Grace's Christmas Dance Performance & Meeting Santa

Grace's Mini Pom dance class performed at Christmas in the Park this year. Grace was timid at first, but enjoyed it and of course, thought she did so great! Then, we roamed around the park with Hazel and Everly while Atticus and Grace went off with Luc and Ellie. Everly LOVED the lights and was too cute in the petting zoo and eating her little bag of chips while she walked through the big Christmas Tree light display. Then, I decided we would wait in line to see Santa (FOR FREE) because it looked short. Well, it only looked short. It wound around this entire building and once you got inside, you still had to wind through hallways to get to Santa. Vic was very over it, but I kept thinking "we are almost there". Hazel was done, needed a diaper change (where I actually had a stranger help me change her while standing up because there was no changing table in the bathroom), and Vic was ready to go home. But, we made it to Santa because I really wanted Everly to meet him. She was the cutest thing and really enjoyed it. I have a video below. Also, it was great weather and Vic and I were pretty proud that we kept up with all 4 kids for the entire night! It really was a fun evening!

I have zero photos of her onstage and have a video, but it wasn't great because Everly kept moving on the bleachers and I kept thinking she would fall so I would look away from the camera screen and it was a mess! ha! But, it was great! However, here is the dance, but in her weekly class:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJf6eiafZj4&feature=youtu.be

 

 Here's my video of Everly meeting Santa! https://youtu.be/N8AZoV1XtzI

Grace's Dance Recital 2018

Grace had her dance recital on May 1 at Rudder Auditorium for Expressions Dance Studio. Just a few days before, she had her first ever moment during class where something embarrassed her and now she was talking about being nervous to dance. Honestly, I've been so impressed she goes up on that big stage to dance for the past two years because I would be terrified. But, she always enjoys it. But, I also knew if she decided she couldn't do it, she wouldn't and I would be so sad to not see her and sad for her not to perform. She was scheduled to dance after intermission this year, so it would be a long night and we decided to get a sitter for Everly and Atticus decided to stay with her. It was fun to have a Grace only night. We arrived, got seated, and just kept acting like all was normal. She was happy for the dancing to start and she liked watching them all. At intermission, I took her back and all was well...and then I had to leave her backstage with her teacher. The scared face came on and I had to do what is always hard and just walk away. Another teacher loved on her and I slipped out and prayed that she wouldn't cry on stage.

So, her first dance came on and she came out and did her dance, but would refuse to smile. And while she knew these dances front and back, she would look at her teacher on the side constantly instead of looking at the crowd. She didn't cry, but I thought she looked so unhappy. The second dance, she came out and refused to smile and again, I worried, but was so glad when they were done! Then, she stayed with her class a little bit longer so they could come out at the end to bow with all of the dancers in the studio. Then, I picked her up. WELL! She was so happy and told me "See Mom? I told you I was a professional dancer!" and didn't act like she ever frowned during her performances or had any problems with it. She was as happy as she could be! Goodness! I am glad she felt that way, but it was confusing to watch!

She was precious though and I love seeing her dance! Here's some photos from the night.

 She is always interested in watching the other dancers.

 Oh my pretty little girl! We were waiting to go backstage at our exact time to drop her off.

 Here she was backstage right before I told her I was going back out....I didn't take a picture of the sad face!

 They performed their ballet routine to Toy Story's "You've Got a Friend in Me".

 They performed their tap routine to The Little Mermaid's "Under the Sea".

This was during the last bow!

 My Timehop popped up a couple of days later and I thought it was so crazy how much she has grown up!

 And just because - here is her class picture!

I originally planned to take her Kindergarten year off from dance because I knew it would be an afternoon class and I really want her to just get used to school. But, she has talked so much about "Mini Pom" - which is the next class her teacher recommended, that I decided to sign her up. So, we will see how it goes this fall!

Grace's 1st Dance Recital

Grace has been in a ballet/tap class at preschool for the past school year. I remember putting her in back in September and wondering if she would even make one class without crying and getting scared or embarrassed. But, she has loved it and surprised us so much with performing at each of her two performances this year (one back in December and then her big dance recital). We are so so proud of her!

As the spring semester went on, they practiced their two recital dances almost every week. Her ballet dance was to the theme song from Zootopia, "Try Everything" and her tap number was "Walking on Sunshine". And, they got their dance costumes back around January for their recital and they were so cute!! Bright yellow with colorful sequins. In March, they had their dance pictures and had a mini rehearsal at the studio during class. My friend, Elizabeth, whose daughter Hannah was also in the class, gave me a "bun form" and it changed our life as far as getting a great big bun on top of Grace's head. Her hair is so fine that I wasn't sure how that was every going to work. But, a bun form was the answer! So, we were ready for her big day!

 The week before the recital was Grace's next to last dance class and "trophy day". So, at the end of class, they performed their dances for us and then were presented with their trophy for the year. It was really cute; then we took a class photo of the girls. Then, as they are splitting up to leave, one of the teachers asks for Grace, Hannah and another little girl to come over to them. Very quietly, they put a medal on each girls neck and hugged them. I wasn't sure what was going on, but when I realized the medal said "outstanding student", my heart exploded. I was so proud of Grace! I know that this is just a fun preschool dance class and all of the girls are precious and I don't know that talent really exists a lot at this level, but I was still SO proud of my sweet girl for getting this extra little accolade. And Grace was so excited when I got a chance to explain what her medal was for. She couldn't stop holding it and showing it to me, the people at walmart after dance class, and then anyone who would ask her about it at Atticus's baseball game that night. She wore it all day. When she asked me why she got it, I told her it must have been because she was a good listener and followed instructions well. I had no idea, but I want her to know those two things are most important for her teachers. So, it was a fun day!

 2 of her 3 teachers were Katie and Caitlin (Melissa was her other one)

The next week was recital week. GG came to town earlier in the week for Atticus' lego birthday party, so she and the rest of our family went to Grace's recital on May 4th at Rudder on campus. Grace didn't seem nervous at all, until I dropped her backstage. But, her teachers are so great with them AND there were coloring sheets, so she was good to go. Both dances the girls did were great and Grace did a great job. It was funny because their teachers were off to the sides doing the dances too and Grace remembers some, but usually still follows her teacher's moves. So, she is mostly looking towards the side. But, for being on that big stage with bright lights and a dark audience, I was just so so proud of her! I picked her up backstage afterwards and she was so happy. We went back to our seats and they had intermission. We were told that we did not have to stay until the end and I thought she would be ready to go. We take pictures outside and then she tells me she wants to stay and watch the other dances. So, GG, Grace and I stayed. She had her fingers in her ears at the beginning of the night from the loud music, but by the end, she just watched and watched and never lost interest. I was so glad she liked watching too!

 

 

 

 

 And then she did a bunch of silly poses!

 

We got home, ate Chicken Express and then our little dancer did a big toy setup and then fell asleep.

 

 

It was such a fun dance year and I thoroughly enjoyed taking her every week and getting to visit with my two dance mom friends, Elizabeth and Lisa. Here we are at our last dance class day a week later. And here is our Grace on her last day of class this year too!

 Lisa's daughter is moving up to an older class and Elizabeth is moving to Austin, so I will have to find someone new to visit and laugh with each week next year! 

What a great dance year!