Ballet Recital 2013!

This last weekend was 100% ballet busy-ness! Sophia's 2013 spring ballet session culminated in a big "gala" at a concert hall on the NDSU campus. Travis and I thought that this year's gala was superb. The costumes, choreography, schedule, lighting, music... everything was spot-on. Gasper's School of Dance seems to be attracting more and more pupils, and keeps getting better and better! I did take a (horrible) video of Sophia's performace... I was laughing and shaking the camera and ran out of memory right before Sophia's jete solo and the (adorable) end of the dance... boo. We will probably suck it up and buy the pro video this year! Also, the blog couldn't handle my little 2-minute video, so here is the YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGIeZeZ1oE4&feature=youtu.be

Sophia took the performance really seriously and adhered to the practice routine almost to a fault... I was very proud of her!

 On Saturday Grandpa and Grandma stopped by with cousin Ava on their way to Bismarck. We had a nice little visit on the porch. Grandma brought Kaia a couple adorable pairs of shoes, but Kaia wasn't all that interested :)

 Sophia and Ava ran around together all over the place, and had a blast playing together! Kinda makes me wish my girls were 3 years apart instead of 4. :(

 Check out that farmer's tan ;)

 Ava's the best at posing! :D

The next morning we were up early, early to do Sophia's hair and makeup for her dress rehearsal...

 

 Her eyes are big to begin with... mascara is almost scary!

 Sophia and her friend Kilee hanging out in the dressing room

 Sophia and her friend, Larissa, from the Academy

 Sophia and her ballet "bestie," Hope.

 Trying out the big stage for the first time...

 Their dance ended with this super-cute "pose." The applause was deafening when they did this at the end of their recital!

 Recital time! Sophia and Hope hung out as general audience seating began.

 Then it was up to the dressing room to meet their class. Sophia got pretty nervous. She was a bit tearful in the dressing room... it was hard for me to leave her! But she really did a great job and was so happy after her recital; especially when she got to sit back in the audience and watch the gala with her grandparents. She also got flowers from her grandparents, and we celebrated with Tutti Frutti after we left. It was a late night last night!

Grandma with the 2 littlest granddaughters, Ava and Kaia. Next up: summer swimming lessons and 4-H, and then gymnastics in the fall!