Post-Recital run down

Caitlin had her dance recital today and it was a huge success.  I was blown away by all the dancers, especially the advanced dancers.  They were amazing.  Caitlin's performances went really well, in spite of the fact that she was a nervous wreck.   Originally, I was planning to watch the dances from the theatre and a friend was going to help Caitlin with her costume change but Caitlin wasn't ready for that.  She insisted that I stay in the dressing rooms with her.

Her first dance was for Ballet III, done to "What I did for love".  It was really beautiful.  There were four girls in her class and the costume was this frothy, glittery, pink confection of a dress, complete with laced and beribboned choker and a tiara.  Chin high, toes pointed, Caitlin nailed that dance.

It was the second dance that had Caitlin worried.  For one, she only had three songs in between to do her costume change.  Secondly, there was only one other girl in the class and the stage seems REALLY big when you are one of two people on it.  Thirdly, on their first run through at the technical rehearsal, both girls sort of blanked on part of the dance and just stood there for a bit.  This was remedied with a second run through and it was fine for the dress rehearsal but the seed of panic was planted.

So, Caitlin and her friend take the stage to dance to "Part of your World" for their Lyrical I/II class.  And it is flawless.  The girls are composed, fluid and graceful, moving effortlessly through their choreography, right up to the final pose.   The other girl was to initiate their exit and she waited one moment longer than Caitlin was interested in staying on that stage.  So Caitlin roughly jabs her with her elbow.  She may have thought it was subtle but no one missed it.  Everyone in the wings just cracked up.

And finally exiting the stage, she runs to her teacher and says, "It was great.  I didn't have a heart attack."

So, she danced in the recital and lived to tell the tale.  Actually, afterward, she was on a major high.  She and her friend sang and flitted and danced all over the classroom where they were to wait while the other acts were on.   It was such a joy to watch that part, too.  I hope this positive experience helps prevent her from getting stage fright later on in her life.