Alice in Wonderland dance recital theme

Alice in Wonderland

Disney animated classic / fantasy

The timeless fantasy adventure down the rabbit hole into a world of whimsy and wonder.

Best Time
Year-round, great for spring recitals
Dance Styles
Jazz, Contemporary
Songs
10 tracks
Category
disney

About This Theme

Alice in Wonderland is a choreographer's dream. The story is built around absurd, imaginative set pieces that give you complete creative freedom. Every scene introduces a new world, new characters, and new possibilities for movement. The characters are wildly different from each other, which means every number can have its own distinct flavor. A tea party scene can be chaotic physical comedy. The Queen's croquet game can be sharp, military precision. The Cheshire Cat can be slinky contemporary. The White Rabbit can be frantic tap or jazz. No two numbers need to look or feel alike. Because the story is episodic rather than linear, you can adapt it to fit your studio perfectly. Add scenes, skip scenes, change the order. Wonderland does not follow rules, and neither does your recital version need to.

Why This Theme Works

Alice in Wonderland gives you permission to do anything. Every scene can be a completely different style, a completely different world. Your tap class does the White Rabbit number. Your contemporary class does the Caterpillar. Your jazz class does the Queen's court. Nothing needs to match because Wonderland itself does not match. The story is universally known, so your audience is with you from the start. And because the characters are so visually distinct, even the youngest dancers are immediately identifiable on stage. A striped cat, a red queen, a girl in blue with a white apron. The costumes do half the storytelling for you.

Age Groups & Casting

Ages 3-5
Playing cards, flowers in the garden, baby oysters
Ages 6-9
Tweedledee and Tweedledum, White Rabbit, Doorknobs, talking flowers
Ages 10-13
Alice, Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, March Hare
Ages 14-17
Alice, Queen of Hearts, Cheshire Cat, Caterpillar
Ages Adult
Parent numbers, Queen of Hearts, Caterpillar

Song Suggestions

1
Alice's Theme
Danny Elfman | 5:07
2
I'm Late
Bill Thompson | 0:43
3
Pay Attention / In a World of My Own
Kathryn Beaumont | 2:13
4
All in the Golden Afternoon
Kathryn Beaumont & Disney Studio Chorus | 2:41
5
The Mad Tea Party / The Unbirthday Song / Twinkle Twinkle / Clean Cup Move Down / Mad Watch
Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, James MacDonald & Jerry Colonna | 4:31
6
Painting the Roses Red / March of the Cards
The Mellomen & Kathryn Beaumont | 2:49
7
Very Good Advice
Kathryn Beaumont | 2:10
8
White Rabbit
Jefferson Airplane | 2:31
9
Alice
Avril Lavigne | 3:35
10
Tea Party
Kerli | 3:29
10 songs Total: 29:49

Costume Ideas

Alice's blue dress and white apron is simple and iconic. Layer a white pinafore over a blue leotard and tulle skirt for an easy, dance-friendly version.

The fun is in the Wonderland characters. Playing card soldiers in red and black with card-face bibs. Talking flowers in petal headpieces and colored tutus. Tweedledee and Tweedledum in matching propeller beanies and striped shirts.

The Queen of Hearts needs to be the biggest, most dramatic costume on stage. Big red skirt, big collar, big crown. The Mad Hatter should look like a charity shop exploded on him. The Cheshire Cat works in purple and pink stripes from head to toe.

Staging & Set Ideas

Wonderland should feel like nothing is quite the right size. Oversized flowers, tiny doors, mushrooms of varying heights. You can build this world with simple painted flats and props.

The rabbit hole entrance can be created with a tunnel of fabric that dancers run through. Projections of falling playing cards, clock faces, and teacups enhance the tumbling-down effect.

The tea party needs a table, mismatched chairs, and as many teapots and cups as you can find. The Queen's garden works with red and white roses on flat panels. Keep set changes quick since the story moves fast between locations.

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