Ballet Recital - Today We Dance for Katie

Scarlett had her ballet/tap recital in May.  Starting with a photoshoot.  These cuties had a ton of fun dancing together this year!  Evelyn, Isla, Kaylie, Scarlett & Ivy.

The night of the performance we had a pizza party with all the dancers in our class.  /  Kaylie and Scarlett: BFFs forever!  /  Scarlett's paraprofessional at school, Mrs Henry, has a daughter named Hermione who was in the recital (but the showing the next day).  She asked if I would do her daughter's hair cause it needed to be braided and she knows I can braid from all the hairstyles Scarlett wears to school, haha!

Grammy and Grumple were in town to watch the show. I was worried that the girls would be bored so we brought their tablets and tons of snacks. But they LOVED it! They had to potty at one point and they told Grammy "we need to hurry so we can see the show, it's going to be over!" Even Skye LOVED the show - look at the video below. / The picture of Scarlett in the middle is with her teacher, Miss Claire. / Kaylie to Scarlett: "I really like the color you have on your eyes, it is so sparkly." Such little teenagers. Oh my! / The whole recital was dedicated to Miss Katie (Mrs. Roy). There was even a little slideshow about her at the end, signs that said "We Dance for Katie" on stage, and special pink shirts everyone wore for the finale. It was so tender and sad, but a respectful and beautiful tribute.

Rubber Ducky, Tap Dance

Strawberry Shortcake, Ballet 

Finale, "Today We Dance for Katie"

Skye was cracking us up during the recital.  She just loves dancing to music!  For someone so little she paid attention for most of the two hour show!

My original plan was to not do ballet next year - I was concerned about the effects that ballet can have on self esteem and how sexualized dancing can become at a young age.  But after watching the recital and seeing all the different dances, I feel good keeping them in this dance company. The director keeps it real classy.  No hip hop, inappropriate dancing, bare midriffs, or body shaming.  She doesn't focus on competitions but rather focuses on making "life time dancers".

I signed up Scarlett and the twirls for classes this fall.  I got a phone call from the director.  She said that because we have 3 dancers in the fall and Scarlett had a special connection with Katie - they want to award Scarlett with the Miss Katie Roy Scholarship next year!   We feel so honored that they want to recognize Scarlett in this way.  Scarlett really does love Mrs. Roy and continues to remember her and talk about her often.  In fact, when my mom was here Scarlett told her "Grumple's Dad died, Grandpa Seaver, and that is sad.  Mrs. Roy died and she had no children.  It is just Mr. Roy and no one else."  She is very mindful of their family and what they are experiencing after their loss.  We will continue to remember Mrs. Roy.  And next year, we dance for Katie.