Kathleen's "Big Show"

During the summer, Kathleen started to take dance lessons. For an hour each week, Kathleen practices a bit of ballet, a little tap, some "creative movement", and even some gymnastics. It's been a journey for her -- learning to stand on her mark, learning to watch and mimic the teachers, learning to follow even when it's not what she'd like to do. Some of those lessons have been easier than others. And some are still very much underway.

Last week was "Show Week" at the dance studio/gym where Kathleen takes her lessons. Everyone could some and see! For us, "everyone" meant our sort-of-little family and Nan and Grandpa.

Madeline watched and waited (not quite patiently) while the girls practiced, and until we could take our (teeny-tiny) seats in the classroom.

waiting ("that's my kafeen!" she'd call out)

and more waiting (for the grown-ups to be ready)...

Kathleen and the girls in her class performed two dances -- one tap and one ballet. They'd been practicing them since before Christmas. Still, they were less "memorized" and more following their teacher, who danced in the back of the room on an enormous pile of mats, where the girls could see and follow her.

Kathleen, I'm sorry to report, has the coordination of her mother. She spent nearly all of the tap performance watching. Not dancing, really, just watching. She'd join in occasionally, but then stop again, seemingly waiting for the right spot to begin again. (That's exactly the way her mother responds to an aerobics class.) When she did begin to dance, she was easily distracted by the other girls or the wiggly audience, full of younger siblings and camera-toting parents. Kathleen did a bit better by the time the ballet portion began, but her participation was still rather spotty.

preparing for ballet..

actually dancing...

When it came to "creative movement", though, Kathleen shone! And gymnastics are much more her speed, too. (She's less interested in the scripted dancing and more interested in swinging wildly about!) Here are a few moments of Kathleen's favorite activities:

a moment of glee on the parallel bars...

And at the end, each girl got a medal. Kathleen was proud. And so were we!

Well done, little girl!

(Sorry for the oddly blurred out photographs. We didn't want to disrespect any parents whom we don't know and who might not want their daughters on the internet.)