My inlaws were here from TX, as were my sister and brother in law from Arizona, plus my mom who lives local. They all came to most of the 7 shows! We feel so very fortunate that we have family who loves us enough to travel here and sit through all those shows. The kids really, really appreciate having them come. Of course Marlon and Harrison were at the shows too. Michela wasn't in all 7, so she got to watch about 3. Jacob watched half of one from the audience and parts of the sunday night Gala from backstage. I was in charge of coordinating the volunteers for the sun night Gala show and worked backstage from the wings making sure all the dancers were ready to go on. (it's called the Gala b/c it's all the company/competing dancers, as opposed to regular dance classes, so it's an amazing show because everyone is good!)
Over the course of the shows, Michela had a tap number, 2 jazz numbers, a ballet number, a lyrical number, and 2 hip hop numbers. Jacob had his hip hop production number that he did all 7 shows, his large group jazz competition that he did twice, his small group boy's honor group competition number that he did twice, then 2 jazz, 2 tap, 2 ballet, 1 lyrical and 1 hip hop. (he danced 19 times!)
They did amazing and the shows were all very entertaining to watch. Being a boy, Jacob is front and center and usually featured in the dances, so that's always exciting. Michela doesn't usually get features (some of the girls do, but she hasn't yet), but she's becoming a really good dancer and we love to watch her. It's hard when they're in the same numbers (they were in 4 together) because it's hard to watch them both. The dancers tend to move around a lot.
Our studio is large (over 1000 dancers) and each of the 7 shows is different. Our director does an excellent job of mixing up the regular dancers with company numbers and having a variety of styles, costume colors, etc. mixed up so the shows are entertaining and not boring. Even the littlest dancers are fun to watch b/c they are so cute, esp the ones who just stand there.
It was a hectic weekend for me of having to re-organize costumes and dance bags before each show (it was a lot to keep straight), do Michela's bun, do her full make up (and a little bit for jacob) and all that. In between shows, we basically just went to restaurants to eat and hung out!
I'm glad it's over because it's quite overwhelming, but it was a wonderful weekend. Having kids who perform in dance and musical theater certainly keeps us busy, but we wouldn't trade it for the world.
Ok, here are the pictures!!!!! There aren't that many of them because they have so many numbers in each show that I can't take pictures of them in all their costumes because they're changing during the show and I'm in the audience watching. I took a few backstage before and after, but not many. Professional pictures were taken last week, so I promise I'll figure out my scanner and scan them in and post them when we get back from our trip! And by then I'll be able to hopefully post the actual dances from the DVD that will be ready by then. (you aren't allowed to video yourself, you just by the DVD but I ordered a custom DVD so it will just have my kids dances on it)
Jacob, Harrison, Michela and Harrison's girlfriend Danna at a restaurant. (He brought Danna to one of the shows. She dances too, so she really enjoyed watching.)
Michela in one of her jazz costumes
Harrison and Danna in the theater
After one of the shows. They were in this same number - a jazz number.
Marlon's parents, Bernie and Esther
My mom and Marlon
Michela and my brother in law Brian
My sister Patti and I
My mom (on the left) and her friend Shirley
Esther, Harrison and Patti
Michela just hanging out
Harrison and Michela. fyi, that's a bottled rootbeer in his hand, not a beer! We were at dinner at a brewing company and they have bottled rootbeer that's good!
Jacob in his boys' honor group costume
Michela in her tap costume
Jacob and his friend Riley who also competes with him, in their hip hop production costume
Michela in tap, Jacob in hip hop production
4 comments:
What beautiful (and handsome) and active kids you have! And a lot of good friends and family. You are blessed.
Thanks for sharing the photos of your great kids. They are so cute!
Have a great trip!
Thanks for commenting and for the sweet words. I do feel very blessed!
If it wasn't for Nicole and Angela and her family, no one would ever comment! But I know people are reading it at least because the site meter says a lot of people are checking in!
Michela looks so cute in her dance costumes! I bet she loves getting all decked out!
Post a Comment