Thank Heaven for Little Girls

"No, I can't explain the dance to you;

if I could tell you what it meant,

there would be no point in dancing it." 

- Isadora  Duncan

Is there anything more gratifying and celebratory than dance recital night? It is the culmination of nine months of pain and sweat somehow eloquently wrapped into an evening of grace, beauty and elegance.

If you are fortunate, you are the parent of one (or two) of those magical creatures on the stage. Their ages may range from three to eighteen, but they are all some one's "little girl".

If you are blessed, you spent that morning at the dance store with one of your angels, because she lost a tap shoe at dress rehearsal the evening before the show.

If you are me, you juggled and arranged your work schedule all year long in order to be available for most, if not all, lessons...three classes, two dancers, two nights per week.

I spent the last two weeks doing stage hair and make-up for pictures, rehearsals and finally the big production. I was more nervous than they were making sure that each part of each costume was in the correct bag and made it safely without harm with the appropriate dancer to the theater on time.

I then found my place in the audience and exhaled thinking, "My work is done. I will now enjoy the fruits of my labor." The curtain rose, and my baby danced with the biggest smile that I have ever seen on her face. She was showing us all what she was so proud of. Her brilliant face said, "Look at my passe and my balance! I have been working so hard! Are you proud?"
"Look how I can use my props and keep up with my steps at the same time! Haven't I learned a lot?!"

Yes, she has learned and grown so much. Yes, I am immensely proud and wanted to yell out her name and say I love you, tiny dancer. I love your confidence and ease of manner. Mostly though, I love the love that radiates from your face.

Then my older girl danced. Who ever said a brand new pair of tap shoes had to be broken in? For her it was no issue...a Cincinnati? Nothing but a thing! Sass and attitude? All there.

Had she really been nervous about the fourteen minute ballet company piece? You wouldn't know it! She was my dream on stage. When did her fifth position become so strong and elegant? And her pirouettes so graceful? Was that a pas de bourree? She did not know that last year. She also has grown in ways seemingly invisible to her. And what of that little surprise at the end? Gasp!! They have all left the stage! Is that my own angel left to leap off stage...solo?!! A ten second part that will forever play in "Mama's Tracks of Happy Memories".

They were showered with flowers - my little divas. For one magical evening all was right with the world. There was no sadness, hurt or painful memories, only princesses and happy fairy tales.