Holiday

Performance Tour

A series of short and sweet performances at local non-profits, retirement communities, and businesses designed to do what we do best - spread joy!

We offer an additional, optional performance opportunity for all Thrive dancers during the holiday season - a series of short and sweet performances at local non-profits, retirement communities, and businesses designed to do what we do best - spread joy! Dancers learn the choreography for this show and receive costume rentals during class, so there are no extra rehearsals or commitments outside of showing up on performance day. We’ve found this is a great low-pressure way to get some extra performance time in during a busy time of year for many.

How it all works


If you’d like your dancer(s) to participate in the Holiday Performance Tour, here’s how it will all work:

  • Regardless of if they decide to do this show or not, all Thrive dancers begin learning a holiday dance in mid-October. We’ll use this choreography for both the December Watch Week and for all Holiday Performance Tour shows. This allows us to continue working on technique and choreography without requiring outside rehearsal time.

  • Dancers will be measured for costume rentals in mid-September, then will receive those costume rentals during class to take home in late November.

  • We’ll have several performance date and time options for you to choose from. Some will have limitations on guests due to the venue (like assisted living facilities) and some will allow you to bring as many people as you’d like (like Light Up St. Matthews). You can select as many performance dates and times as you’d like.

  • The cost to participate is $40 per dancer. After signing up, you’ll be directed on how to complete payment.

All the details…

Performance Date, Time + Location Options

Below are all of the performances for this year’s Holiday Performance Tour. Dancers should plan to arrive 25-30 minutes ahead of their performance time to check in and receive any additional costume pieces. Dancers will sit with their adults in the audience until it’s time to perform - we’ll call each age group up to the performance area when it’s time:

  • Friday, December 6th between 6:15 -7 :45 pm at Waterfront Botanical Garden’s program - Gardens Aglimmer! (located at 1435 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206)

    • This is a public ticketed event. Each dancer has been graciously gifted one complimentary ticket in addition to their own free admission. Additional tickets are available at a 10% discount for our entire Thrive community! Click here to secure your tickets today and use discount code Thrive10 at checkout. Bring as many friends and family members as you’d like!

    • There are four different time slots for this event - 6:15 pm, 6:45 pm, 7:15 pm and 7:45 pm. If you selected this Friday date, you should have received an email with your specific time slot.

    • As this is an outdoor event, there is a chance it may be canceled due to weather. We will notify you by 2:00 PM on the day of the show if that’s the case, and all tickets will be fully refunded if the event is canceled.

    • Parking Map

  • Saturday, December 7th at 2:00 pm

    • Due to the number of dancers who requested this time, there will be two different locations - you should have received an email with your specific performance venue at this time. It will be one of the following:

    • These performances are closed to the public and have different limitations on guests. Please refer to your email for details.

    • Parking Map for The Forum (please park in the grassy area - there will be signage and Thrive staff to help direct you)

    • Parking Map for Pinnacle

  • Saturday, December 7th at 4:00 pm at Light Up St. Matthews (located at Brown Park at 1298 Browns Ln #1200, St Matthews, KY 40207)

    • This free annual holiday event has been a cherished tradition for thousands of residents and visitors to the City of St. Matthews. From 3:00 to 6:00 PM, families can enjoy musical entertainment, letters to Santa, photos with Santa, train rides, and a variety of activities for kids. Free cookies and hot chocolate will be available, and, weather permitting, most activities are held under a large tent. The event concludes with the grand lighting of Brown Park at 6:00 PM, illuminating the park with thousands of beautiful holiday lights!

    • Thrive will be performing at 4:00 pm under the covered pavilion, which is right next to the playground. This is our biggest holiday show of the season, with over 100 dancers signed up to perform, and we’re so grateful to share the joy of dance with our community! Bring as many friends and family members as you like!

    • This event is rain or shine, so please keep your eye on the weather and come prepared!

    • Parking Map

Invite your friends and family!

Want an easy way to invite your friends and family to come support your dancer? We created invites for our public performances (Friday evening and Saturday evening) for you to share! Click the links below to access the invites - you’re welcome to send a link (the invites have clickable links on them to purchase tickets or learn more), you can download and send the images or print and mail them if that’s your thing!

  • Friday, December 6th Invite - Gardens Aglimmer at Waterfront Botanical Gardens (click here)

    • Make sure to communicate the time block your dancer is assigned to when sending this invite!

  • Saturday, December 7th Invite - Light Up St. Matthews at Brown Park (click here)

Timeline

Here’s what you can expect for the full Holiday Performance Tour timeline:

  • October 26th - Sign Up + Payment Deadline

  • November 11th - 16th - Costume Rental Distribution (in class)

  • December 6th - 8th - Performance Weekend (you choose your dates - see above)

  • December 20th - Costume Return Deadline

Hair + Makeup + Costume Guidelines

All dancers should wear their hair secured away from their face. Dancers in the Intermediate, Advanced Intermediate and Company Levels are invited to wear light makeup. Click the button below to access our 2024 Holiday Performance Tour Lookbook, which contains all the hair, makeup, costume, shoe and tights info you’ll need to make the weekend a breeze!

What To Do When You Arrive

All dancers should plan to arrive 25-30 minutes prior to their scheduled performance time. When you arrive, follow these guidelines:

  1. Look for a Thrive staff member (we’ll be wearing Thrive shirts) and go to the check-in area to let us know you’ve arrived and to collect any remaining costume pieces.

  2. You and your dancer can find a place to sit that’s near the performance area. We’ll announce over our speaker system when it’s time for your dancer’s age group to come to the stage.

  3. After your dancer’s performance, please return all costume accessories to where you received them.

  4. You’re welcome to stay and chat or participate in any of the events. Don’t forget to return your dancer’s costume to the main office no later than December 20th - you do not need to wash it, just return it in the garment bag.

Contacting Thrive on Performance Weekend

While we’ll do our best to respond to calls and emails, the easiest way to get a hold of us on December 6th and 7th will be to text our main line at 502-325-3818.