Schedule Templates, The First Rehearsals

THE FIRST REHEARSALS SCHEDULETEMPLATES HOW IT WORKS

00:00 - 00:30 30 min

Welcome & Intro Ice-breaking activities, introductions, season goals overview

HOW TO USE ⬇ HOW TO USE ⬇ HOW TO USE ⬇ HOW TO USE ⬇

This is the spread of time the block will take

This is the length of time the block will take

This is the general activity or focus for the block

This is where you can describe the activity you will be doing, the goals of your focus, or any other things to help you remember in rehearsal

WHEN TO USE THIS VERSION

You are starting the season with a group of new and/or returning performers. This template focuses on establishing baseline skills across the team, setting expectations, and building the team dynamics essential for a cohesive unit. It’s designed to introduce the structure of rehearsals to staff and set an efficient, productive tone for the season, while giving a bit of freedom as well to continue developing their own teaching styles.

THE FIRST REHEARSALS 3HOURS EXAMPLE

EXAMPLE

00:00 - 00:30 30 min

00:30 - 01:00 30 min

Welcome & Intro

Ice-breaking activities, introductions, and season/rehearsal goals

Warm-up & Stretch Dynamic movement exercises and stretches that help technique as well as team unity.

01:00 - 02:00 60 min Technique

02:00 - 02:45 45 min

02:45 - 03:00 15 min

Small Choreography Phrase

Learn or review fundamental equipment skills (40 min on exercises, 20 min on tosses is a good start.)

Learn a small amount of choreography; this does not have to be show focused, it can be focused on combining technical skills

Cool Down & Expectations

Set the tone for the season, discuss rehearsal norms (anything that went well primarily, then assess anything negative with your staff after), and pump them up!

THE FIRST REHEARSALS 3HOURS TEMPLATE

STRUCTURED TEMPLATE

BLOCK LENGTH ACTIVITY

00:00 - 00:30 30 min Welcome & Intro

00:30 - 01:00 30 min Warm-up & Stretch

01:00 - 02:00 60 min Technique

02:00 - 02:45 45 min Small Choreography Phrase

02:45 - 03:00 15 min

Cool Down & Expectations

DESCRIPTION

THE FIRST REHEARSALS

3HOURS TEMPLATE

BLANK TEMPLATE

BLOCK LENGTH ACTIVITY

Welcome & Intro

Warm-up & Stretch

Technique

Small Choreography

Phrase

Cool Down & Expectations

DESCRIPTION

THE FIRST REHEARSALS 4HOURS EXAMPLE

EXAMPLE

00:00 - 00:30 30 min

Welcome & Intro

00:30 - 01:00 30 min Warm-up & Stretch

01:00 - 02:00 60 min Technique Introduction

02:00 - 03:00 60 min Choreography Introduction

Ice-breaking activities, introductions, and season/rehearsal goals

Dynamic movement exercises and stretches that help technique as well as team unity

Learn or review fundamental equipment skills (40 min on exercises, 20 min on tosses is a good start)

Learn some choreography; this does not have to be show focused, it can be focused on combining or advancing technical skills.

03:00 - 03:30 30 min

03:30 - 04:00 30 min

Team Building Activities

Team-building exercises that help with setting the cultural tone

Cool Down & Expectations

Set expectations for the season, discuss rehearsal norms (anything that went well primarily, then assess anything negative with your staff after), and pump them up!

THE FIRST REHEARSALS

4HOURS TEMPLATE

STRUCTURED TEMPLATE

BLOCK LENGTH ACTIVITY

00:00 - 00:30 30 min Welcome & Intro

00:30 - 01:00 30 min Warm-up & Stretch

01:00 - 02:00 60 min Technique Introduction

02:00 - 03:00 60 min Choreography Introduction

03:00 - 03:30 30 min Team Building Activities

03:30 - 04:00 30 min

Cool Down & Expectations

DESCRIPTION

THE FIRST REHEARSALS

4HOURS TEMPLATE

BLANK TEMPLATE

BLOCK LENGTH ACTIVITY

Welcome & Intro

Warm-up & Stretch

Technique

Introduction

Choreography

Introduction

Team Building Activities

Cool Down & Expectations

DESCRIPTION

THE FIRST REHEARSALS 6HOURS EXAMPLE

EXAMPLE

00:00 - 00:30 30 min Welcome

00:30 - 01:15 45 min Warm-up

01:15 - 02:45 90 min Technique

02:45 - 03:45 60 min Choreography

Ice-breaking activities, introductions, and season/rehearsal goals

Dynamic movement exercises and stretches that help technique as well as team unity

Learn or review fundamental equipment skills. 60 min on exercises, 30 min on tosses is a good start.

Learn some choreography; this does not have to be show focused, it can be focused on combining or advancing technical skills

03:45 - 04:00 15 min Team Activity Activities aimed at strengthening team spirit

04:00 - 04:30 30 min Lunch Break

04:30 - 05:00 30 min Choreography Review

Use this mid-day pause for relaxation and informal team bonding Encourage members to spend time together in a laid-back setting, which helps reinforce the team's cultural tone.

Review choreography learned before break! Great time to set a memory standard and give your students tips on remembering material

05:00 - 05:30 30 min Team Building Activities

05:30 - 06:00 30 min Cool Down & Expectations

Activities that encourage sharing personal insights and bonding together as a team Should help solidify the day's learning while enhancing team cohesion

Set expectations for the season, discuss rehearsal norms (anything that went well primarily, then assess anything negative with your staff after), and pump them up!

THE FIRST REHEARSALS

6HOURS TEMPLATE

STRUCTURED TEMPLATE

BLOCK LENGTH ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

00:00 - 00:30 30 min Welcome

00:30 - 01:15 45 min Warm-up

01:15 - 02:45 90 min Technique

02:45 - 03:45 60 min Choreography

03:45 - 04:00 15 min Team Activity

04:00 - 04:30 30 min Lunch Break

04:30 - 05:00 30 min Choreography Review

05:00 - 05:30 30 min Team Building Activities

05:30 - 06:00 30 min Cool Down & Expectations

THE FIRST REHEARSALS

6HOURS TEMPLATE

BLANK TEMPLATE

BLOCK LENGTH ACTIVITY

Welcome Warm-up Technique

Choreography

Team Activity

Lunch Break

Choreography

Review Team Building

Activities Cool Down & Expectations

DESCRIPTION

THE FIRST REHEARSALS

8HOURS EXAMPLE

EXAMPLE

00:00 - 00:30 30 min Welcome Ice-breaking activities and introductions.

00:30 - 01:15 45 min Warm-up

01:15 - 02:45 90 min Technique

02:45 - 03:45 60 min Choreography

Dynamic movement exercises and stretches that help technique as well as team unity Season/Rehearsal goals

Learn or review fundamental equipment skills. 60 min on exercises, 30 min on tosses is a good start

Learn some choreography; this does not have to be show focused, it can be focused on combining or advancing technical skills

03:45 - 04:00 15 min Team Activity Activities aimed at strengthening team spirit

04:00 - 05:00 60 min Lunch Break

05:00 - 05:15 15 min Team Activity

05:15 - 06:00 45 min Partnered Technique

06:00 - 06:45 45 min Choreography Review

06:45 - 7:15 30 min Show & Tell

Mid-day pause for relaxation & informal team bonding Encourage members to spend time together to help reinforce the team's cultural tone

Recenter focus and set the tone for the rest of rehearsal (After meal breaks are sometimes the hardest moment of the day to keep momentum going Experiment with this)

Detailed technique work in smaller, partnered groups Try to pair up members newer/older

Review choreography learned before break! Great time to set a memory standard and give students tips on remembering material

Showcase skills or phrases learned in rehearsal Encourage clapping for and supporting teammates

07:15 - 07:35 20 min

07:35 - 08:00 25 min

Team Building Activities Activities that encourage team bonding Should help solidify the day's learning while enhancing team cohesion

Cool Down & Expectations

Set expectations, discuss rehearsal norms, and pump them up for the season!

THE FIRST REHEARSALS 8HOURS

STRUCTURED TEMPLATE

BLOCK LENGTH ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

00:00 - 00:30 30 min Welcome

00:30 - 01:15 45 min Warm-up

01:15 - 02:45 90 min Technique

02:45 - 03:45 60 min Choreography

03:45 - 04:00 15 min Team Activity

04:00 - 05:00 60 min Lunch Break

05:00 - 05:15 15 min Team Activity

05:15 - 06:00 45 min Partnered Technique

06:00 - 06:45 45 min Choreography Review

06:45 - 7:15 30 min Show & Tell

07:15 - 07:35 20 min Team Building Activities

07:35 - 08:00 25 min Cool Down & Expectations

THE FIRST REHEARSALS

8HOURS TEMPLATE

BLANK TEMPLATE

BLOCK LENGTH ACTIVITY

Welcome Warm-up

Technique

Choreography

Team Activity

Lunch Break

Team Activity

Partnered Technique

Choreography Review

Show & Tell

Team Building Activities

Cool Down & Expectations

DESCRIPTION

THE FIRST REHEARSALS

EssentialComponentsof SuccessfulFirstRehearsals

WELCOME & INTRO

Begin with ice-breaking activities to help set a friendly atmosphere. Clearly outline the goals for the season or rehearsal and answer any questions about expectations throughout the day.

WARM-UP & STRETCH

Incorporate dynamic stretches, light cardio, and some dance training elements to prepare physically and mentally; emphasize the importance of injury prevention.

FUNDAMENTAL TECHNIQUES

Focus on basic techniques that will be the foundation of your choreography. It’s ALWAYS a good idea to prepare the exercises or singular skills ahead of time, but adjust the pace and demand based on the skill level of the group you are instructing.

CHOREOGRAPHY INTRODUCTION

Introduce simple choreography (utilizing basic elements of learned technique) to help instill a ‘technique to choreography’ bridge. This does not mean the focus of the day should be “getting to choreography,” this is purely to apply the technique they’ve learned throughout the day.

COOL DOWN & EXPECTATIONS

End with a cool down and set clear expectations for behavior, attendance, and effort. Highlight the positives of the day.

THE FIRST REHEARSALS

TipsforNewInstructors

BE PREPARED

Have a plan for the rehearsal. Think about what needs to be taught, cleaned, modified, or discussed as you ’ re planning, but don’t let this overwhelm you. Spread the tasks out over a few rehearsals if needed.

CREATE A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT

Ensure all members feel welcomed and valued. Foster a team culture that encourages learning and mutual respect. This starts with you. Students may need guidance at times on how to react positively. Establish a positive feedback loop. Focus on what is working well to build confidence and guide your students in WHAT & WHEN to ask questions.

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

Clearly communicate your instructions and expectations. Be open to questions and provide clarifications patiently. If you are an educator that does not like a lot of questions, then set (and communicate) a REASONABLE expectation of when it’s acceptable to ask something.

WATER IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS SPINNING

Make sure to give short breaks for water at appropriate intervals. Hydration is massively important to mental & physical stamina.

ADJUSTING PLANS

If certain activities aren’t working as expected, be ready to modify your approach. Keep the pace flexible to match the group ’ s energy and focus levels.

THE FIRST REHEARSALS

THANKYOU

Thank you for using this rehearsal schedule template! Feel free to print or save any of the pages and fill them out exactly to your rehearsal needs.

I hope it serves as a valuable tool to help organize and optimize your practices this season!

DOWNLOAD THIS FILE

ACADEMY ACADEMY ACADEMY