Did You Take Dance When You Were Little?

When I was a young girl, it was always my dream to be in a ballet with my fluffy tutu and of course the silky smooth leotards.

I remember watching the ballerinas both on TV and at the theatre longing to be able to join them someday. My mother recognized this and placed me in a dance class. I was young, only 4 years old when I started. So much more work than I had anticipated, but I had a great instructor and wonderful classmates. The first year primarily focused on simple dance moves and being able to work in unison.
I remember this one day in particular when we were all trying to twirl to the right.
The lead girl decided her left was the right and we all came toppling down.

At first some of us started crying and sobbing but soon that turned into laughter when we realized we weren't hurt and that our parents were laughing as well.

That was probably my most favorite time in ballet because everything was new and exciting. To watch our teacher fluidly moving across the room with such ease and grace.
It made me wish my small body would just hurry and grow.

Our first recital was for the entire dance studio. We had everyone from my age up to eighteen. Our costumes were themed around Halloween.

We were to be little Halloween fairies.

My instructor had placed an order for these petty skirts with spiders and skulls on them, I remember them so well.

We also had the black fairy wings with silver fairy wands.
The day had finally arrived; my mom helped me get dressed in my leotard and Halloween fairy costume. I remember her there in the front row with camera ready.
I remember dancing my heart out.
It was so much fun.

Looking back know at those photos sometimes makes me miss that little girl.

My eyes were so wide and filled with wonder All because I knew that she was that little fairy, dancing around and enchanting all those down below. Now I enjoy doing the same for my daughters.
It is so much fun to see their little angel faces light up when you give them a leotard or tutu with fairy wings.
To see the imagination just exploding off their little faces as if they were an open book that you just can't put down.