Tuesday, March 03, 2015

Ballet Folklorico :: A Big Night






In November Maria joined her school's new dance program: Ballet Folklorico. It was only last spring when she first heard about the possibility of participating, and she was already over the moon to start dancing. The class is meeting once a week, except holidays... there were a lot of holidays between November and last weekend's school Talent Show, and I mention this because I am so impressed with what their instructor achieved in teaching those children in such a short time. Nadia took first through sixth grade students, with a frequently shifting attendance record, and taught them all the steps to La Costilla, then choreographed a dance for them to bring to their school's Talent Show. When the big day rolled around Maria felt very excited, eager to perform, but it was a hurry up and wait kind of day. Hair, make-up, and dance skirts were on and set by 3:30 pm, then they took pictures, rehearsed, and waited, and waited, and waited. They were the last to perform, after thirty-four other acts, and an intermission! {lol... what can I say? This school's got talent!} So, it was a long night, but in the smiles, and exhilaration she expressed, I'd say Maria found it very much worthwhile. And something really sweet... in that packed assembly room, from the back where students were standing on mini-bleachers, we could hear fourth grade girls cheering, "Maria! Maria! Maria!" It's really touching to know her friends were there and happy to support each other.

(There are at least fifty more pictures, and yes, some video, too. I cannot share every image, because I don't have permission, but I would love to share my dark, jumpy, slightly out of focus, from a long distance movie of their dance, so I will have to see about getting that accomplished, somehow. I must remind myself: Si, lo puedo hacer! Yes, I can do it!)

Done! {Geoff is the best tech support, ever.}


Maria is third from the left, in the second row, wearing the bright pink wrap around her waist. The swirls and flourishes of the skirt are lovely, and challenging to keep up... the skirts are heavy, and very long, and they are doing small and rapid footsteps, while they move their arms... it's a lot to coordinate. Yeah, that's what dancing is, right, coordinating? {Just saying... in case anyone thinks it's only "a lot of skirt twirling."}

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Maria looks beautiful! I'll bet she is a great dancer; she seems very graceful in your photos. I feel your pain about the tech support. There should be a special word in the English language for this specific kind of helpless frustration. Until that word is invented....Arrrrrgggghhhh.

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Thank you, Kim. She love dancing... I think that shows, and she's dedicated, even when challenged. Her passion and her willingness to try again, and again, are a fortunate combination. I could use some of her attitude {especially when trying to tackle those awful tech issues!!! And for the sake of transparency, I will post my *live rant,* here: {10:11 am: On hold with Apple Support, and feeling a deep and burning frustration with the unintuitive, uninspired, and horrible iMovie software. Did they decide to make the entire movie making process a dark ride through the bowels of Hades, or was it just a chance happening? I used to make these movies for gifts, easily, happily. No more. Why, Apple? Why??

10:14 am: 22 minutes into this, and it's my second call. I am feeling increasing disappointment.

10:15 am: Remember when an Apple product was smart and intuitive, when they had the grace to make users feel smart and intuitive, too? Yeah, that was a thing.

10:17 am: Note to Apple: Do not play sh!t music for people on hold; we are already irritated.

10:18 am: When you forget why you are stuck, listening to horrible songs through tinny iPhone speakers.

10:23 am: Still holding with Apple "Support." William suggests I go to YouTube and watch tutorials, because "Yeah, iMovie is not friendly." Good suggestion, William.

10:24 am: Cannot hang-up, because of compulsion to tell Apple that they make me very sad, and angry, and I want them to be great again, but never mind, because they have fallen, too, too far. Ergh.

10:26 am: Hey! They're playing Santana... Oye Como Va... no va bien, amigo. No va bien.

10:35 am: Got through, and met Fernando. He's in Atlanta. He tried to help... or at least he said he would help. But, then the call dropped. First thing he did was take my number in case the call dropped... so, he will call me back. Right? Apple? Fernando? You will call back?

10:38 am: Nope.}

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Fernando never did call back. Fortunately, Geoff came home, and William was right about those YouTube tutorials. They saved us.

Judy in KY said...

Natalie, the dancing is delightful and Maria looks so beautiful! I feel your pain with the tech issues. So familiar and so frustrating. I'm just holding my breath, hoping my blog keeps working.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! I love the joy and exuberance of their dancing!

Jennifer said...

Utterly magnificent -- such a joy to see Maria! Also, may I say, hats off to the boys up there; I hold a special place in my heart for them, too!

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

You are so right... brave fellows. They are very well received in the class, which is nice to see.
Thank you for commenting. I love that she enjoys the class... it's a rigorous session. I am excited for her, for her desire to keep with it.

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

I have my fingers crossed for your new blog... and hopes for the original blog, too.
Thank you, Judy... you always make this feel worthwhile.

Tiglizzyclone said...

Attempting to comment and I don't know what happened to my comment so if you get more than one of these ignore this one.

First, your daughter looks so nice all dressed up in her pretty dress! I bet she's a great dancer!
Second, i'm sorry about your tech problems! It's horrible being on hold for so long waiting and waiting and waiting.
Third, thank you for your words of encouragement concerning my blogging. I am thinking about doing more....

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Thank you. You've been blogging and painting for a long time, and golly do I know how easily we can get blown off course, feel discouraged... but I I've always admired your diligence and devotion to doing what you love, celebrating your interests... so, I hope you will 'do more~'