Dance Concert 2022

I figured that since the 2023 concert is happening in just over ONE MONTH, it was high time to finally get some pictures from the 2022 concert posted. Ooops. Pictures and blog posts have obviously been very low on my priorities list. But I've added pictures to the past few posts, so be sure to look back at those if you've been waiting to see them!

The 2022 concert was exciting because we had TWO little girlies involved with it! They both had fun, and the week leading up to the concert was crazy between the pictures and dress rehearsals (and Austin's t-ball games and other events/errands we had).

Nicole had three routines for the 2022 concert: one for her acrobatics class ("business people" costume), and then one ballet number and one tap number ("mazurka doll" costume). This was her last year doing tap, actually, which she is a little sad about, but our studio doesn't teach tap past this level. She turned up the sass to a full level 10 for her acro and jazz numbers. Quite the performer, ya know.

Meanwhile, Autumn and her two classmates were the envy of all the little girls because they had unicorn costumes. Autumn did so well on her dances and didn't have any stage fright! However, she was not expecting the traditional, loud "cast scream" that all the dancers do after the bows when the curtains close, and she was NOT a fan of that group scream. She refused to go out for the bows for her second performance because she didn't want to hear everyone scream again! Poor Tum Tum.

Our little dancers. Austin will join them this year because he's taking an acrobatics class at the studio, and Lydia will probably join them in the 2024 concert! THAT will be crazy. It already took me well over an hour to do hair and makeup for both of these girlies, and I had to do their hair 4 different times (5 for Nicole)! At least Austin won't need hair or makeup. Praise be to short-haired boys.

Nicole // Dance Year 4

Belatedly popping in to share some photos I snapped of Nicole in her costume for this year's dance concert! She and her classmates were "Rubies" (yes, like the gemstone) and the concert storyline was loosely based on the movie "The Labyrinth" (yes, the cult classic featuring David Bowie and his tight pants). We've missed the craziness and fun that comes with concert time. Last year, thanks to the pandemic, the concert was cancelled. The girls filmed their dance numbers instead so they could be compiled into a movie. A unique experience, but not quite the same thrill as being on a stage, of course.

Nicole thrives onstage. At the beginning of this year, she was talking about not wanting to do dance anymore... and then she started learning her routines for concert, and all thoughts of quitting disappeared. I even asked her a day or two before her first performance if she still wanted to discontinue dance next year, and she looked at me like I was crazy. She had the largest smile through each of her numbers. She got to do a jazz routine and a tap routine. The tap number was by far her favorite, as she got to be very sassy in it (the song was R.E.S.P.E.C.T. and we all get a little sassy with some good Aretha Franklin, right?) The jazz number (done to the jazz music classic "Sing, Sing, Sing") was fun to watch too.

I'm excited for next year's concert because Autumn is starting dance this week, and the youngest group is always a hoot to watch. That'll give us 4 routines to cheer on during the concert! Er, 5 actually, because Nicole is taking an acrobatics class at the studio this year, and the acrobatics classes get a number in the concert as well. Should be a fun year!

Nicole // Dance Year 2

We had another successful concert last weekend, and Nicole had a blast! That wraps it up for her second year of dance. She once again had three exhausting days filled with a dress rehearsal, followed by two evening performances that were so long that she didn't get home, cleaned up, and in bed until around 11. So tired, but so excited to be onstage.

This year's concert had a "Wild West" themed story, and ventured through New York, the western American wilderness, and down into Mexico. Nicole got to be a Chaparrita (which is a Spanish pet name for a "short girl") and did a fun tap routine with maracas to the Gloria Estefan song "Conga" as well as a pre-ballet routine to "La Llorona" from the movie Coco. We knew a good handful of girls in the concert who are/were in our ward (church congregation) which made the concert all the more enjoyable to watch.

I feel like I've learned more about "dance hair" from this concert, and figured out some tricks that I wish I'd known during my ballroom days. I still have a LOT to learn about getting that perfectly slicked hair (especially when it's short, fine, wispy little girl hair) but I'm getting better!

I heard a few different reports of various attendees (who we've never met) who found Nicole to be entertaining. Last year she was an absolute hoot to watch because of her enthusiasm, and this year she was apparently a hoot because of how focused she was. Love that girl. May she always keep 'em entertained!

Also, it's fun to see how she's grown since her first dance concert.

Nicole's First Dance Concert

This girl has LOVED being in dance the past year, and is already looking forward to starting the next level of class at the end of summer. We just had the end-of-year concert on June 22-23, and it was quite the experience. Concerts at this studio are a big deal! They aren't your cut-and-dry dance recital. We have a story line, complete with set pieces and costumes that fit each dancer's character in the show. We even performed at the Covey Center, but I think that was a one-time thing because the studio's usual venue - the Regan at UVU - has been under renovation lately.

Nicole and her 4 classmates were Super Hero Dolls, complete with little capes and wristbands. They had a tap number during a scene that took place in a doll shop. All the dolls come to life to teach the main character some lessons. They also performed a barefoot number earlier in the show, but it was used as an in-front-of-the-curtain filler while the set was being changed between scenes.

Side note - it was a good show! I was impressed with the dancers, and the story line was fun. I admit it, I even cried at one point. A couple of those numbers were breathtaking.

Nicole's group was the youngest class (2.5-3 years old), they had the shortest and simplest routines, and two of the girls ended up not even doing the performances (one got sick and the other refused to dance) but those 3 little girls who DID dance got one of the loudest cheers of the show. Because let's face it... there are few things cuter than tiny girls dancing. And Nicole definitely stole the show, being front-and-center and having the dance memorized. She did most of the steps a beat or two before the demonstrators did. Oh man, she kills me. She was SO excited to be on that stage, you could see her bouncing with energy as she stood in her spot waiting for the music to start. Big, cheesy grin on her face for the entirety of both numbers. She's a performer, that's for sure.

Flowers from Grandma Kelly!

I forgot to put her wristbands on for these pictures I snagged, since we were in a rush to get out the door for the closing night performance (3 performances total), but oh well. She's a cutie. She LOVED wearing makeup and didn't want to take it off, especially the bright red lipstick.

Here's her tap routine from the dress rehearsal. (We weren't allowed to take pictures or record during the performances.) No set pieces or older girls on stage like in the actual performance, but you get the idea. Yes, one of the girls sobs the whole time, and another girl never does a single dance step, but Nicole rocks it. This was how she acted every time she got on that stage. Every. Single. Time. She has unfailing energy and excitement when she gets up in front of people.

She's the second on the left. The only one in a light blue costume.

We love our tiny dancer!