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Technical Requirements
These requirements should be used as a guideline for theatre performance space. The Minnesota Ballet realizes that not all theatres can accommodate all these needs and we are willing to discuss this with you. Stage Requirements:
The floor should be resilient (air space beneath it), made of wood and splinter free. The Minnesota Ballet requires the laying of a marley floor over this wood and can supply one when necessary.
Preferred stage width is 60 feet from wall to wall. Proscenium width 36 - 40 feet. The depth should be at least 30 feet from stage edge to backdrop. Sufficient legs and borders will be used to create at least three wing positions. The back wall should be covered by either a cyclorama or a black curtain.
For shows that require several backdrops (Nutcracker, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty) a fly system will be utilized. The fly system will have sufficient space above in the loft for the drops to be removed completely from the stage (40' - 60' Nutcracker drops are 25 feet high so a fly loft of 40 feet will make the drop bottoms hang low a bit, lowering the proscenium borders).
Cinderella requires a minimum stage right wing depth of 12 feet.The Minnesota Ballet adapts our show to best fit into your theatre. Theatre Requirements:
The theatre, stage (including off-stage wing space), the dressing rooms, and all equipment shall be ready for use and cleared of any storage equipment. All theatre space will be completely at the disposal of the ballet company for the entire day of each performance, and for one to four hours (depending on the show) after the performance for load-out.The sponsor shall guarantee security of the dance company’s equipment in the theatre at all times. Please have the theatre heated a few degrees warmer than normal. The dancers often mention it’s cold in the theatre because of the type of clothing they wear. Expect to be asked about the heat.
Dressing Rooms:
A minimum of two dressing rooms adequate for ten (10) people. These rooms will be clean, have mirrors, and have close, easy access to back stage. Preferably the dressing rooms will have some type of monitoring system so that the on-stage action can be heard.
Cinderella & Sleeping Beauty requires the two rooms mentioned above and a third dressing room for 2 with a mirror and good lighting.
Nutcracker requires a minimum of 6 rooms:
A total of three (3) dressing rooms for the Minnesota Ballet company able to comfortably able to fit 5 people each.
Two (2) rooms, a boys room & a girls room, for the local children who are in the production. The children’s dressing rooms will need a supervisor provided by the presenter. Nutcracker also requires a room (1) for costumes since local children need fitting into our costumes.
In situations where the theatre is located in a school and the dressing rooms are actual classrooms, the rooms need to be available for the entire duration of the Minnesota Ballet's time in the theatre, including rehearsal days. A person with decision-making authority shall be accessible for consultation with the dance company at all times.
Hospitality:
1) A cooler with ice is required during every rehearsal & performance for use in an emergency.
2) It is also required to have a dozen bottled waters for the dancers first thing in the morning of each day in the theatre and to be re-stocked in the evening, along with a box of tissue.
3) A fruit and cold cut tray is appreciated. Hot water and a variety of tea with sugar and honey is also appreciated.
4) When the Minnesota Ballet performs two shows in one day (a matinee and an evening performance) a full hot meal will be provided by the presenter between performances, unless discussed with the director in contract negotiations.
Lighting Requirements:
The sponsor will furnish and have ready prior to load-in all equipment required for the performance. The following are minimum lighting needs. Some stages may require a larger inventory.
1) Eighteen (18) dimmers, in working order, with cross-connect or re-patch possibilities. Minimum capacity of 1800 watts. .
2) Thirty (30) ellipsoidal spotlights, each to be at least 750 watts, equipped with C-clamp, color frame, and safety cable. .
3) Eighteen (18) additional lighting instruments with at least 500 watts capacity. .
These also will be equipped with C-clamp, color frames, and safety cables.The Minnesota Ballet does have an inventory of lights that might be brought on tour. The Minnesota Ballet’s lights are a stage pin plug. .
4) Adequate spare lamps for all lighting instruments shall be readily available. .
5) Sufficient extension cords for complete flexibility for use of above lighting equipment. .
6) Headsets or some other means of communication for all necessary crew from back of house (or light booth) to backstage. Sound Requirements:
Sponsor will provide two good quality speakers, or a house system and stage system. Sufficient power and equalization to allow satisfactory listening. A Mixer to allow volume control and have patch abilities for RCA, Phono, and XLR connections. The Minnesota Ballet tours with a minidisk player and connects it to the house mixer. On-stage monitors are also needed for the dancers. The dressing rooms should have a monitor for onstage sound if they are located away from the stage.
Stage Hands:
A sufficient number of stage hands will be available for every performance. This crew will consist of the same people for every rehearsal and performance, and all day for load-in and until load-out is complete.
The crew should have some basic theatre training in use of common theatrical equipment.
A repertoire performance will require 3 or 4 stage hands.
Nutcracker requires a minimum of 6 up to 8 stage hands.
(depending on how the show fits into the theatre - 2 deck and 6 fly), 1 sound crew, 1 light crew, 1 costume crew. Possible total = 11 .
Cinderella requires 5 stage hands, 1 sound crew, and 1 light crew.
Sleeping Beauty requires 4 fly and 1 sound crew to run the show, and 7 stage hands to load in & out the show. Schedule
These schedules are just examples. An actual schedule will be set up on a per-performance basis. This is a typical schedule for the Minnesota Ballet’s production of Nutcracker: .
Day #1.
8:00 am – 5:00 pm load-in: Day #2.
10:30 doors open.
11:00 – 12:30 warm up on stage.
12:30 – 3:30 company rehearsal (crew needs: sound board, light board,1 fly) .
5:00 – 6:30 warm-up on stage.
7:00 tech rehearsal with children (full crew) . Day #3.
10:00 am possible morning children’s performance (full crew) .
If no morning children’s performance, follow schedule for day #2.
Evening performance Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty have this typical schedule: .
Day #1.
8:00 am – 5:00 load-in .
5:00 – 6:15 warm-up on stage.
6:30 tech rehearsal (full crew) ( Cinderella: Usually we just quickly rehearse Act II for the morning performance the next day. Afterwards crew will do a scene change rehearsal, then dismiss.) Day #2.
8:00 am warm-up on stage.
10:00 am morning children’s performance of Act II (crew needs: 1 fly, sound board, light board) .
11:00 – 3:00 company rehearsal (same crew needs as children's performance)5:30 – 6:45 warm-up on stage.
7:30 evening performance (full crew) . A Rep show has this typical schedule: .
8:00 – 12:00 load-in.
12:00 – 1:30 warm-up on stage .
1:30 – 4:00 rehearsal (full crew) .
5:30 – 6:45 warm-up on stage .
7:30 performance
Pyrotechnics:
The Minnesota Ballet has productions that include the use of Pyrotechnics on stage.
The Nutcracker has two flash pots in Act I during the Battle Scene. Cinderella has one 30-second Pyroflash white smoke in Act I. Three Virgins and A Devil has three flash pots. Sleeping Beauty will have several flash pots Kenneth Pogin, the Production & Tour Manager, has a Fireworks Operator Certificate for both outdoor and indoor/proximate displays issued by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, State Fire Marshal Division. Federal Laws allow local Fire Marshals control over requirements for uses of pyrotechnics for indoor performances. Flash pots do not usually require a permit from the local Fire Marshal, but please call the marshal to double check as well as inform of your intentions to stage a production that uses flash pots. Program information:
The Minnesota Ballet reserves the right for two(2) intermissions of 15-minutes each for set and costume changes, dependent upon performance needs.
Video taping of the Minnesota Ballet performances is only allowed with permission of the Minnesota Ballet. For shows like the Nutcracker where local children perform and video tapes of the performances are sold to the parents, the Minnesota Ballet shall receive a copy of all tapes as well as 10% of sales.
Outreach & Residency programs
Introduction to Ballroom/Social Dance
Length: 60 minutes
Group size: 10 students or 5 couples (up to 20 students with additional charge)
Place:Large room or gym
Set up time needed: 20 minutes
Equipment: CD boombox
Introduction to Ballet & Jazz
Length: 60 minutes
Group size: Up to 50 students
Place: Gym
Set up time: 1 hour
Equipment: CD boombox or PA system Jazz Dance & Choreography
Length: 90 minutes
Group size: Up to 50 students
Place: Gym
Set up time: 20 minutes
Equipment: CD Boombox
Introduction to Ballet/Mini Performance
Length: 60 minutes
Group size: No limit
Place: Stage/gym with NO concrete base
Requires Marley Floor
Equipment: Sound system, if in a theater see above theatre requirements.
Set up time: if in a gym, 2 hours. If in a theatre 4 hours.
Requires 2 dressing rooms or secure locations to change costumes close to the gym or stage. One-Week Residency by Minnesota Ballet
Length: up to four 60-minute classes 60-minute Lecture-Demonstration & Mini Performance
Group size: Negotiable
Place: Stage/gym with NO concrete base
Requires Marley Floor
Equipment: if in a theatre, see full theatre requirements above. If in a gym a sound system will be needed.
Set up time: if in a gym, 2 hours. If in a theatre 4 hours.
Requires 2 dressing rooms or secure locations close to gym or stage
If all technical needs can be met, many of these programs can be also be adapted for adults and held in a large meeting room, senior citizen center, etc. depending on the floor conditions and set up time. Contact the Ballet for more information.
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