Dance competition season that is. TDA has decided to go to New York again for NYCDA Nationals. Can I say I was disappointed...I really, really wanted to go to Texas for DMA Nationals.............NOT!!! I know, I know, this is dance talk and only my fellow dance moms will understand. I would 100 times rather go to NYC for Nationals because just in case you didn't know.... I HEART NEW YORK CITY!!!!
So, in order to compete at NYCDA Nationals, you have to qualify your numbers at their Regional competitions. For every city that they have, each studio can only take ten numbers total. Unless of course the city is not full, then they open it up a little more. You never know if a city is going to open up until the week before.
TDA likes to take enough dances to Nationals that everyone can participate in. So, that is why we have to travel to other states in order to qualify enough numbers for Nationals.
The first city this year was Mobile, AL. Holly put together a small group of girls to compete and qualify numbers in Mobile. Then, two weeks before, she was informed that the city had opened up and that all of the girls going to Mobile could also compete their solos. Most of the girls did not have new solos, so we all had to compete last years solos. I was pretty happy that Kai got to do Chantilly Lace one last time. She will get a new solo in a few weeks for Nationals.
I don't want to sound mean, but Mobile was not a "happening" town. It was very boring and there was not much to do. The girls did make the best of it, and had fun regardless.
All seven girls did amazing in the convention classes. Two minis, three Juniors and two Teens. This was the first city, so the combinations were unfamiliar to these girls. All seven of them made the finals and that was awesome! I was very worried for Kai. This was her first time in the Teen/Senior room. She had to be the youngest one there. She barely turned 13 in September. She was dancing with girls that were 13-18 years of age. Dancing the same combinations and holding her own. It is a huge leap from the Junior room to the Teen/Senior room. The combinations are harder, and they are much longer.
Although Kai did make the finals for Outstanding Dancer, she did not qualify for Nationals. Her goal was to make finals and that is exactly what she did. When they called her number, she looked down at the number on her shirt to double check. She was shocked. I'm not one to sugar coat things, she struggled in the classes. Her age definitely showed. I can say this, she worked her heart out. She practiced those combos on the side and really, really tried. Sometimes I don't think we give our kids enough credit. I tend to be a little on the pessimistic side. I'm very proud of her, but I am realistic too. I knew that she would struggle and I honestly didn't think she would make the finals. Especially her first time out. She did prove me wrong, and I'm glad that she did. This was definitely a self esteem booster for her. I think that when you dance at a studio that has such strong and amazing dancers your self esteem needs a little boost every once in a while. These kids work so hard and sometimes all they need is a little pat on the back.
I go back to the weeks leading up to Alabama. The weeks in which I would tell Kai "Now you know that you will be in the Teen/Senior room. It's going to be a lot harder. Don't be dissapointed if you don't even make the finals." She would just look at me and nod. There must have been some fire in her telling her to prove me wrong. And really, what mother says that to her child? There comes a point that you just have to believe in them, because if you don't then who will? How will they ever believe in them selves if their own mother can't? I learned a big lesson from her that weekend. And if I could only take some of those words back I would.
When it was time for the awards on Sunday, she sat there and was just as excited as the kids next to her. There came a point when they gave out the Convention Triple Threat Award. All of a sudden they called out her name. She paused, jumped up and turned around to look at me. She ran and got her award. Smile ear to ear. She was ecstatic!! I was too. This meant that she could go to NYC for an additional two weeks in the summer and take the NYCDA Summer Intensive. From that moment on, I knew that I needed to support her more and believe in her more. Not only in dance, but in everything that she does. She has a spark in her, and as long as Buddy and I keep it lit, there is no way it won't turn into a flame. Every child out there has that spark. They just need someone to believe in them.
Kai, I'm sorry for not believing in you, for not thinking that you could, for second guessing you, for not standing up for you, and for keeping your little spark hidden. From now on, I will do everything possible so that you know just how special you are and that anything is possible. I do BELIEVE in you.
Thank you Sandy, you did an amazing job on these costumes!!!
So, in order to compete at NYCDA Nationals, you have to qualify your numbers at their Regional competitions. For every city that they have, each studio can only take ten numbers total. Unless of course the city is not full, then they open it up a little more. You never know if a city is going to open up until the week before.
TDA likes to take enough dances to Nationals that everyone can participate in. So, that is why we have to travel to other states in order to qualify enough numbers for Nationals.
The first city this year was Mobile, AL. Holly put together a small group of girls to compete and qualify numbers in Mobile. Then, two weeks before, she was informed that the city had opened up and that all of the girls going to Mobile could also compete their solos. Most of the girls did not have new solos, so we all had to compete last years solos. I was pretty happy that Kai got to do Chantilly Lace one last time. She will get a new solo in a few weeks for Nationals.
I don't want to sound mean, but Mobile was not a "happening" town. It was very boring and there was not much to do. The girls did make the best of it, and had fun regardless.
All seven girls did amazing in the convention classes. Two minis, three Juniors and two Teens. This was the first city, so the combinations were unfamiliar to these girls. All seven of them made the finals and that was awesome! I was very worried for Kai. This was her first time in the Teen/Senior room. She had to be the youngest one there. She barely turned 13 in September. She was dancing with girls that were 13-18 years of age. Dancing the same combinations and holding her own. It is a huge leap from the Junior room to the Teen/Senior room. The combinations are harder, and they are much longer.
Although Kai did make the finals for Outstanding Dancer, she did not qualify for Nationals. Her goal was to make finals and that is exactly what she did. When they called her number, she looked down at the number on her shirt to double check. She was shocked. I'm not one to sugar coat things, she struggled in the classes. Her age definitely showed. I can say this, she worked her heart out. She practiced those combos on the side and really, really tried. Sometimes I don't think we give our kids enough credit. I tend to be a little on the pessimistic side. I'm very proud of her, but I am realistic too. I knew that she would struggle and I honestly didn't think she would make the finals. Especially her first time out. She did prove me wrong, and I'm glad that she did. This was definitely a self esteem booster for her. I think that when you dance at a studio that has such strong and amazing dancers your self esteem needs a little boost every once in a while. These kids work so hard and sometimes all they need is a little pat on the back.
I go back to the weeks leading up to Alabama. The weeks in which I would tell Kai "Now you know that you will be in the Teen/Senior room. It's going to be a lot harder. Don't be dissapointed if you don't even make the finals." She would just look at me and nod. There must have been some fire in her telling her to prove me wrong. And really, what mother says that to her child? There comes a point that you just have to believe in them, because if you don't then who will? How will they ever believe in them selves if their own mother can't? I learned a big lesson from her that weekend. And if I could only take some of those words back I would.
When it was time for the awards on Sunday, she sat there and was just as excited as the kids next to her. There came a point when they gave out the Convention Triple Threat Award. All of a sudden they called out her name. She paused, jumped up and turned around to look at me. She ran and got her award. Smile ear to ear. She was ecstatic!! I was too. This meant that she could go to NYC for an additional two weeks in the summer and take the NYCDA Summer Intensive. From that moment on, I knew that I needed to support her more and believe in her more. Not only in dance, but in everything that she does. She has a spark in her, and as long as Buddy and I keep it lit, there is no way it won't turn into a flame. Every child out there has that spark. They just need someone to believe in them.
Kai, I'm sorry for not believing in you, for not thinking that you could, for second guessing you, for not standing up for you, and for keeping your little spark hidden. From now on, I will do everything possible so that you know just how special you are and that anything is possible. I do BELIEVE in you.
Mobile, Alabama
Thank you Sandy, you did an amazing job on these costumes!!!
Comments
xx