So I Think That She Can Dance

[Appa23]

As I have not posted a "dance" post recently . . .

PP's studio is holding their dance recitals tonight and tomorrow afternoon. The cousins to SC and Hermillion's Okie storms decided to visit the real Big Red state on Wednesday and Thursday night, accompanied by similar winds, rain, tornado watches/warnings, and hail. Of course, these are the nights that they hold the dress rehearsals and take pictures for the recitals. Wednesday night was the worst, as the storms hit Omaha right when my wife and daughter were driving home. 5+ inches of rain, golfball size hail, and some wind shears in the area. PP rode in the back seat for the latter part of the trip from downtown with her head tucked between her knees, in case any hail broke her window. (I was afraid while waiting at home with the other 2 kids that the windshield would shatter, as it already has a crack that needs to be fixed.)

Anyway, everyone was safe. PP has 4 dances each show (total of six dances, as she is in the opening and closing productions each show). I am very proud that she has learned the choreography for six dances in a short period of time. Well, two are Company competition dances, but they have re-choreographed the "Hollywood" number after each competition. There probably is only 50% of the original version still in place.

Anyway, I am looking forward to seeing the dances. Since I was not at rehearsals, about 90% of the show will be new to me. I am looking forward to seeing all of the competition dances that I never get to see by other kids because I am with my son and/or the baby at their own activities, not at PP's competition.

Plus, there is nothing cuter than seeing the 3-4 year-old kids doing "ballet" and "tap".

[gsabc]

Recommendation: If there's a professional videographer recording the recital, pay whatever he charges to get the DVD. We have every one of BD's recitals. It's amazing to watch the progression of growth, both physically and in dance ability. Some still make me tear up with the memory of all that went into the performance.

Of course, there's also the one where I was an active participant. And the one where the mothers took part, including GW.

[mellytu74]

Our friends were at two recitals last weekend -- two granddaughters in the first (3 & 4) and one granddaughter (4) in the second. This is the first year for the three year old.

I looked at the video on Monday night.

I agree, appa, there is nothing quite as much fun to watch as a group of 3-4 year olds doing "tap" and "ballet."

[tlynn78]

Watching the little ones at a recital is among my favorite things to do. Will there be a YouTUbe appearance of PP?

t.

[Appa23]

Recommendation: If there's a professional videographer recording the recital, pay whatever he charges to get the DVD. We have every one of BD's recitals. It's amazing to watch the progression of growth, both physically and in dance ability. Some still make me tear up with the memory of all that went into the performance.

Of course, there's also the one where I was an active participant. And the one where the mothers took part, including GW.

Yes, they will have a DVD for each night. We have bought the DVDs for the past three years.

We might "share " a DVD this year with a few other people.

We also bought DVDs of PP's performances from 3 competitions this year, so relatives can see her perform.

Interestingly, the dance competitions apparently police You Tube for people posting the professional videos. You need permission to put Little Susie's rump-shaking to "Low".

[Appa23]

Two days of recitals, eight dances, and PP performed nearly flawlessly.

I had not seen the changes that had been made to her "Hollywood" dance. She now does a chasse, chasse, into a grand jete near the beginning of the dance. They also added a part for her when another girl lays back into the rest of the girls' arms and then comes up into a high leg kick. Previously, PP just stood behind everyone, as if she is helping to catch. Now, as they all stand there, she is boosting the cuteness factor by jumping up and waving, to try to get the audience's attention. You first just see her hand. Then, when the group catches the other girl, she leans around the edge of the group to wave at everyone, with this huge s***-eating grin.

Anyway, it was fun to see that her hard work in tumbling (perfecting her head stand, one-handed cartwheels, and walkovers) showed some results.

Still, as earlier noted, the biggest cheers of the two shows were for the little, bitty kids in their cute costumes. "Awwwwww!" was a frequent reaction as they walked out.

I also loved watching two particular girls dance. One had cerebral palsy, and she did wonderfully. The, there is a middle-school-aged girl who has Downs, and she has a "shadow" who does the dance with her. It was very moving.

We also came to discover that one of the few younger boys taking dance classes (nephew to one of the teachers), who had been in several classes with our son, was diagnosed with Asbergers this year. He was very excited that our son was going to come back to the dance studio.

[silvercamaro]

Hurray for PP! She is going keep getting better and better, too, so you probably should start doing special exercises to keep your heart from bursting with pride. Please give her our congratulations for a job (or 8 jobs) not just well done, but artfully done.

It sounds as if you've found a great dance school for your kids. I'm happy to hear that your son is going back, too.

[hermillion]

I second SC's approval for the dance school you have chosen for your kids. They seem to be a school with heart, not just a "factory" that collects checks from parents.

[Appa23]

As I have noted in the past, we love, love, love our studio owners. They refuse to compromise on doing age-appropriate dances, with age-appropriate costumes, in competition. Plus, everyone dances in the recital, which is not always the case at other studios (or so I have been told).

Anyway, they really have been trying to have a class devoted to special needs children. Unfortunately, there seems to have been a downturn in the last year with dance enrollment.

We are becoming even more entrenched at our studio. My wife will be teaching a couple of the "baby" and young kid classes, as well as helping out with musical theatre and general performance issues. Our son is joining the competition team, on a part-time basis. PP will add at least one more dance, plus she likely will have a duet with the 6 year-old son of the studio owners. (Can you say a decade-long partnership?)

Oh, and the baby will start dance classes in the fall. (Move and Groove) Both of the older kids will take an Introduction to Hip-Hop class.