Last Full Day At Walnut Hill

Emma's class performed a dance from Sleeping Beauty. 

Grace's class during Progressing Ballet Technique. The girls loved this class! 
Grace is using the bright red ball. 

Today was the last full day of the Summer Youth Dance Intensive at Walnut Hill. The girls have one more ballet class tomorrow morning, and then the program will fully wrap until next summer. 

Today, to end their last full day the entire intensive came together and performed for each other. Sadly, though understandably, we parents were not able to attend (due to capacity limits) but the girls were able to record some of the dances to show us later. They did so well and we could see so much growth after these past twelve days. I mean how could they not when dancing eight to ten hours each day?! 

They had an absolutely incredible time and are sad that they weren't able to be there the last few summers as well. Both girls learned and progressed so much (as reported by them and the director of Walnut Hill's Community Dance Academy). Though they have decided to stay at Center Stage they hope that they can continue to take classes at Walnut Hill as well as it's a great way to progress and grow as a dancer! xo 

Grace's Pointe Class

 

The obligatory after pointe class picture! xo

Off They Go!

 

In which Dave and Jake head off to pick up Grace from Walnut Hill! xo

Yesterday and Today

 

Yesterday after Zumba

and this morning before leaving for ballet. 

The girls have had such an amazing week and said they have learned and progressed so much! They can't wait to see what's instore next week! xo

Bunheads

 

The bunheads are ready for day two! Emma has her first extra long day today with hip hop workshop tonight until 7:00pm! xo

And So It Begins!

 

They had their first full day today and came home absolutely exhausted and full of stories! Day one was a success! Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings! xo 

Here They Go!

 

Summer dance intensive starts.....now! 

Some Incredible News!

 

On Saturday the girls auditioned for the summer dance intensive at Walnut Hill School for the Performing Arts. Walnut Hill is an incredible private high school here in Natick. It was a rather last minute decision, as it had been on my radar since this time last year, and then I hadn't checked to see when auditions were until this past Friday and wouldn't you know, they were the next day! And there was still room! It was absolutely a sign that they were meant to audition. So, David and I chatted with them to ask if they would be interested. After a few questions and some family discussion they decided to go for it. At lunch time that day we took the required first arabesque picture that each would need the next day and registered. 

With buns in their hair and their ballet shoes and pointe shoes in their bags, David drove them over for the 10:30am audition. He wished them luck and headed out to run a few errands before heading home. Together, we headed back over for 12:30pm pick up and they came out beaming. "It was SO fun, mama!" "Everyone was so nice!" "We did great!" "I got to be at the barre with the other girls who just started pointe while Grace and the older girls went across the floor!" Their smiles said it all. It was then that I said a little prayer "please let them make it." I knew that most in attendance were coming from some very serious ballet schools and I wasn't sure if our girls skills were going to be up to par with the other girls who were auditioning. The one thing we didn't know was when we would hear the results.  Thankfully, we wouldn't have to wait long! The two emails above arrived late this afternoon. With snow falling beautifully outside, I called the girls to come join us in the kitchen and gave them the good news. There was much rejoicing before they headed off to go tell their friends!  We are SO proud of them for being invited to such an elite program! We have no doubt that those two weeks will be absolutely incredible for them and that they will grow as dancers by leaps and bounds! My only concern is that we will have now opened a can of worms and that they are going to want to go there for high school (and who could blame them? After all, with their love of dance and the arts that would absolutely be the perfect place for them). Now, if only we could find that money tree.... xo