Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Tiny Dancer

She bounds into the room, far too early for the late bedtime she'd had the night before, a bundle of energy.

"Why are you up so early? You should still be sleeping!" I tell her quietly so as not to wake her brothers.

"I am just so 'cited for my dance class today! I'm so so 'cited!" she tells me as she bounces up and down.

After traipsing all around town with us to support her brothers in their endless baseball games this summer (not to mention the basketball games in winter and the football games in fall) Grace finally has something of her own to look forward to.

Last summer Grace was in the Itty Bitty Ballet class. Each week she would try her best not to cry as I dropped her off at her dance class but she would be happy and excited again by the time I picked her up at the end of class. She really enjoyed her dance class.

This year I tried to sign her up for the same class but all of the classes were in the evening (when the plethora of baseball games were clogging up our schedule) so I knew that wouldn't work. Instead I found a tap/ballet class on Tuesday mornings. I wasn't sure how she would feel about tap but I figured tap/ballet was better than no dance at all.

The minute we got to dance class we had to buy Grace some tap shoes. Turns out new shoes that make a click clacky sound when you walk were just the thing to get Grace excited about tap. It helped that her big brothers were very impressed with the cool new shoes and slathered her with compliments and praise. Such supportive boys.

Grace took to the floor and click-clacked away with the rest of the class. It was so stinking cute. Unfortunately, the teacher asked that we not stay and watch so I only caught the very beginning. After a few minutes the boys and I waved to Grace and made our way out the door. Grace smiled, waved back, and went back to tapping. What a difference from the tears that used to accompany our good-byes last year.
The boys and I walked over to a nearby park and waited our time out there. As the boys played I read my book and thought back to last year and this very same scenario. I even wrote about it in one of my favorite posts.

Time flew by and soon it was time to get Grace. I went early so that I had a chance of sneaking in and watching a bit of the ballet part of class. I caught the last 5 minutes and watched as Grace listened intently and copied exactly what the teacher was doing. I was amazed at her posture and the grace with which she moved. She was definitely aptly named.
As soon as class was over Grace ran to me and gave me a big hug. She was so happy to be back in dance class. I told her how proud I was that she was working so hard, listening so well, and really trying her best. 

Grace clutched her tap shoes and ballet shoes to her chest with her right hand, grabbed my hand with her left hand, and together we skipped out of dance class, down the stairs, and out into the sunshine.
Way to go, my tiny dancer!

11 comments:

nbrsspot.blogspot.com said...

she is so cute. i cant believe how big she has gotten. i remember the post when you said you were pregnant with a baby then the one about what she was going to be. its amazing. go grace for being such a good girl.

Tabor said...

So precious. So happy that you support her as her brother's activities are certainly overwhelming to her. It is now her time to shine. I wish my daughter had more time to watch her little ones in their various activities, but he life has such little time.

Bijoux said...

My son did boys tap for six years. The dance routines were totally amazing. I knew nothing about tap before that. I hope she loves it!

That last picture is adorable!

betty said...

She's so cute! Looks like a great extracurricular activity to be involved in. I always thought it was neat to have those type of tapping shoes and be clacking all around the stage performing. I hope she continues to enjoy it :)

betty

Kat said...

Bijoux- My boys said they want to do tap too. I think they just love the shoes. But if they are interested I would sign them up in a heartbeat. Nothing like a guy who can dance!

I've asked Grace if she wanted to sign up for soccer or softball or anything else. For now she is all about dance. She really does enjoy it. :)

Peruby said...

Consider the LIKE button pushed! :D

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

Kat-she's just gorgeous. And, yes, so graceful for sure!

You'll have to take her to a show where there is tap dancing...I bet she loves it!

Mom24 said...

Not just saying this, she really has beautiful form. Hope she keeps loving it. beautiful.

Kat said...

Krystyn- There was a fantastic tap routine on So You Think You Can Dance a little over a week ago and I showed it to Grace. She love it!

Cheri- I know! Those arm positions! And she moved so fluidly through them. I was amazed!

Mom24- She does have great form! She isn't even 5 yet, for pete's sake! She is a natural. If this is something she would want to do long term I have no doubt she would be fantastic. However, a dancer's life is hard so I'm not sure I'd wish that for her. For now I just want her to have fun. :)

Heather said...

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Riahli said...

She is so adorable!

Words To Live By

Be grateful for each new day.
A new day that you have never lived before.
Twenty-four new, fresh, unexplored hours to use usefully and profitably.
We can squander, neglect, or use them.
Life will be richer or poorer by the way we use today.
Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could;
some blunders and absurdities crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day.
You shall begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be
encumbered with your old nonsense.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson