My theme this year is basically things that I’m interested
in. This could be things that I’m currently
involved in and would maybe like to increase my knowledge… or things that I’m not involved
in but still fascinate me in some degree anyway.
Let's Dance!
So I personally was never "a dancer" per se - I learned a few line dances / two step at the bar back many moons ago in my early US Navy years (I was enlisted 1992-2000) but that's about the extent of my abilities.
The Spawn (aka my daughter) was 2 1/2 years old when she and I moved home to Michigan. When she was 4, I signed her up for dance classes thru city recreation. That was the beginning of something I can't even describe. She did 2 years thru the city, then I found an actual dance studio to enroll her at. That became her second home until she was 20!
Putting a kid in dance is like enabling an addiction. She started out doing one jazz class a week. Then hiphop & tap. Then she wanted to try lyrical. But ballet was a requirement for lyrical. Once she hit 12 years old, she wanted to try out for the studio competition team. Now we have comp & recreation classes. Throw some pom and pointe in there. Then one of her instructors who was trying to start his own studio "borrowed" some dancers. So add another jazz, pom & hiphop. And don't forget the dance team at school and the USPBL ball park near our house.
Funny that her first time on stage with this other team ended up with a big trophy, fancy jackets & medals!
Her senior year of high school, she was in 13 (or maybe 15 - I don't remember!) dances in the recital! My family called the recital "the Spawn Show" since she was in so many.
Most kids quit dancing at the studio when they graduate, but she did 2 more years because the director asked her to. Those last couple years I felt like I was working to put her thru dance. Thankfully they only planned for a trip to Nationals every other year!
Of course I post about them, too
Oh - and I also have a physical photo album of her in every costume she's ever worn. I thought I had a post with her final year's costumes, but apparently it's a Facebook album. Every other year her pics were taken by the professional photographer that came to the studio, but that last year, she was working and didn't have time to get individual ones done there - so I did them. It was a lot of fun!
Her very last competitive dance was worthwhile!
Here's the video....
If you have a child - be warned this could happen to you!
