New Year

Well its been awhile since my last blog but we took the summer off of ballet and have now started a new year.

At the end of last year my Little Bun Head was told she would move up to the next level with the other girls despite her age. She was so beyond excited to get to wear a black leotard like all the other big girls. This year I was able to attend the parent orientation before classes started so I feel like I have more information than I did last year. At that orientation I had a glimpse of how the other parents in our level feel about Miss Carlin. A Grandmother of a girl in Carlin's class kept telling Carlin that she was not in the preparatory class because she was to young. She did not believe Carlin. One of the other moms overheard the conversation and proceeded to tell the grandmother that Carlin is indeed with the prep class! It was so nice to see that the other moms embrace Carlin and are just as supportive of her as I am.

The director of the school always jokes with me that Carlin could walk into the advanced class and dance with the "big girls" We laugh and joke about it but this last week she got her chance. Carlin had completed her class and decided to visit the other studio. In that studio were three of the oldest/best dancers in the school, the advanced class. She was standing with her mouth open in awe ( I think she has a little girl crush on Hannah, the principal dancer) Miss Nadya looked at Carlin as the girls were doing Tondus on the barre and said "you want to practice with them?" and Carlins answer was a big head nod YES! I helped her get her shoes back on and off she went, to the barre, standing by Hannah. She was so focused and tried to do every move she could. She did not give up. Twenty minutes later she final said she was ready to go home. Miss Nadya and Miss Susan were proud of her fearless attitude and confidence that she would be able to keep up!(Click this link to see a short video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL9_IWssuK4

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Throughout  this ballet adventure I have wondered if we did the right thing by putting her in a higher age group/level than her age. Wednesday we got our answer.  I had to take Carlin to an early class because of parent teacher night at her preschool later that evening. Her make up class would be with the girls that are her age. At the end of the class her teacher came out and said we are no longer allowed to bring her to that class because is way to advanced for the primary class. It was then that I took a breath and new that she is right where she needs to be!

I am sure this year will be full of fun adventures. I cant wait to watch my Little Bun Head grow!

Its Almost Show Time

WOW! I can't believe its almost here. Carlin's first ballet performance, well her first ballet performance in a theatre. She has performed many, many times in our living room, in driveways, in restaurants and anywhere she can sneak in jete or two.

I have learned a lot over the last few months.  The communication at this studio, or lack there of, has been a struggle for me but I now am getting emails and learning to deal with the chaos of being a "dance mom". The business woman in me wants to just take over so the instructors and director can just do what they do best but I know that I need to sit back and let it happen.  Enough about me...


Carlin has been doing so well in her school. She continues to be focused and enjoys every moment of class and rehearsals. I am fortunate to be back stage for one of the performances so I have been involved in her rehearsals. I have been in awe of Carlin's ability to stay in control, stay focused and learn every day. She keeps up with the girls in her group. They are all four and a half or 5 years old. Just the other day, at class, the director was so impressed with Carlin's whole class they will all be moving up.

My mom took Carlin for pictures yesterday and the director just kept telling her how talented Carlin is. I could not be any prouder!  Today Carlin told me when she woke up that she had to dance this morning since she did not get to dance yesterday. Not a day goes by that some sort of ballet is being watched or performed in our house. My Little Bun Head is addicted.

Journey to find a ballet school

For the last several months my little Carlin Grace has shown a passion for ballet. Watching videos of ballerinas on YouTube, watching Swan Lake on Prima Princessa videos. ANYTHING and EVERYTHING ballet! We recently went on vacation to visit My sister-in-law in Burbank and Carlin took her first ballet class, well actually, her first two ballet classes, all in one day. The first with girls her age and the second with 5-8 yr olds. (Thank you to Miss Daiana from www.dkdancefactory.com) Upon her recommendation we started our search for the right school. After many calls and a bad experience we came across Arizona School of Classical Ballet (www.azclassicalballet.com) She participated in her first class with other 3 year olds and was invited back to try the 4 year old class. She fit right in and is now a student there. We are so excited she has found a home! She is now practicing for her first show where she will be part of 3 routines in May. I cant wait to watch my little bun head grow.