There was a time, a few years ago, when I defined myself as a dancer. I listed it somewhere below ‘blogger, runner, chocaholic’. I still go to dance classes, but the days of defining myself as a dancer are gone. The rest of the world got better and I got stuck. I got worse. My brain just isn’t wired to learn dance moves. I wasn’t a dancer as a kid and coming to those skills and that ability to learn and remember in later life is hard.
I’m not a dancer any more.
But I’m a dance mum. And I’m proud of that.
We had our annual dance show this weekend (straight after Britmums Live – I can’t begin to tell you how tired I was). Yes, I still danced. And I worked blimmin’ hard to learn those routines. I wouldn’t go as far as to say I ‘nailed it’, but I didn’t mess up badly, like I would have done a couple of weeks earlier. But I wasn’t feeling it like I used to.
My daughter’s dancing, on the other hand, is something else.
We did two performances and were in four dances each. And for every one of my daughter’s eight dances, I was in the wings. Where I wasn’t supposed to be. Getting under people’s feet. Because I had to see her dance.
Regular readers will know that there are few things that give me greater pleasure than seeing my daughter dance. There’s lots of new people in my class this year and I took great pleasure in telling as many of them as possible: ‘That’s my daughter!’
The one with the natural talent. The one who definitely doesn’t take after her mum.
She did two street routines and two contemporary routines. For the street routines, I smiled so hard I thought my face would crack. And for the contemporary routines? There were tears in my eyes. Contemporary dance is so beautiful and emotional and the music always tugs at the heart strings. Seeing my daughter dancing so beautifully always makes me emotional.
Her street class is made up of years 3 and 4. They danced to Wrapped Up, a really energetic dance, with my daughter at the front and in the middle, giving it her best attitude. Then there was Get Shaky – all about breaking the rules after school. More attitude, more energy. More massive smiles from me.
Her contemporary class is made up of years 4 to 7, so she’s one of the ‘little ones’. She might be smaller than some of them, but she’s in no way inferior. The dances are harder, but my daughter has them completely under control. Her moves are so strong, yet so fluid. I could watch her do contemporary dance all day. She danced to Lay Me Down and One Republic’s I Lived – my absolute favourite of all her dances.
I might not nail my dances, but my daughter nails it EVERY TIME. Whether it’s street or contemporary, I can’t take my eyes off her. She draws me in. And a lot of other people too. I’m so proud of her.
No photos of her in action, but this is one of her street costumes
June 25, 2015
Oh Sarah, what a lovely post. Your pride for your daughter absolutely shines through.
June 25, 2015
Thanks very much! She is such a beautiful dancer, I had to share it 🙂
June 25, 2015
Oh that is so beautiful. You have every right to be proud, I know how hard dancing is and for your daughter to be so good and to excel with children older than her shows what a natural talent she is. I also think it is lovely that you still dance, it is such a brilliant thing to do and you are motivating your daughter by doing it to as you are her biggest role model. I think you should be proud of both of you.
June 27, 2015
Thanks very much, what a lovely thing to say! I’m kind of proud that I’m a better dancer than most mums, but I do really struggle with it!
June 25, 2015
It’s really wonderful that you both get equal pleasure from her dancing and you supporting, long may it continue
June 27, 2015
Thank you! I really hope she continues with it for a very long time to come.
June 26, 2015
Oh this is so lovely Sarah. There really is nothing more wonderful than watching your child excel in something that they absolutely love, is there? No wonder you are so Loud ‘n’ Proud – so you should be! x
June 27, 2015
Thanks very much. I never tire of watching her dance because she loves it so much.
June 26, 2015
She sounds like she has real talent and a future in dance. And wow, what amazing hair!
June 27, 2015
Thanks very much! I love her hair, she’s never had a proper cut, although it could probably do with a trim!
June 26, 2015
The pride you have have in your daughter really comes across, and it’s truly wonderful. I love that both share a passion for dance, must be amazing to share this with her.
June 27, 2015
Thanks very much 🙂 It is great that we both do it.
June 26, 2015
What a lovely post and what a great girl she is. And glad she had a great time x
June 27, 2015
Thanks very much, what a lovely thing to say! She really is a great girl 🙂 x
June 28, 2015
Oh what a lovely post! And gosh that hair is amazing. I am happy she is loving her hobby! x
July 1, 2015
Thanks very much! She really does love it. The hair needs a little bit of a trim! x
July 1, 2015
A beautiful post with so much pride for your daughter shining through it. It does sound like she has a natural talent for dancing and so glad that she is doing so well with it and enjoying it so much 🙂
July 1, 2015
Thanks very much, such a lovely thing to say! I really appreciate that 🙂
July 1, 2015
Lovely post! Obviously a very talented little girl! & I’m very impressed you were involved too – I could never do that! Well done both of you! #SSAmazingAchievements
July 1, 2015
Thanks very much! She’s brilliant, whereas I’m pretty rubbish, but I do enjoy my dancing!
July 3, 2015
Aww such a lovely heartfelt post #SSAmazingAchievements
July 7, 2015
This post has me in tears, thank goodness I wasn’t there. I Lived is my song for Ethan at the moment, I would have been a blubbering mess. I had to smile when you said you were a dance mum, I had visions of you with Abby Lee Miller! I can’t wait to see what your daughter does with her dance in the future.
Thanks for linking up with Small Steps Amazing Achievements :0)
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