My Weekend {in photos}

img_3614 What a weekend. Levy tried out for the Northeast Ballet Company production of the Nutcracker this Saturday at Proctors (her fourth time) and as usual as the kids were inside giving it their all, the moms (and some dads and grandmas,) were all on pins and needles waiting to see what parts they might get.

For years, since her first performance when she was in Kindergarten, she has wanted to be Clara, who is the main girl, the one who gets the Nutcracker. Each year she has been thrilled to just be included, doing two years as a Gingerbread and last year as a Party Girl, and each year I tell her to smile, just do her best, and whatever she gets will be great.

After a couple hours of waiting, finally they let out a bunch of girls back out. I quickly scanned to find Levy, and she was clutching a paper (good sign, means she got a part). All the moms were politely pushing forward at once to get to the kids, so it took me (and Welles, who was strapped to me in the baby carrier) a minute to get to her, but when we did she looked up at me and said, "Mom, I got Clara!". It was loud and busy and I didn't think I heard her right so I asked her again, "WHAT?!" and she nodded yes, she got Clara! We all try to keep our reactions to a minimum to be sensitive to anyone who might be coming out disappointed, so I tried to keep it all in but man, was I proud of that little girl, and I've never seen her so, so happy. She positively glowed. Being there in that moment to share that with her, I'll never forget it. My big girl.

Sunday was low-key after all the nervous excitement of Saturday, but it was a good mellow. Apple picking with some friends, a chance to let the kids run around without having to chase them too much. There was much toddler kissing and "Mom, look at this one!" and we left with bags of cider donuts and cheese from the farm store at Riverview. I have to say, they are just so friendly and warm there, it is our go to spot each year for apples, plus their cider donuts happen to be the BEST in my humble opinion. I may or may not have packed them in the kids lunches today because whatever, it's September. Let 'em eat sugar donuts for one day amirite?! Keep up the good work, Riverview.

img_3610img_3614img_3562img_3662img_3650img_3675img_3690 img_3692 img_3695img_3702fullsizerender

Finding Community: A Letter from a Dance Mom

IMG_9900If you've been reading this site for a while, you have probably read about my longing for community as a parent. Where is this village we have all heard of? Where is that sense of all parents pitching in and helping out and looking out for each other? Well, I have to tell you guys a secret, I've found it.

Last week my 7 year old daughter and I drove down and back to Schenectady probably about eight or ten times for rehearsals. She was overjoyed (understatement of the century) at getting a part as a "party girl" in Act One of the annual Nutcracker performance by the Northeast Ballet Company, and having done it for the past two years (when she was a little "Gingerbread" in the production) we were used to it. But this year was a little different. It was a bigger role, it meant more time in rehearsals, more costume requirements, a whole new set of things to learn about like what kind of hairpiece to get and what kind of makeup to wear, how to get the bun right under the hairpiece and all these little details that I had no idea about.

The thing is, I have to admit I was a little worried about the other "dance moms". I've never watched the show of the same name, but the general idea of a dance mom or a "stage mom" is not a good one. There's a fairly negative connotation of back stabbing and jealousy, even sabotage. So I was a little guarded, nervous even.

12316585_10153250301783715_4606604684125641480_n

The reality of how these parents are though couldn't be more different. Everyone helps out, from spending long hours in the sewing rooms creating the beautiful costumes the kids will wear on stage, to helping schlep everything needed from studio to theater, to volunteering long hours as a room parent, basically making sure every dancer is ready to go and where they need to be. This means there can be no jealously, no back stabbing. You want all the dancers to do well because they are all working together, they are all in this together. Moms trade the info happily, letting the newbies like me know where to buy the right stuff for the costume, how to get the flattest bun, how to pin the curls to the side the way the company director wants it. All of this little information is a lifesaver, it helps my daughter, it helps me, and it helps the entire group as a whole, and I am always so grateful and excitedly pass the info on to the other newbies when it is my turn.

In our "Party Girl" room, everyone helps out, even the kids. Need a hairnet to cover a bun? Someone gives you one of theirs. Need help pinning a costume? Someone jumps in to do it in time. Someone gets sick and can't be there for their room parent shift? Someone covers it. They do this so that everything will run smoothly not just for their child, but for all these kids that worked so hard.

The biggest sense of community came though when I had to just drop her off at the room and leave so I could watch the performance. I was way more nervous than she was, would the sash on her costume stay pinned? Would she accidentally smear her lipstick before she went on stage? Would her hairpiece come undone? Would she suddenly get nervous and want her mom, and I wouldn't be there to give her a pep talk? There's nothing to do but put your faith in the fellow room parent that she will make sure that all of the girls, her daughter and your daughter included, make it down backstage in time ready to go. You linger in the doorway, nervously mumbling about whether or not you put enough bobby pins in and letting the room mom know for the millionth time where the lip liner is, and then you go and wait in the audience with a giant sized lump in your throat holding your breath until their part is over.

The performance was successful because of the hard work of the ballet company director and the staff, the incredibly hard working dancers (some as young as 5!) but also because of the underpinning community of these parents who bust their butts to get these kids there on time, to help do their part so that ALL of the parts come together beautifully. I can't say enough how happy I am to be part of the Northeast Ballet Company community, and a big thank you to all of the dancers and parents and Myers Dance Center teachers and staff. xoxo

My Tiny Dancer

Allow me to have an emotional mom moment here for a second... 246960_10150199252368715_4826795_n

That is Levy, pictured above, when she took her first ballet class. I practically followed her around the studio taking photos non-stop because I just could not handle the cuteness. She danced and twirled and jumped and stretched her arms up to the ceiling and I just marveled at this beautiful little creature that was mine. And seriously, those first time ballet classes ARE THE CUTEST OMG.

298325_10150272430708715_655326_nShe was nervous, and wanted me to stay, and I happily obliged.

1471871_10151812792083715_310441830_nHere she is dancing in her first Nutcracker with the Northeast Ballet Company, with that still round not yet a big kid little belly, missing a bunch of teeth. When she came out on stage that first time I cried my eyes out unabashedly because I had never been so impressed. Here was this teensy little girl, jumping out of the big skirt of Mother Ginger and giving it her all to a full house, at 5. I can barely get up the nerve to talk to a roomful of people about anything, let alone perform on a stage. In Kindergarten. And our experience was so positive, was so moving. The confidence this ballet family gives these kids, it is awe inspiring. It was like I was watching her grow up before my very eyes in the most lovely way possible.

12241780_10153215499708715_7533965174651984464_nAnd then last night I got her ready for her first dress rehearsal as a Party Girl in the opening scene, the "Party Scene" of the Nutcracker, which she was so thrilled to get. We did her hair and put on her brand new slippers, and as I sat there on the metal folding chair waiting for her to put her costume on I could barely get together the words to express to her how impressed I was with her. I felt like I could never adequately explain to her just how beautiful and poised she is, this little 7 year old. It was all I could do to stop fussing with her curls, to just sit back and let her do her beautiful thing

We've been going to the Nutcracker Tea at the Hall of Springs at SPAC since Levy was 2 years old, it is one of those mother and daughter traditions that I look forward to every year. Here she is that first year (excuse the grainy old phone pic)...

154593_459492428714_4855200_nAnd here she is standing on her tip toes to be like the ballerina next to her...

nut6I love the little cups of hot chocolate and the tiny little cakes, she loves the cookies and the candy canes and the fact that everyone gets a tiny Nutcracker at the end as a gift. I love that we get to spend time together, in that gorgeous historic place, watching something beautiful.

The only thing is, this year, I won't get to sit with her, because she will be on stage. So if you see me on Sunday making a complete fool of myself crying at the Nutcracker Tea, don't judge. I'm just thinking of my little once chubby bellied ballerina and how proud I am to be her mom.

For Nutcracker Tea tickets visit www.spac.org, for Nutcracker tickets at Proctor's, click here

my {Nutcracker} weekend in photos

I have said it before, but I must say it again, how much I love the Northeast Ballet Company and Myers Dance Center where Levy takes ballet. This was our second year doing the Nutcracker with the Company and it was just as incredible of an experience as last year. She was a gingerbread again, and what struck me as it did last year, was how the Company manages to both take the production very seriously and at the same time make it seem like you are all in a little supportive ballet family with everyone looking out for each other. During the dress rehearsal, Levy's teacher (also a dancer with the Company who was a Party Girl this year) came in and gave the kids all a special gift, a miniature snow globe with Clara and the Nutcracker in it, and they signed a special card for "Mother Ginger" aka "Mr. Bruce" who walks them out in his giant skirt which they then pop out of to do their dance. They got a chance to watch the rest of the performance after rehearsal from the balcony and I could barely drag her away from it. I have to admit I have also thoroughly enjoyed being surrounded by Tchaikovsky for the past few weeks as well.

This year meant so much to us, and we had fifteen family members in the audience to watch her, including my mom, and I was so happy she could be there. I am so incredibly proud of Levy, I don't think I would have been able to get on that big stage and dance in front of all those people when I was six years old. I was definitely one of those crying moms, holding Talley in my arms and simultaneously feeding Jack a steady stream of Mike and Ikes as we watched to keep him in his seat. It was an experience I will cherish always, and I want to give a huge thanks to Darlene Myers, all the parents, teachers and staff at Northeast Ballet for making it possible for all of us, and bravo to all the dancers (including Lauren Lovette and Gonzalo Garcia of New York City Ballet!) on such a beautiful performance! xoxo

photo 11 photo 10photo 6photo 5photo 4photo 9 photo 3 photo 2photo 8 photo 7photo 1

American Girl Night at SPAC Ticket Giveaway ***CLOSED***

ticketgiveaway“American Girl® Night” is one of the most popular events of SPAC’s classical season, and will be hosted by SPAC and American Girl Place on Wednesday, July 9th, on SPAC’s lawn beginning at 6pm.  The event, which takes place before New York City Ballet’s performance at 8pm, will feature arts & crafts, an instrument petting zoo, interactive dance demos, a tea party with lemonade and nut-free cookies and pop-up shops by G. Willikers. The event will feature American Girl’s “Girl of the Year” Isabelle (including a giveaway of 10 dolls), an inspired dancer studying ballet at a performing arts school in Washington, D.C. with a flair for design. americangirl

SPAC’s pre-shows began in 2007 as an initiative to engage new and younger audiences to the performing arts. American Girl® Night has consistently been one of the most popular pre-show events, innovatively exposing children to classical performances- often for the first time. SPAC is currently the only performing arts venue with a partnership with American Girl®, collaborating to encourage the successes of young girls through enriching experiences.

This night is always a special night for kids and is one of our family's favorite performances of the summer. We bring a blanket and some chairs to spread out on the lawn, explore all the cool activities they have to offer for the evening and enjoy a classical ballet performance by the New York City Ballet right here in Saratoga Springs, it's incredible!

1057483_434429593323075_346403879_n

General lawn admission to attend “American Girl® Night” and the New York City Ballet performance on July 9 for children 12 and under will be $10, with proceeds going to benefit SPAC’s children’s education program, the Vivienne Anderson program. The initiative hosts underprivileged and underserved children each season at performances of New York City Ballet. Click here for tickets and more info.

Here on Mamatoga I am giving away two sets of lawn tickets courtesy of SPAC (1 adult; 1 child ticket per set) which will be available to be picked up at the SPAC Box Office on the day of the performance. TWO winners will be chosen to each receive one adult and one child ticket.

IMG_1037IMG_1006

To enter simply comment below, you can enter more than once, and the two winners will be chosen at random and notified via email by me on Tuesday, July 8th at 10am. Thanks to everyone for entering and big thanks to SPAC for providing the tickets!

***This giveaway is now closed and the winners have been notified via email. Thank you to everyone who entered!***