Our Girls on Stage

As everyone knows, we have two daughters--two girls with lots in common, and lots of differences, as well.

Both Janae and Alaina started new ballet classes in September, full of excitement.  They love to dance, and they love dressing up; both also love to perform. 

So we got up early each Saturday morning and took them to their classes--in rain and sun and snow, supporting them in their desire to one day wear a tutu and dance on the big stage. 

But all was not necessarily well.  Ballet is not just tutus and bright lights--it also requires BUNS.



While neither Janae nor Alaina enjoys having a bun in her hair, one of these girls despised buns to the point of giving up ballet. 

After a couple of months of wrestling Janae down to brush out all that long, thick hair and slick it back into a ballet bun, I decided to let her have her way and withdrew her from her class.

The next day she confessed that she wished she'd stayed in ballet :(

Two months later it was time for the big show, and as we took Alaina to her dressed rehersal, Janae said, "I wish you'd FORCED me to stay in ballet!"  Good to know for future reference!

Anyway, two weeks ago we got to hear Janae play beautifully in her first PIANO recital--no buns required :)

 

She played two pieces: "Starfish at Night" and "Twinkling Planets."  She has been practicing every day since piano finished for the school year and even asked if there was any way she could continue her lessons through the summer because she missed learning so much.

Then yesterday was Alaina's big day.  The primary students at her studio were all part of a ballet called "Ye Olde English Sweet Shoppe."  The girls in Alaina's class were Sweethearts, and there were also lemon drops, cupcakes, gummy bears, etc.

The studio rehearsed the whole show four days in a row before the actual performance, so it was a lot of work for our little four-year-old.  Alaina had a bit of a cold and was really tired--she actually fell asleep in the car on her way to the final dressed rehearsal!

She wanted me to stay with her backstage during the rehearsal and the actual show, so I got to see a lot more "behind the scenes" and make a few new little friends :)

 

 

Alaina, of course, was a sweet little ballerina and did great on stage!

 

 

Afterwards she got her first bouquet of flowers

 

 

and lots of love from her brother and sister.

 

 

It is nice to see them supporting each other in the activities they choose to do!  We are really proud of our pianist and our ballerina, and love that they can be either or both--or something else altogether--as they grow.