Help your students get recital ready with social scripts for performances
Want to support all of your students so they have a successful performance experience?
Looking for a way to help your dancers and their families know what to expect on show day?
Frustrated that people haven't read that email again?
…we get it! But social scripts are here to help 🦸🏽
What is a social script?
A social script is a social learning tool that uses storytelling to communicate what to expect in a particular experience, event, or place.
They use pictures and clear language to tell a story about what something will look like, sound like, and might feel like. They describe what activities will happen and how to deal with emotions that may arise.
And this is what makes them so powerful. When we know what to expect it can make dealing with new experiences, uncertainty, and big feelings much easier.
Social scripts for dance teachers and dance studio owners
In the dance studio world, you can use social scripts for:
welcoming new students to classes, workshops, or holiday programs
recitals and performances
auditions
communicating change
....any other event or situation you can think of! If you’ve used them in your studio for other purposes let us know in the comments!
What could a social script for a dance performance look like?
In this video, you'll see how LNL director Elena walked he students through what happens on 'show day', starting from when they arrive to the theatre, to when they go on stage.
While this diverts from a typical visual social script, it uses clear, simple and direct language with accompanying real-world visuals.
It walks students through the space so it is more familiar when they arrive.
I’m not explaining absolutely everything about the day. Just the important info: where they’ll go, who they’ll meet, where they’ll sit and where their loved ones will be, etc. Notice how these things are all aimed at building certainty, familiarity, and security.
Little details, like arriving in costume, are all covered (this helps students build responsibility and independence. You’d be surprised how many 4 year olds we had telling mum or dad or grandpa “No, we get dressed in our costume at home, but we can’t play outside in it”)
The sequence of the video/script is based on how students will experience it, and it also becomes a reminder for families and staff too (where tickets are scanned, who sits where… this all means WAY less questions on show day).
It’s positive, fun, and informative.
Who benefits from social scripts?
Social scripts are often used to support neurodviergent individuals navigate social situations and interactions, but everyone can benefit from social scripts. When implemented in the right way, social scripts are a powerful resource on so many levels:
students know what to expect, which makes show day so much smoother and more enjoyable for all (for students themselves and their families as well as your team).
autistic and anxious students benefit from clearer expectations, more certainty, and more processing time.
teachers can show it to students in class, giving them a starting point for discussion and making sure they don’t forget important info.
parents/carers can use it at home to talk to their kids about the show, and it provides them with the information and language they need to support their children.
improves communication and helps to keeps language and messaging consistent across your studio.
prospective parents/carers see it on social media and identify you as a professional studio that prioritises student wellbeing, inclusion, and positive experiences in dance.
While these examples were from our kids classes, you can use social scripts for all ages. And in our experience, adult dancers need, want and love that certainty just as much as kids do!
Added benefits of using social scripts in your dance studio
Parent and community benefits
When we made this reel I didn't realise the full impact of a social script for our recital. Firstly, the number of parents who would tell us that it was great for their kids but even more helpful for them... I did not expect that at all.
But it totally makes sense.
Not everyone grew up in the dance world. On the other hand, in some cases, some parents danced in their childhood and were worried about what their own child's experience. We received so many comments and emails from happy parents who were relieved, reassured, and excited for the show! (And we all know that when your families are feeling stress-free it makes for a much smoother show day!).
These are the little touches that are remembered and get spoken about at your local parent’s group and during school drop off. And they matter even more when chance communication is critical (like those Covid years… shudder.).
Marketing and engagement benefits
One thing I also didn't expect is for it to boost our socials so much. We found that our students and parents were watching it again and again... and again. Which is great for them, but it also meant we were getting the added bonus of increased interaction and engagement on our socials. In this day and age, we all know how important that is. When you provide quality content and value, the algorithm rewards you.
Want to create your own social script for you dance studio? Get our FREE step-by-step guide
Whether you want to create a social script for your studio's next recital, performance, audition, or event, this guide will guide you through what to do and what to look out for. It even includes a handy template to get you started!
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