Dance Recital Program: Tips for Great Looking Programs

Dance Recital Program: Tips for Great Looking Programs

You’ve been asked to design your dance recital program. You have the basics down, and you’re all set with an easy-to-use template, content that’s already been written, and a plan of action. Now, how do you go beyond the basics to produce a program that’s an eye-catching standout?

You Can Do It

With the right images, paper choices, and other elements, even someone who’s not a graphic designer can produce an attractive dance recital program. Here are some design tips to take your dance recital program to the next level.

Think About Your Audience

The main purpose of a dance recital program is to help readers enjoy the event. A good dance recital program should give readers the information they need about the program, its history, and starting times for all the notable events. It should also be attractive and well-designed. When thinking about what to include, be sure you’re thinking about it from the audience’s perspective.

Add Images

You can improve any dance recital program by adding pictures. They’ll break up the text and make your program come alive. You’ll make the most impact with a mix of photos, clip art, and graphics. Fortunately, it’s easy to find these images online.

Watch Your Legal Step

Keep two things in mind before you use an image you find through an internet search. First, that image may have a copyright attached to it. If you use it, you could break the law by using it without the owner’s permission. This permission is known as a license. To avoid using an image you need a license for, use only copyright-free images. These are images that anyone can use without breaking the law.

Second, be sure you can use images you don’t have to pay for. Sometimes, the owner of an image allows people to use it, but only for a fee. This is known as a royalty fee.

To make things even more complicated, some copyright owners will only let you use their works if your project is noncommercial. They don’t allow you to use them in marketing or advertising materials.

Where to Find Pictures and Photos for Your Dance Recital Program

Where does this leave you?

The best way to avoid these problems is to use pictures that are both copyright-free and royalty-free. Luckily for designers, bloggers, and others who need great-looking pictures, there are places where you can find pictures that are free to use and don’t require a royalty or license.

• Unsplash: Unsplash has more than 1 million images and photos. You can use any of them for any purpose, and they are all free. It offers stock photos for every topic imaginable, including fashion, travel, dance, industries, and locations. These are clean, professional images that will work in any publication. Unsplash also offers discounts on premium stock photos if you want an upgrade.
• Pexels: You can change, print, and edit any photos or videos you find on this site. You can use them for any purpose. You don’t have to credit the creator, but it’s a nice gesture to do so. Just add a line under the image with the words, “Photo by Sean Smithy,” or “Photo by Pexels.”
• Pixabay: This popular site features original artwork, clip art, photos, and other graphic elements that are free to use. All images are royalty-free. There is a wide variety of styles because the site focuses on individual artworks. As a courtesy, give credit to the creator of the work you use. These artists share their talents at no charge, and they appreciate a byline.
• Gratisography: Are you looking for fun images? Visit this site that features offbeat, whimsical, and funny stock photos. Like the others on this list, it offers them free of charge and free to use for any purpose. You’ll smile looking at this site, which is updated weekly with new images.
• New Old Stock: This stie specializes in vintage photos. Many of these are works in the public domain, which means they’ve been around for so long that nobody ever copyrighted them. You can use them free of copyright restrictions and free of charge.

What Images Should You Add to a Dance Recital Program?

There are three types of pictures you should consider adding to your dance recital program. First are photos of your dance company, dance studio, and individual dancers. Add a double-page photo spread showing photos of rehearsals, performances, and other events. These photos will give readers the feeling that they’re getting and insider’s look at your dance company.

The next are stock photos and other stock pictures. These add interesting elements to your design when you use them correctly.

Design Tips on Using Images

Do you want an eye-catching cover for your dance recital program? Every program should have an eye-catching cover, and stock images make it easy for you. Choose a beautiful image of a lone dancer and one or two simple lines of text for your cover design. Keep the colors in the rest of the program consistent with that cover image.

Stock images can make your layout more interesting. For instance, instead of just adding page numbers to each corner, add a page number and a tiny dancing figure. Insert a dance-related image at the start of each section of your program.

Don’t go overboard. Your layout and design should be clean and simple. You don’t want to overstuff your program with text, and that goes double for pictures. Use the right number that will make your program come alive without cluttering up your design.

Choose the Right Paper

What is the right paper for dance recital programs? Most design tips suggest using the heaviest paper you can afford, but it isn’t that simple. The choice depends on your design goals and your budget. Here are some options you might consider.

• 70-lb weight paper: This is the most affordable paper choice. It is a thin, lightweight paper that is easy to fold. However, it’s not a smart choice for programs because it’s not sturdy enough to stand up to a lot of handling. It’s also not the best choice for color resolution.
• 80-lb paper: Slightly heavier and sturdier, this is a good choice for dance recital programs. If you choose this paper, select a heavier one for your cover. Remember, your dance recital program will get handed out, stuffed in pockets, and carried all over the event. They need to look good after all that handling.
• 100-lb paper: This is an excellent choice for dance recital programs. It stands up to heavy use, and it produces high-resolution color and text. Using 100-lb paper gives your programs a professional look and feel.

What about your program cover? You have two good options.

• 80-lb cover paper: This is a smart choice, especially when paired with 80-lb or 100-lb paper. Colors and text will stand out on this paper. This is a classic choice for brochure and program covers.
• 100-lb cover paper: If you want your programs to look elegant and classic, choose this stiff, heavy paper. We don’t recommend going higher than 100-lb cover stock for most brochures or programs.

Have Fun with Finishes

Paper weight isn’t the only thing to consider when making paper choices for your programs. Think about the finish you want on your paper. Paper finish is one of the most overlooked design tips, but it’s one that can make your program stand out.

The “finish” is the surface appearance and feeling of the paper. You’re probably familiar with matte and glossy finishes, but there are some more details.

• Matte: A matte finish has no gloss. It’s a flat, untreated paper that avoids glare, even under bright light. Matte finishes look elegant, but they don’t reproduce bright colors very well. They are best for understated, text-heavy designs.
• Gloss: Glossy paper has a coating that gives it a smooth, shiny look. You’re probably familiar with it from catalog and brochure covers. Gloss reproduces bright colors better than matte paper, and it is an excellent choice for any printed publication.

Always Choose Professional Printing

We hope you found these design tips helpful. At Publishing Xpress, we offer expert printing of dance recital programs, brochures, invitations, and everything else your dance company needs. Talk to us today to learn more about our fast, affordable printing services.