Dance class

Since Rebecca loves music and dancing so much, I had been eager for her to be able to take dance classes. Most studios don't start dance classes until age 3. However, I saw that one of the local studios has an "Intro to Dance" class for 2.5-3.5 year olds. I had talked about it to Rebecca, and she seemed interested, so I signed her up. I bought the tiniest leotard I could find, and even it was long on her. The smallest dance tights (a size 1-3) they make came up to her armpits and still bagged at the ankles. Size 6 ballet shoes and size 7 tap shoes. Everything so cute.

I'd been talking it up to her, and she was excited about "my dance class...with other neetle girls and all 'da peoples." She had even told me that she didn't want me to go with her (although she consented to allowing me to drive her). I had high hopes!

Rebecca and I went to her first dance class today. Let's just say that the idea was a little better than the reality! They started off with having the moms sit at the side of the room while the kids and teacher did stretches in the middle. Rebecca and two other of the youngest girls stayed firmly attached to us moms. Rebecca was not going to venture into the center of the room. I thought things were going to be better when we changed into the tap shoes. Rebecca liked standing next to me and doing shuffle-step moves and reeeeaaaallllllyyyy liked how cool her taps sounded on the wood floor. Then they kicked all the moms out. We could watch what was going on in the room from big tv monitors in the waiting area. Rebecca planted herself with one teacher and whispered, "Mama...Daddy...Mama...Daddy." She never got out of the teacher's arms. She wasn't crying and she did ultimately kind of wave her arms around like the kids on the floor. One other 2.5 year old (who still looked like a giant next to Rebecca) cried the whole rest of the class after her mom left.

So it wasn't exactly a rousing success. When we were on our way home, Rebecca said, "No more dance cass!" However, she was happy to show Daddy her tap shoes when we were at home. I mentioned dance class again later in the morning and said we'd try it again next week, and she was agreeable. So we'll see! Since we've paid for the whole month, I figure we'll see how it goes and if she'll acclimate and enjoy it. If not, then she may have had the shortest dance career ever.