Recital Nights 1 & 2 ... "The Nutcracker" - 2009

We made it through yet another recital weekend. Whew! There's nothing like recitals to make you go a little crazy, especially at this time of year. I can't imagine Callie NOT having the chance to dance on the stage though. She loves it. She soaks up the energy ... and pours her heart out on the stage. It truly is a beautiful thing to watch ... and that's saying a LOT since I don't like ballet. Callie did a terrific job as a rat & as a Spanish dancer. She now has 3 weeks off until the next session of dance starts & she's beside herself not knowing what to do. Poor girl just needs to dance ... all the time! Here are assorted pictures from the 2 recital nights.

==========

FRIDAY NIGHT PICTURES

Makenna & Callie

Fellow rats & "Clara" (aka Taylor) Callie with flowers from Oskar
Callie & Oskar exchanged Christmas presents for the first time this year. It was fun to help her shop for him & find just the right gift.
==========
Callie is totally blurry in this picture
but I just LOVE the look of anticipation on
Oskar's face ... LOVE IT!!!
Oskar bought Callie sweet pea perfume
Callie bought Oskar a funny shirt
So cute!

On Saturday nights I help backstage ... so I'm also known as a "helper mom." It's a whole different perspective on recitals but can be fun ... at times ... you never can tell. ☺

SATURDAY NIGHT PICTURES

==========
Oskar (dressed as Fritz) and Callie

Callie as a rat & the rats w/Clara

before dancing onstage

Callie the rat

More rat dancing

Spanish dance & curtain call

Oskar (dressed as The Nutcracker) & Callie and Oskar (wearing the shirt Callie gave him the night before) and Callie.

In case you're wondering, the shirts says "Don't play with duct tape." Kind of an inside thing related to D.I. ☺

Winter Recital - 2009

The ballet studio where Callie dances had their winter recital dress rehearsal on Wednesday night. They are having "The Nutcracker" as their production again this year. You might remember last year ... here and here ... when Callie danced the part of Clara (such good memories for her). This year, Callie moved up to Ballet 4 and therefore was unable to dance the part of Clara again. She was SUPER excited to find out she'd be dancing as a rat. Yep, my daughter the rat. If you don't know the story of "The Nutcracker" at all, the rats are ultimately out to get Clara & she is protected by the dolls & eventually saved by "The Nutracker" (danced again by Oskar, Callie's "special" friend). Here are some rat pictures.

That's a doll behind her ... as the rats are circling Clara The other dance she was in was the Spanish dance. (She was in the Russian & Chinese dances last year). It's a short dance (about a minute) but pretty & fun to watch.

Totally blurry but I like this picture.

The color is really good & it shows

her "in motion" ... groovy

So pretty!

Thanks to our friends that came to watch Callie (and others) on dress rehearsal night. Sharon & Emily, Andrea & Kelsey and even Jerrie came this year. Thanks ladies, Callie (and I) very much appreciate the support!

Spring 2009 Recital Night

This first picture was taken by Calob at the dress rehearsal. I like how Callie is kinda going to the side ... a funky shot.

The rest of the pictures were taken Saturday night, when I was a helper mom backstage & my mom was a helper grandmother.

----------

The girls before they danced

Taylor, Callie, Lindsey, Anna, Elea & Kaarina

Proper ballerinas??

My mom took this one ... sorry about the redeye
This is the start of Callie's dance on Saturday night. The lighting was incredible! They didn't light it like this on the night of the dress rehearsal so when we watched (from the audience) Friday night it was really a great surprise. It just fit with the music, the dance ... everything. These 2 pictures were taken from the wings, backstage ... so they aren't great.

Callie & Oskar
Oskar & Callie :)

Callie & Me

Grandma Judy & Callie

2009 Spring Dress Rehearsal

2 weeks ago Callie's spring dress rehearsal was held. The girls in Callie's class (all 6 of them) really shined for the dress rehearsal. They've come SO far since they started dancing & were truly beautiful to watch. I think it's definitely the best I've seen the class dance ... I was quite proud!!!

<><><><><><><><><>

Kaarina & Callie before they danced

The beginning of their dance

(Callie is front left)
The end of the dance

As usual, I couldn't narrow down the pictures I wanted to post as there were so many good ones. I did a few mosaics so I could post more without burning your eyes ... you are welcome! lol

Recital Nights 1 & 2 ... "The Nutcracker"

"The Nutcracker" 2008 for Callie's ballet studio is offically over. We made it through both performance nights with flying colors. Callie did FANTASTIC and really played the part of Clara well. She didn't crack under the pressure (even though I was practically hyperventilating back-stage). I'm so proud of her and how she handled it all. She's definitely a pro! I want to thank the friends that came to watch Callie. On Wednesday, dress rehearsal night, Andrea & Kelsey came & Sharon's whole family came. On Friday night, Eric from Terence's work came. On Saturday night, Catyler (remember her from D.I.?) and Dawn came. Callie SO appreciated those who came to watch & support her. As her mother, I appreciate it SO much as well!!! On Saturday night there weren't enough moms signed up so I could watch Callie dance the part as Clara (as I had to watch the rest of her class) so I asked Sharon if she would help me out & she very nicely agreed. I think she might have been rethinking this decision once she ventured outside & the winds were blowing oh so hard & it had started snowing. I truly can't express how grateful I am for Sharon helping me out. I was able to watch Callie dance the part of Clara on Saturday night because of YOU Sharon ... I love ya girl!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Oskar & Callie Friday night ...

before they were dressed as Fritz & Clara

Clara aka Callie Friday night
Oskar & Callie
aka
Fritz & Clara on Friday night
Oskar & Callie ... a bow & a curtsy
(Saturday night from backstage)
Callie

Callie dancing w/the Nutcracker

Callie asleep on the stage

& the little mice are dancing around her

Russian dance

Chinese dance

Saturday night's curtain call

Callie & Oskar

(see those white roses she's holding?

Oskar gave them to her

... on stage, in front of everybody!

It was great)!

Callie holding her flowers

Oskar gave her the white ones on her

right while Dawn & Catyler gave her the red ones

on her left ... lovely!

Callie as Clara in "The Nutcracker"

Callie had her dress rehearsal for "The Nutcracker" recital on Wednesday night. She was SO excited about all of it & didn't seem nervous. I, on the other hand, was VERY nervous. I wasn't nervous because I thought she wouldn't do a great job ... I was just nervous ... it's what I do. I took LOADS of pictures & had a terrible time narrowing them down so you'll just have to look at them all & love them. Simple, right? :) Yeah, I thought so too. In case you didn't know, Callie was asked to dance the part of Clara for the recital. She was honored & didn't even think twice. She's worked VERY hard in her extra rehearsals. She also danced with her regular class ... 2 different dances this year. She had a lot on her plate but did exceptionally well ... at least I think so & since I'm her mom then I obviously know! lol

- - - - -

Clara making her entrance ...

blurry but pretty

Clara & Fritz (or Callie & Oskar) checking out a

doll (aka Brooklyn)
Clara dancing with her Nutcracker

Clara alone on the stage ... fast asleep!

Baby mice that Clara is dreaming about.

Waking up after a bad dream!

The Nutcracker (Oskar) to the rescue

Russian Dance pictures

The only picture I got of the Chinese dance that

wasn't horrible ... and it didn't turn out great.