–January: Classes build skills, confidence, and recital readiness.
Sept–Oct: Costume measuring and ordering.
Feb 2026: Recital dances begin in class.
April 2026: Costumes go home.
May 28–31, 2026: Recital Weekend
Late June: Photo & video links delivered to families.
Location + Parking
We do a lot of research and planning to make sure our recital venues will meet the needs of our growing community. Here are the details for this season’s recital weekend venue…
Venue Address: The Ogle Center at IU Southeast - 4201 Grant Line Rd, New Albany, IN 47150 (map it here)
Yes, this venue is in Indiana. We spent a lot of time touring many different venues this summer and here’s why we landed on The Ogle Center:
It’s SUPER easy to navigate to and 25 minutes from Thrive School of Dance.
Ample seating
Ample free parking
Ample restrooms
Dancer drop-off and auditorium entrance are on the same floor and just a few steps from each other
Spacious, clean, professional lobby with easy and accessible pathways to the auditorium
Large area on the second floor for families with multiple dancers/who will spend a lot of time at the venue that has tables, desks, couches and WiFi
FAQs
When will we know the exact date and time for dress rehearsal and recital?
We release the exact dates and time assignments for both recital and dress rehearsal in early February. By this time, we have stopped enrolling new students and have all the availability from our staff to finalize the assignments.
How do I do my dancer's hair?
A good rule of thumb is to make sure your child's hair is out of his or her face so they'll be able to see on stage. We would LOVE if their hair could be in a ballet bun. We will release a detailed guide to recital hair in the spring.
What if we can’t or don’t wish to participate in the recital?
If you do not wish to participate or are unable to this year, please opt-out by emailing us at hello@thriveschoolofdance.com and we’ll make that note on your account. The earlier you let us know this the better!
What is the recital process timeline?
We begin the recital process in October by measuring our dancers. Recital and costume fees are due in December. We order costumes before the holidays to ensure they arrive in time for the show (yes, they do take that long). Dancers begin learning their recital dances in January/February. You’ll receive your costume in April, then our show is the first weekend in June.
Will there be photo and video opportunities?
We will have professional photography and videography available for purchase during recital season. Each dancer will get a professional posed portrait and you’ll have the option of purchasing prints or downloads. Our staff photographer (and alum) will be capturing action shots during the show and backstage. You are welcome to take your own photos and videos during dress rehearsal, but we ask that you do not during the performance.
Where do I buy tights?
You can get tights locally at Kinney Dancewear (we've talked with them, so they know exactly what color and type of tights we'd like) or you can get them online. One of our favorite online dance retailers is Discount Dance.
If I have a question on dress rehearsal or recital day, who should I ask?
Find a staff member with "The Fam" on the back of their shirt. The quickest way to reach us is by texting or calling 502-325-3818, or emailing hello@thriveschoolofdance.com.