The Big Dance

The Big Dance. And no, I don't mean the playoffs. 

Last year, Ana watched Elsie's performance in the Peter Pan ballet with a local dance studio, and she resolved to be in the performance the following year. She signed up to clean the studio in exchange for dance classes and signed up for one of the new jazz classes since she decided she wasn't ready for the time commitment needed for ballet. Finally, the weekend after I got back from California, they performance took place. (Fortunately, it wasn't in Lahaina like last year... that was quite the drive back and forth... it was at a private school only three minutes drive). 

Ana's class performed a number from the musical Cats, if you can't tell by her outfit. I have to say, I was fairly impressed with Ana-- she went from being a 100% non-dancer to being the star of her number (partly from her dancing skills, partly from the age-old trick I taught her of smiling big enough that no one notices if you mess up). 

Po only got to watch the dress rehearsal, but she loved it so much that she tucked her dress into her undies. Whoops. She really does love pretending to dance ballet and loves watching the ballerinas ("bayawyinaws" as she says). 

Since I was out of town for the photo day, Ana managed to get her makeup and hair done by a friend. She stayed in character for the whole photo shoot...

And while backstage...

And finally stopped being a cat when her friend Johnny brought her flowers.

What a star! We were so pleased with her hard worked and all she put into the performance. She loved it (and hopes someday to be running the show... she saw some real room for efficiency improvement...)

And then there's Elsie...

Elsie Elsie Elsie Elsie....

She's been dancing for a couple of years now... 

And she is as cute as can be. 

I think she really catches the drama of the dance...

And loves being on stage...

But maybe doesn't pay attention in class so well. 

But whenever there is free dance...

Or a solo part...

She really shines!

And Mom and Dad breathed a long, joyous sigh of relief when the performance was over. I really respect you parents who keep your kids in dance for years... it's incredibly expensive and time-consuming, but we can see why it is worth it. Girls are meant to dance!