Annabel and her friend Molly (daughter of my oldest friend, Tara) have been taking a ballet/tap class since August of last year. Annie has taken several dance classes before, all through our local parks and rec department, but this class was through the local dance school. I figured it would be a little more structured than the parks and rec, which would be good for Annie — she does much better in that sort of environment.
The class was for four to six-year-olds, a pretty challenging age. But the teacher was very good and very patient, taking her time to really work with the girls. It was pretty clear right away which girls had natural talent, and which girls like to make faces at themselves in the dance studio’s mirror. Annabel’s silly face game is very strong now.
The big culmination to this almost-year of classes was a show at our local performing arts center this past weekend. Annabel was REALLY excited, “We get to go in a dressing room with lockers! And we get to go on a giant stage!” She also looooved that there were makeup requirements (red lipstick and blush so the girls “wouldn’t be washed-out on stage.”).
Annabel’s class was dancing to a song from a Tinkerbell movie, so their costumes reflected that fairy’s fashion sense:
The show itself was really cute. It was almost entirely composed of the young classes, with a few older ballet, tap, and hip hop companies mixed throughout. Some of the youngest classes were so cute and hilarious in their costumes! Still, I was anxious for Annabel, whose class wasn’t until almost the end of the show. But they were worth the wait!
The girls did REALLY well! I was so proud of them. That theater was huge and full of people, but none of them got stage fright and they all did great.
I couldn’t wait to give my little ballerina a huge hug.
We gave her flowers, too:
Will she keep dancing? I don’t know. She seemed totally uninterested in pursuing dance in the lead up to the recital, but in the days since she can’t stop talking about “the next time [she’s] on stage.” She also saw some of the other dance styles during the recital and thinks hip hop looks, “Sooo totally cool and fashionable.”
Oh, well if it’s fashionable, then let’s do it.
RzDrms says:
She’s holding onto Mike’s pant leg in that photo. I cannot take the cuteness; so. much. love!
RzDrms says:
Also, the Tony Danzas!
Glenda says:
Can’t believe how big she looks. Go Annie go! Adorable!
Lenora says:
I did children’s theater as a kid and loved it!!
Katrina says:
So cute!
Jeanie says:
So very cute! I’d love to see her do hip-hop.
Kelly says:
So adorable!
If she likes the dance and hip hop, the performing and is very active, you should consider gymnastics. My now 10 year old started when she was six and LOVES it–especially the competition where they get to perform in front of everyone.
Jeanne P says:
I have a soft spot in my heart for tiny dancers. My daughter danced for 13 years because I found a dance studio that did musical theater classes so she got to dance AND act!!
Dancers develop great self-confidence and a good work ethic. Congrats to Annie on her first recital.
Maddy says:
My little sister did ballet for at least 13 years (until she was 18) so I got dragged along to a LOT of year end ballet shows. Their shows would include the whole school and the younger dancers were always my favourite, they’re so adorable! Also it was always cute to see them looking around at each other to check they were doing the right thing
Courtney says:
Annie looked beautiful! She did love wearing makeup?
My daughter (she’s 3) just had her recital this weekend, too! She is definitely one the mirror-gazers, but she pulled it together and LOVED the show and performing. She keeps saying she wishes she could she could go to ballet again, and do her same dance at the same show. I was really hoping to quit ballet …
BIANCA says:
I think Annie would like gymnastics – but be careful about pursuing dance and gymnastics at the same time! Prima ballerina Darcey Bussell famously had to have physio while still quite young as she had initially started as a gymnast and her joints were too loose/did not offer the support required for ballet. So I’m not saying don’t do both – but just be careful!