Every Girl Wants to Be a Dancer

Grace has just begun her second season of dance competitions.  Her first year, at the age of 7, was just a little "taste" of what being part of a competitive team was all about.  She is now at the ripe old age of 8 1/2 and is learning what being part of a team is really all about and how hard work pays off.  This year has not been as easy but she has enjoyed it even more.  The expectations are fairly high, sometimes she needs to practice on her own and it can be very tiring.  She has had weeks where she has spent quite a bit of time at the dance school and I heard her say, only once, that she is getting tired of dance... that was a tough week.
Last week she participated in her first competition of the year and there was no doubt that she had FUN.  We had a very full day including three dances with three make-up, hair and costume changes but it was so fulfilling.  As much as Grace has a team, I feel that I now have a team as well - our team of dance moms!  Despite the reputation that precedes us, we are a supportive, proud and happy team of moms all ready to do anything for our girls (and boys)!  I have found a little group of ladies that share some commonalities with me and we can support eachother and our children as they step out on the stage, in the bright lights, in front of harsh judges and we can cheer together and cry tears of joy together.  It makes this whole experience even richer. 
After this first competition, Grace's dance team has qualified for Nationals in July.  We have 2 more local events, a dance recital and a community performance and then it is off to the Muskokas for the National Competition.  No words can describe the pride I feel when I watch Grace dance and I know that it is all worth while.

There is no mistaking that Jean wants to be a dancer to - she's got the moves and the atitude, that's for sure!