A Time for Everything

Sydney is an amazing dancer.  That's just it. You can see her talent as she dances the music.  She is a beautiful ballet dancer.   She is a cute cheerleader and worked so hard to get her back handspring this summer.

But, Sydney wanted to change things up a bit this year.  She isn't cheering anymore.  Last year it wasn't as fun.  She wanted to quit ballet, but when she got THE Clytie Adams as her teacher, I begged her to stay one more year.  And, I told her she could be in the Nutcracker performance one more time.

So, she stayed at Clyties. She added a Jazz class and a hip hop class (at L2D-Amanda's studio).  She tried out for the Nutcracker last week and this week we found out she didn't make it. What?!?!  I was shocked. I may be biased because I'm her mother, but even stepping back, I thought What??!!  Mike was shocked. Amanda was shocked. Her friends were shocked.  Amanda's friends were shocked.

We have two theories.  One, she's too tall.  In ballet, you have to look a certain way and be a certain size.  Sydney grew at least 2 inches this summer. We think that pushed her past the costume sizes for her age group.

Second, we caused a stir 2 years ago when she and Amanda were both in the performance.  We went on a trip with the Arvys and missed a practice and picture day.  Our punishment for that was to not try out for one year.  That punishment was served as we did not try out last year.  But, it could be that the powers that be remember us and decided to still punish us.  I know it sounds like a conspiracy theory, but it's politics and it happens.  But, we wouldn't  have missed that trip for the world! It was SO worth it!

It's been a little hard on Sydney.  Mostly, when she goes to classes and hears the girls talking who have made it into this year's cast.  But, it's a great life lesson.  I told her she can do hard things and that the best way to not feel sad is to feel happy for those who made it in.

We haven't decided if we want to go to a performance, however.  I'll leave it up to her and won't make her go if she's not feeling it.

Sydney has already planned for her next year.  She is going to dance at Luv2Dance...where Amanda dances.  She takes hip hop there this year and her teacher is Christian...this amazing guy hip hop dancer. He's danced in Amanda's dances and the girls all love him. He's nice to them, too.  Amanda says that they will love her at L2D because she is an amazing dancer and super flexible.  She'll try out for a team next June and will get to dance 2 or 3 routines in around 5 competitions.

I just want Sydney to know that Dad and I are so proud of her!  We are proud of her because of the way she is handling herself since she didn't make the cast.  There is a time to everything and she's learning it's ok to not get everything you want.  That will make the times that she gets something she wants so much sweeter. We love you Sydney!