Dear Makenzie Ruth,
Tonight I want to tell you a story about a little dancer. You know her well…
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The story began late last summer. It was before this little dancer turned two. The story began when a Mommy & Daddy signed up their little girl for Saturday morning Mommy & Me dance class. The Mommy took the little girl to buy her first pair of tiny size 6.5 tap shoes in anticipation of the start of class. For weeks before class started the energetic little girl ran around the house making tons of noise with her new little white shoes and yelling, “Tap, tap, tap tap, tap!”
Then came this little girl’s very first tap class. It was a big day because it also happened to be the day she turned two! The little dancer was shy at first and stayed close to her Mommy, but eventually she came out of her shell. This little dancer with pigtails and a pink leotard was finding her place in tap class.
October 4, 2014 – A big day! This little dancer turned two, went to her very first tap class, and found out that her soon-to-be arriving sibling would be a Boy!
The week and months flew by. Fall turned to winter. The little dancer turned into a big sister. Her family of three turned into a family of four. The once shy little girl turned into a confident toddler tapper.
The little tapper meeting her little brother.
Each week became more exciting than the last. The Mommy and little girl would do their taps steps and then they would dance to the Wake up & Wiggle song, the Clap your hands song, the Teddy Bear song and many others. The little girl loved learning new steps with her wonderful teacher, Miss Liza.
By the time spring arrived the Mommy and the little girl were working on their recital dance and getting ready for the trip to the big stage. Then it was finally recital day! The pink and sparkly costume was laid out, the bobby pins were packed and the grandparents were starting to arrive in town. The Mommy was so nervous that she barely slept the night before. She was hoping that the big stage and the full audience wouldn’t scare her two-year-old dancer.
The morning was a blur and suddenly the little girl and the Mommy were waiting in the wings of the stage holding hands and waiting for the music to start. The song Momma I’m a Big Girl Now started and the duo skipped onto stage. The little girl and her friends in class had practiced many times but when the Mommy watched her little girl she felt something she couldn’t put into words. Her heart was overflowing with emotion watching her little girl proudly do each dance step. The Mommy could barely hold back the tears. In what felt like just a few seconds the song ended and the little girl was posing with her arms up. The sweet little girl did great!!!!
Dance time!
And then came the coolest part. Miss Liza walked onto the stage and stopped the dance recital. The little girl and her five other friends in class were the youngest tappers in the studio so Miss Liza wanted to personally introduce each of them to the audience. It was such an awesome moment. As she introduced each little girl, the dads come up and gave them flowers. When it was the little girl’s turn she excitedly jumped up and down to greet her daddy.
The little girl was beyond excited to have her Daddy come on stage and give her flowers!
During the finale the little girl went on stage with all the big girls! They danced to A Dream is a Wish from Cinderella.
After the recital the little was greeted by all of her family and friends who came to watch her very first dance recital.
Proud Daddy & his little girl.
The little dancer with some of her favorite big girls – Molly & Abbi.
‘Liva’ & Rachel with the little dancer.
Cousin Ryan & Auntie Mimi even came from Ohio to be a part of the day.
So full of energy!
As a special gift the little girl’s Aunt Melissa gave her a ballet painting that once hung in Aunt Melissa’s room when she was a little girl.
The little dancer was so tired that she fell asleep on the way home while still wearing her taps shoes. Perhaps she was dreaming of her next recital.
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Makenzie, the little girl who made her Mommy, Daddy, Little Brother, family & friends so proud last Saturday was you! We are very lucky to see you grow right in front of us. Whether you continue to tap, whether you play sports or whether you find happiness in just reading a book, I want you to do it with all your heart!
Thank you for letting me be a part of our first year of tap. Next year you will go into the dance studio all by yourself but I’ll keep with me the fun memories of our year in Mommy & Me class.
I Love you so much, xoxo
