She did it! After an entire semester of her avoiding dance while still going to dance class, she got on stage and did her very best. To say we are proud of her would be an understatement for sure.
Josie's always liked the idea of dance. She loves tutu's, she loves to listen to classical music (ballet music as she calls it), she loves to look at pictures of "princess ballerinas," and she really likes to watch others dance. You'd think all of that together would lead to her loving dance class, but it just didn't click.
Each week, I'd basically drag her to class, tell her we're committed until the end of the recital, and wait in the waiting area hoping she wouldn't come out crying. She only ever came out once, the week her dance teacher was gone and there was someone she didn't know, but she never fully participated and definitely didn't seem to enjoy it.
When I say she didn't participate, I mean she would run around, turn the lights on and off much to the dismay of the teacher, sit on the side, watch the other kids, or put her tap shoes on (with the other kids, at the right time) and stomp around. Most of it is partly because she is just young. She doesn't understand a classroom setting like that, and didn't seem to find any reason to follow along. She's strong willed, that one.
But another part of me didn't think it was all age related. She didn't enjoy it, plain and simple. I also realized that it would be hard to get her to dance once we had the baby, so I decided that we would be done after the recital. I just wanted her to get through the recital.
this face...
She loved wearing make up (much to her daddy's horror), and I'm pretty sure she was all about the lipstick, hence this face:
Watching the other kids, absolutely enthralled with their performances:
The night before the recital, I spent some time with her rehearsing her dance (I had a video of the other kids dancing to their recital song earlier in the year) and then left her to watch the video 20+ times since that's what she really wanted to do.
I am not sure if she just knew the dance from watching all year, or from watching the night before, but she got on the stage at the dress rehearsal and did her best, watching "Anna" (one of the older girls who was dressed as Anna and led them through their routine) and the other kids around her. There didn't seem to be any fear of being in front of so many people, bright lights, and a huge stage. Who is this child??
I cried, you guys. I cried. She was so happy to be performing on stage and gave it her all. The performance also went well, although she didn't quite dance as much as she did during the recital. The best part of all was right at the end, while they were all holding hands and walking out. Josie was the last one (I held my breath as the girl next to reached for her hand... but she didn't object) and as everyone clapped, she turned, smiled, and gave a little wave. The star of the show, everyone.
But in all seriousness, I was and am proud of her for overcoming her dislike or fear of the class itself and for going in the classroom every week even when she didn't want to. All of these little obstacles in life build character and it's fun to see her developing into such an awesome little person. I can't wait to see who she becomes (with all of that strong-willed, stage loving personality).
She found the dress up photo both area and as always, it was a crowd pleaser, at least for this little lady.
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