Dance Recital

Four pretty girls were so pleased and proud to perform in a dance recital - and thrilled to get ROSES from daddy after their performance :)

Hanna Hiwot, Maegli, Maclaren, and Dabney all had a personal cheering section in the audience for their Sunday afternoon performance.  At a local middle school auditorium, our girls took the stage (thankfully all in the same show!) in 6 routines (9 costumes total).  In the audience, we were beaming, so proud of our lovely ladies on stage.  They all showed such poise and grace and confidence.

First up: Maclaren in Primary II (4-5-year-olds) performing a tap routine to "I Wanna Be A Rockette" by Andrea McArdle
2: Maegli and Hanna (9-year-olds) preforming a ballet routine to "Miracles Happen" (from Princess Diaries)
3: Dabney in Primary I (3-year-olds) performing a ballet routine to "You Ought to Be in Pictures" an old song by Rudy Vallee
4: Maegli and Hanna in a Jazz routine to "Don't Stop" by Little Violet (a very fast swing pop song)
5: Maclaren performing a ballet routine to "Fly with Me" by Kari Kimmel
6: Maegli and Hanna in a tap dance to "Something to Dance For" by Zendaya

This dance recital was the culmination of months of hard work and practice.  Our girls had a lot of "new" this past year - even in dance they had a new studio, new teachers, new techniques, and new classes - but weekly dance lessons gave them something to look forward to each week.  It's been something all four have thoroughly enjoyed.
 
The girls are excited to continue dance next year - possibly at a new studio(!).  This has been a great year of dance for our ballerinas.  We're so proud of Hiwot, Maegli, Maclaren, and Dabney.   It is a joy to watch them dance. 

*I was also so proud of my girls taking care of their own costume changes backstage - they had a lot of costumes!  The girls were so organized and did such a great job.  We had bins and bags prepped and labeled and ready to go for them - there is a lot of work that happens behind the scenes in a dance recital.  We are so thankful for their encouraging teachers, the backstage helpers, and everyone who worked to make this show happen.  

Dress Rehearsal

This marks our 6th year of dance.  With each year we learn a little more on how to successfully get through the big dance recital - it seems each year we add more girls, more routines, and more costumes!  I do my best to keep the costumes, tights, shoes, and accessories in order.  We have streamlined and sped up the hair styles and makeup - although with four girls, it's still a process!  We hang tutus upside down near the shower to steam and fluff, pack everything into bins and bags, layer tights to sped up backstage costume changes, and bring lots of water bottles and snacks to gear up for a full day of dress rehearsal. 

As mom, I do my best to help the girls with the little details . . . they have the much bigger job.  Hiwot, Maegli, Maclaren, and Dabney had complex dances to memorize and perform on stage in front of an audience! 

Dress rehearsals are usually a bit rough - it's the time to work out the kinks and get used to costumes, lights, and the big stage (even more challenging when people are working on the stage!).  The girls all seemed a little lost during rehearsal, but were all smiles and confidence for the performance.  Way to go girls!  

This year, they were not as prepared as in year's past.  Some of their routines weren't fully choreographed until the week before the recital!  One dance had a song change just 2 weeks before the show!  Yikes!  These girls showed great poise despite feeling unprepared.  The show must go on!  This was definitely a learning (and growing) experience!