Dance, Dance, Dance

Last night was the "Big Girl Ballet" recital, in which two of my not-very-big granddaughters performed. The younger of the two, approaching her 8th birthday, was on the mark and knew all her steps. She was fully involved with the other dancers. But she, being her first year in "Big Girl Ballet", is still one of the little ones and her role was minor. The older girl, all of 11 and weighing not much more than that, is so graceful and happy to be dancing that the joy transmits to the audience. And since she is so petite, the one male dancer in the troupe is able to lift her successfully and repeatedly. The lifts evoke applause from the audience. It just isn't expected because there aren't any other males. The young men in the finale don't count because they aren't students of the dance academy, but are brought in as foils for the older "Big Girls". It isn't quite as exciting watching young men lifting young mid-teen ladies as it is to see a not-yet-teen lifting a teeny girl. Anyway, the dance and the dancers were lovely and when it ends, there are hugs, and compliments and bouguets. And having been on stage myself, I know the feeling of the adrenalin pumping and thinking that there won't be sleep for hours. As strange as it seems today, I can't quite believe that one of these girls will be on pointe next year. Time just goes too fast. Too fast. Next week-end will be the final recital of the season. The girls will dance tap, jazz and hip-hop. They have been dancing, each of them, since the age of three. Every year, the skill and discipline grows and it's a nice evening out, even if I do have to sit through everybody else's kids.