The Nutcracker.....what a moment!

Renee has been a dancer since she was 2 years old. She started out in ballet, tap, and jazz. She is born to dance! She loves it, her teachers have always loved her. For 9 years she kept the same classes. When we moved to Jamaica, those disciplines weren't readily available. She was able to broaden her routines with African Dance. It is so different and yet so beautiful. She was a great dancer there as well. When we went back to the states we found a beautiful Dance Academy and she began ballet once again. She had to really catch up as she had lost 4 years to lessons in ballet.

Every since Renee was a little girl we have gone to the Nutcracker. Her dream was always to take pointe classes. Since they weren't available in Jamaica she had hoped that she would be able to start when we returned to the states. Since most girls start pointe when they are 11 or so, the teacher wasn't too hopeful that Renee would be able to begin at age 16 as her ankles wouldn't be accustomed to that kind of pressure. But she promised that she would observe Renee during her classes in that regard and if she felt that Renee could handle pointe she would let us know. After almost a year it didn't look too promising.

But this past June the teacher talked to Renee about pointe and said she thought that maybe we could give it a try. Wow! what a night. I will never forget how excited Renee was! Then the auditions for Nutcracker came and lo and behold Renee's teacher wanted her to participate in auditions. Renee was absolutely stunned when she was chosen for 3 dances. Excitement plus! All I can say is she worked hard for that moment and the reward was amazing! She showed me that with discipline and desire she could fulfil her dream!

I had already talked myself into realizing that this performance would be the first I ever missed in her entire life. I have been at every performance, recital, and nearly all the dress rehearsals! Where she is I like to be! I thought I was emotionally prepared. When Denny was scheduled for a missions service in PA for the same weekend I was beside myself! With air miles I was able to go to PA with him and see both performances. I am still flying high!

Cameras weren't allowed in the performances so I don't have actual performance pictures but with a video I can watch it over and over again! All I can say is God gave me the desire of my heart and I will always be grateful. When I saw her on her tippy toes dancing on pointe as a snowflake I cried. She was doing it and it was beautiful! She was the mean auntie in the first act, then a snowflake and an Arabian dancer in the second act.