Leah's Dance Recital 2016

I can't believe Leah has been taking dance for 4 years now! She really loves dancing and being on stage and she's getting better and better at it each year. I think she really has a talent-- but I may be partial. This year her class was a jazz and tap combo. I personally liked ballet better but she loved doing jazz. Her teacher has taught teens and adults for 30 years and this was her first year with younger kids. At first I thought she was way too hard for Leah, but I ended up loving what she did with the class and they really improved over the course of the year. I loved that she pushed them to do what she knew they were capable of.

The recital was so much fun to watch. We are now apparently past the years of the frilly little costumes with big poofy skirts and into the more sophisticated costumes. I only had to buy one this year and for the jazz number we were able to put together things from home. It's always crazy to see how grown up she looks in her make up with her hair all slicked back!

Thankfully there was just one show this year, as opposed to two last year, so we weren't there all day. However, that made for a crowded auditorium, and no air conditioning in the hottest part of the year. 

I asked Leah if she was ready to dance, and she said "Mom, I was born ready!"

I asked Brett to take pictures on the good camera during the show, and this is what I got. Pictures of Leah's fan club:

The jazz number was "Broadway Kids." They all seemed to have so much fun with this one. (I took some of the pictures and the video at the dress rehearsal so I didn't have to deal with it during the show-- I think they turned out better that way because no one was sitting in front of me.)

Here's the video, taken at the Dress Rehearsal.

The tap number was "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," a classic from the old USO shows. I think the kids' favorite part was the trumpets.

The audience seemed to really love this part where they were in formation.

 

And of course it wouldn't be Recital Day if there wasn't some sort of celebration afterward. We had ice cream at the service station near our house. Before dinner.