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Ballet

Posted by Carolyn on May 21, 2015 Leave a Comment

And Then They Ballet Back Looking OnThere are some things we do in our lives that seem to define us.  For me, ballet is one of those things.  I danced from when I was three until high school, and a little in college.  So much of who I am stems from my dancing.  The way I walk, the way I move, the way I hear music, the way I stretch.

I was never particularly great, but I didn’t know that.  To me, my dream of being a real ballerina was a possibility.  A real possibility.  I loved all of ballet, but I especially loved the leaps.  I would do leap turns around and around the studio, trying to get higher, faster.

When we finally learned to do fouette turns, and I felt like I was finally a real ballerina.  I could hop onto pointe, use my other leg to send me in turn after turn after turn.

My dance recitals are some of my favorite memories of childhood.  I loved the preparation as our teacher would choreograph and teach us the moves.  We would pour over the costume catalogs and memorize our music.  Then we would practice.  Those days were the best.  We would do our barre work, then rush to practice.

Dress rehearsals and photographs meant the recital was almost there.

Then the day came.

We would go in the stage door of the Hult Center (like real ballerinas).  We would go to the dressing rooms (like real ballerinas).  We would go up to the wings and wait for our music to start (like real ballerinas).

Then, for a few minutes, with the stage lights shining, we were real ballerinas.  The audience was watching us, counting our fouettes, cheering us on.

Those things, those experiences, made me who I am today.

Those things are helping make my children who they are today.

Last weekend was Alma’s first ballet recital.  Those moments that I experienced over and over in my childhood were upon us in Alma’s young childhood. And Then They Ballet PortraitAnd Then They Ballet GroupI was backstage with Alma and her group.  I got to watch her experience those same things.  She watched as the big girls got their hair done.  She had a woman put her crown in her hair.  She posed for the photographer.  She was silly with her friends.  She went into the wings.  She watched the dancers.  She saw magic happen before her eyes. And Then They Ballet BackstageShe heard her music and went on stage.  She heard the audience react to what she was doing.  She was a ballerina.And Then They Ballet Tulle LightAnd the whole experience is making her into a person, a girl, a woman, a ballerina.  And it’s changing who I am, too.

The things we are doing are defining who Alma will become.  It’s magical.

(Alma is second from right, at least in the beginning… I told her to jump up and down if she forgot the steps…)

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Posted in: a little moment, created., gave thanks., learned., STRONG | Tagged: alma, ballet, create, dance, friday gratitudes, kids, Parenting, play

Alma, Ballerina

Posted by Carolyn on January 14, 2015 2 Comments

Alma started ballet classes this past week.  She loves dancing, and has been ready for ballet lessons for a long time now.  I have to admit that I’ve been looking forward to this day for even longer.  I started ballet when I was three years old, and loved it.  I danced into high school, and a little bit in college.

bIMG_5690For Christmas, my dad and step-mom gave Alma the ballet lessons and attire.

On the day of her first class, I got Alma into her tights and leotard, gave her a bun, and watched her.  She ran back to her room (pardon the mess), and just grinned at herself in the mirror.  Yep, this girl is ready for ballet.

bIMG_5674 bIMG_5675 bIMG_5679 bIMG_5686She was definitely the youngest person in her class (she had to be 3 to be in the class, and had turned 3 five days previous), and I think most of the other kids had been taking lessons for a while.

I could watch through a window into the studio, and Alma did a great job.  She would look over at me and grin and wave.  I loved it, and the little glimpse it gave me into a future of ballet recitals, tutus, ballet slippers.

b20150108_110034

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Posted in: gave thanks., parented. | Tagged: alma, ballerina, ballet, dance

A Little Moment 6

Posted by andthenthey on March 5, 2014 Leave a Comment

image

Alma is working hard on some spring art projects. 
“The Circle of Life”comes on Pandora.
Alma takes a dance break.

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Posted in: gave thanks. | Tagged: a little moment, dance, lion king, Parenting
If God said, ‘Rumi pay homage to everything that has helped you enter my arms,’ there would not be one experience of my life, not one thought, not one feeling, nor any act, I would not bow to. -Rumi

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