Pre-Script: My Nikolai is a very serious, very resistant, sometimes very shy young man. He does not know how to deal with attention (see this.) When Nikolai started taking classes at the end of March we took bets on whether he’d make it to the stage by June. We all bet against him, even his teacher.
First post-term rehersal- he refused to dance at all.
Dress Rehersal- flawless preformance.
You can guess where I’m going with this. That picture of Nikolai and his partner was from the dress rehersal. Here’s the actual recital:
Evidentally Nikolai was doing fine until little-blond-girl lost it back stage. Then he started going to pieces.
His partner Madison, you can see, wanted to dance and wanted her parnter to dance. She was pulling him through the steps, and he almost started dancing. Madison’s efforts drew applause partway through the number and they all got confused and ran offstage.
I think they got the most applause. Because dammit, getting onstage is hard. And dammit, they tried.
And my Nikolai? well he got my hopes a little high during the dress rehersal… for awhile I was privately upset with him. Really though, a lot was asked of him and he did more than I ever expected.
Kid, you done me proud.
What a sweetheart! um.. both of them.
You should be proud! That’s so hard to be up there! They all look so cute.
Oh my gosh, they look so cute – tears and all. I would be proud and all!
That picture is so awesome!!!! Bless their little hearts!!! I know you are proud of Nikolai but you should also be proud of yourself. Proud that you have the introspection to determine where you feelings are coming from and proud that you realign those feelings. You are a great mom!!!! Hope this makes sense.
Priceless!! Warms my heart. Thanks for sharing this.
Getting on stage definitely is hard. Good for Nikolai for making it as far as he did! They all look adorable.