Dance Pictures

Riley had her dance pictures taken this past weekend. I'm debating about whether I am going to order any since I took my own pictures. However, it might be nice to have the group picture. I have a couple of those from when I was in dance and appreciate having them... of course, they are the only pictures I have so there's that distinction.

I'd actually been dreading this day since we discovered that this dance company wanted our 4 and 5 year old's to wear makeup for the pictures and the recital (which is June 12th). Jesse and I were not comfortable with this at all so I reached out to the dance company owner and she was totally respectful of our decision. I wondered what other parent's thought about this, but never broached the subject while our little dancers were in their class.

So Sunday I was relieved to see that only one girl had makeup on (that I could tell). Only 5 of the 8 (I think) girls showed up so maybe more will be made up at the recital, but it's nice to know that we aren't alone on this.

Please ignore my nasty garage floor and my 5 going on 15 year old.

I was also stressing a little about her hair which was supposed to be curled in a high pony tail. Her fine hair doesn't really keep a curl and I don't have anything to curl it with. Plus I couldn't get it all up in a pony. I was about to leave it down, but then found some hairspray and bobby pins from when I got married six years ago and was able to get her hair up in the back. Guess, it's a good thing I held on to that stuff.

Gah! I love her little freckles.

Anyway, no surprise that Riley and I had our own little photo shoot. I never think my yard is all that great in terms of a backdrop, but I did find a few new spots that I am excited to use again in the future. Plus, I think I want to 'make' a floor I can use for photos in the garage with a spot where I can pull down a backdrop.

We probably won't go back to this dance company, but we'll see... Riley's done really well with dance and she sure enjoys it so you never know. We did like her instructor, Miss Carrie, as she was great with the girls.

In the end, it was a good experience for her to participate in something she enjoys, to be able to learn the skills and coordination of dance, follow directions, and cooperate with her classmates. She can put on her own recital anytime she wants at home and now she has the 'special' dress to do so.

Project 52 - Dancing Queen - Week 9

9/52

I found the weather this week to be a little deceitful with all the sunshine and the chirpity chirping birds. It looked and sounded  like spring was on the way and it tempted me to spend time outside, but it was still cold, even bracing at moments with that darn wind. Sure I could have bundled up and braved the great outdoors to take some ideallic winter wonderland pictures with the fresh snow we got on Tuesday, but why would I do that when my barefoot, yoga pants wearing self could stay inside the warmth of my own house and photograph my child showing us some of her new dance moves.

Riley has dance each week - it started last September and runs through June when it ends in a recital.It feels like quite the commitment, but she really enjoys it. I see other kids in her class cry and throw fits about being there, but Riley can't wait to run into the dance room when the door opens. I feel for those other parents - the ones with the very reluctant children. We've been there in other situations (with the very reluctant child) so no way am I going to gloat about Riley loving dance because I know what it feels like. Just tonight there was a girl, who has always seemed to like the class, decide she was over it. She walked out and wouldn't return. Her mom pleaded, demanded, gently coaxed, and finally gave into her daughter's decision. At one point she mumbled that she didn't know what to do and I thought "me neither". 

At any rate, Riley loves dancing and turned on some music one day recently while Jesse and I were doing other things around the house (we must have been cleaning since the vacuum is behind Riley in one of these pictures). I stopped to watch her and realized that she wasn't just doing her random kid dancing stuff, but that she was doing moves from her dance class. She was doing a routine. It just made her seem so much older all of a sudden.

Eventually, Riley demanded that Jesse and I sit down and watch her dance for a song or two. I video taped her and then accidentally deleted the best video. I'm bummed, but I'm pretty sure I might get a repeat performance soon so I'm not at all worried that I will capture this girl and her moves.

Dance Class

Riley started her first dance class today. Well, sort of her first one. Her preschool had dance classes, but they were very informal and she only did about 4 of those. She's been in music class before, but nothing else so we wanted to change things up. Perhaps dance, but we also thought about gymnastics and martial arts. I have to admit I was hesitant to go the dance route. I probably shouldn't have been as I have very fond memories of when I was in dance from age 3 - 7, but I think my memories have less to do with dance and more to do with what my dance teacher meant to me.

My parents divorced when I was three, the same time I started dance class. My teacher lived right around the corner and her dance studio was in her basement. I remember getting to her house early and occasionally she would let me into her living room where she had this glass case under her keyboard/piano thingy. It was a scene of some sort and there was a light that you could turn on. I know it doesn't sounds very exciting (and I haven't described it well), but for me it was the coolest thing ever and I felt like I was the only girl that she let play with it.

My dance teacher also helped make my recital costumes since my dad was, well, a single dad and had little skills in the way of sewing (although my dad did teach me how to darn socks with a needle, thread, and a light bulb). And one year on my birthday, I remember walking past her house on the way to my bus stop and seeing a huge sign in the window that said "Happy Birthday, Elizabeth" (Elizabeth is my first name. I was once somewhat equally called Elizabeth and Jo, and eventually Jo won out.) I felt so special that day.

I'm third from the right

That's me on the far right.

Anyway, dance sits in my memory for a different reason than it might be for others. I only stopped going to dance class because my teacher got sick. Cancer, if I recall correctly. We moved when I was 9, but I moved back to the same neighborhood when I was 18 and always think of her when I walk past her house.

My reason I was hesitant for Riley? I see so many mom's proudly showing off their daughters (rightly so) on Facebook with pictures of their dance recitals, but these young girls have a ton of make up on. It just doesn't seem right to me. I mean, I'm comfortable with older girls, but I think that would have to be over 12 or 13. But younger? It just weird me out. In fact, I wanted to avoid dance so I would never be faced with having to say 'no' to make up when everyone else was wearing it, or deciding to let her do it so she didn't have to be the odd one out. It just seems dance has become something different than when I was a kid . I mean, look at us above... our ballet shoes were all different colors, and I'm pretty sure those are fancified pajamas we are wearing, but it was good. I remember feeling special that day and having fun.

In the end, Jesse got the ball rolling and signed Riley up for dance at a local company (which was highly recommended by neighbors on NextDoor). We signed her up in July and then had to wait until September for the class to start. Jesse said that when he signed up he paid a fee for the outfits. I put it out of my head until a couple days before the class started when I decided to double check and that's when I found out the extra he paid would be for the recital outfit, but that we still needed ballet and tap shoes, a leotard, and tights. Yikes. I scrambled and got everything together. Weirdly, while Riley was getting her tap shoes sized at the store I actually teared up a little. Not sure why, but guessing it's because I know that she will love dance. I knew it would make her so happy and I love making my girl happy.

Had to try everything on when we got home to show dad

So we headed off to dance class with all the other 3 and 4 year olds. All of us parents hovering around the window looking into the studio, afraid to sit down or look away in case we missed anything. Except that one lady who obviously had been there before. She brazenly sat down and read a book. Read a book! I know that might be me in the future, but I was willing to look like the newbie mom staring away at the window in case Riley peaked over or did something super cute.

And then we went home. She said her favorite part was when they danced with streamers and that she wanted to go back next week. We took a few more picture outside, ate some dinner, took a bath, and then she crashed. Such a big, exciting day for this girl. Dancing.