Dance Recital

*caution - ridiculously long, picture/video heavy post :) *

Saturday was Brooke's dance recital...finally. I'm not gonna lie. I'm kinda glad that's over. Brooke did fabulously and all and she really loves it, but its a lot of work for the parents too! And she's decided after this year, she's done with dance and wants to do other things. Gymnastics? Swimming? Etc... So this was her last last dance recital.

It was much more organized than it was last year, but it was also much quicker! The whole recital only lasted about an hour and Brooke's class alone had three dances! So the moms backstage (myself included) were going crazy fast to get the girls changed in between. Especially considering they even had to change out tights every time! It was a little hectic. But it was nice for the audience to not have to sit through hours and hours of dances.

This year's "theme" for the whole show was "Circle of Life" and all the costumes were animals. Again, being totally honest here... these costumes were not my favorite. I think animal costumes should be reserved for Halloween or something. But thank you to all the supporters that bought candles from us in the Fall, because..because of that, her costumes were completely paid for! So thanks again! Anyway, but Brooke was sure super cute in all of hers.

For ballet, she was a mouse....

I got asked if that was Brooke in the above picture. And yes, it was. :) The mouse was her favorite costume at first, but then she decided she liked the monkey best (I'm not sure why? I think the dance was more "fun" for the monkey).

For jazz, a monkey (yes, complete with big hairy feet...ugh)....

Isn't she beautiful though?

And for tap, a bird...

The bird was probably my favorite, just because of the color. But Brooke liked it the least..I think only because of the headpiece, which I admit, I could've done without. ;)

Here's some still pictures from the recital...

The class backstage...

Ballet...

Tap...

Jazz...

And the videos of the three dances (I apologize for the quality, our small camera is on the brink I'm afraid :/ )

This first ballet one was from the rehearsal the night before. I included it, because while its not the whole dance, its a little better quality...

And here's the full ballet dance from recital night...(I love how in one part she is telling the other kid where to go - haha!)...

Here's their jazz performance...

And last, (and probably least), tap.. You can definitely tell which dances are their favorites. And which are practiced more every week. ;)

And here's some pictures from afterwards...of Brooke with all her adoring fans. :)

And this is a picture of a picture..in a frame that was made for Brooke by her assitant teacher, who is the sweetest thing ever! She is just so great with kids, very bubbly, and they all just love her to pieces. I am excited that if Brooke does the Little Belle Camp again this year, she will get to see Ms Tara there, who is now a freshman and a Bengal Belle! (Ms Tara is on the right in the picture, the other is Ms Taylor, who was the lead teacher)...