2026 Recital Hub
Your one-stop-shop for all things recital
Choose a category…
Recital Weekend General Details
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.
-
On recital weekend, we stage five shows that are essentially the same. While our Company Level dancers perform in all shows, and Foundations dancers perform in two, all other classes will be assigned to one show and one dress rehearsal time slot. A few important things about recital weekend:
Opt-Out Event: We assume your dancer is performing unless you notify us otherwise.
Show Length: 2 hours each—no marathon shows!
Show + Dress Rehearsal Assignments: We take great care to place siblings and family members in the same show and same dress rehearsal time slot - know that it is always our intention and most years, we’re able to accommodate 95% of our families.
-
Here are the details for this year’s show:
Location: The Ogle Center (4201 Grant Line Rd, New Albany, IN 47150)
Shows: Unless your dancers are part of our Foundations level or Company levels, your dancer(s) will be assigned to one of the following shows:
Saturday, May 30th at 10:00 am
Saturday, May 30th at 1:30 pm
Saturday, May 30th at 5:00 pm
Sunday, May 31st at 1:30 pm
Sunday, May 31st at 5:00 pm
-
Here’s what you can expect as we move toward recital weekend:
October 2025 -
Begin costume measurements in class (no action required)
Recital + costume fees posted to accounts
Dress rehearsal + recital assignments released
December 2025
Recital and costume fee payments are due by 12/15/25. For families who join in December/January, your fees are due 3/15/26.
February 2026
We begin working on recital choreography in class based on the steps we’ve been learning all season
March/April 2026
Families who join in December/January, your fees are due 3/15/26
Costumes are sent home to keep!
May 2026
Dress rehearsals on 5/28/26 and 5/29/26
Shows on 5/30/26 and 5/31/26
June 2026
Photos (posed and action shots) and videos delivered to your inbox late June/early July
-
There are two mandatory, non-refundable costs associated with participating in recital:
Recital Fee (includes 2 tickets per dancer for each show your dancer is in)
Families with one dancer - $75 per family
Families with two or more dancers - $100 per family. You will receive 2 tickets for every dancer in your family with your recital fee. For example, if you have 2 dancers with us, you’ll receive 4 tickets total.
Costume Fees: $75 per costume (based on the number of classes your dancer is enrolled in)
Dancers in 3 to 4’s, 4 to 5’s. 5 to 6’s, 6 to 7’s and 7 to 9’s class will need one costume (expect $75 plus tax)
Dancers in Intermediate and Advanced Intermediate will need 2 costumes (expect $150 plus tax)
Dancers in Foundation s will need 3 costumes (expect $225 plus tax)
Dancers in our Company levels will need costumes for whatever classes they’re enrolled in that are participating in recital.
We want every dancer to experience the magic of recital — and we know that planning ahead helps make it possible.
-
This year, we’re introducing ticketing for our recital to help us cover the growing production costs that make the show such a special experience for our dancers and families. From lighting and sound to the theater space itself, ticket sales ensure that everyone gets a seat and that we can continue raising the bar while keeping Thrive’s mission of joyful, purposeful performance at the center.
Your Family Recital Fee already includes 2 tickets per dancer for each show they’re in so you’ll have seats reserved for your their biggest fans.Additional Tickets:
General Admission: $18
Senior (65+): $15
18 & Under: $15
Military: $15
Each class is assigned to a specific dress rehearsal and performance time slot so families can plan ahead. It is our priority and goal to ensure all siblings have the most convenient assignments and while it’s not always possible, we’re usually able to accommodate 95% of our families.
APRIL UPDATE: We've made the decision to expand from four shows to five. Most classes are on the same day they were originally assigned. While some show times have shifted, we were intentional about keeping Saturday families on Saturday and Sunday families on Sunday wherever possible. We went through every sibling pairing in the studio before finalizing the schedule, and we were able to place the vast majority of siblings in the same show. Please note that dress rehearsal times did not change, only some recital show assignments.
↓ Find your class in the list below.
Show Assignments
-
3 to 4’s Classes
3 to 4's (Mon 2:30) - 5/28/26 at 12:30 pm
3 to 4's (Tues 4:30) - 5/29/26 at 5:30 pm
3 to 4's (Fri 11:00) - 5/28/26 at 2:30 pm
3 to 4's (Sat 8:30) - 5/28/26 at 5:30 pm
3 to 4's (Sat 9:45) - 5/29/26 at 3:30 pm
3 to 4's (Sat 11:00) - 5/29/26 at 6:30 pm
3 to 4’s (Sat 12:00)- 5/29/26 at 3:30 pm
4 to 5’s Classes
4 to 5's (Mon 2:30) - 5/28/26 at 1:30 pm
4 to 5's (Wed 4:30) - 5/28/26 at 6:30 pm
4 to 5's (Sat 8:30) - 5/28/26 at 5:30 pm
4 to 5's (Sat 11:00) - 5/29/26 at 6:30 pm
5 to 6’s Classes
5 to 6's (Mon 3:30) - 5/28/26 at 12:30 pm
5 to 6's (Tues 4:00) - 5/28/26 at 6:30 pm
5 to 6's (Tues 5:00) - 5/29/26 at 5:30 pm
5 to 6's (Thurs 4:15) - 5/28/26 at 4:30 pm
5 to 6's (Fri 4:45) - 5/28/26 at 3:30 pm
5 to 6's (Sat 9:45) - Section 1 - 5/29/26 at 2:30 pm
5 to 6's (Sat 9:45) - Section 2 - 5/29/26 at 3:30 pm
6 to 7’s Classes
6 to 7's (Mon 4:30) - 5/28/26 at 1:30 pm
6 to 7's (Wed 4:30) - 5/28/26 at 4:30 pm
6 to 7's (Thurs 4:15) - 5/29/26 at 5:30 pm
6 to 7's (Sat 8:30) - 5/28/26 at 5:30 pm
7 to 9’s Classes
7 to 9's (Mon 4:00) - 5/28/26 at 2:30 pm
7 to 9's (Wed 5:30) - 5/28/26 at 6:30 pm
7 to 9's (Fri 5:45) - 5/28/26 at 3:30 pm
7 to 9's (Sat 10:45) - 5/29/26 at 6:30 pm
Intermediate Classes
Intermediate Monday - 5/28/26 at 1:30 pm
Intermediate Tuesday - 5/29/26 at 4:30 pm
Intermediate Thursday - 5/29/26 at 4:30 pm
Advanced Intermediate Classes
Advanced Intermediate Friday - 5/28/26 at 3:30 pm
Advanced Intermediate Monday - 5/28/26 at 12:30 pm
Foundations Class
The Foundations class will have rehearsal 5/28/26 at 4:30 pm
Company Level Classes
All Company Level classes (Junior Company, Senior Prep, Apprentice and Senior Company) will have rehearsal 5/29/26 at 11:00 am.
-
3 to 4's
3 to 4's (Sat 8:30) — Saturday 5/30 at 10:00 am
3 to 4's (Fri 11:00) — Saturday 5/30 at 5:00 pm
3 to 4's (Mon 2:30) — Saturday 5/30 at 5:00 pm
3 to 4's (Tues 4:30) — Saturday 5/30 at 1:30 pm
3 to 4's (Sat 11:00) — Sunday 5/31 at 1:30 pm
3 to 4's (Sat 9:45) — Sunday 5/31 at 1:30 pm
3 to 4's (Sat 12:00) — Sunday 5/31 at 5:00 pm
4 to 5's
4 to 5's (Sat 8:30) — Saturday 5/30 at 10:00 am
4 to 5's (Wed 4:30) — Saturday 5/30 at 10:00 am
4 to 5's (Mon 2:30) — Saturday 5/30 at 5:00 pm
4 to 5's (Sat 11:00) — Sunday 5/31 at 1:30 pm
5 to 6's
5 to 6's (Tues 4:00) — Saturday 5/30 at 10:00 am
5 to 6's (Fri 4:45) — Saturday 5/30 at 1:30 pm
5 to 6's (Tues 5:00) — Saturday 5/30 at 1:30 pm
5 to 6's (Mon 3:30) — Saturday 5/30 at 5:00 pm
5 to 6's (Sat 9:45) - Section 1 — Sunday 5/31 at 1:30 pm
5 to 6's (Sat 9:45) - Section 2 — Sunday 5/31 at 1:30 pm
5 to 6's (Thurs 4:15) — Sunday 5/31 at 5:00 pm
6 to 7's
6 to 7's (Sat 8:30) — Saturday 5/30 at 10:00 am
6 to 7's (Wed 4:30) — Saturday 5/30 at 1:30 pm
6 to 7's (Mon 4:30) — Saturday 5/30 at 5:00 pm
6 to 7's (Thurs 4:15) — Sunday 5/31 at 5:00 pm
7 to 9's
7 to 9's (Wed 5:30) — Saturday 5/30 at 10:00 am
7 to 9's (Fri 5:45) — Saturday 5/30 at 1:30 pm
7 to 9's (Mon 4:00) — Saturday 5/30 at 5:00 pm
7 to 9's (Sat 10:45) — Sunday 5/31 at 1:30 pm
Intermediate
Intermediate Tuesday — Saturday 5/30 at 10:00 am
Intermediate Monday — Saturday 5/30 at 5:00 pm
Intermediate Thursday — Sunday 5/31 at 5:00 pm
Advanced Intermediate
Advanced Intermediate Friday — Saturday 5/30 at 1:30 pm
Advanced Intermediate Monday — Saturday 5/30 at 5:00 pm
Company Level Classes
Foundations — Saturday 5/30 at 5:00 pm + Sunday 5/31 at 5:00 pm
Apprentice — All five
Junior Company — All five
Senior Prep — All five
Senior Company — All five
Costumes, Tights, Hair + Makeup
Keeping track of all the details that come together to make a professional show can be tricky. Each year we create a Recital Performance Lookbook that captures everything you need in one place for your dancer to feel confident and stage-ready.
What’s Inside the Lookbook
Class-by-Class Details: Photos of each costume with required shoes, hair, and makeup.
Hair & Makeup Guidelines: Simple, age-appropriate instructions for each level.
Helpful Tutorials: Step-by-step videos and tips for common hairstyles and light stage makeup.
This year, we’re moving to a ticketing system for recital as part of our effort to keep creating the high-quality production our dancers deserve. From professional lighting and sound to the printed programs and signage to the beautiful theater space, ticket sales help us cover rising production costs while ensuring every guest has a seat. Most importantly, it allows us to keep Thrive’s mission of joyful, purposeful performance at the heart of the experience.
Tickets
-
Your Family Recital Fee already comes with 2 tickets per dancer per show, so your dancer’s biggest supporters are guaranteed a spot in the audience. Additional ticket pricing is as follows:
General Admission - $18
Senior (65+) - $15
Aged 18 and under - $15
Military - $15
Children aged 2 and under do NOT need a ticket purchase if you plan to keep them in your lap during the show.
-
As a reminder, all Thrive families receive 2 comp tickets per dancer, per show as a part of their recital fee. Here’s a screenshot-by screenshot guide on how to purchase tickets.Otherwise, here are the directions:
Option 1: If you need to purchase additional tickets beyond your comps
Click the link you receive Wednesday to purchase your additional tickets.
Add the number of tickets to your cart you'd like above and beyond your comp tickets. Do not add your comp tickets to this purchase.
Complete your purchase
After you complete your purchase, the Ogle Center team will manually add your comp tickets to your account — you will not see them in your cart at checkout, and that is completely normal. On recital day, when you log into your account to access your tickets, all of your tickets (comp + additional) will be there together.
Option 2: If you ONLY plan on using comp tickets (no additional purchase needed)
Call or email the Ogle Center directly to let them know how you'd like to receive your tickets. They can send digital tickets straight to your phone or hold printed tickets for you at will call. As a reminder, all comp tickets are guaranteed and will not sell out. While you do need to let the Ogle Center know how you'd like to receive your tickets, there is no rush to do so if you're only planning to use your comp tickets.
How to Contact the Ogle Center
📞 (812) 941-2525 📧 oglemail@iu.edu
All tickets are general admission — there are no assigned seats. You'll choose your seats when you arrive at the venue. Doors open 45 minutes prior to each show. If you need more than 8 tickets per show, please call the Ogle Center box office directly.
-
All tickets are general admission — there are no assigned seats. You'll choose your seats when you arrive at the venue. Doors open 45 minutes prior to each show. If your group would like to sit together, we encourage everyone to arrive at the same time.
-
Families needing wheelchair or other ADA accommodations, please reach out to the Ogle Center box office directly so we can reserve the right seating for you:
📞 (812) 941-2525 📧 oglemail@iu.edu
Messages are returned in the order they are received.
Location and Parking
We carefully choose our venues to match the needs of our growing community, and The Ogle Center at IU Southeast checks every box for accessibility, comfort, and a polished recital experience.
-
The Ogle Center is located at 4201 Grant Line Rd, New Albany, IN 47150 on the campus of Indiana University Southeast. It’s about a 25-minute drive from Thrive School of Dance and is easily accessible from I-64.
From Louisville: Take I-64 West, exit at Grant Line Road, and follow signs toward Indiana University Southeast.
From Southern Indiana: Use I-265 or I-64 East and follow Grant Line Road north to the IU Southeast campus.
Once on campus, follow the signs for The Ogle Center.
-
Parking is free and plentiful at the Ogle Center. Once you arrive, you’ll see Thrive signage to help direct you to where you need to be.
Multiple surface lots are available directly next to the venue.
The lots provide quick and easy access to the main lobby and auditorium entrance.
Accessible parking is located close to the main doors.
Dancer drop-off and audience entrance are on the same level, just steps apart.
-
Yes, this year’s recital will take place in Indiana—at the beautiful Ogle Center. Here’s why this space is the perfect fit for our Thrive community:
Easy to reach — just a quick 25-minute drive from Thrive School of Dance
Ample seating so every family can celebrate comfortably
Free, plentiful parking right outside the venue
Convenient layout — dancer drop-off and the auditorium entrance are on the same floor, only steps apart
Spacious lobby that is clean, professional, and easy to navigate
Second-floor lounge area with tables, desks, couches, and WiFi — ideal for families with multiple dancers or long recital days
Professional staff and ushers who make the experience smooth and welcoming for everyone
Volunteers
Our recital weekend is a big production, and we couldn’t do it without the help of our amazing Thrive families. Volunteering is a wonderful way to be part of the magic and ensure every dancer has a safe, smooth, and joyful experience.
-
Student Check-In Champion: Love process, checking off items on a list and getting people where they need to go? Help man the entry to backstage and make sure all students get checked in and handed off to their Tiny Human Class Manager.
Tiny Human Class Manager: We'll have over 100 dancers backstage at each of our shows and we could not manage the traffic flow without our amazing Tiny Human Mangers! Each volunteer will be assigned to watch and help a group of no more than 12 dancers between the ages of 3 and 9.
Pre-Teen Class Manager: This is a special role that is best filled by a volunteer who has experience helping with hair and makeup, and who's not afraid to lay down the law to help keep our pre-teen dancers on task and ready to perform.
Manager of First Impressions: Love interacting with people and having an impact on their experience? We'd love for you to greet and direct people (students and audience members) as they enter the venue.
-
Clear instructions and training provided before recital day.
A Thrive staff point person to support volunteers during each shift.
A chance to be part of the team that makes recital possible for our dancers (and see some of the magic that happens backstage!)
-
Families can choose shifts that work best with their dancer’s show schedule. Click here to sign up!
We’re so grateful for the many hands and hearts that come together to bring recital to life.
Recital Sponsorship
Each spring, Thrive’s annual recital brings together over 1,000 dancers, families, and community members. Sponsorships help us provide a professional, memorable experience while giving families and businesses meaningful visibility.
-
Your sponsorship does more than cover the cost of lights, sound, or programs — it ensures that every Thrive dancer feels the joy of stepping on stage, fully supported by their community.
When you partner with us, you’re:
Investing in the arts and helping children grow in confidence, creativity, and discipline.
Supporting families by keeping recital experiences accessible and meaningful.
Connecting your name or business with a loyal, engaged community that values local partnerships.
-
Adopt-an-Item – Support specific recital needs like costumes, programs, or backstage hospitality.
Tiered Sponsorships – Choose from multiple levels with benefits ranging from social media features to on-site logo placement.
Event Sponsorships – Partner with Thrive to underwrite key pieces of recital weekend, like t-shirts, signage, or professional media.
-
Choose Your Level – From shout-outs to principal sponsorships, there’s an option for every budget.
Submit Materials – Ads, logos, or messages are collected in spring for programs and displays.
Celebrate at Recital Weekend – Enjoy recognition across all shows and be part of the magic.
Company Dancer Info
Recital weekend is a big deal for our company level dancers who perform across multiple shows. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s show and how to best prepare.
-
We made a meaningful change to how company dancers are scheduled this year, and we want to be straightforward about what it is and why we did it.
Previously, company dancers performed every piece in every show across the entire recital weekend. This year, all company dances will be spread across our five shows. Your dancer will still perform in multiple shows. Every piece will still be seen by hundreds of people. What's changing is the load.
Why we made this change
One of the things we talk about most at Thrive is building a healthy, sustainable relationship with dance — not just for right now, but for the long term. The truth is that asking our most dedicated dancers to perform every piece back-to-back across a full weekend isn't consistent with that. It's a lot on their bodies. It's a lot on their minds. And even though our company dancers always rise to it — and they do, every single year — we started asking ourselves whether rising to something is really the same as getting to enjoy it. It isn't.
In college programs and professional companies, dancers typically perform a piece once or twice. When dancers do perform multiple times, companies build in rest, rotation, and recovery because they understand that sustainable performance is part of the craft. Our company dancers are already doing more than most — and we want to make sure the weekend feels like a celebration for them, not something they need to recover from.
We want them to walk off that stage Sunday night feeling proud and full. Not running on empty.
We talked to your dancers first. Before this page went live, Katie and Taylor sat down with our company dancers in person to share this news and talk through it together. We wanted them to hear it from us directly, with space to ask questions and have real feelings about it. If your dancer came home with thoughts or concerns, we hope you'll encourage them to bring those to us.
Why now
We know the timing of this announcement will be the first question many of you have, and we want to answer it honestly.
We would have preferred to share this at the start of the season. That's always our goal — as much notice as possible, as early as possible. But this decision didn't come together overnight. It came out of months of honest conversations with our staff and our venue, watching our community grow, and watching our dancers grow with it. The choreography being created for our company this year is more complex and more physically demanding than it's ever been — and that's something to be proud of. It's also something that asked us to look more carefully at what we were asking of these dancers across a full recital weekend.
At some point in those conversations, it became clear that if we went ahead with the original structure this year, we'd be doing everyone a disservice. The dancers. The families. The art. We're human, and we don't always get the timing right. But once we knew this was the right call, we felt it was more important to make the change — even with six weeks to go — than to wait another year and do it again knowing better.
We're always going to try to give you as much time as possible. This year, this was the time we had, and we chose to use it to do right by your dancers.
-
Each company level will now have one performance where they will perform all of their dances. This means your family and friends can attend at least one show where they will see every routine your dancer has worked on this season. In the remaining performances, dancers will perform a selection of approximately 3–4 dances. Your dancer's full schedule — including which dances are in which shows — is below. If you’d like to view this in a grid or via spreadsheet click here.
Saturday at 10:00 am Show (Junior Company Full Performance Show)
Senior Dance
Senior Company Tap
Pointe 2
Senior Company + Apprentice Hip Hop
Apprentice Jazz
Apprentice Ballet
Senior Prep Ballet
Senior Prep Modern
Senior Prep + Junior Company Hip Hop
Junior Company Modern
Junior Company Ballet
Junior Company Jazz
Junior Company Tap
Sister Dance
Finale (all levels)
Saturday at 1:30 pm Show (Senior Prep Full Performance Show)
Senior Dance
Senior Company Jazz
Senior Company Modern
Pointe 2
Apprentice Modern
Apprentice Tap
Pointe 1
Senior Prep Ballet
Senior Prep Jazz
Senior Prep Modern
Senior Prep Tap
Senior Prep + Junior Company Hip Hop
Junior Company Jazz
Junior Company Modern
Finale (all levels)
Saturday at 5:00 pm Show
Senior Dance
Senior Company Modern
Senior Company Tap
Pointe 2
Senior Company + Apprentice Hip Hop
Apprentice Ballet
Apprentice Modern
Pointe 1
Senior Prep Jazz
Senior Prep Tap
Junior Company Ballet
Junior Company Jazz
Foundations Ballet
Foundations Tap
Foundations Jazz
Finale (all levels)
Sunday at 1:30 pm Show (Apprentice Full Performance Show)
Senior Dance
Senior Company Jazz
Senior Company Ballet
Senior Company Tap
Senior Company + Apprentice Hip Hop
Apprentice Ballet
Apprentice Modern
Apprentice Tap
Apprentice Jazz
Pointe 1
Senior Prep Ballet
Senior Prep Jazz
Senior Prep + Junior Company Hip Hop
Junior Company Tap
Junior Company Jazz
Finale (all levels)
Sunday at 5:00 pm Show (Senior Company Full Performance Show)
Senior Dance
Senior Company Modern
Senior Company Ballet
Senior Company Jazz
Senior Company Tap
Pointe 2
Senior Company + Apprentice Hip Hop
Apprentice Jazz
Apprentice Tap
Pointe 1
Senior Prep Modern
Senior Prep Jazz
Junior Company Ballet
Junior Company Modern
Junior Company Tap
Foundations Ballet
Foundations Tap
Foundations Jazz
Sister dance
Finale (all levels)
-
Here’s what the schedule will look like for our company dancers this recital weekend:
Saturday, May 30th, 2026
Call Time: 8:30 am
Warmup: 8:30 - 9:15 am
Prep for show #1: 9:15 - 10:00 am
Show #1: 10:00 - 11:30 am (run time with intermission is 1 hr, 32 mins)
Lunch + break: 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Warmup #2: 12:30 - 1:00 pm
Prep for show #2: 1:00 - 1:30 pm
Show #2: 1:30 - 3:00 pm (run time with intermission is 1 hr 29 mins)
Snack + break: 3:00 - 4:00 pm
Warm up #3: 4:00 - 4:15 pm (light movement, stretching, mind reset)
Prep for show #3: 4:15 - 5:00 pm
Show #3: 5:00 - 6:30 pm (run time with intermission is 1 hr, 39 mins)
Cleanup + check out: 6:30 - 7:30 pm
Sunday. May 31st, 2026
Call Time: 12:00 pm
Warmup: 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Prep for show #4: 1:00 - 1:30 pm
Show #4: 1:30 - 3:00 pm (runtime with intermission is 1 hr, 23 mins)
Lunch + break: 3:00 - 4:00 pm
Warmup for show #5: 4:00 - 4:15 pm
Prep for show #5: 4:15 - 5:00 pm
Show #5: 5:00- 6:30 pm (run time with intermission is 1 hr, 34 mins)
Cleanup + check out (6:30 - 8:30 pm)
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 deadline for this is March 15th, 2026.
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. We will take a professional posed portrait during dress rehearsal 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?
We are providing you one pair of tights per color that your dancer needs this season! If you’d like to purchase additional pairs, you can get tights locally at Dancers Market 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.