Sascha's June Ballet Recital and Father Daughter Dance

Once you started softball, it seemed like you were getting really bored in Ballet, but we stuck it out for the rest of the year... even though a few of the times you mentioned that you didn't want to go anymore.
When it was time to sign up for recital, we talked to you and asked you specifically if you wanted to keep dancing and you said yes, so not only did we sign you up for the recital, we signed you up for the Father Daughter dance. Daddy has been waiting to do this with you for over a year, but I kept telling him that it's best we wait till you are 5 or bigger, and after you said you didn't want to go to class, we thought this might be the last opportunity, so we decided it was time. The recital also fell on the Father's day weekend which made it even more special for some family time afterwards.

Starting in May you had 5 separate rehearsals for you and daddy to learn your dance. It was a cute little jazz number to a song called "Do you love me?"
This was definitely a special little time for you both. Daddy would get off work early on Friday, pick you up from school and take you to your favorite dinner place... which was Panda Express (just about every time!) and a 7 Eleven Slurpie. Cameron and I came to watch a few times, and when we didn't you would come home super happy and wanted to practice, so you'd show us your new moves and Cameron and I loved watching you guys try so hard.

You and your class did very well. Daddy even busted out some Michael Jackson moves on stage. I think he might already be choreographing a little dance for your wedding. It was so so sweet to watch you both on stage. Such an awesome memory!

After the recital we went out to celebrate with all the family.
   

Winter Dance Recital

It's hard to believe that we are on our 3rd year of dance lessons. This is definitely an activity you look forward to each week. This year we weren't able to stick together with your other dance friends, but you still had a few familiar faces, including your good little friend Sadie. You also had to adjust to a new teacher. The first few times you kept asking why it wasn't ms. Jackie, and I had to explain to you that she no longer teaches your class, and now you will have ms. Julia... it took a while to warm up, but I think you are liking it just as much as before. The class does get a bit too crowded at times, and I don't think you do too well in that environment, but when you are focused on listening and learning, I can definitely see a lot of improvement. This year your recital routine was a lot more complicated than the previous, and you weren't really willing to practice much at home... that could have been our fault for not encouraging it more too, but either way you learned it and were excited to perform.

We were very proud to see you on stage... I think I was even a little less nervous this time around than the previous few, and you seemed to be a little more apprehensive about it than the last few times. But you did great, and greeted us with a huge smile when we came to pick you up backstage. Baba and Deda of course came to your recital as always, and enjoyed watching the Nutcracker with us too. It's so touching to see Baba watch you dance, I can tell how much she enjoys seeing you dance and how many memories it brings for her because of all the years that she danced as well.

Daddy thinks that you might be getting bored of ballet, and we may try something a bit more upbeat for you next year if the schedule works out.

 Here are a few photos of you in the angel costume... so sparkly and cute!

This was at the rehearsals... since we are not allowed to take any photos during the actual recital


After your performance


All smiles with Sadie, Mae and your current teacher Ms. Julia as well as your last years teacher Ms. Jackie

Sascha's Summer Dance Recital

It was a tap number this time, to a song called "Stupid Cupid". The choreography was really fun and sassy. The girls looked adorable in their red dresses with red ribbons, and their tap shoes. Sascha cooperated with putting on her costume unlike last year, she did complain that the arm bands were itching her, but we told her she wouldn't have to put those on until right before she goes on stage.

She was in absolute awe watching other dancers rehearse when we did a test run at the rehearsal. They did the number twice and the second time she did much better than the first. I noticed that she was getting very distracted standing next to her friend Sadie the first time, so on the actual performance day I asked Miss Jackie if she could separate the two of you which she did.

We got to the Center of performing arts right on time, and Sascha watched the whole first half and was mesmerized by the older dancers. She never complained and while sitting on Baba's lap. During the intermission I took her back stage, helped her et dressed and left you with the rest of the girls to color and have snacks while you all waited for your time to perform. Cameron was a total trooper, the first half he just watched and didn't make a peep. The 2nd half, he got ansy, and I had to distract him with snacks and water, and anything else we could think of. I didn't have to get up with him once to take him outside, he endured the whole thing. I once again felt so nervous for Sascha, I just couldn't help it.

Sascha did great, although she did look a bit frightened while on stage, she danced her little heart out. When we talked to her, she said she had fun doing it, and that's all that matters. She makes us proud every day!

 The performance photos are from the rehearsal

A few after shots taken w/her friends and Miss Jackie

Muchkin and one proud mamma

Proud Baba and Deda

Family Photo

Sascha's Holiday Dance performance

Sascha loves to dance. She loves going to dance class, and she absolutely adores her teacher Ms. Jackie. We've never had to make her go, it's always been something that she looks forward to.

Twice a year Danceology puts on a Recital show. This was a Holiday show, and we of course had to participate. For some reason Sascha doesn't like dressing up. She doesn't get excited about the costumes, it makes her nervous. As soon as we picked up the costume, she told me a few times that she doesn't want to go up on stage, which made me question why we signed her up for the performance in the first place if she is not going to be excited about doing it. Of course she really enjoyed it last time she performed in June, but we did have a hard time convincing her to put her balerina dress on. This time around a similar thing happened at the dress rehearsal. She saw everyone in their costume, but refused to put hers on. Luckily I was not by myself, and daddy came to the rescue. He didn't really give her an option, and put the pretty blue dress on her and she was fine with it. She twirled and danced with her friend Sadie, plus other dancer friends, and had a great time. At the actual dress rehearsal she also did very well and followed all of Ms. Jackies moves so we were excited to see her perform!

On the actual day of the performance, she once again seemed nervous, but didn't fuss about putting on her dress, she seemed comfortable in it now. Baba, Deda, Grandpa, Aaron & Grisha all came to watch our little dancer. Unfortunately we didn't get there early enough to get good seats, so we were pretty far away, but the munchkin did very well. She was a bit hesitant when I dropped her off, she really didn't want me to leave, but when I picked her up she was so excited. She yelled "Mommy, I wasn't scared! I went up on Stage and I danced!" We all told her how proud of her we were, and how awesome she did! Cameron was a total trooper as usual sat thru all the performances. After the intermission, we were ready to watch the Nutcracker which Sascha was very excited about. She watched the whole thing sitting on grandpa's & mine laps and loved it. Cameron fell asleep in Deda's arms, half way into it ... it was nap time and he decided that he had seen enough dancing.

I hope her love for dance keeps growing. We really enjoy these special performances. Besides being super cute because of the little 4 year old kiddos that are in them, I hope they teach her confidence which will come in handy in years ahead.

You can see Sascha is a bit nervous and is biting her lip in a few of these... at least her hands aren't in her mouth. :)
Most of these were taken at the dance rehearsal, only the last one was on the day of the performance posing with Taylor. Her mom was actually the one who told me about this studio about a year ago when we met at the library. I am so glad I took Sascha to try it out.


Since we didn't get to take many photos on performance day, we took these once we got home. Sascha does have a little bit of blush, and blue eye shadow on... she actually let me put it on this time. Her lips are red because she enjoyed a lolipop right before we took these. :) No lipstick for her yet, I was too afraid that she would smear it all over her mouth.

Sascha's First Dance Recital

We've been looking forward to this for a few weeks now, and we got to finally witness what it would be like to see our child perform. Whatever stage it may be, dancing, playing the an instrument, or doing a sport. We got to experience what it's like to watch our little person do an activity they enjoy doing and get praise for it. It was exciting, nerve recking, and heartwarming all at the same time. We loved it!

Lets back up a few weeks...

In dance class you have been practicing a choreographed dance routine by Miss Jackie to a song by Lee Ann Womack "I hope we dance". I am not going to lie it's pretty cute. Of course you don't do all the moves, and very often half way into the routine you just stop, and get distracted by other dancers, BUT does it really matter? You're adorable!

A few weeks ago we picked up your costume and for some reason you wanted nothing to do with it. A week later you let me put it on you and you seemed to like prancing around like a little ballerina, complaining about the itchy arm bands :)

Luckily we also had a dress rehearsal a few days before the recital where you were able to see the big stage and preform your dance there in full costume. The only problem was, you refused to put it on. Hmm... we left the house in normal clothes and I brought it with me to the theater. Once we got there you were mezmerized by all the girls dancing and when I mentioned that you will go up on the stage and dance too you looked scared and immediately declared "NO". Oh boy!

I let you sit and watch a few performances since we got there early, I also pointed out that all your dancer friends are already wearing their dresses, but stubbornly you refused. I took you outside the theater and tried to put it on, that's where you started to cry. I knew I couldn't force you to wear it. People came by and made comments about how pretty your outfit was, but nothing really helped. A few minutes before you were due on stage I found Miss Jackie and told her our dilema and thank goodness she was willing and free to help. She talked to you so sweetly and you listened like a good girl and finally allowed us to put your costume on. Yay! I couldn't even fix your hair since you got wisked away as soon as your ballet shoes were on. I did your hair at home before we left, but it was totally messy by the time we got to the theater, not to mention it's almost impossible to keep it neat without fly aways. You looked a bit scared going up on stage, and you had your finger in your mouth, which you always do when you get nervous or shy, but you seemed to have no problems once you were up there.

You got to perform the dance on stage twice. And I attempted to get video and photo both since it wouldn't be allowed during the real performance. Needless to say both were pretty poor quality. Miss Jackie was on the side doing the moves so some of the girls were turned in that direction because they would watch and follow her which was pretty funny. It was so fun to see you on stage. You did a great job and I was a proud mama, even with total anxiety after the whole costume ordeal that you put me through earlier. You were finished and I offered for you to take the costume off and of course you didn't want to and you said you want to go dance again. Haha, of course you do! I let you watch a few more before we had to go.


On the day of we had you watch a video that daddy made of your class practicing the dance and you actually practiced a few times which was cute. This time around I dressed you up at home, so you were pretty much ready to go even though your actual performance was in the second half after the intermission. You sat on daddy's lap and grandpa's lap the whole time watching all the dancers. You seemed to really enjoy it. When I asked if you were ready to go up on stage, you looked at me and said "NO" in a whiny little voice. During the intermission, we walked all the way around to where the dancers checked in, I stayed back stage with you for about 15 minutes. You guys had coloring books, and snacks and you seemed to be doing just fine, so I went back to watch the rest of the dances and wait anxiously to see you on stage. There were 5 other dancers with you and all of you got walked out on stage to perform. You did great! I thought I would get emotional like Baba did and Grandpa, but I really didn't. I had this nervous energy the whole time as if it was me there on stage. It was a great recital. The little dancers were super cute, and the older ones I really enjoyed as well. So many people came to watch you. Baba, Deda, Inna, Grisha, Aaron, Grandma Laurie, Grandpa and even aunt Maria and uncle Mike from Florida (they were in town for Zac's high school graduation). Of course Cameron came too. Thanks to grandma Laurie for hanging out with him in the back. He was a total trooper as always. Laurie said that he got scared once because it got loud, but then he really enjoyed watching as well and towards the end fell asleep in her arms. Everyone really enjoyed all of the performances. It was a special evening, we took pictures afterwards with your dancer friends and miss Jackie and then with family. I hope your love for dance keeps growing and that this will be one of many recitals that we get to enjoy watching you dance in.

Here are some of my favorite pictures! Bottom right picture cracks me up. Your arms are going one way and Sophia's arms next to you are going the opposite way.

May be I'll post the Video a bit later... once I get it uploaded :)

At the Rehearsal

On the day of the recital