About two thirds the way through the year, the teachers started rolling down the shades so we parents couldn't watch them practice their routine. It would be the same thing every Saturday morning: get into the dance room, stuff Zoë's ever growing feet into her dainty little pink ballet slippers, hear her state how she'd rather go play in the toddler room that has fun toys, and then watch her run off into the dance room once she found her friends Chloe, and Emma. (As a side note, the Chloe, Zoë, and Emma trio have become known not only at our dance studio, but are also a favorite among their teachers at our preschool).
Anyway, where was I. Oh, I stuff Zoë's feet into her ballet slippers, hoping they'll fit through the year, and determined not to have to buy two pairs for one year. The girls all prance off into the dance gym, and we the parents settle down, and start watching the chaos that unravels as the teachers try to warm them up for dance. We get the occasional child that waves fervently to one of us... continuing to do so until whichever parent the kid belongs to acknowledges and waves back. Once in a while we'll get the whole group of them back in the wait room area, because when one of them has to pee.... well, they all suddenly have to pee. Mostly though, it's like watching a group of lovely, patient, elegant dancers, while they try and herd cats into formation. I've seen more order happen from molecules under a microscope when I was studying random diffusion than I would typically see in this dance class. Girls spinning around in circles, wandering off on their own.... some just sitting on the floor picking their ballet shoes. When they started pulling the shades down so we couldn't see them anymore, most of the parents instantly went into "oh good, I'm off duty" sort of mode.
That being said, it was actually fun not knowing what their planned dance routine was for the recital, and when Zoë got her costume a few weeks prior, it made me excited to see her in action. We got to our seats in plenty of time, I was armed with lollipops for Vince and Luca.... as bribes, to keep them in their seats, or at least to lure them back when they escaped. Well that didn't work. All my bribe food was totally depleted before the show even began. Luca was running around in circles, pushing his way through all the other girls and dancers. Vince was complaining he wanted to go home. It was a tough crowd. Between my mom and her purse of never ending new gadgets for Luca to play with, we were able to keep him entertained until Zoë went on. As soon as she did, both Luca and Vince stopped and just pushed their way over to watch. It was so cute! Mike got the whole movie, and it still was reminiscent of cats... or maybe more like deer in headlights, but it was their show, and it was adorable. We brought flowers to give to Zoë, and Vince went over and gave them to her after her performance, and they hugged! I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that.
Zoë's costume for the recital
the class waiting for their debut
getting warmed up, my little princess!
just getting her flowers from her brother....
Luca and Vince paying no attention whatsoever.... until she went on, then I do have to say they watched with huge interest.
Next year we'll see how her combination dance and tap class goes... I can already imagine the tap shoes and how we'll get to probably hear them a lot at home! haha....
