JOKSOD CONCERT 2025 | WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Welcome JOKSOD families and dancers to our Concert Information page for 2025!

Everything you need to know about our concert will be updated on this page and so we recommend you keep checking back as much as you can. 

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets go on sale 10am Tuesday 18th November 2025!

To purchase your tickets go to Frankston Arts Centre website (link not live until 10am Tues 18th) or in person at the Box Office.

Box Office opening hours

• PHONE
  • Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm
  • Saturday 9am - 2pm
• In person
  • Tuesday - Friday (closed Monday) 10am - 5pm
  • Saturday 9am - 2pm

At this stage, we will only be opening the stalls and not the Balcony. (This will be reconsidered depending on ticket sales)

A ticket will need to be purchased for all children unless 24months or under. Children 24 months or under are permitted to sit on a parents knee for the concert.

If your dancer is only in one or two routines, we highly recommend purchasing a ticket for them to sit with you in the audience after they have finished. There are limited helpers backstage and we cannot always supervise dancers once their routines are complete. For their safety, they must sit with a parent/guardian for the remainder of the concert.

Items in Friday 12 Dec Concert

Pre-School Classes (Friday ONLY)

Sub-Junior & Above (In BOTH Concerts)

Competition Troupes - Friday Concert

(Not in running order)

• 6U Classical - Frozen

• 6U Jazz - Trolls

• 8U Classical - Le Classique

• 10U Classical - Paquita

• 10U Contemporary - Eleanor Rigby

• 13U Jazz - Polar Express

• 13U Contemporary - Bird Gurhl

• 13U Neo - Que Sera

• 16U Classical - Le Corsaire

• 16U Lyrical - Titanium

• 17U Lyrical - Falling

• 17U Jazz - Gatsby

• 17U Song & Dance - One Short Day

Items in Saturday 13 Dec concert

Beginner Classes (Saturday ONLY)

Sub-Junior & Above (In BOTH Concerts)

Competition Troupes - Saturday Concert

(Not in running order)

• 8U Neo-Classical - L.O.V.E

• 8U Jazz - Wonka

• 10U Neo-Classical - Once Upon a December

• 10U Jazz - Seuss

• 10U Song & Dance - The Jitterbugs

• 13U Classical - Scheherazade

• 13U Neo-Classical - Que Sera

• 16U Neo - Bittersweet

• 16U Jazz - Blue Suede Shoes

• 16U Contemporary - Don’t Worry Darling

• Open Classical - De Russe

• Open Broadway Jazz - Diamonds

• Open Contemporary - The Chain

• Open Neo - Somewhere

WHY DRESS REHEARSALS MATTER

Dress rehearsals are a vital part of preparing for our end-of-year concert and help ensure every dancer feels confident and ready to shine on stage. Our students have worked hard all year, and attending rehearsals is essential for the best possible experience.

Here’s why they’re so important:

• Costume & prop practice: Dancers get used to performing in costume, allowing teachers to check comfort and safety.

• Stage awareness: Rehearsals help dancers learn stage spacing, entrances/exits, and cues.

• Lighting & sound checks: Ensures choreography, music, and lighting all align perfectly.

• Confidence & teamwork: A full run-through builds confidence, discipline, and unity within each group.

• Problem-solving: Any last-minute adjustments can be made before show day.

• Performance readiness: Running full routines builds stamina and prepares dancers for a live audience.

After the Pre-school and Beginner dress rehearsals, we’ll have a special class presentation and photo opportunity — a lovely chance to celebrate each dancer’s progress and hard work.

By attending dress rehearsals, dancers gain confidence, polish, and pride — setting the stage for an unforgettable concert performance.

Dress rehearsal notes:

• ALL dress rehearsals are held before our Rehearsal on Stage at the studio. All dancers must attend dress rehearsal and rehearsal on stage
• No costumes are required for troupe rehearsals during the dress rehearsal week.
• Pre school and Beginner students and any NEW students who have not done our stage make up, please arrive 1/2 before your scheduled rehearsal time and we will do your make up for this dress rehearsal.
• All other students, stage make up is not required, however light make up is required by all students for our professional photos.
• All dancers are required to have all the correct shoes and tights as listed below for ALL dress rehearsals
• Students must never arrive to the venue or leave with their costume on. Dancers always arrive in their JOKSOD apparel and get changed once they arrive. Please change back into your clothes before leaving.
• All dancers must arrive with hair complete for their first item and also with make up complete.
• Please arrive 1/2 hr before your designated time to warm up and prepare.
• Parents are not permitted to enter the studio for this rehearsal. Pre school and beginner parents may watch the make up being applied and any help or guidance with hair. One parent of the Pre school and beginner may then watch the dress rehearsal at the studio. All pre school and beginner classes will be receiving a presentation after the dress rehearsal. ONLY 1 parent is permitted to be with their chid on this day. All other family members can watch your dancer at the concert.

Presentations - ALL CLASS PRESENTATIONS, perpetual trophy class winners and all helper presentations will be on Saturday 6th December at the studio for Sub Junior comp dancers through to senior levels. All dancers must be present on this day to receive any awards. All pre school, beginners, sub juniors who do not do comps will receive a presentation at the end of their dress rehearsal.

Parents are very welcome and encouraged to come and watch the presentations on Saturday 6th December at 3.15pm!!!!!

ALL fees must be finalised in full before concert costumes are distributed.

JOKSOD Costume distribution policy

Costumes will start to be distributed shorty. 

As we approach our concert, we kindly remind families of a long-standing JOKSOD policy: costumes can only be handed out when all fees are up to date. This helps us keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes and ensures we can continue providing the best experience for our dancers.

If your child does not bring a costume home when others do, it may simply mean we are still waiting on a payment to be finalised. Please reach out if you have any questions — we completely understand that life gets busy, and we are always here to help.

Thank you so much for your understanding and for supporting the smooth running of our studio.

IN STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY

Posed Dress Rehearsal Photos

We’re excited to announce that this year, alongside our concert action shots, we’ll also be offering posed costume photos during dress rehearsals!

We’re once again joined by Janis House Photography — our long-standing and much-loved studio photographer. Janis has supported JOKSOD for many years, capturing stunning images and creating cherished memories for our dancers and families.

All dancers will have a group class photo taken during dress rehearsal (please check your group’s stage-ready time). Families may also register for individual posed photos if they wish. Younger dancers will be guided with simple poses, while senior students are welcome to create their own artistic shots.

REHEARSAL ON STAGE AT THE FRANKSTON ARTS CENTRE.

THURSDAY 11th DECEMBER

FULL COSTUME AND MAKE UP REQUIRED BY ALL DANCERS

• Pre school and beginners arrive 45min before your item with shoes and tights on and hair and make up complete.
• Everyone else 1 hour before first item. 
• Allow time for our helpers to change the younger dancers and then bring them to the stage door for pick up - pick up 20 minutes after item finishes.
• ALL dancers must be signed in at the stage door on arrival and signed out when you pick them up.
• We have lots of helpers available for your child

Please make sure you allow enough time to park up and bring your dancer to the stage door for sign in. 

We cannot wait for any dancer to arrive if late as we have a very tight and strict schedule to keep. 

Sometimes things don't go as planned with the production and technical side of our rehearsal. Please be patient if their is any mishaps we need to get right before our show. 

2025 Concert Photography & Video Package

We’re excited to introduce the 2025 Concert Package, designed to be more affordable, convenient, and inclusive for all our JOKSOD families, while ensuring you receive beautiful professional memories of your dancer’s special moment on stage!

What’s Included

Each package includes:

• On-stage rehearsal time at the Frankston Arts Centre (required for all performers)

• Unlimited downloadable on-stage photos taken by EnPointe Productions, one of the leading dance photography teams

• For dancers performing 4+ items or in Competition Teams: a USB of both concerts and presentations (Competition dancers require this for 2026 teaching purposes)

Photos are grouped as:

• Preschool & Beginner Package

• Sub-Juniors and Above Package

Posed studio photos are not included and are available separately at an additional cost.

Concert Package Pricing

Family Discounts: Reduced rates are available for second family members, and additional discounts apply for families with three or more dancers.

This package streamlines costs, simplifies the concert experience, and ensures every dancer shines both on stage and in photos.

All of this will appear on your final invoices for the year. 

D.V. Productions will be videotaping this years concert with three types of coverage available.
A copy of the performance can be ordered online as either a DVD or USB.
These will be available for pickup from the school at the start of Term 1, 2023

Cost:

• 2 Disc DVD set (no presentations) - $46.00
• 3 disc DVD set (with presentations) - $49.00
• USB $49.00

ALL COMPETITION STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO PURCHASE A COPY OF THE CONCERT VIDEO FOR TEACHING PURPOSES

FROM EN POINTE PRODUCTIONS

Hello to the wonderful families of Joanne O’Kelly School of Dance,

My name is Ashley Lean — an ex-professional ballet dancer turned photographer.

After many years of performing, my passion now lies in capturing the true artistry of dance. With my experience as both a dancer and teacher, I strive to bring out the best in every individual I photograph. Having someone who understands dance, technique, and timing makes all the difference when capturing those perfect moments on stage.

I’m proud to be the trusted dance photographer for Ballet International Gala, capturing world-class ballet stars and touring with the company across Australia. Alongside this, my team and I also photograph Victorian State Ballet Company, and numerous youth ballet companies.

My wonderful team are all people I personally trust, many are ex-dancers or current teachers, who share my understanding of dance technique and the importance of timing and artistry when photographing performers.

We’re so excited to capture your upcoming performances and preserve all the hard work, passion, and dedication you’ve poured into your rehearsals. These photos will become lasting memories to look back on for years to come.

Once all images have been professionally edited by me, they’ll be uploaded to a password-protected online gallery. You’ll receive an email with all the details to help you access and select your photos easily.

Each dance will be listed in show order so you can cross-reference with your program.

You can mark your favourites and download them as:

• Low-resolution files (for online sharing)

• High-resolution files (for printing)

I recommend downloading both so you have options. Once downloaded, you’ll instantly receive a link to your chosen files, valid for seven days.

If you need any help along the way, you’re very welcome to reach out via email, I’m always happy to assist.

If you’d like to see some of my recent work, you’re very welcome to visit my Instagram: En Pointe Productions

Chookas for the rest of your rehearsals — we can’t wait to see you light up the stage! 

SATURDAY 13th DECEMBER

Straight after the afternoon concert!

As per our tradition we will be having an After concert party at the studio straight after the Sunday evening concert.

Everyone is welcome to bring a plate of food and we watch the concert DVD together.

COSTUME STORAGE

Costumes will be distributed in costume bags and these bags MUST be returned with the costume at our costume return day.

We WILL be charging for any lost costume bags as it costs us a lot of money to provide so many to go with all our fabulous costumes.

Pre school, beginners, sub juniors and juniors-one parent is responsible to bring all costumes to the theatre and take them home. Make your  dancers arrives with their tights and shoes on for their 1^st item. Make sure your dancer has a dressing gown or something to completely cover their costume. 

Bring along a drink bottle with water. 

One parent is responsible to bring all costumes to the theatre and take them home. Make your  dancers arrives with their tights and shoes on for their 1^st item. Make sure your dancer has a dressing gown or something to completely cover their costume. 

MAKE UP (SEE TUTORIAL BELOW)

What to bring

STAGE MAKE UP TUTORIAL

HAIR TUTORIAL - HALF PART BUN