Last night, Will had a holiday band concert. Helena couldn't make it because she had a Latin club activity, and Bill couldn't get off work in time to make it, either. So I went by myself. His band played very well, then he and I ducked out early so he could go home and catch up on homework.
While at the concert, I sat next to another former 'ballet mom'. Her daughter was in Helena's ballet class years and years ago, but quit before the training got very intense. I don't think her daughter ever managed to earn her pointe shoes. The other mom had a son the same age as mine who was also in the band program. Of course, everyone around here has someone in the band program!
We got to talking and she asked me if Helena was still dancing. After telling her about Helena's decision to quit when the pressure got to be too much, she reminisced about an older dancer she remembered who had a private tutor to get her through her high school classes in order to free up more time for ballet.
That dancer is actually currently the principal dancer for Utah Regional Ballet, Rachelle Jardine. One of the sweetest girls I have ever met.
Well, anyways, although Will didn't mind the others missing his concert (since he is only playing an instrument under duress and his heart is not in it), they both felt bad for missing it. So, once everyone was back home, we went out to eat to 'celebrate' Will's concert.
While eating dinner, I mentioned what this other 'ballet mom' had said. It is no secret that the most serious dancers push all else aside in order to focus fully on dance. Helena commented that she wished she could have done that, too, but knew we would never have allowed her to.
And here is where we play "what if?" Would I have bent over backward to rearrange her life, lighten her school load, so she could have stayed in dance? The truth is, it would have been nearly impossible when she was 15 (the age she was when she quit), because I couldn't drive her around during the day.
However, if she had stuck it out for one more agonizing year, I probably would have helped her lighten her load somehow once she was 16 and driving herself.
And here is where regret comes in.
Do I regret letting her quit?
Absolutely not! Our relationship has improved drastically since she quit ballet. I have gotten to spend lots more time with her over the past two years that has been very precious to me. I am less stressed about the constant strain on our family finances. And, truthfully, with the politics and money involved, the studio and company had already chosen their 'darlings', and Helena wasn't one of them. Bottom line, I got my daughter back.
Does she regret quitting?
I think so.
I am sorry for that. I don't want her to live with regrets so soon in life. I hope she realizes that URB is not the only dance company or opportunity on the planet, and that she doesn't have to go crazy all out in dance in order to enjoy it. I am hoping that when she registers for college, she can sign up for some dance classes there, and maybe get a minor in dance, just for the fun of it!
In the meantime, stay tuned for a post with the video of Will's band playing "The Polar Express"!
Showing posts with label ballet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ballet. Show all posts
Saturdays are for fun...
Usually, the first half of Saturday is spent either cleaning or sleeping in.
Today I did a little of both.
This afternoon, Bill took Will out in the wilderness somewhere to drive a dune buggy and shoot guns.
I know. You are thinking; "somewhere in the wilderness?! Shouldn't you know specifically where they were?! What if they got lost or injured? How would you direct search and rescue efforts?"
Again, I know. I really ought to be more on top of that sort of thing. Bill goes off into the mountains on his mountain bike so often and to so many different places that I have stopped keeping track of where he goes. I should have him write his anticipated location on the white board in the kitchen before he leaves each time so I don't have to try to remember it. The names of the various canyons all sound the same and mean nothing to me geographically.
Anyways, they came back safe and sound and Will enjoyed himself quite a bit.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
Helena and I went out for lunch at Cafe Rio, where we ran into acquaintances from her ballet days. They were a younger dancer and her mother; the latter being the chaperon in charge of Helena for the final part of her European trip last summer. We invited them to share a table with us so we could catch up with each other's lives. It turns out that the younger dancer had also quit the ballet scene just recently.
At the theater, we walked right into a showing of Alice In Wonderland. We only missed maybe one trailer (funny how they are still called 'trailer' even though they are now shown prior to the feature). It was a fun show!
Now it is just about bed time and I am looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow, too!
Today I did a little of both.
This afternoon, Bill took Will out in the wilderness somewhere to drive a dune buggy and shoot guns.
I know. You are thinking; "somewhere in the wilderness?! Shouldn't you know specifically where they were?! What if they got lost or injured? How would you direct search and rescue efforts?"
Again, I know. I really ought to be more on top of that sort of thing. Bill goes off into the mountains on his mountain bike so often and to so many different places that I have stopped keeping track of where he goes. I should have him write his anticipated location on the white board in the kitchen before he leaves each time so I don't have to try to remember it. The names of the various canyons all sound the same and mean nothing to me geographically.
Anyways, they came back safe and sound and Will enjoyed himself quite a bit.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
After lunch, we went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond to look for a pot rack for over the stove. The only one they had was WAY over priced, so we loitered for a little while trying out the demos of some shiatsu massage chair thingys before heading over to the movie theater...
At the theater, we walked right into a showing of Alice In Wonderland. We only missed maybe one trailer (funny how they are still called 'trailer' even though they are now shown prior to the feature). It was a fun show!
After the show, we zipped over to WalMart to pick up some groceries, then hurried home so Helena could finish her homework.
A New Era
Yesterday we received the registration materials for Helena's ballet school. It is summarized below.
Pre-Professional level : 15+ hours per week - $973 per semester (of 12 weeks)
Class Schedule
2:30-6:30 M&W
2:30-6:00 T,Th, & F
9:00-1:00 Saturdays (when needed)
This is an overwhelming schedule! High School lets out at 2:15 and it is a 10 min. drive to the ballet studio! That puts her on the go from 7:30 am until 6:30 at night... and then she would still have to deal with homework, chores, and her church calling (she is the Mia maids president). That is really stressful! That would be stressful even for an adult! Helena has been feeling more and more stressed with every passing year to succeed in school, succeed in ballet, and have a happy, well adjusted family and social life.
She has come to the realization that she doesn't want to be a professional ballerina. She wants to take a break from dancing. She will not return to ballet this fall. She says she wants to take a year off to focus on academics and then re-evaluate the decision next year.
This is a huge deal because dance has been such a big part of who she is for such a long time that I have feared she may lose her sense of identity without it. When we (meaning she with my support) came to this decision yesterday, she actually cried out of relief. She has been dreading/fearing school because she has feared she couldn't possibly succeed. She was stretched too thin and couldn't recognize the source of her distress until the pressure was removed.
I have also come to the realization that she has to make this decision for herself and I need to support her in it. I have wanted her to stay in ballet for selfish reasons. I love the bragging rights that come with a super talented child. This really should be about her needs, though, not my expectations or desires. It is unsupportable to keep pushing such an extreme schedule when she does not have the passion to make it her career.
So, that is it. This will be the first time in YEARS that I will have my daughter home after school and I won't have to be rushing my own schedule to keep up with hers. I think this will make a huge difference in the mood and tone of the house and our relationship; and I look forward to getting to spend more time with her!
Pre-Professional level : 15+ hours per week - $973 per semester (of 12 weeks)
Class Schedule
2:30-6:30 M&W
2:30-6:00 T,Th, & F
9:00-1:00 Saturdays (when needed)
This is an overwhelming schedule! High School lets out at 2:15 and it is a 10 min. drive to the ballet studio! That puts her on the go from 7:30 am until 6:30 at night... and then she would still have to deal with homework, chores, and her church calling (she is the Mia maids president). That is really stressful! That would be stressful even for an adult! Helena has been feeling more and more stressed with every passing year to succeed in school, succeed in ballet, and have a happy, well adjusted family and social life.
She has come to the realization that she doesn't want to be a professional ballerina. She wants to take a break from dancing. She will not return to ballet this fall. She says she wants to take a year off to focus on academics and then re-evaluate the decision next year.
This is a huge deal because dance has been such a big part of who she is for such a long time that I have feared she may lose her sense of identity without it. When we (meaning she with my support) came to this decision yesterday, she actually cried out of relief. She has been dreading/fearing school because she has feared she couldn't possibly succeed. She was stretched too thin and couldn't recognize the source of her distress until the pressure was removed.
I have also come to the realization that she has to make this decision for herself and I need to support her in it. I have wanted her to stay in ballet for selfish reasons. I love the bragging rights that come with a super talented child. This really should be about her needs, though, not my expectations or desires. It is unsupportable to keep pushing such an extreme schedule when she does not have the passion to make it her career.
So, that is it. This will be the first time in YEARS that I will have my daughter home after school and I won't have to be rushing my own schedule to keep up with hers. I think this will make a huge difference in the mood and tone of the house and our relationship; and I look forward to getting to spend more time with her!
All that time in the airport and not a single photo!
I AM SOOOOO SORRY!!! I was going to take pictures of the girls off on their big world adventure, but I was so caught up in the moment that I completely forgot!
Helena spent a frenzied couple of hours last night unpacking and repacking her carry on and suitcase. She didn't really need to; it was just nerves. Last night I helped her with online check in and printed her boarding pass. This afternoon we simply walked straight up to the counter past all the people messing with the check in kiosks and turned over her checked luggage. Technology sure has made things easier! We then waited around for about an hour while everyone else in the group trickled in and messed with the kiosks.
At one point it was discovered that about half of the ballerinas' suitcases had been routed to Paris/DeGaulle instead of Munich and that had to be straightened out. Fortunately, Helena's had been routed correctly! When that was finally squared away, we then realized that I had failed to print Helena's second boarding pass (the one from Paris to Munich), so we had to go over to the kiosks after all and reprint it. So much for my effort to plan ahead! It is probably just as well. I was glad for an opportunity for Helena to become acquainted with how they work. She will have to use them coming home.
When everyone was finally ready, it was a quick hug and kiss and we sent her through the check point. We watched long enough to see them inspect her passport. Once she was past that first hurdle, we left. It was like kindergarten all over again... me hovering and anxious, her smiling and happily walking towards big adventure! I expect she will come back to me with a huge smile on her face, just like that day so long ago.
Now I know that she is speeding away from me, off to big adventures. I will feel better when I know that they have landed! I hope to hear from her at about 6:30 a.m. tomorrow morning, which is when they will arrive in Munich (2:30 p.m. Munich time).
Helena spent a frenzied couple of hours last night unpacking and repacking her carry on and suitcase. She didn't really need to; it was just nerves. Last night I helped her with online check in and printed her boarding pass. This afternoon we simply walked straight up to the counter past all the people messing with the check in kiosks and turned over her checked luggage. Technology sure has made things easier! We then waited around for about an hour while everyone else in the group trickled in and messed with the kiosks.
At one point it was discovered that about half of the ballerinas' suitcases had been routed to Paris/DeGaulle instead of Munich and that had to be straightened out. Fortunately, Helena's had been routed correctly! When that was finally squared away, we then realized that I had failed to print Helena's second boarding pass (the one from Paris to Munich), so we had to go over to the kiosks after all and reprint it. So much for my effort to plan ahead! It is probably just as well. I was glad for an opportunity for Helena to become acquainted with how they work. She will have to use them coming home.
When everyone was finally ready, it was a quick hug and kiss and we sent her through the check point. We watched long enough to see them inspect her passport. Once she was past that first hurdle, we left. It was like kindergarten all over again... me hovering and anxious, her smiling and happily walking towards big adventure! I expect she will come back to me with a huge smile on her face, just like that day so long ago.
Now I know that she is speeding away from me, off to big adventures. I will feel better when I know that they have landed! I hope to hear from her at about 6:30 a.m. tomorrow morning, which is when they will arrive in Munich (2:30 p.m. Munich time).
Thoughts on ballet
Here is a story for you, sit back and prepare for a novel of a read today;
Once upon a time, there was a spunky, short haired tomboy of a young girl who wanted to learn to dance. Her fourth grade teacher had announced an after school ballet class that would be taught in the gym and she was very excited. She ran home and begged her mom, who readily agreed and signed her up for the community ballet class.
This little girl was happy going to her ballet class for a few weeks, then two dreadful things happened. Firstly, a new girl moved into her class. The new girl's name was Denise. Denise had long, dark hair that was pulled back with a clip every day. Denise had a white blouse and plaid skirt with a large, shiny brass safety pin accessory on the front of it. Denise was a little ballerina. She didn't just come to class, she 'arrived'.
When our little dancer told Denise that she was a dancer, too (hoping to make friends), Denise asked where she took ballet. When being told it was at the gym of the school, Denise turned her nose up and said in disdain "That's not real ballet! I take ballet at a ballet studio. I am dancing in the Nutcracker with Pacific Northwest Ballet." And with a sniff, she marched away. Our little dancer was crushed and humiliated.
The second dreadful thing that happened was the fact that some of the boys from school would sometimes pop their heads in the gym and tease the little dancers about their hair, leotards, and poses. Our little dancer because ashamed of her hair, leotard, and poses.
That is why, when it was time to pay for a new semester of dance, our little would-be dancer said 'no, thanks' even though the teacher told her that she held much promise. Her mom was confused and frustrated with her for what seemed to have been a waste of time and family resources.
Yes, that little would-be dancer was me.
Now, fast forward about 17 years. I was a young mother trying to get the laundry done and finding it very difficult with an overly hyper 3 year old daughter to watch. Nothing would settle little Helena so I could get the work done. It was near to Christmas time, so I scanned channels on the TV, hoping to find a cartoon for her to watch. Nothing I found held her interest until I stumbled across The Nutcracker on the local PBS station. She was riveted! She did not move a muscle for the entire performance! I got the laundry done!
For weeks after, Helena twirled around the apartment saying "Look, Mommy! I'm Clara!"
I could read the writing on the wall.
We initially chose to put her in a jazz/tap/tumbling/ballet dance studio because it was run by our across the way and down the street neighbor. We quickly realized it was a no go. There was too much shimmy and shake going on at that studio, and Helena was a bit of a discipline problem. A little research uncovered a studio that taught only pure, classical ballet. We signed her up.
Little girl ballet is awfully cute! For 1/2 an hour once a week, I would sit on the other side of a one sided mirror window and watch with other Mommies as our little ones twirled around in a joy of movement.
Most little girls outgrow ballet and move on to other interests. One quit for soccer, another for violin, others for school council, golf, and ballroom. As the years went by, one by one Helena's old ballet classmates dropped out. I kept waiting for Helena to lose the fire, too.
She never did. Oh, sure, for a little while when she was about 8 she would say "Mom, I don't feel like going to ballet today."
I would respond, "That's fine, dear. But if you don't go today, you're not going ever. You have to decide. You either go, or you don't. There is no wishy-washy in-between." She always chose to go to ballet.
Now that she is a big, nearly grown up girl, ballet costs a small mint and consumes considerable time. But, the fire still burns within her and I wouldn't dream of denying her the opportunity to explore that passion within her. There is a saying that is something like 'if you can't find good love, you'll take the bad'. That is how I feel about dance. If I don't provide the opportunity to study the pure, classical ballet (which costs more), she would undoubtedly turn to what passes for dance in popular culture (which can be found in any cheap dance class).
So, here we are, today. I don't know if the years of training will blossom into a career, or if she will simply go another way. If she chooses to become a photographer instead, I am okay with that. We come to this world to learn all we can about ourselves and to develop those gifts given to us by our Heavenly Father. I will continue to help my kids develop in every way I can until they are no longer my responsibility. Then, I hope they will continue on their own!
Once upon a time, there was a spunky, short haired tomboy of a young girl who wanted to learn to dance. Her fourth grade teacher had announced an after school ballet class that would be taught in the gym and she was very excited. She ran home and begged her mom, who readily agreed and signed her up for the community ballet class.
This little girl was happy going to her ballet class for a few weeks, then two dreadful things happened. Firstly, a new girl moved into her class. The new girl's name was Denise. Denise had long, dark hair that was pulled back with a clip every day. Denise had a white blouse and plaid skirt with a large, shiny brass safety pin accessory on the front of it. Denise was a little ballerina. She didn't just come to class, she 'arrived'.
When our little dancer told Denise that she was a dancer, too (hoping to make friends), Denise asked where she took ballet. When being told it was at the gym of the school, Denise turned her nose up and said in disdain "That's not real ballet! I take ballet at a ballet studio. I am dancing in the Nutcracker with Pacific Northwest Ballet." And with a sniff, she marched away. Our little dancer was crushed and humiliated.
The second dreadful thing that happened was the fact that some of the boys from school would sometimes pop their heads in the gym and tease the little dancers about their hair, leotards, and poses. Our little dancer because ashamed of her hair, leotard, and poses.
That is why, when it was time to pay for a new semester of dance, our little would-be dancer said 'no, thanks' even though the teacher told her that she held much promise. Her mom was confused and frustrated with her for what seemed to have been a waste of time and family resources.
Yes, that little would-be dancer was me.
Now, fast forward about 17 years. I was a young mother trying to get the laundry done and finding it very difficult with an overly hyper 3 year old daughter to watch. Nothing would settle little Helena so I could get the work done. It was near to Christmas time, so I scanned channels on the TV, hoping to find a cartoon for her to watch. Nothing I found held her interest until I stumbled across The Nutcracker on the local PBS station. She was riveted! She did not move a muscle for the entire performance! I got the laundry done!
For weeks after, Helena twirled around the apartment saying "Look, Mommy! I'm Clara!"
I could read the writing on the wall.
We initially chose to put her in a jazz/tap/tumbling/ballet dance studio because it was run by our across the way and down the street neighbor. We quickly realized it was a no go. There was too much shimmy and shake going on at that studio, and Helena was a bit of a discipline problem. A little research uncovered a studio that taught only pure, classical ballet. We signed her up.
Little girl ballet is awfully cute! For 1/2 an hour once a week, I would sit on the other side of a one sided mirror window and watch with other Mommies as our little ones twirled around in a joy of movement.
Most little girls outgrow ballet and move on to other interests. One quit for soccer, another for violin, others for school council, golf, and ballroom. As the years went by, one by one Helena's old ballet classmates dropped out. I kept waiting for Helena to lose the fire, too.
She never did. Oh, sure, for a little while when she was about 8 she would say "Mom, I don't feel like going to ballet today."
I would respond, "That's fine, dear. But if you don't go today, you're not going ever. You have to decide. You either go, or you don't. There is no wishy-washy in-between." She always chose to go to ballet.
Now that she is a big, nearly grown up girl, ballet costs a small mint and consumes considerable time. But, the fire still burns within her and I wouldn't dream of denying her the opportunity to explore that passion within her. There is a saying that is something like 'if you can't find good love, you'll take the bad'. That is how I feel about dance. If I don't provide the opportunity to study the pure, classical ballet (which costs more), she would undoubtedly turn to what passes for dance in popular culture (which can be found in any cheap dance class).
So, here we are, today. I don't know if the years of training will blossom into a career, or if she will simply go another way. If she chooses to become a photographer instead, I am okay with that. We come to this world to learn all we can about ourselves and to develop those gifts given to us by our Heavenly Father. I will continue to help my kids develop in every way I can until they are no longer my responsibility. Then, I hope they will continue on their own!
The Curse of the Bobby Pin
My husband HATES bobby pins! They are an infestation in our house and lives. You don't have to look far to find one around here. There will be several crammed in the couch cushions at any given time. We have found them when cleaning out the heater registers. They are on the floor, in the corners, and piled next to every sink! Sometimes they are left in books as bookmarks, then forgotten.
What really gets Bill going is when they find their way into the plumbing. That is when they wreck the most havoc. Bill occasionally has to dismantle a U-bend to clear out the clog created by one of these little pests.
Bobby pins are just one of the side effects of having a ballerina in the house. Another one is massive foot stink. You would think that everything about a ballerina would be light and delicate, wouldn't you? Well, you would be WRONG! They work so hard with their feet, there really is no way to prevent this from happening. That is why the studio has that funk going on that I mentioned in a previous post. When driving Helena home, we often have to keep the windows open, even in the coldest weather, just to manage the odor. When it is time for her to drive herself, I have warned her to keep the car well aired out, or suffer the consequences!
Watching at the ballet studio
by Edgar Degas Today, Will wanted to go over to Storm Athletics to practice Lacrosse. He could practice at the local elementary school without the drive time, but since it is over near the ballet school, I humor him. After I dropped him off, I headed over to the studio to watch the last 1/2 hour of Helena's rehearsals.
Helena's dance studio has ballet classes of all ages going on. When I arrived, the foyer was full of little bitties and their mommies. These are 3-4 year old dancers; just the age Helena was when she started! They are so full of energy!
I stepped over a couple of them laying on the floor and headed down the hall to the farthest studio in the building. It is the largest one, and so is reserved for the oldest and most experienced dancers in the school. The ages in that class range from 14 to 19. That is Helena's class. Dancers more experienced than that have moved on to the University/Pro stage and hold class/rehearsal somewhere else.
There were about 27 girls and their teacher in the room when I walked in. It is a good thing the room is so large! That is a lot of moving bodies! The room has a perpetual funk of sweaty dancer/stinky toe shoe smell. I have grown accustom to that, so I hardly noticed it.
There are 3 noticeable layers of girls in the room. Layer One are the girls in the front. They are the leaders, the girls with the main parts. The dance is being 'set' on them. They are working the hardest and interacting constantly with the teacher.
The girls in Layer Two are also hardworking. They are found just behind the main action, carefully attentive to all that is going on and shadowing the lead dancers to make sure that they know the part should they be called on to step in. Helena is one of these girls. They get comments and suggestions from the teacher from time to time.
The final layer, Layer 3, are the girls in the back of the room. They cluster and flitter about, sometimes paying attention, often not. They are the youngest/least experienced in the room and it shows. They talk together during rehearsal, apparently off task. That is something you never see in the other two groups. The teacher occasionally reprimands them, telling them to stop talking and pay attention. She doesn't spend much time on this, though, because she is so busy with the majority of the girls who are on task. Once they mature and get stronger in confidence and technique they will hopefully work their way into Layer Two.
You know, ballet looks so glamorous and graceful on the stage! It is when you watch this studio work that you realize just how much sweat, passion, and dedication go into it for each and every dancer. I am really proud of my little girl (now grown so tall and graceful) for all the hard work she puts into something she loves with a passion!
How do you spell STRESS?
I have two spellings for the word.
My first spelling is BALLET. Helena's ballet is the biggest expense we have outside of the standard home mortgage. It is even bigger than our car payment. No this is not a photo of Helena, but it is a photo of a former dancer from her ballet company.
Most of the trip will be spent at the Austria Tanzsommer festival, with side trips to Venice, Amsterdam, London, and Paris! The trip is, of course, incredibly expensive. Bill and I decided early on to do everything in our power to send Helena on this trip. What is the point of spending years of dedicated hard work in a grueling discipline if you don't get the huge reward offered for your efforts?
The other spelling is FINANCES. This is probably a spelling of stress for many people these days. You know, we only have one credit card. I have a balance on it, unfortunately. They just sent me a notification that they are going to raise my rate to 17.9%!!! Is this because I missed a payment or two? NO!!! It is 'due to the current economic conditions and the length of time I have been a customer'. HUNH?! I have been a customer for 15 years! I pay more than the minimum each month!
I have heard that this is happening to many people across the country. I even got a phone solicitation (even though I am on the 'do not call' list) from a company that works with all the major credit card companies offering to 'mediate' for $30.00 a month. I told him to 'take a hike'!
My first spelling is BALLET. Helena's ballet is the biggest expense we have outside of the standard home mortgage. It is even bigger than our car payment. No this is not a photo of Helena, but it is a photo of a former dancer from her ballet company.This summer, Helena's ballet company will be travelling to Europe for 10+ days of touring. I remember the company girls going on this trip 5 years ago when Helena was a little dancer!
Most of the trip will be spent at the Austria Tanzsommer festival, with side trips to Venice, Amsterdam, London, and Paris! The trip is, of course, incredibly expensive. Bill and I decided early on to do everything in our power to send Helena on this trip. What is the point of spending years of dedicated hard work in a grueling discipline if you don't get the huge reward offered for your efforts?Of course, we didn't realize the economy would have such a strong impact on our lives. The company Bill works for is in a job slump right now and has laid off all but a core of 7 guys; Bill being one of the seven, thankfully! His paychecks have been smaller than usual because he is working fewer hours.
We have about 1/2 of the trip paid for so far. I stress about how to pay the remainder, especially the airfare, which will probably need to be paid very shortly. I am feverishly filling out taxes so I can receive the refund ASAP!
The other spelling is FINANCES. This is probably a spelling of stress for many people these days. You know, we only have one credit card. I have a balance on it, unfortunately. They just sent me a notification that they are going to raise my rate to 17.9%!!! Is this because I missed a payment or two? NO!!! It is 'due to the current economic conditions and the length of time I have been a customer'. HUNH?! I have been a customer for 15 years! I pay more than the minimum each month! I have heard that this is happening to many people across the country. I even got a phone solicitation (even though I am on the 'do not call' list) from a company that works with all the major credit card companies offering to 'mediate' for $30.00 a month. I told him to 'take a hike'!So... I am going to cancel the credit card. I don't seriously entertain any hopes that I will be able to get another one with a decent rate right now, so we are going to live sans credit for a while. It scares me because we have no cushion and very little self control. I am hoping that this will force us to be more fiscally responsible.
I suppose all of this sounds incredible... finances are terrible but you are sending your daughter to Europe?! You know, life goes on and it is not all about money. Helena will have experiences that cannot be weighed and measured with a money stick. I feel like sending her is the best use of what little money I do have!
A ballet update
Here is a photo of Helena in the Chinese costume for Utah Regional Ballet's Nutcracker. She says she doesn't like this picture and names reasons why. She is like the rest of us and sees microscopic faults that no one else sees. I think she looks fantastic! She had so much fun dancing that part. I hope she gets to dance it again next year!
The next thing for the ballet company is the Choreography Design Project. The concept; aspiring choreographers submit a plan and are awarded a group of URB dancers to 'set' their choreography on. Each choreographer is given 3 weeks with the dancers to fine tune before the performances.
I have been to this for several years and it is always fun. You never know what is going to come out of it. Some of it is classical, some of it is modern. Sometimes it tells a story, sometimes it is just plain weird!
I don't know if Helena will be performing in it this year. I don't think Helena knows either! She has never performed in it before, so it'll be a first for us if she does.
For those of you living close enough, the Choreography Design Project is being held at the Ragan Theatre at UVU on February 12th and 13th at 7:30 pm each night. Admission is $10 student, $12 general admission. Proceeds support Utah Regional Ballet!
The extra work pays off!
The directors of The Nutcracker have evaluated all of the girls dancing the Chinese part. Helena's extra practices paid off; she's in! Some of the girls will not be performing it, however. I hope they don't get too discouraged. Helena plans to put in more extra practices just to make sure she is very ready to perform. It is a big deal to her because Chinese is a triplet dance of only 3 girls on the stage. She has always been one of the background dancers before. This is the first time she will be receiving applause meant for her specifically.
For those of you in town who would like to see the performances, she dances with Utah Regional Ballet. Their production of The Nutcracker is performed annually at the Covey Center for the Arts on Center Street in Provo. There is a link to both the ballet company and the Covey Center on the right side of my blog.
For those of you in town who would like to see the performances, she dances with Utah Regional Ballet. Their production of The Nutcracker is performed annually at the Covey Center for the Arts on Center Street in Provo. There is a link to both the ballet company and the Covey Center on the right side of my blog.
ballet trauma
Most days Helena comes home from ballet on a natural high. She thinks it is the best thing in the world and can't imagine doing anything else. When she was cast in the Chinese dance in the Nutcracker, she was on cloud nine!
Yesterday she came home from ballet totally dejected. Apparently, the 3 girls in her cast doing Chinese are not getting the dance down as fast the the directors want. Unless they can pull it off by Saturday, they will be pulled from the part. Helena desperately wants this part! She spent the evening in a lethargic depression from which I could not pull her out.
She plans to stay after at ballet today and tomorrow to put in extra practice and I hope it will be enough. She is still cast in the Arabian corps de ballet and the Waltz corp de ballet, but Chinese was the first part with high visibility she has ever received.
It is so hard to watch your child struggle! I want to comfort her and give her everything her heart desires! I hope that she can achieve this goal, but I also hope that if it is not to be, that she can rise above it and continue to do well in ballet.
Yesterday she came home from ballet totally dejected. Apparently, the 3 girls in her cast doing Chinese are not getting the dance down as fast the the directors want. Unless they can pull it off by Saturday, they will be pulled from the part. Helena desperately wants this part! She spent the evening in a lethargic depression from which I could not pull her out.
She plans to stay after at ballet today and tomorrow to put in extra practice and I hope it will be enough. She is still cast in the Arabian corps de ballet and the Waltz corp de ballet, but Chinese was the first part with high visibility she has ever received.
It is so hard to watch your child struggle! I want to comfort her and give her everything her heart desires! I hope that she can achieve this goal, but I also hope that if it is not to be, that she can rise above it and continue to do well in ballet.
My beautiful daughter
This is my cute girl, Helena. If I can find other pictures of her, I'll post them. Right now my favorite picture is missing! At Disneyland, she went around kissing every character she could find.
She plays the violin, but it is not her first passion. I am hoping she will continue to take lessons, but I will not force it.
Her passion is ballet. She dances with Utah Regional Ballet!
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