Tiny dancer

Here is our pretty girl on the night of her dance recital.  It was fun to get a babysitter for Ben and spend date night at her show.  We gave her a carnation and went home for ice cream cones afterward.

Some of my favorite memories of dance class this year involved taking Aubrey to perform at mini-shows at local care centers and nursing facilities.  At one mini-show, Aubrey was the only dancer from her class to show up, so she proceeded to perform her dances solo.  She did a beautiful job and was such a trooper.  Afterward, she walked around to all the members of the modest audience and gingerly shook each of their hands.

Another memory took place during the recital.  During the show, the class younger than Aubrey broke down into chaos.  As they stood lined up waiting for their music to start, one girl began doing twirls.  The audience egged her on by laughing and cheering.  So, naturally, two more girls joined in the twirling game.  At this point, the music began, but half of the class continued to twirl instead of performing the choreographed dance steps.  Halfway through the song, the lone boy in the class sauntered on from stage left nonchalantly.  At this point, he looked at the twirling group, then at the group performing the dance, and then at the backdrop display of helium balloons at the rear of the stage.  He then proceeded to saunter over to the balloons and punch them like Bobo dolls.  A good majority of the class, twirling and dancing alike, saw this and joined in the ruckus.  And while the music played on, the young children had free reign of the stage, whacking balloons to their hearts content.  It was magical.  It was mayhem.  I loved every minute of it.