Location: Elyria Performing Arts Center- (EPAC)

600 West Avenue

Elyria, Ohio 44035

* Be sure to use this address for directions, as it will take you to the correct parking lot.

 

Tuesday & Wednesday, June 16-17, 2026

Showtime - 6:00pm - Arrival Time: 5pm

 

Student Drop-off and Pick-up

Upon arrival at your designated time (see above), with hair and make up complete, Parents/Guardians will bring the students to their assigned dressing rooms (Act 1/Act 2) and change into their first costume. If your child has any Medical Conditions that may require attention whilst in our care or are carrying any medication with them, please notify an emjaez staff upon arrival. 

 

We ask that males dropping off a female dancer do not enter the girls’ dressing rooms due to females changing and that females dropping off a male dancer do not enter the boys’ dressing room due to males changing. Please know the song title, which Act (1or 2) and # of your child’s dances as this will help you determine your child’s dressing room assignment. If your dancer has dances in both acts, take both costumes into their first dressing room and transport after the first act if needed. Dancers with quick changes will be assigned a helper and will set up their costumes in the quick-change room. 

* Parents/Guardians will have 30 minutes backstage with their dancer after arrival time and then the badge rule goes into effect. While backstage, dancers will be placed under the supervision of the class helpers. Students will remain backstage for the entire performance and are not permitted in the lobby or auditorium, including during intermission. 

 

Badges

To limit the traffic backstage and for the safety of our dancers, Parents/Guardians will not be permitted backstage on show days without a badge after drop off. Thank you for your cooperation. 

 

Parents/Guardians of the middle school age & up children are encouraged to sit back and enjoy the show. For the Parents/Guardians of the younger children (2.5-5), you might feel comfortable getting a badge just in case you feel you need to go backstage. This badge allows you backstage access during the show, however we ask that you stay in the audience during intermission. To request a badge, please turn your name into the office by Monday, May 18th. Badges will be available for pick up in the main office the last week of classes. There should be no exchanging of badges between parents. If there is an emergency and a Parent/Guardian is needed during the show, there will be an announcement for you and you will be escorted backstage. 

 

Badges should be returned to an emjaez staff member after the show or to the studio during summer hours.

 

Backstage

To keep the dancers occupied, please pack a few items that your child can have backstage with them. ex: coloring book, crayons, reading books, iPod/iPad, electronic games, etc. Be sure to label everything. Outlets are available. What NOT to bring: markers, paint, slime, toy guns, water guns, nerf guns, swords, and the like There are no mirrors backstage, so it would be a good idea for dancers to bring one with them for final touch-ups. The emjaez staff will have first aid kits, makeup, and anything else you may need. There will also be helpers backstage monitoring the rooms and assisting children with restroom breaks, etc.  Please note: emjaez Dance Studio is not responsible for items that are lost, stolen or left behind. For the safety of our dancers, Parents/Guardians will not be permitted backstage at any time, including intermission without a badge. 

 

Food/Drinks (Show Day Only)

Due to the limited amount of time spent at the theater on show day, NO food or drink is permitted backstage or in the dressing rooms at any time, except for water. Please eat before coming to the theater and celebrate after. 

Please be respectful and courteous of the space by discarding of any garbage.

 

Audience Etiquette 

• In order to run a smooth and professional show, there will be no entering or exiting the auditorium during a performance. Out of respect for the dancers on stage, if you must leave the auditorium, you will be asked to refrain from doing so until the dance that is on stage is completed. 

• Enthusiastic applause is encouraged; however, excessive calling out of a students’ name can be distracting to those around you.

• All cell phones and electronics should be turned off or silenced.

• Children should not bring handheld electronic games or other devices with sounds and/or lights that could be a distraction for other audience members.

• Children must remain seated for the entire performance. Allowing children to run around or otherwise disrupt the performance is disrespectful to other audience members and our dancers on stage.

• No standing in the back or on the sides of the auditorium to watch dances.

• Please have proof of tickets available for re-entry into the auditorium. 

• For an organized release, at the conclusion of the show, the audience will be asked to remain in the auditorium for a few minutes until the students are escorted to their dressing rooms for pick up or released to the lobby.

 

Early Dismissal

For the safety of our dancers, all children will remain backstage throughout the entire show, including intermission. We strongly prefer that all dancers stay for the full performance and take part in the excitement of the finale! 

This also provides our dance families with the opportunity to see the progression, dedication, and talent of students at every level. Watching the full show helps build a stronger sense of community and allows everyone to celebrate the hard work and achievements of all our dancers. 

If, for any reason, a child must be dismissed early, a request must be submitted to the office by Monday, May 18th in order for your child to be placed on the early dismissal list. Parents/Guardians will receive an early dismissal pass prior to the show. 

At the show, a Parent/Guardian must report to backstage security to sign out their child. You will be required to present your early dismissal pass and sign an early release waiver. 

This procedure is in place to ensure the safety of every child. While emjaez staff may know you personally, backstage security may not. For this reason, no child will be released without an early dismissal pass—no exceptions.

Security staff are responsible for keeping all dancers safe and will not release any child who is not on the early dismissal list. We kindly ask that you do not dispute this policy at the event, as no requests will be granted during dress rehearsal or on show day. 

Thank you for your help in keeping our children safe and happily dancing.

 

Release Procedure

After the finale, the Tiny Dancers will be released from the stage and given to 1 parent, with emjaez staff assisting. 6-9 classes through level 1 dancers will be brought back to the dressing rooms where one Parent/Guardian will be allowed backstage to pick them up. The Level II & up dancers will be released into the main lobby to meet their families. If you prefer your child to remain backstage to be picked up by a Parent/Guardian, a written request should be submitted to the main office by Monday, May 18th.