Dancing Queens

 The girls had some fun dance experiences this summer that merit their own post.  Annie had been taking a weekly class from a cute girl in the stake named Abby.  The classes were at her house in the back yard. Our neighbor Shaylee, whom Annie loves, was in her class with her.  It was a win-win situation--Annie got Shaylee time, and Lindsey and I switched off carpooling to and from rehearsals.  

They had a little end-of-year recital at the stake center.

We were very happy with Annie's cute costume.  

Here is her performance in full.  My very favorite part is her scuttle off to the side after a leap at 2:11.  The angle of her elbows is especially wonderful.

Abby made them all little bracelets and gave them all roses at the end of the recital. 

She is a sweet young woman!  Annie had a marvelous first foray into ballet.

Here is Abby's full studio:

As for the Vivs, she participated in Dance Theatre Southwest's "Nutcracker in the Land of Enchantment."  It was supposed to have happened in December, but with COVID everything got pushed back, so they decided to do a drive-in performance on an outdoor stage during the summer.  

There were many rehearsals.  Here's Vivs in the corner with all the amazing dancers.

Here she is learning her mouse leaps.

When the small dancers weren't rehearsing they were outside on the lawn, tended by parent volunteers.  I signed up for a day or two so I could pretend to be a good dance mom.  

It was funny to be there.  Sometimes the older dancers would come outside for a break from their masks.  One day a high-school aged boy came out looking flushed and distressed.  I asked if he was ok and he said, "It just wasn't a good day for it!  I'm on the stilts...and with the heavy head...and the jackalopes running all over..." then he shook his head and walked back inside.  I had no idea what he was talking about.  But I definitely understood when I saw the show!

As the performances approached, the rehearsals got to be very long and late.  Vivien was a tired girl.

We had a lot of dance-world related learning to do.  Vivien's teacher taught us the art of ballet buns.

Vivien endured the torture of Mom's French braiding with good grace, as long as she had a book to read to distract her.

Just look at this ballerina!  

It was a rather grown-up thing to do for our little Vivs.  We arrived at call-time (which I felt was ludicrously early) and she walked by herself to the performer's tent...

... and laid out her things in her 6-foot space (the ballet studio was rigidly strict with COVID precautions).

I got to sit and watch the New Mexico Philharmonic orchestra players warm up while the mountains turned pink with the sunset...

...and then watch the moonrise!

When they would finally get started, out she would come, as a mouse, or a bumblebee, or a little angel (her biggest part).  I'm pretty sure that's her on the left.

They did two nights of performances.  I came the first night with Krista and some of the Morgans...

...then Drew brought all the kids the second night while I was working.  

It was a HUGE thing for Vivien to do.  She was not happy about it for the majority of the time and there were many, many tears.  I even told her she could quit ballet as soon as it was over if she wanted to.  But in the end she still wanted to do ballet, so I think it was a good experience overall. 

The studio also had an end of year recital.  Look at the Long One:

They did all their stretches for us...

...then they moved their barres into the other room...

...to do some more barre things.  This is Vivien's favorite thing to do on a barre:

They did a little routine for us in here as well.  

Then her teacher taught us about ballet shoes.  I'm not 100% sure about this whole ballet thing, with the body image/identity issues dancers seem to have and the foot problems and injuries, but it is the only active thing we've had Vivien try that she even remotely enjoys, so we'll stick with it for now!