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Our Tiny Dancer

Well, that's a wrap! I can't believe that Kenzie's first "year" of dance is officially in the books. Steven and I have talked for 4 years about what activities Kenzie might like one day when she was bigger. We knew long ago that we wanted her to try dance. She has loved to dance anytime she hears music since before she could walk. She loves all things tutu and frilly so dance seemed right up her alley.


You might remember our post about her first lesson back in February. Wow! Even looking back at those pictures from that first lesson she looks so much more grown up now. She has grown by leaps and bounds in the last 4 1/2 months. She is still LOVING dance. She talks about it all the time and is constantly showing someone things such as first position, plies, shuffle steps, or arabesques. Every time she learns something new, she wants to show it off. She will randomly start dancing while singing her recital song. It doesn't matter where we are or what she is doing. We can be in the middle of the grocery store and I hear her singing and turn around to her doing the dance routine. She seems to like ballet more than tap, but she has enjoyed any dance skills she has been taught. She also does tumbling during her class and she has gotten really good at somersaults.


We are so happy with the studio we chose for her dance classes. She loved every minute of it and the people that work at the studio are so friendly and helpful. I think we got really lucky that she had a great teacher. (Although every teacher I have heard about is supposed to be great.) Her teacher is super positive and so great with kids (she teaches elementary school so this doesn't surprise me). Kenzie loves her. We love her so much, that we have elected to sign Kenzie up for her class next fall, as well. (Sidenote: Ms. Rebekah totally has the shirt I have been wanting. Haha!)


This year, Kenzie was in Pre-K 1 but she was officially recommended for Pre-K 2. Partially due to her age and partially because she is doing really well in the class. (Mainly her age. Haha! Although the Pre-K 1 class can take 4 year olds as well.) Her class was exposed to a few new Pre-K 2 level skills during the final class. It looked a bit more challenging for the kids and Kenzie did pretty well. A lot more barre work and more technical tap than normal. During the last week of class, every student was given a trophy commemorating the dance season and the recital. She was so excited with herself. It is her first trophy and she kept asking me if we could put things in it or she could use it at dinner. I had no idea what she was talking about until she told me that it looked like a cup. She is silly.


Kenzie (and her fellow dancers) have been working really hard on their recital dance, "A Whole New World" for the last few months and this weekend we were able to see all their hard work come together. Kenzie's first official recital was held on Saturday at a high school in Seminole County. She got to dance on a real stage with a real audience. She has worked really hard the last few months and she was excited to show off her skills. Nana, Papa, Grandma, Grandaddy, and Aunt Danielle all made it out to her show. She was so excited to get to the school and sit with her fellow dancers in the back (without us) while she waited for her number to get ready. Luckily, she was the second act to go on. I was worried about Will and making it through the show. I just knew that I had to make it through hers and then I was okay with needing to leave. As it turned out, I didn't need to be worried. Will was super enthused with the orchestra that played leading up to the show as well as the first three or so numbers... then he just fell asleep. He slept until the very end. Works for me!


Kenzie did amazing. I could tell by watching her that she was noticing the crowd but she held it together. One little girl got out of place somehow and I think it threw Kenzie off a little bit. She is supposed to be the final dancer and she wasn't sure what to do when it came time to skip around in the circle because she was no longer at the end. When she finally got it together (thanks to her dance friend that was reminding her what to do), the group got applause. It was adorable. We loved watching her dance! Everyone loved the show. It was quite a production. A LOT of numbers and some really talented dancers. I was really impressed. Then to think that there were 3 more shows after Kenzie's. Those teachers and anyone helping must be super tired at this point. =) They all did a great job putting it together though.




I might have been a bit teary getting my little girl ready for her first ever dance recital. I can't believe she has gotten so big! How on earth am I already putting my little baby in a dance costume with her ballet bun and sending her out onto a big stage to do her dance?? I promised her a touch of makeup on recital day so we did a light pink eyeshadow, blush, and lip gloss. She thought she was so grown up.... and I couldn't help but remember the tiny baby we brought home from the hospital some 4 years ago almost all swaddled up. She's this beautiful little girl now with a personality as big as the sky and a lot of dance in her heart.








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