In May the school had their spring showcase. It was small and simple at just 30 minutes long total. But it was beautiful and moving. The students danced to music from Charles Gounod's Faust. (Mary's Pre-Ballet class danced to "Les Nubiennes.")
I do not have pictures or video from any of the performances. (No cameras allowed.) But a week before the show, the students tried on their costumes over their leotards and practiced the dance in front of parents. You can see a video of the class practicing HERE.
To accommodate all the family and friends who wanted to see the show, there were three performances over two days (not to mention the extra rehearsals that weekend). It made for a busy Friday and Saturday. But, as usual, Mary, with her remarkable stamina, handled it all with grace.
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| Mary off stage between performances. |
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| Congratulations, Mary! I brought flowers for her on opening night. It was such a lovely performance that people were crying at the end of the show! |
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| Mary in costume after the final performance. |
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| When Mary got home after the final performance, she celebrated by giving Sara a big hug. |
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| ...though I'm not sure how Sara felt about Mary's celebratory hug. |
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| Oh the sister love. By the way, Mary looks like one of my cousins in the picture. (Hey, fam, doesn't she resemble Shannon or Alicia?) |
Man, this year sure beat last spring's recital. Last year was an important experience. It gave Mary (and me) confidence and a sense of accomplishment. Mary is still proud that she danced in front of so many people. Most importantly, though, I now know what to avoid. That kind of program--with the emphasis on a single grand performance with expensive costumes instead of an emphasis on teaching and caring--is not a good match for Mary or our family. (David definitely preferred sitting through the 30 minute program to the 3-hour one!) Mary has a gift for being graceful, and I am happy we found a dance studio that restored her love of dance.
P.S. Locals, check out Ballet U. I highly recommend it! Serious, fun, quality, and age-appropriate instruction. Also, it's reasonably priced, and they offer financial assistance in lots of ways. The director's philosophy is that every child should have the opportunity to dance.
