Fairy Tale Dance Camp

I started ballet class when I was 7. Or 8. Or some age nearby. I don't remember.

What I do remember is trying to skip class as a preteen, hanging out long after my mom said it was time to get ready for class, in hopes that she would forget and I could skip. But, after a while, I forgot about skipping class and began to get serious about dance. By the time I was 14, I took 3 hours a day, four days a week (we had Fridays off) and during rehearsal time (Sept - Apr) we rehearsed 4+ hours on Saturday and Sunday. I lived at the studio, wore tights and leotards more than any other clothes, and my hair was always in a bun.

I took class until I was about 28. I taught ballet to all ages from 3 to adult. I taught pointe class, turn class, stretch class, and at multiple schools. Basically, ballet and I have a history.

My little girls are interested in ballet, and knowing what I know, I am really strict about where I will let them take class. There are lots of schools out there that are only in it for the money, teaching just the routine and spending lots of money and time on the "recital". I'm pretty picky and I'm not going to send my girls to a recital school. I want them to learn the right way, because, hello, I'm not spending a lot of money for no good reason. I want them to learn.

My two older girls took class for a few years at my old school, and they loved it. Both appeared in the Russian tour of the Nutcracker. But, after a few years, both lost interest. Enter my younger girls - it's kind of nice to have a second set of girls to screw up guide down the path. We looked for something that they could do over the summer and discovered that the school was offering Fairy Tale Dance Camp.

It was a week of ballet class, stretching, story time, movie time, and crafts. Oh, the crafts. They made fairy wands, dance bags, painted pointe shoes and decorated a picture block, on which was mounted a picture of all 20 girls.

 

in the studio I took for years, the one my father laid the floor and my mother did numerous fundraising and supportive activities - my girls began.

Comments

[Elizabeth]

How sweet! Since my Hubby is full blood Irish (1st generation) all the girls have taken Irish dance classes. I would love to sign our son up but Hubby is having a cow over the idea. ;P

[Jennifer]

That is neat. I wish I had more things to share with my daughter, but I am boring.. LOL.

[Glenda Piper]

I love this!! Anything was tradition really speaks to my heart. What a great journey for your girls.

[Tish]

What great pix. It's nice to have your kids follow in your foot steps. I took ballet for 2 or 3 years and enjoyed it. Not a lot of inborn talent, but it made me feel artistic, somehow.

[Cindy]

That is so awesome Carmen! The history your family has there is fantastic (I'm jealous!) We recently relocated cross-country and I am looking for a dance studio for my girls. I LOVE LOVE LOVED the one we left. I'm mortified that I will not find one my girls and I will love...

[A Simple Twist of Faith]

How fun for your girls, I love the pictures and the family connections! My oldest, the tomboy, won't step near a ballet studio. This summer she has fallen in love with swimming and is on her seven weeks of lessons. However, in a couple of years, my youngest may try, she loves all things fairy tale!

[Megan]

That's such a wonderful thing to share with your daughters. I am an Irish dance teacher. I have been dancing for 14 years and I have gotten rather burnt out lately. Then my daughter started taking class last year and she loves it. I have been able to fall back in love with dance by seeing it through her eyes.

[Jenn E]

Lila starts dance in September. I didn't take it but I think she will love it. Your girls are GORGEOUS!

[UKCraftySal]

It's so lovely to hand on something you loved to your kids. The pictures are gorgeous!

[Young Wife]

That sounds like a wonderful camp! I like the pictures.