Everything Is Coming Up Tutus
As we pulled into the parking lot, Alexis peered out her window and declared, "Wow! That's a lot of tutus!"
It was a lot of tutus. Dozens and dozens and dozens of little girls walked proudly with their families into the big auditorium, all ready for The Big Day. Recital Day. We joined the march and I urged Mr. Husband to go run ahead and grab seats while I took Alexis to the dressing room.
I knew it would be crowded and crazy, and it was exactly that. Despite arriving early, we were still left to sit near the back. There was a lesson learned in there that I will remember for next year. That lesson is a little something about being -ahem- more assertive in our quest for seats next year. And possibly camping out the night before. And bringing a bottle of captured Bulldog farts so I can clear the room.
It was a very long wait for Alexis' class to perform as they were scheduled for near the end of the program. While the show was very well-organized and clearly the people in charge knew what they were doing, I spent a great part of the show wondering if they had a plan for someone dying in the middle of the production. The grandma seated next to me coughed up a lung, a kidney, and possibly the kitchen sink. I kept hoping that if she did fall over dead, she would at least manage to lunge herself towards her family so that I wouldn't have somebody's dead grandma in my lap.
Fortunately, she made it through the entire show. THANK GOODNESS.
When at last it was Alexis' turn to shake her tail feathers, she marched out on that stage in front of thousands (literally) and did her thing. It might be cliche and I might be biased, but damn if she wasn't the best little dancer on that stage for those few minutes. No, really. That thing I said a while back about her not being all that good at tap? I TAKE IT BACK. I don't know when it happened, but at some point she learned how to really memorize choreography. She hit all those steps like a champ, all the while looking out at the audience instead of the teachers hidden off-stage who were leading the class. The best part was that the look on her face was one of confidence and sass and a little of "I own this moment, people."
After the show, we gave her some roses and a little trophy, which pretty much made her life. She was so happy, she was positively glowing. When I asked her what her favorite part was, she said, "Everything!"
Everything, indeed.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Reader Comments (23)
She is positively stunning. So proud of her for nailing the routine!
So freaking awesome. (Beautiful photo of her on stage, btw. Totally. And off. But this is no surprise.)
Love. Lots of love.
OOOOH MYYYY GODDDD THE CUUUUUUTENESS!
I know I haven't met Alexis but I feel like I know her a little from reading your blog for the past several years. I am so proud of her! She was so shy just a few years ago - such a big girl now.
She is lovely! Yay Alexis!
Dance is wonderful. Just DO NOT get sucked into the competitive dance stuff - that is the way of madness. She is adorable. Congrats!
She looks like she belongs up there. Way to go Alexis!
@Leanne--No worries about that, for sure. I don't think I have the patience for all that drama, and I'm not talking about the drama created by the kids. It's the parents who slay me.
That is so, so awesome. That last picture just says it all. How perfect! :)
I am so proud of the little lady she's blossomed into - I cannot even imagine how you feel! Where did that shy phase just disappear to?
She looked fantastic AND she can dance?! The girl's got it all! Congrats to Alexis on her first big recital!
She totally looks like a dancer. {SIGH} That is Awesome (yes, with a capital letter).
And about saving seats...at our son's First Communion this year someone's grandma told a mom of one of the communicants that she was going to hell for trying to sit in a pew (an ENTIRE pew) that she was trying to save. It got really, really ugly...but that mom rose above and ended up bringing the crotchety old crazy lady a flower from her DAUGHTER'S bouquet. That was class.
So exciting! Of course she owned it! Looks like the playroom stage may have helped her know what to do when she was on the real one for the recital. She looks great in her tutu.
Look at the little diva! She's beautiful!!!
It's amazing what can happen when a shy little girl has parents that help her overcome it without making her feel like it's wrong, and a Dance teacher that doesn't just care about the "best" dancers. She looks amazing, I feel like a proud aunt or something, haha.
She is SO grown up, look at her! Go Alexis!
I am just in so much awe of how much Alexis has grown in the last few years and how far she has become in finding who she is and learning what she is capable of. Then again, you, my friend, are an amazing role model and teacher and mother! There is no way that kid isn't going to grow up and do awesome things in this world!
Oh she's just gorgeous :)) love her attitude
Awesome! And my favorite part? You did not put a crap-ton of makeup on her for that recital! She's beautiful all on her own, with that smile that starts in her eyes, and goes to her mouth!
@sports mama--One of the things I like about our dance studio is that they don't do the makeup thing. They also only do age appropriate costumes and age appropriate choreography. Yay for letting kids be kids!
Oh that reminds me of the good old days! She is freaking adorable!!
That smile right there? At the end? So worth every penny spent, every minute of time devoted, all the lessons learned. That smile is the kind that sticks with a mama forever. :)
Good for her! What a great moment!