What an exciting week it's been for our oldest daughter Georgia. Last Sunday she competed in her first ever dance competition at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, and just two days ago she had her second one in Alliston. It was a busy few days, but despite the craziness and all the running around it was honestly such an exciting time for her and our family. To see our little girl on stage performing for hundreds of people...and not just dancing, but truly performing in every sense of the word from her facial expressions, to her constant and contagious smile, to her ability to overcome her anxieties and dance like she was born to be on stage. It was truly a memorable few days.
In the the weeks and months leading up to her first competition I really had no idea what to expect...I don't think any of the first time parents really did. We had all seen them dance inside the studio on a few occasions, but I'm sure we all stood there thinking the same thing - they're adorable, even when they make mistakes. I don't think we really understood their full potential as dancers and as a team competing together and representing their dance school. There were even times this past year when I questioned whether Georgia would continue with competitive dance after this season. I knew it was a big commitment for her and our family and I never wanted to be the mom who forced her to continue something she wasn't enjoying. At the same time I didn't want to see her give up on something she was truly good at. And so I figured it was best to allow things just to naturally run their course. I wanted her to experience every aspect of competitive dance on her own terms, from the long hours of training and commitment to the overwhelming excitement of competitions and learning that hard work really does pay off.
It was certainly an eye opening experience for myself as well and I never anticipated all the emotions that came over me as her team stepped foot on stage for the first time. It literally brought tears to my eyes. At that point I didn't even care if they won. All that mattered was that they had tried their hardest and finished their first competition successfully. Then the awards presentation began and their team was given the highest possible award they could have received, as well as 1st place overall in their division! And it didn't stop there...in Alliston, once again they came out top, with another 1st place win!
After this week I think it's safe to say, she's in it now for the long run. There's no denying how much fun she's had these past few days and I don't see her giving it up anytime soon. I'm told I have no idea what I'm getting myself into...long hours at the studio, more expenses, traveling costs...the list goes on. All I know is that I've never seen my daughter so passionate about something, so happy when she's dancing and so excited about what's to come...there's no better feeling as a parent.
I'm very grateful to all of our friends and family who came out to show their support at both of her competitions. Thank you so much! You guys are seriously the best!
Have a great weekend
Katie xo
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