Dance, Dance!

I wanted to get Gretchen into some sort of activity this summer, and I realized when we left Indiana, that we took too long to get settled and to make it 'home'. It was a mistake that we made, and we learned from it. So, within a week of being in Oklahoma, I signed Gretchen up for dance. I literally went to the studio on Father's day to sign her up, and she started tap and ballet lessons on Monday!

I thought that it would be a great way for her to meet some friends and maybe a way for me to meet other mom's.

The class is a 6 week class, so I also thought that it woudl be a good test run to see if she really liked taking lessons, before I signed her up for a full year that we couldn't get out of. So, if she enjoys it, we'll likely keep it up in the fall.

We went father's day evening to purchase her first pair of tap shoes, ballet shoes, and a few leotards. She picked out her black leotard that has roses on the back to wear to her first class. Tap lessons were first, and she learned to tap her toes and heels in front and in behind, and how to shuffle-step. Or, as her teacher said, squash the bug.

After tap, they changed into their ballet shoes.

They did some stretching.

And danced with 'balls with strings' as Gretchen called it.

She even got a sucker after class! And, if you know me, that's a big deal because I don't let her have suckers! (They get caught in her hair) But, seeing as to how her hair was in a bun, I let her go ahead and have it.

She had a blast in dance class. She's been dancing around the house all week, and practicing in her shoes, until I finally hid them last night. I'm excited to watch her this summer and to see her learn and grow.

I told DJ that it was something that I had been looking forward to as a mom of a little girl. I loved dance when I was little, and danced through high school, so it was important to me for Gretchen to give it a try.

We'll see how the summer goes and hopefully continue!