Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Tap and Ballet


She brought Ballerina Bunny to her dance class. We were early. On dance day Maria is always ready. Ready, ready, ready. She's ready all week long for the one day a week when she joins other 3 and 4 year old girls in the neighborhood studio. The children are on their toes, swirling and gliding, correcting their posture and holding their arms in graceful poses for a full hour. They begin with tap shoes. I found Maria's in a thrift shop about 2 years ago, and I am so glad for that find... they are a perfect fit now. Oh my gosh!... a dozen or so girls in tap shoes... it's the cutest cacophony in all of creation! After tapping and warming up, they slip off their clackity little black shoes and slide on their ballerina slippers.

Maria, do you like tap or ballet?
And she replies, Boes, which means "both."


Speaking of mispronunciations and adorable childspeak, ballerinas are beanerinas and with tears in my eyes, I cannot tell you how hilarious that is... seriously, there are some terms that smart of inappropriateness and discrimination, but uttered with affection and innocence, they become funny and dear. It's a Beaner thing.


She keeps her shoes in the pink princess bag I made for her birthday, and reminds me to put her hair up before class. I love how comfortable and confident she is. She is happy dancing, moving, following her teacher's instructions.

I cannot think what else to say... just seeing her and thinking about it makes my heart flutter and swell, and I am filled with tremendous gratitude. We are so blessed.

4 comments:

judy in ky said...

Such adorable photos of the little beanerina... heh, that cracks me up... beanerina! So cute.
I went back in your archives and read about the time little Papaya was born. Isn't it amazing to look at her now?

tara said...

What sweet photos and the story that goes with them. Beanerinas. Love it.

mtnchild said...

I don't care who you are - that's FUNNY! I'm sure she says it with love and grace too.

. . . and boy is she concentrating in that 2nd photo.

You have the sweetest Papaya! LOL

Hugs to both you and Maria for a wonderfully funny post.

Yvette

nikkipolani said...

It's taken me a while to recover from a complete meltdown from the overwhelming CUTE of these photos. No wonder your heart flutters and swells. She's ADORABLE!