Final Nutcracker post

Friday evening is the final dress rehearsal. We are in the home stretch with 2 public performances Saturday and a final public performance Sunday.  

 These sweet angels had a great week together.

 Backstage with my angel.  Audrey told me part of what she likes about Nutcracker is how much time she gets with me.  I'm glad she likes me helping out yet instead of wishing I just drop her off.

 I love this costume.  The angel scene is always so pretty.

                                      

 Miss Beth with her angels.  She has been a wonderful teacher for Audrey this year.  Audrey has really grown a lot under her instruction.

 She never wants the week to end

The girls get such a kick out of the fog

My sweet lamb

This number was so much fun and the girls had a great time with it.  Even the rough around the edges guys that work the curtain, etc. enjoyed this number.  They told the girls they stole the show. 

 We had flowers delivered to the dressing room

 Sunday I finally traded my chaperone badge for a program.  I finally got to watch everyone's hard work pay off.

The girls enjoying the cast party. Nutcracker 2016 brought record breaking ticket sales.  That's certainly something to celebrate!

Art Garage

The Medical Alliance playgroup met at the Art Garage for painting and snacks.

 Listening to the directions

 They got to make a cute snowman painting

 I think the owner thought we were nuts for letting all these kids sit together.  She had the table set up for the moms to sit in between. They were so well behaved and proved her wrong.

 Group shot of all the kiddos and moms

 A few of us went out to lunch afterward.

More Nutcracker

 I was able to sneak into the audience one night to get some pictures.

 What else does a ballerina eat at 9:30pm after a long evening of rehearsals? 

 Thursday brought 2 school performances.

Theater week

 The time had come to move Nutcracker rehearsals from the studio to the Civic Center. Theater week is exciting and exhausting!  Monday starts out more casual and fun.  The girls don't have to wear stage make-up and get to wear red and green instead of their costumes.

 The girls (and chaperones) spend a lot of time in the dressing room.

 Marking the floor with the executive director of the ballet looking on.

 Backstage fun

 From Tuesday through the rest of the week it's full dress rehearsals.

 The table is full of a variety of activities to keep them entertained and quiet as possible in between numbers.

 Ready to head down to the stage

 The girls that are in both the angel scene and mirliton scene had a quick change backstage.

I love the memories and friendships that are made through ballet.

December

 The kids are back to school in 2 weeks and I'm finally posting about December.  I still have hope that I will be caught up one day.  Time will tell.

December started with a new festive cast.  He was thrilled to finally have elbow movement again!

 The first weekend of December also brought the first snow fall of winter.

 Snow on the weekend is always more fun than during the week.  The kids are so busy with activities that it's hard to have time to play in it during the week.

 Carter managed well with the limited use of his arm.

 I wish I could share the joy the kids find in snow

 I'm happy to stay inside and make the hot chocolate

my 3 snow angels