It’s been a year since Ellie attended Sophie’s and Kate’s ballet recital in Edmonds, Washington. “Mama, I want people to watch me do ballet!” she told me later. Ballet has become an obsession for Ellie. She wears her ballet outfits at every opportunity – even to bed, if I don’t feel like forcing her into pajamas.
“How’s the little ballerina?” people say to her.
Ellie was too young to take ballet class. Since September, she’s been in a Mommy and Me class that’s more movement and play oriented than ballet – but it’s as close as she gets to it. At the beginning of class we sing a little song, “She’s a little dancer and Ellie (name of kid) is her name!” after which she runs around the circle and back to her place. I wish I could adequately explain the serious look on Ellie’s face, when she rises from her seat – arms stretched out, pink tutu flying – and gracefully runs as fast as she can go around the other dancers. Other moms giggle and say she’s cute – because it’s such funny sight. This is not a serious class and no one takes it seriously except Ellie – so serious about her ballet.
When it came time to sign up for the recital, I had to do it. I wish I could have been reasonable and noted that she had years of recitals ahead of her. Why do it this year, when a parent has to accompany her on stage? That’s right, Ladies and Gentleman, I have to go on stage with her! It’s humiliating and I can’t believe I’m doing it. But if you saw her face during ballet, you’d know why I am.
Ellie and I have two performances at City Hall of all places – the big auditorium where the hold the Christmas Pantomime – May 10 and May 17. Rehearsals have been grueling – 8:00 in the morning the last two Saturdays. Here are the photos.
June 16, 2008 at 7:32 pm |
Awww…so cute!